Use Praise to Train Your Puppy
It seems that many people have the natural knack of saying "no" every time their puppy does something wrong. The problem is though that not as many people remember to praise as often as they should. When you praise your puppy, you are communicating to him that you like what he did.
This encourages the puppy to repeat the behavior. It may take him a couple of times of hearing the praise for a certain action before he finally associates the praise with the action, but he will catch on. The exact amount of time that it takes for the puppy to grasp it will depend on his breed, your environment, your consistency with the praise and his own little personality.
Your puppy actually wants to please you. He or she will do everything they can to get your attention and love. If you can use this natural urge to shape your puppy's behavior, your training sessions will be a snap.
Of course, you expect your puppy to go potty outside or on his potty training pad, but you want to make sure that you are reinforcing this behavior with proper praise. Some people will use treats. While it is fine to use treats from time to time, the best praise that you can possibly give your dog is one on one contact.
Sweeten your voice a little, rub his back, pat his head, and tell him what a good boy he is. Actions such as these will mean so much more to your dog than just giving him a snack for praise. Not only will your dog be encouraged to repeat the desired behavior but also he will be much happier emotionally because of the love that you are showing.
Another way you can show praise is to say "good boy" and then give him a toy that you can play with along with you. Play catch or roll a ball around, even if it is just for a few minutes. That little bit of personal interaction time with you goes a long way.
Something that you will want to keep in mind is that dogs are pack animals by nature. They will thrive with rules and when you show them that they are indeed following the rules, they will be much better behaved overall and they will be so much content.
In addition, by giving the praise, it is reinforced that you are the alpha of the pack - the one who is in control. You are the one that the dog will look to for approval on things and you will be the one is he worried about upsetting. You are able to accomplish all of this with your puppy simply by using praise. There is no need or room for harsh punishment or yelling at any puppy or dog.
As you can see, there are many benefits for your puppy when you praise him correctly and often enough. Not only will your puppy be able to grow into a happy adult dog, but you will be happy as well because he will be well behaved for you. This is certainly something to celebrate!
Train Your Dog to Love Their Crate.
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