Puppies must be trained to do various things so that they can grow into good dogs. He wasn’t born to understand how to play well, defecate in designated places in the yard, and walk on a leash at your side. You may have to spend several months teaching your puppy how to do all of these things. Use a firm but gentle training style to guide your dog through the exercises he needs to learn. Soon, he will grow up to be a mature and well-behaved dog and have a special place in your family.
How to start potty training
Develop an exercise routine
Dogs need a consistent routine to know the right place to defecate. It’s important to start teaching your dog to go outside when he needs to go to the bathroom. Do this as soon as you bring it home. Take your dog outside on a specific schedule each day: before doing anything in the morning, after eating, after playing, and before bed.
Puppies should be taken out of the house every hour, also immediately after feeding, rest, and play sessions. You should also always take him out of the house before he does anything in the morning, before you and he goes to bed at night, and before you leave him alone for long periods of time.
Feed him at the same time each day so you can predict when he needs to be taken out of the house.
Very small dogs should urinate as often as possible, at least once an hour. This means that you or a family member should be prepared to get the dog out of the house as often as possible.
Get your puppy’s attention if he tries to pee in the house
When you notice he needs to pee in the house, don’t overreact by yelling or scaring him. Interrupt the activity by clapping hands. Then, pick up the dog or have him immediately follow you and take him to his usual location of defecation. When he’s done, give him a compliment.
If he’s been pooping behind the couch or elsewhere in your house, it’s too late to discipline him. Don’t force him to go to the location again as he’ll just be confused and scared, and won’t understand what you’re trying to teach him.
Confine the dog to a certain part of the house
For the first few months, you will need to carefully supervise your dog so that you can take him out of the house as soon as he feels the urge to go to the bathroom. If you let him loose too much at first, he’ll learn to pee wherever he wants and you won’t always be able to catch him.
Determine a location to defecate outdoors
Creating a location that your dog associates with going to the bathroom will help keep him from urinating in the house. He will begin to want to go to that place to relieve himself and will eventually learn to wait until you take him there and not go inside the house.
Praise the dog for doing a good job
When your dog is able to defecate in the designated area, offer praise, caress, hugs, and small treats. This will help him understand that he has behaved well and should continue the behaviour.[7] The promise of reward will encourage the dog to repeat the same habit.
The right way for your dog to play
Prevent the dog from biting you
Play with your dog like any other dog by tickling him and pretending to pick a fight until he starts biting you. When he bites your hand, let out a small, high-pitched cry just like any other dog would. Relax your hands and stop playing. Your dog will learn that when it bites, it doesn’t get any more attention.
Give your dog a proper chew toy
Dogs love to use their teeth and they should be taught that human skin is not for biting. Provide safe dog toys for the dog to bite during playtime. When your dog starts biting your skin, give him a chew toy. This will teach him that your hand is not for biting, but the toy is. Do the same if your dog bites your heels and ankles while you’re walking. Stop walking and give him a toy that can be bitten. If you’re not holding a toy, you can simply stop. When he starts to play well, give praise. If he takes one of your possessions, distract him and exchange it for one of his toys.
Essential dog commands
Start by teaching the dog names
To train your dog effectively, make sure he knows his name. Say the name clearly. When he looks at you, give him a snack. Continue the practice until he learns that if you say his name, he should see you. Now you can use the name before giving any other commands.
Teach your dog to sit
Sitting is one of the easiest habits to teach a dog and most dogs can learn to do it. The trick is to get your dog to associate the act of placing his lower body on the floor with the sound of your voice saying “sit.” Say the word “sit” in a clear, firm, but friendly voice. When he does this, give him a snack.
Teach the dog to be quiet
Now that he can sit up, teach him to sit still. This is a slightly more complicated process, but it still uses the same command and reward system. Tell your dog to sit down and when he does, say “stay” and wait a few seconds. If he moves, say the word “sit,” then try again. If he manages to stay still, give him a treat and a compliment.
Teach the dog to come to you
This exercise is easiest to do with a friend. Ask someone to hold the dog across the room or yard. Look at the dog and call his name. When he sees you, say “come over here” in a clear voice and ask your friend to let him go. Call his name again if he doesn’t seem to know what to do the first time. When he approaches you, reward him with a compliment and a snack. Repeat this exercise until he knows that “here” means he has to run towards you.
Define keywords and keep using them. Make sure all your family members use the same words to train your dog. If you use words that are different from the rest of the family, your dog may get confused and take longer to learn.
Follow this rule at all times. Make sure you supervise the use of the rules you have defined.
Use a friendly tone of voice to tell your dog how you feel. Use a deep voice when you want your dog to stop doing something, and a firm voice when training or commanding your dog.