Every dog lover knows the importance of early dog training to ensure the pup knows what is and is not acceptable. Pet owners around the world have their own ways of dog training. With puppies you may need some help, whether with a dog trainer or learning from a number of helpful guides.

In this short blog we have tried to give you some simple essential tips to help you get started.

Top Tips to Easily Train Your Dog

There are so many methods of dog training out there. Some advocate the use of leashes and other physical restraints while others suggest only positive reinforcement. Both have their place, and you can find countless ideas and suggestions from both proponents of each philosophy.

Whether you just took in a new pup, or are working with an older dog, it’s important to follow a training process that works for you and your pet. 

Dog training top tips

Below are some of our tips to train your new canine friend:

1. Choose Your Dog’s Name Wisely

You can determine how quickly you will train your dog, and how difficult it will be for you, by considering the name that you choose. That’s because the dog’s name is one of the secrets to successful dog training. The name you choose for your dog can really influence their behaviour.

It’s important to choose a name that will not confuse them and keep them from responding to your commands. Hence, picking the right name is crucial. Still, you don’t have any pets to name? Then, it’s time to go to this website and find out what dog you’re taking home with your family. 

2. Decide on the House Rules 

Before you introduce your dog to a dog walker, or dog sitters you need to do some prep. Get your puppy acclimated to the house. This will help minimize the damaging behaviours often seen by puppies when they first arrive at their new homes. Take time to walk around your house with him, getting him accustomed to your home surroundings.

It is in this period that you will decide what they can, or cannot do. Are they allowed to sit on the couch? Are they going to have a table where you dine? and so on. Take note of areas where there are dangers such as hot stoves and appliances or poisonous materials like shoes or plants, which can harm your puppy. 

3. Set up a Private Den for Training

The private area to start dog training is really important early on. This is especially useful for puppies because it helps them to feel safe and secure. When they are first being crate trained, you aren’t going to be able to leave them unsupervised for long periods of time.

They will need time to get used to their crate (because this is not something they’re used to), and they will need time alone to go to the bathroom without having an accident in it. By providing a private den for your dog training you ensure he has a safe place where he can take a break from the world if he needs to.

4. Help Your Dog Relax

There are many ways to help your dog relax. One of the most important aspects of dog training for your puppy is teaching him how to handle stress. Having a relaxed dog is very beneficial to both you and your dog.

It makes training a lot easier when your dog is calm and focused rather than anxious and nervous. After all, if your dog isn’t relaxed, it could lead to an array of issues ranging from behavior problems to long-term health concerns. 

5. Dog Training for Rewards and Good Behaviour

Rewarding your dog is an essential part of any dog training process. The best way to do this is by feeding them a treat every time they perform a good behaviour. This can be immensely helpful in situations where your dog or puppy is not performing the behaviour you’re looking for.

For example, dogs and puppies are typically afraid of walking on steps at first. 

They may not walk up to the first step, or they may attempt to step up but immediately jump back down. To overcome this fear, you can give your dog several treats while standing on top of the first step. If they attempt to follow you and make it to the next step, continue rewarding them with treats until they’ve reached the top.

6. Teach Your Pup to Come When Called

When it comes to training your dog, one of the most important commands to teach your dog is how to come. Regardless of your dog’s breed or age, he or she can undergo dog training. They can learn to come and sit when called. This is especially great for recall training if your pup is at the park or some other place with a lot of distractions. 

Since this is one of the most important stages in dog training, it is really important to get it done.

If you are finding this a little harder than expected, you can look for pointers from people who have done this successfully. Some of them have the process documented and have a website for it. Surf through their site, and get answers. Training a dog doesn’t have to be stressful, it can be enjoyable with a little help.

7. Train on “Dog Time”

Time is important for a dog’s effective training. Dog trainers suggest that training be done on the dog’s time. Not to mention, understanding what motivates your dog will make dog training easier and faster as well!

8. Discourage Jumping Right Away

When you bring a new puppy or adult dog home, it’s inevitable that they’ll eventually jump up on people. This isn’t just cute, it’s also annoying and dangerous since a dog can accidentally trip someone and hurt them.

At the point when your pup or adult dog hops on an individual, don’t condemn them; simply ignore them, overlook the conduct and stand by until they settle down then give them positive reinforcement. Never empower jumping conduct by tapping or adulating your canine when they’re in a “hopping up” position.

9. Say No to Biting and Nipping 

If your dog nips, bites, or growls at you or others, he isn’t being ‘mean,’ ‘naughty’ or ‘bad.’ He’s doing what makes sense to him. When a dog plays, he bites and nips at his playmates as a way of socializing and playing.

So if your dog nips you when he greets you or when playing, he’s just playing. If you want him to stop, it’s up to you to learn how to teach an appropriate replacement behavior.

10. End Your Dog Training Sessions on a Positive Note 

Go slow. Training your dog takes time and patience. Be sure to end training sessions on a positive note to reinforce the behaviour. This will give your dog the impression that learning and training are enjoyable experiences.

11. Find a dog sitter to maintain your training routine

Once you have started your dog training programme it is important to keep it going consistently even when you are away from home. So find a dog sitter who can help you do that. Keep everything else the same, where your dog is staying – have a live in dogsitter – maintain the training routine, the food and the daily exercise. It will help..

Get ahead of the holiday rush. The holidays whether summer or winter every pet owner begins nervously looking for dog minding solutions.

Staying with familiar people is a good way to keep your dogs calm and to minimise separation anxiety. Or better still keep your dogs in their own home with a dog sitter.

Friends and family dog minding solution

If you have a single dog or single pet then often friends and family are happy to step in and do a spot of dog minding while you are away. However, the pet minding ask gets more complex and is a considerably bigger favour if you have multiple pets. Believe it or not it can be a challenge also if your have one of those dogs with fluffy coats that needs care.

Maintain your dog training routines

Above all keeping your dog’s routines and location as a constant is considered the best practice to keep your dogs relaxed and happy while you are away. However, some dogs will be very nervous regardless, by their nature or perhaps because they are rescued with a sketchy past. So find dog sitters to come to your home.

Nervous pets – dog separation anxiety

The added complication, therefore, is if your dog /s experience any degree of separation anxiety. The dog training routines will help. It keeps home life structured.

In extreme cases you might also consider some type of pet medication to relax and calm them. But the best solution is to maintain their daily routine in the home they are most familiar with, staying with a live in dogsitter who can manage that routine for them.

Join an online house and petsitting community

A house and petsit community where you know members are ID checked for security, and you can view the sitter profiles is a good place to start searching for a dog sitter or pet sitter.

Communities like Housesitmatch.com offer a safe environment to meet like minded members who are primarily pet lovers and experienced in pet and home care.

JOIN HOUSESIT MATCH AS A PET OWNER TODAY

A final thought on dog training

It’s an exciting time when you bring home a new puppy. And getting into good habits for both you the dog owner, and the pet dog is a great start. Then when you are ready to leave the dog when you have to go away for holidays or for work, you can show the dog sitters what you want them to do for you. 

When the time comes for you to look for pet sitting services and you search online for ‘dog sitters near me’ remember Housesit Match. We are a housesitting website with a specialty in petsitting and home sitting. We’d love to help you find dog minders for your young dog.

Well, there you have it. As a dog owner just remember what makes training your pup so important is to make sure you’re doing what’s best for your furry friend (and not just yourself) while having tons of fun and laughing along the way. 

Further reading on pet sitting and housesitters

At Housesitmatch.com we like to share useful blogs and practical advice about housesitters, housesitting and pet sitting. We hope you find this small selection of our blogs on house sitters useful.

How to train a dog to be good with children

Pet and housesitters keep pets safe at home and save money

What a housesitter does – Top 10 responsibilities

Preparing a home for a house or pet sitter

The Affordable Alternative to Dog Kennels

What is House Sitting?