Basic Puppy Training

There is a huge variety of training methods for puppies to choose from and you might want to take some time to look for one that suits you. To help you get a good start, check out our page on pedigree and mindset and body language and behavior. In this article we will present training strategies for getting your pup housebroken, for leash training, for getting your pup to understand the two most important commands and how to detect whether your pup is developing aggression and dangerous behavior and, if so, what to do about it.

Housebreaking a Puppy - 4 easy steps

Training a puppy to become housebroken is an important step for a new pup. Establish a regular routine, provide praise and rewards, and remain consistent. 

1. Develop a feeding routine. Feed your puppy at the same time each day and stick to that schedule. This helps regulate when your pup needs to go potty, which makes housebreaking easier. 

2. Create opportunities to go potty. Take your puppy out for regular potty breaks and stay outside with them until they go. Praise it (by saying "good boy" or "good girl", for instance) and provide treats when it is successful in finding the potty area. 

3. When mistakes happen, don´t punish your puppy. Instead tell them "no" (or any similar command of your choice) in a firm, but calm way. Do so only when you catch it in the act. Do not do so afterwards and don´t become angry. The most effective way that will also strengthens the bond between your puppy and you is to praise it for succeeding within the potty area. 

4. Remain consistent. Consistency is key in housebreaking a puppy. If you're not consistent in providing opportunities to go potty and rewards for succeeding, housebreaking can take longer. 

Leash Training for Puppies

Here are some simple steps to train your puppy for walking on a leash:

1. Start by selecting the right type of leash and collar for your puppy. Many pet stores have a fitting guide that can help you find the best size. First put on the collar and let your puppy get used to that for a few days before continuing with a leash.

2. Bring your puppy to a quiet, distraction-free area, where it will feel comfortable . One option is to start at home or in the yard.

3. Allow your puppy to get used to the sensation of wearing the leash. Let it smell and explore it while giving lots of positive reinforcement. 

4. Once your puppy is comfortable, attach the leash and start walking around while praising them. Allow them to walk at their own pace and explore. 

5. When your puppy stops to sniff or explore, gently tug the leash to remind them that they need to stay with you. Be careful to never jerk or pull the leash harshly. 

6. After a few minutes, come to a stop and have your puppy sit. Give them lots of treats and positive reinforcement while reinforcing good behaviors. After a few minutes detach the leash. Repeat the process on the following days and lengthen the duration.

7. Once your puppy is comfortable walking on the leash, start practicing walking in more distractions and busy areas. 

8. Make sure to give your puppy plenty of breaks and stay consistent with your training. 

9. Remember to always use positive reinforcement and stay patient. Consistent and positive training will help your puppy learn and grow. 

What basic commands does my puppy need to know?

This is a simple one: Your puppy needs to understand and obey to the command "no" and "come here". Why? For it´s own safety and health as well as your safety and other people´s and other animals´ safety. If you can not control your dog at all, it might do something dangerous like running onto a road with heavy traffic or eating something poisonous. It might also attack other dogs, animals, children or people in general, including yourself. That´s the reason why it is absolutely unavoidable to teach those two commands.

Be aware that giving your pup a commands, even if you tell it not to do something, is not equivalent to being mean. On the contrary: They seek your guidance and also love to learn. Understanding commands and being loyal to you makes them happy. If you don´t believe this, just try it out, if you want to, start with a trick like asking your pup to give paw. 

When you train your puppy be patient. It will take some time for your pet to understand what you´re asking of it. Don´t get angry if it makes mistakes. Use short, simple commands and stick to them. Don´t start chatting with them as this may confuse them. You don´t need to use "come here" and "no". Basically you can choose any word or even make them up. Your pup doesn´t speak your language anyways, but over time it will learn what you´re saying, what you mean and what you want it to do. As pointed out, however, choose short and simple words or phrases. This makes it a lot easier for your puppy to memorize and recognize the command. 

Here are some more guidelines:

1. Use Positive Reinforcement: When training a puppy, it is important to use positive reinforcement and rewards to motivate them to learn. Offer your pup lots of treats, verbal praise, and affection to reinforce good behavior. 

2. Make It Fun: Learning should be fun for your pup! Try to make “come here” into a game. (Don’t make the puppy come to you just for treats, use the verbal command and reward them for complying!) 

3. Short lessons: Short, frequent training sessions are more effective than long, drawn-out ones. Try to keep the lessons to 5-10 minutes and keep them positive by not scolding or punishing your pup if it does not work out.

Come here

Create some space between your pup and yourself. Say the command phrase ("come here" or the like) and encourage your pup to come to you, for instance by tapping on the ground or on your leg. Use a clear but friendly voice. As soon as it comes towards you, praise it. Repeat this various times and always use the same command. If you have some success, try it when your puppy is further away or a bit distracted, for example while it´s roaming through the yard. Stay patient and keep repeating the training.

No

This is a command you only need to use in situations where it is necessary, but if you want to make sure your pup understands and obeys, you can practice it beforehand. Here is one example: Throw a piece of food on the ground (a noodle, crumb of bread, french fries or the like). When your puppy runs towards it or is about to eat it, say the command ("no" or the like). Do so in a clear, firm voice. In most cases your puppy will understand this instantly. If not, try it in a stricter tone. Do not get angry. If it still goes for the forbidden snack, give it a light and short shove while repeating the command. If you have a puppy that is very persistents and continuously tries to go for the dropped food, you can fall back to other methods, such as spraying water (this only works with puppies who do not enjoy being splashed with water) or reinforcing your position by slapping a newspaper on the table or floor to create some noise. Do not hit your puppy with it. Whatever you choose, always use the method simultaneously with the command. Do not repeat the command in a row, try to stick to 2 or maybe 3 times.

Side note: This is a good exercise because cooked food and human food in general is not good for puppies. It can make them seriously ill even if they enjoy the taste. So if you want your pup to stay healthy, don´t allow it to eat noodles or french fries or the like.

How to spot whether a puppy or dog is becoming seriously aggressive and what to do about it

Do not take this topic lightly. If you have a small dog, for instance, it might seem cute when it barks a lot, but it can be a sign of serious aggression and should not be tolerated. In general, it is not okay for a dog to bare teeth or bite someone no matter how small the breed is (unless, of course, there is an actual robber breaking into your house).

There are three main reasons why dogs become aggressive: they are scared and want to defend themselves, they are overly protective and territorial or they want to dominate other dogs or people, including you, meaning they want to climb in rank.

To understand your dog it´s vital to detect whether it is actually showing signs of aggression. Barking in itself is not necessarily an expression of aggression. High-pitched barks can mean your dog is scared. In this case the dog usually crouches, sometimes arching its back, the tail stuck between its legs and having its eyes wide open. In such a situation you need to reassure your dog that it is safe and you are taking care of it. If not, it might bite, thinking it needs to defend itself. Do not praise your dog if it scared although there is no danger. Remain calm and assertive.

In general, look at the entire body language of your pet:  An aggressive dog typically stand with their tail up, their back straight, their ears back and their head high and muscles tensed. They may bark continuously, frequently exhibiting a deep, threatening rumble. Their facial expression may be intense, with a pronounced wrinkling of the nose and a wide open mouth, often revealing a sharp set of teeth (see photo). 

An aggressive dog will often take a fixed stance, standing rooted in one spot, seemingly frozen until they charge at an opponent. This is especially likely if someone enters their personal space. Their tail will wag in a fast, jerky manner, signaling that they are very alert to their surroundings. They may move closer to their intended victim, showing a lack of fear. Aggressive dogs may also try to use intimidation tactics such as growling, baring their teeth, and even lunging at the person they perceive as a threat. In addition, they may try to corner their victims, with their body positioned in a way that prevents them from exiting the area. They may circle potential opponents, trying to herd them in a specific sought-after direction. 

Aggression of this type is by no means a sign of playfulness. A dog baring its teeth and showing other signs of aggression is actually threatening its counterpart and preparing for an attack. Thus, it is extremely important to control your dog and stop its aggressiveness. Stay calm and use the command "no" (or "stop" or whatever you have chosen) in a firm, strict tone without loosing your calm and becoming anxious or angry. Do not yank frantically at the leash and under no circumstances try to appease your dogs mood by talking softly or soothingly. Dogs do not understand this as a form of pacification but as a praise. The dog will think its aggression is the correct behavior for that situation. If your dog proceeds to be aggressive, you can give it a nudge or a light jab while giving the command. Use a little more force if necessary, without hurting your dog of course.

If you have a dog that remains aggressive or difficult to handle, please seek the advice of a professional dog trainer.

This holds particularly true if the dog is actually threatening you. That rarely happens, but if it does, you need to be very cautious. The reason why a dog will "turn on you" is that it challenges your position as top dog and does not accept you given commands or setting up rules. As we have explained in the sections pedigree and mindset and body language and behavior, dogs live in hierarchies. Nothing in the world will change this and it´s not something that is bad. Some people tend to think that "being the boss" of the dog makes the dog feel inferior or sad or the like. This is not the case. Almost all will actually enjoy having a strong leader and a compassionate guide through life. If your dog, however, challenges you being in the top position, you cannot let it have its way. This can be very dangerous as the dog then feels in the right to do whatever it wants. Any form of aggression can become uncontroleable and lead to serious injuries and worse. To avoid any such issues, the easiest way is to establish yourself as pack leader from an early stage on. This includes having a certain appearance: calm but firm and assertive. It also means establishing rules and being consequent about them. It also means giving commands.

Also, to avoid any form of aggression arising, take preventative measures. In order to maintain a healthy state of mind your puppy needs regular exercise, especially going on walks including at least one longer one per day, it needs attention and activity. Boredom can foster aggression, so engage with your pup by playing with it, by teaching it commands or tricks and by letting it play with other puppies. The latter also helps in the socialization process as dogs that have been kept separated from other people and other dogs lack the skills to interact with them. Most them tend to be either insecure or both insecure and aggressive.