How To Teach Your Puppy Manners

Training your puppy during the first few days is crucial. Your new puppy has just been taken from his mother, sisters and brothers--the only family he has ever known--and he needs security and routine. It is not an easy job and it takes a lot of work, love and guidance from you and your family. You and your family must decide and agree on the routine, responsibility and rules together. Establishing good training habits early will be a lot easier for you once the puppy grows up. Here are a few tips to help you teach your puppy good manners from the start: 

1. Responsibility. Decide who will be responsible for cleaning up after puppy as well as feeding him on a regular schedule.
2. Confine. Confine your puppy at first in a pen and lay training pads or old newspapers on the floor.
3. Reward. Reward your puppy when he potties. Your goal is to have him potty in his confined area and not anywhere else in the house!
   
4. Consistency. Potty train your puppy often in his area or outside. Once he has established potty habits, it is hard to break them, therefore, do not let your puppy form bad habits in the first place.
5. Patience. Be patient! It can take a few weeks for a new puppy to be fully housetrained. Do not reprimand your puppy’s mistakes. Reprimands have no place in training your puppy.
6. Feeding. Provide water and food in his area and feed him at regular times. Do not change his schedule. It will confuse the puppy. Do not leave his water and food out all day and night for your puppy to indulge at whim. However, use your common sense here and if the weather is hot, then leave his water out longer. Remember though, that the more water he drinks, the more often he has to go pee!
7. Play. When playing with your puppy, do so in the area you have prepared for him. Play with him quietly and gently; do not flood him with attention and activity. Gradually increase the periods of time when you play with him and watch him.
8. Discipline. Never, never hit your puppy or give harsh commands! Puppies do not mean to misbehave; they are doing what comes naturally to them. You have to show your puppy how to play with his toys, and make it fun and exciting for him. Let him know how happy you are and how good he is when he is chewing his toys. However, if he starts to chew your furniture, firmly tell him no, or off, and then immediately show him one of his toys. Encourage him to play and chew on it. Praise him profusely when he does so.

    

Puppies are very impressionable and need to be shown your love and care. They also need a steady schedule and your guidance so that they do not have the run of the house.