A little help can go a long way in ensuring that a puppy’s or dog’s behavior aligns with their owner’s expectations. Many problematic behaviors, such as incessant barking or destruction of items in the home can be curtailed or entirely avoided through early training. According to a Dog Boarding owner, the best time to start training a dog is during the puppy stage, but it’s never too late to start dog training. At Phoenix Dog Training, animal behavior experts are available to start training puppies and dogs to behave better.
Signs That a Puppy or Dog Needs Obedience Training
Some puppies and dogs are naturals when it comes to learning commands and behaving the way owners want them to act in a home and outdoors. However, most puppies and dogs need some guidance. Bad habits and problematic behaviors can be difficult to correct, but they can be done. Phoenix Dog Training’s team has the right experience and skills to resolve any problem behavior that a dog might have. Here are some signs that it’s time to enroll a puppy or dog in an at-home training program with one of the Phoenix Dog Training professionals:
- Snarling when people approach their food or toys
- Excessive barking
- Poor leash manners
- Destruction of household objects
- Bad behavior with other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Ignoring commands outside of their house or yard
- Afraid of new places
- Improper elimination
- Jumping on visitors
- Biting and growling
If an owner notices any of these signs in a puppy or dog, it’s important to sign up for dog training Scottsdale as soon as possible. These behaviors will get worse if they’re not addressed.
When to Start Training a Puppy
In most cases, a healthy puppy can start behavioral training as soon as they’re weaned from their mothers and adopted into a new home. This is usually around eight weeks of age. If a puppy has a health issue, owners should ensure that it’s being handled by a veterinarian before enrolling a puppy in a dog training class. Some dog owners prefer to wait until their dog has been neutered or spayed. This can also take place around eight weeks of age. Once the puppy is recovered from their procedure, training can begin.
Timeline for Different Dog Training Behaviors
When a puppy first starts in a dog training program, the dog trainer will focus on three basic commands: sit, stay and come. These commands can be taught to a puppy at about eight weeks of age.
Once a puppy understands those three commands, they can move on to leash training and general handling. This type of training involves getting the dog to cooperate for leashing and unleashing. It also includes getting the dog used to being approached and handled by other people.
Around nine to 10 weeks of age, dogs can start crate training. Many puppies or dogs will feel so comfortable and safe in their crates that they walk into the crate on their own when they’re scared, tired or annoyed.
By 10 to 12 weeks, puppies can be trained on learning not to bite, growl or bark. Potty training for puppies should start between 12 and 16 weeks of age. At this stage in the dog’s life, they can hold their bladder and control it.
After six months old, dogs aren’t as easy to train. The ages of six months to two years is doggy adolescence. This is a good time to reinforce positive behaviors with rewards, pets and praise.
Best Time of the Day for Puppy Training
It’s good to schedule a puppy training session during a time of the day when the puppy is alert and ready to learn. Some dogs follow the same sleep and wake schedule of their owners, while others tend to rise early or prefer to stay up late. A good time to start a dog or puppy training session is after a nap or in the middle of the morning. For a puppy and for the first couple of dog training sessions, the training periods should be short. About 15 minutes is a good length for the first few sessions of dog training.
Techniques Used for Successful Dog Training
Phoenix Dog Training focuses on positive reinforcement and consistency. Most puppies and dogs are highly motivated by food. After they follow a command for the first time, a small treat reinforces the behavior. After a few times, positive words will be a good way to reinforce the dog’s behavior. Consistency is also critical. A dog shouldn’t be rewarded for a behavior sometimes and crated for it other times. Petting and showing excitement are also techniques used by the trainers at Phoenix Dog Training.
