The first week of your puppy’s life is when you should begin training them – typically 8 weeks of age. They can grasp the ideas to sit, stand, stay, and come quickly at this age. You may start housebreaking your dog as soon as they arrive home. Your puppy learns from birth and you can start to get them used to socialising.
Young puppies have shorter attentions spans than older dogs, so you’ll need to spend more time training them. Additionally, because they can only focus for short periods of time, pups can only be taught basic commands.
Although you may be tempted to wait, do not delay formal dog training when your pup has hit 6 months of age. They will learn habits during this crucial time that will shape their adult behaviour. If they are left to teach themselves, any bad habits developed will be much harder to break later on.
Start Early
The best way to get your puppy used to being around other people and animals is to start socialising them early. From the time they are born, try and expose them to as many different types of people, environments and situations as possible. The more they are exposed early on, the less likely they will be to experience anxiety or fear later in life.
Expose Them To Social Activities
One of the best ways to socialise your puppy is to enrol them in socialisation classes. These classes are designed specifically for puppies and are a great way for them to meet other dogs and people in a controlled environment. Puppy school is also a great opportunity for you to learn more about how to best socialise your puppy and to ask any questions you may have.
Keep The Sessions Concise
When you start training your puppy, make sure that you keep the sessions short and sweet. This will help to keep their attention focused on what you’re trying to teach them. Once they have mastered the basic commands, you can start to lengthen the duration of the training sessions.
Take Them For Daily Walks
Another great way to socialise your puppy is to take them for daily walks in different environments. This will help them to become accustomed to different types of people, places and situations. It is important that you keep these walks positive experiences for your puppy by using a lot of praise and rewards.
Be Patient With Them
It is important to be patient when training your puppy and to never punish them for making mistakes. Puppies are still learning and they will make mistakes as they go. The best way to train them is to use positive reinforcement, such as treats and praise, when they do something correctly.
Take Them To Different Places
You should also take your puppy to different places so that they can get used to being around different types of people and situations. This will help them to be well-rounded and socialised dogs.
Enrol In A Puppy Training Class
One of the best ways to socialise your puppy is to enrol them in a puppy training class. These classes are designed specifically for puppies and their owners, and they provide a great opportunity for socialisation. Puppy training classes typically involve a lot of socialisation exercises, and they can be a great way to meet other puppy owners.