RECOMMENDED TRAINING PROGRAMS

Believe in your dog’s desire to understand and please you

Learn how to read your dog’s moods/body language

Use your body language to communicate (turn away and ignore them if they play too rough, jump, or do something you don’t like. Clap your hands, cheer, and jump up and down when they poop outside!)

Teach bite inhibition by yelping like a hurt puppy when your puppy mouths you. This is so incredibly effective at communicating to your dog “that hurts me!” 

Be more exciting than distractions. If you need to catch your puppy, get their attention and then run away! Let them chase you, not the other way around. 

Socialize your puppy as much as possible in the first two months they are home. Expose them to as many people, animals, sights, sounds, and experiences as possible, just remember “four off the floor” until fully vaccinated so use a wagon, dog stroller, shopping cart, or sling to carry your puppy. 

Take your puppy to kindergarten! It is guaranteed weekly socialization, and they learn to do things with distractions around them.

Don’t expect too much of your dog - dogs can’t generalize so be patient, teach each new behavior from scratch if in a new place, and slowly add distractions. 

Talk to your dog. Explain things to them. It calms them and it helps more than you would think - plus they will pick up the meanings of their favorite words!

Randomly reward good/calm behavior. It helps make these things inherently rewarding and they will offer behaviors that they think you will like! My dogs lie down out of the way and wag their tails happily when they see me cooking because they know I will toss them treats rewarding that behavior.

Instead of punishing bad behavior, show them positively what you want them to do in various situations. (Ex go to your mat and lie down when the doorbell rings)

Crate train, even if you are at home with the puppy - more restriction now means total freedom later! 

Set your puppy up for success - for example, make sure they don’t have access to things they can destroy (crate or pen if you can’t supervise), give them enough opportunities to go outside, etc 

Leash your puppy to you indoors so they can’t run off and pee/poop without you realizing

Only play indoors unleashed if they’ve just pooped and peed outside 

Trade your puppy for things you take away from him. (treats or a toy)

Build your puppy’s confidence. Let him win tug. Pretend to be knocked over by him. Make him believe he is so incredibly powerful and strong that he must be gentle so he doesn’t hurt you. (tip from Nat Schoemer - a Youtube dog trainer)

Play crate games, focus games, and impulse control games

Exercise your dog! A tired dog is a well behaved dog! Do a burst of activity first like fetch or something that allows them to run and zoom or jog very quickly at first (always at their pace) to burn off their pent up energy before expecting a calm walk. 

Mental exercise is exercise - training, snuffle mats, fetch, puzzles, treat dispensing toys and hollow chew toys stuffed with kibble 

Understand developmental periods - for example, puppies are still teething until 9 months old, so they have a normal need to chew intensely to relieve their mouth pain during this phase. 

Do some training “just for fun!” It takes the pressure off and works wonders for your relationship with your dog. This can be trick training, canine freestyle, talking with Fluent Pet buttons, disc dog, parkour dog, therapy dog or whatever is fun for the both of you!

Have fun with your puppy! Dogs are meant to be loved and enjoyed. Play, cuddle on the couch, go to a dog friendly restaurant, take silly pictures together & go out for adventures.