Training your Puppy
It’s a great idea to have a training plan in place for when your puppy joins your family.
There is a lot to cover with a new puppy
- Desensitisation to objects -including vehicles, people and animals
- Getting them used to wearing a harness and lead
- Toilet training
- Crate training
- Handling
- Exchanging items
- Stop jumping up
- How to be calm
These are all in addition to walking nicely on a lead, sit, down, stay and recall.
Desensitisation is a critical element of your puppy’s training. You need to ensure that they are exposed to things they will come across in everyday life.
Also, things that they may not come across regularly but could potentially be exposed to at some point – for example, livestock.
If you are planning on having holidays in the countryside and don’t live near livestock then it is a great idea to get out to the countryside when your puppy is young and to allow them to see cattle, sheep or horses. This will make a difference to how your dog reacts when they are older and if they come across farm animals.
We only have until a puppy is 15 weeks of age to expose them to as many different things as possible before they start to enter the fear phase.
Look at purchasing a dog sling or puppy carrier so you can carry them around from when you first bring them home. This way you don’t have to wait for them to be fully vaccinated.
In the first few weeks when your puppy isn’t able to go for a walk it is a great idea to spend this time getting your puppy used to wearing a collar, harness and lead.
Some breeders will put a collar on the puppies so they can identify which puppy is which.
Introducing these items to a puppy carefully is essential.
Use a lightweight collar, harness and lead. Take things slowly. Just put the collar on your pup and feed it treats as you do this. Do the same for the harness. Don’t rush it. Give them something to lick whilst you are putting these items on. Don’t do them all at once.
Other desensitisation that needs to be completed with your puppy as soon as possible and before your puppy is 22 weeks of age is getting them used to things in and around your home.
Your breeder may have done some of this so just ask them if they haven’t included any information about this within your puppy pack.
When you sign up to our puppy classes you will receive a habituation schedule which lists many things which you should take the time to introduce to your puppy.
This should include different surfaces for them to walk on and being exposed to different noises.
You can use sound apps played quietly in the background whilst your puppy is licking or chewing a safe chew. This will really help them to forget about the noise.
Want some help on your training journey?
We will make a training programme specifically to your personal requirements.
Sessions can take place in your home or our training centre which is based approximately 10 miles from Norwich. We can help you with socialisation by meeting in a town, village, garden centre or in a secure dog park.
You will have access to our members area on our website where there are supporting training videos and documentation.
It can be a tricky time with lots of conflicting information available and you will always have input from others who have had puppies, but they may not be advising you on the best way to deal with problems.
Our support continues for the life of your dog.
Contact us now to discuss and book your sessions.