Are you ready to start training your dog? The sooner you start, the better! It might seem tough and overwhelming at the beginning, but if you go step by step and have patience, it will get much easier with time. 
House Training
Unless you are planning on keeping your pet outside (which is not really recommended), you should start house training the dog as soon as possible. You can start with deciding on where the dog’s personal space will be, picking out the right sort of crate, and making sure your dog is comfortable but also knows its place. Housebreaking or potty training is a must. It’s really one of the first, if not the first thing you should teach your dog. Keep in mind that dogs rarely defecate or urinate in that place where they sleep, so make sure you don’t forget that your little friend is probably holding it until it’s let out.
Your dog might also suffer from submissive or excitement peeing. Both of these problems can usually be solved. If it’s submissive, it usually means that the dog has a history of punishment after peeing inappropriately. You can solve this by avoiding direct eye contact for some time and petting your dog from the chin-up, instead of on top of the head. Also, if it does commit “the crime”, don’t make a huge deal about it, try to just clean it up and go, and whenever it does pee in the appropriate place, make sure you reward the fella. The solution to excitement peeing is similar, just try not to punish your dog or make a great fuss about it from the start, and take it out on more walks outside.
Leash Training
So, you’ve decided to start taking your new dog out to explore the world. For many reasons, including the dog’s safety and the fact that there are laws for it, you should now introduce your dog to a leash. You want to do this slowly and calmly, as this leash will have to become a big part of the dog’s life. For starters, you shouldn’t let the dog chew on it. Instead, when it tries to, replace the leash in its mouth with a chew toy.
You should never pull on the leash as a means of correcting a dog’s behavior, it will just lead to the poor thing being uncomfortable and scared of it.
The most important thing is to keep a positive attitude while you’re doing the training, your dog will notice it!
Socialization
Your new pet needs friends, too! Always try to introduce it to new people, animals, and places, it will greatly help in the dogs growing up and having fewer behavioral problems, and will, in general, be more welcomed by everyone. It’s an essential part of dog training!
A dog that doesn’t socialize might develop issues like phobias, while a well-socialized dog or puppy will make for a happier and better-behaved one.
A Couple of Basic Commands
Here’s a list of a couple of commands your dog should learn:
- Look! (Teaches the dog to focus on you or something at your command)
- Come (helpful in many situations, especially if you’re playing outside without a leash)
- With me (making the dog stay close to you without having to pull the leash)
- Leave it (may be of great importance if the dog is about to eat something harmful)
- Sit (behaviorally very important, teaches the dog to be compliant and relaxed at the same time)
- Stay (keeping the dog from going somewhere or doing something potentially dangerous)
Learning these and more commands is crucial for a well-behaved dog, and of course as mentioned, for its safety.
The Dog’s name
Of course, your new friend must be named, and you probably already decided or are pondering on a couple of choices. Just keep in mind that a strong, short name is a good choice, for they can always hear it clearly. Whatever you choose, make sure you always associate it with good times, and not unpleasant experiences, punishment, etc. Hearing their name should always bring a smile to a dog’s face.
End Training Sessions Positively
Whatever the step in the process of training you are in right now, remember to always end the training on a positive side, whether by rewarding the dog with food, its favorite toy, or just a playful patting session. It almost guarantees that they will look forward to the next training!
So, all in all, training your dog is a serious task, and it might seem terrifyingly tough at first, but take your time, and you’ll learn to enjoy it, along with your furry friend. And at the end, you’re doing both yourself and the dog a favor by making them as well-trained and behaved as possible!
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