If you love dogs and are planning to get a new puppy think early on about how to go about training a puppy. In this article we offer petowners some top tips on how and when to start training a puppy who enters your home.

How soon should you start training a puppy?

A puppy may be one of the best gifts you can ever receive. Not only are they cute and lovely, but they’re also gentle and extremely loyal.

However, keep in mind that getting and looking after a puppy is no easy task. You have to walk them, feed them, play with them, care for them, and, of course, love them. Aside from those, you also have to start training them as early as possible.

Training your puppies is one way to establish a strong foundation to prepare them for adulthood. With the right level of training and socialization, your puppies will grow into confident, independent, and smart adult dogs.

On top of that, training a puppy will open the doors to many benefits, such as:

• Fostering a healthy bond between you and your pups
• Changing your pup’s unwanted behavior
• Boosting their social skills
• Helping pro trainers to work with your puppy easily

If you need help training your puppy, don’t hesitate to ask for help from professional dog trainers. They provide experienced care and a high level of expertise to help your pup grow confidently and become a great dog. But the question is, when should you begin your puppy’s training?

When should you start training a puppy?

Years ago, pro dog trainers and veterinarians strongly advised that puppies can only be trained as soon as they grow old enough to handle all the vaccines given to them. That’s because vaccines can cause temporary changes in their behavior, making it a bit difficult when training a puppy.

That was the general rule before, but today, pet experts recommend that puppies receive proper training as soon as they enter your home or reach at least seven weeks old. However, this early training may not be possible for puppies who need extra medical attention.

Socialization is key when training a puppy

Before the first class begins—the socialization training, make sure that your pup receives their first deworming and first set of vaccines at least one week prior. All of these should be updated throughout the training program.

But why should socialization be your pup’s first training session? That’s because puppies often experience problematic behavioral patterns during the first eight weeks of their life. These issues often include fear, aggression, phobia, and avoidance.

Although some breeders disagree training a puppy early can help your them to avoid a few possible health risks. Early training will help boost your puppy’s immune system and help them grow stronger.

What are the tips for puppy training?

Here are some training tips that may help you when training a puppy for the first time:

• Keep every training session short

Like children, puppies have a short attention span, which means they are easily bored. So, instead of long training sessions, when training a puppy try to keep each session short, with a maximum of five minutes per session. Then, train your puppy three times a day for a total of 15 minutes of training per day.

Don’t forget to end every session with a positive note, such as giving extra treats, to get them excited for the next one.

• Try other places or locations for training

Training your puppy outdoors is one way to introduce them to the world. Also, this will help them be more confident no matter where they are or their situation. However, avoid going to places with a lot of dogs until your puppy receives all the necessary vaccines.

• Apply positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is one of the most effective tricks in puppy training. It makes use of rewards, particularly treats and toys, to encourage them to learn more.

Also, it eliminates the need for punishments that can cause long-term anxiety and fear in your puppy as they grow.

To apply this method, you’ll need to identify the type of reward your puppy would love.

Will they love receiving treats or a new toy? Some puppies may enjoy simple kibbles during training, while others may require more special treats to get their attention.

What are the first things to prioritise when training a puppy?

The first things your puppy should learn are as follows:

• Basic Cues – These include ‘stay,’ ‘come,’ and ‘sit.’ First, use a cue to instruct them what to do, such as ‘Stay!’ If you want them to sit, position their body and give them a treat. Ask again, and give them another treat and warm praise if they get it right.
• Leash Training – This is the right time to start leash training, but do this indoors as your pup doesn’t have a complete set of vaccines yet, making them vulnerable to diseases. Start with short leash sessions and increase the duration over time. Don’t forget to give them some treats for accomplishing the task.

Final points on training a puppy

Puppy training should start as soon as they reach seven weeks old. This helps fortify their bodies and prevent possible health risks. Also, the early training will help them become independent and confident adult dogs. But keep in mind the tips discussed above for successful puppy training and to keep them safe.

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