The #1 Puppy Training Technique

By Jean Cote | Posts

So, you’ve finally decided to get a puppy? That is fantastic! Puppies are the cutest little things and they will bring lots of happiness in your household. As a new dog owner, I encourage you to read all that you can on puppies so that you can raise him or her in the most loving way possible.

Puppies have a unique way of learning that is different than humans, they learn in the moment and only in the moment. They do not have the capability of reflecting on past experiences and learning how to do things differently. So it is extremely important to know the right puppy training techniques that will work and that are effective.

One of the biggest challenges that you will face with your puppy is to house train him. The most effective way to house train a puppy is to reward him whenever he “does his business” at the right place and to redirect him to the right place when he doesn’t.

If you are outside and your puppy suddenly decides to “do his business” on your lawn, then to train him to repeat this behavior is by praising him with a very encouraging voice and by giving him a treat. The more often your puppy is rewarded and the more enthusiastic and encouraging you are, then the faster your puppy will learn to potty outside.

On the other hand, if you are inside your home and your puppy suddenly “does his business” on your carpet, the last thing you want to do is yell at him or get upset. Instead, you want to calmly pick him up and bring him outside as quickly as possible so that he can finish “doing his business” on your lawn. And once he is done, you can reward him and praise him for doing it in the right location.

This way, your puppy will learn that doing his business outside is something that brings him pleasure whereas doing it inside your home doesn’t. It won’t a long before your dog understands exactly what you want.

You should also be aware of these puppy training techniques:

  • Your puppy will take naps several times a day and once he wakes up he will most likely “do his business” within 5 minutes. This is a golden opportunity to bring him outside and to reward him for going in the right location.
  • Crating your puppy when you are not at home or when you are busy will keep him from “doing his business” all over your home. And since puppies do not like the soil themselves or their sleeping environment, then they will hold it in as long as they can. This gives you a great opportunity to bring him outside when you let him out of the crate.
  • Another puppy training technique that is not often discussed is to use a deodorizing cleaner specifically designed to remove the smell of urine on carpets and floors.  Your puppy is less likely to “do his business” in the same location if he isn’t able to smell urine on the floor.

Just remember, puppy training is something that we all had to learn at one point or another. Even the best dog trainers have started exactly where you are right now, so stay positive and enjoy your puppy training!

I look forward to hearing how well you do with the FREE information presented in this article. If you have any questions we are only a few clicks away on the community forums.

About the Author

Jean Cote is an animal lover and the founder of the Dog Trick Academy. For more than a decade, he has served as a coach to thousands of dog owners around the world to better train, communicate and forge a stronger bond with their dog using positive and force-free training methods.

  • Lisa09 says:

    At what point do you stop giving treats/rewards for “doing their business”

    • Jean Cote says:

      Hi Lisa,

      You can stop giving your dog treats for doing his business outside once your dog stops having “accidents” inside your home. But continue to praise your dog with your voice and touch when he goes outside. Eventually, it’ll become second nature to him.

      I hope this helps. 😉

      Jean

  • Stbloom says:

    Are there specific breeds that are hard to housetrain? What about bitng, how do you stop thay?

    • Jean Cote says:

      All puppies will require some time and effort on your part to properly house train him. The best thing that you can do is supervise your puppy with a crate, and to reward him for going in the right “spot”. As for biting, the easiest way to curb that is by communicating with your puppy and let him know that it hurts. So yipe like a puppy dog and act like your puppy hurt you anytime you feel teethes on your skin.

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