I can’t find options for puppy training near me during the pandemic: our DIY guide to puppy training.
The pandemic has become a perfect time to get a quarantine pup and training them while working from home remains possible. This is the best time to consider getting a puppy and spending the time and effort needed to care for and train your doggo. Not to mention, we could also use some stress-relief and some puppy love is all you need to make you feel a little bit better during these trying times. In this article, we walk you through the first month of getting your doggo and adjusting to a new lifestyle with your pup. We get it, raising a puppy can be challenging. And that’s why we are here to help!
Crate training a dog is the best way to get started and provide your furbaby with a sense of safety and comfort.
Crate training for puppies can be crucial to helping them feel at home when you first adopt them. Our doggos by nature like dens and safe places and it is up to you to turn their crate into a space where they feel safe and secure, just like a den or cave they might find ‘in the wild’. Make sure that your crate has enough space for your pup to stand and turn around… but also make sure you don’t give them too much space! Pups like to keep their sleeping areas clean, but too much space in a crate will let them create a corner for their poop and pee, and another corner for their sleeping and lounging. You can section off a portion of a larger crate when your puppy is still small to prevent them from going in their crate. Your doggo will let you know when they need to poop or pee by whining and scratching at the crate door.
A puppy potty training schedule is crucial to get them on track.
If your puppy thinks it’s okay to poop and pee in their crate, then they will definitely think it’s okay to poop and pee around the house. This is why proper crate training when you first get your doggo is so crucial. It’s something to get adjusted to from day 1 of adopting your pup. Depending on their age, be it 6 weeks old or 5 months old, puppies can hold it for very short periods of time. This is why it is important to constantly watch your doggo for signs that they are ready to go. When you start to spot the signs, you should immediately take your puppy outdoors so that they can relieve themselves. It is possible to train your pup to relieve themselves in one area of the house, but this is a little tricky and requires the use of pee pads. The simplest option is training your dog to go outside all the time. Make sure to be proactive about taking your puppy out to relieve themselves. Good times to take your dog out include: after they eat or drink, when they first wake up or before they go to bed, after taking a nap, after play, or after spending some time in the crate.
A consistent exercise routine and feeding schedule can help reduce puppy zoomies and spills.
It’s better to provide your pup with 2–3 meals a day when they are very young. When you control their diet and their food intake, you will be better able to potty train them and know when they need to go. Pay attention to your puppy’s poop so that you will know if you need to rework their diet. We have a poop guide that could come in handy when assessing your doggo’s digestive health. Don’t worry, you will start to feel out your puppy’s natural rhythm for wanting to eat and sleep and play. When they have the zoomies, make sure you spend time playing with them or taking them out on a walk. It’s crucial to relieve their energy before they get into their crate, otherwise you will have a very whiny puppy. Developing these healthy eating and exercise habits from day 1 with your pup will help ensure that they live happy, healthy lives and will also reduce their chances of obesity as they grow up.
Playing games with your puppy can help them learn impulse-control and understand tricks and commands faster.
There are a lot of games you can play with your doggo to keep them entertained. Catch-and-release games like fetch and tug or war will teach them to let go of a toy or ball when you ask them to do it. These types of games that teach impulse-control will help you train up your doggo as they get older. They’ll be able to understand tricks and commands faster. Remember, practice makes perfect! The more you play with your pup, the more mentally engaged and stimulated they will be!
Clicker training for dogs is another good way to get them to learn new commands faster.
Clicker training helps your dog form a positive association whenever they hear the sound of the clicker. This positive association helps them learn new tricks faster, whether it’s teaching your dog to sit and stay, or fetch, or even jump through hoops! Clicker training is a technique that can be used to teach your dog basic tricks and pro tricks as well. The key to clicker training is repetition. Form a positive association with the clicker by clicking and giving a treat multiple times. Whenever your dog does something right, make sure to click and then reward them with a treat immediately. Repeat this action 15–20 times until they associate the sound of the clicker with whatever task or action you want them to complete. You can snap your fingers or click your tongue as the ‘clicker’ sound — as long as it’s the same, consistent sound that they can associate with a successfully completed task or trick. Again, practice is key to getting clicker training right!
Want to learn more about dog care and dog nutrition?
Check out Pawsitive app to actually put theory into practice and start applying all this knowledge. The Pawsitive app helps dog parents raise happy, healthy dogs by providing community and professional support. We connect you to other dog parents and professionals. We are building a supportive dog parent community and we are better than dog social media! Stay accountable for completing wellness milestones with your dog and other dog parents, dog moms, and dog dads.
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-potty-train-a-puppy/
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/clicker-training-your-dog-mark-and-reward/
