Five Steps To Having A Well Trained And Well Behaved Puppy

They are similar to having a toddler around. One that will eat, pee on and destroy just about everything in your house. You have to be very vigilant when you have a puppy, but the rewards are so worth it!

What can you do to help your puppy become a well behaved dog without all the usual behavioural problems that crop up?

How can you avoid aggression, fearfulness, rough play, digging, barking, biting, and general naughtiness?

It's easy! It just takes lots of time and patience.

First you will need to get a handle on the whole house training thing.

House training (or house breaking) is very simple. Watch the puppy for signs of getting ready to "do its thing", then you take it to its proper place to do it.

The key is to watch the puppy at all times.

Easier said than done, right! After all, you have a life you would like to lead!

The first step to having a well trained and well behaved puppy is to invest in a puppy playpen. These are similar to the baby play pens, only they usually don't have a floor and are made of metal panels that include a door for the puppy to enter and exit.

A playful puppy is a happy puppy. Click here to choose new puppy toys

The play pen can be used to contain the puppy when you cannot watch it's every move; like when you are at home, but are cooking dinner, or taking a shower.

The play pen can also be used to contain the puppy when you are at work. You can leave a dog bed, some water and some toys; line the bottom of the play pen with papers or puppy pads (using duck tape to secure the papers or pads is highly recommended if you don't want them to be shredded to pieces).

Use this tool whenever you feel you would not be able to catch the puppy getting ready to squat down, but don't depend upon this tool too often or the puppy will never have the opportunity to learn.

When the puppy makes a mistake, it is a perfect opportunity for you to show the puppy what he/she should be doing instead; like taking the puppy to their designated "pee spot" right before he/she pees.

If you rely too much on the play pen, then the puppy will never learn what is alright to chew on and what is not alright to jump on. This is a time of great learning for the puppy and it will take a lot of time on your part; but puppies do take a lot of time.

The second step to having a well trained and well behaved puppy is training.

Puppy kindergarten is a wonderful way to socialize your puppy with other puppies his/her age while teaching the puppy simple commands, such as "sit" and "stay".

These classes can begin as early as 13-14 weeks of age and will help you and your puppy learn to communicate with each other. Your bond will become much stronger as the weeks in the training class continue.

The puppy kindergarten class I attended with my Chihuahua, Leon, included many common commands as well as several exercises designed to boost the puppy's confidence level. It is also nice to meet others who have puppies the same age since you all are going through similar issues. The trainer will also be a good authority on other problems you may be having with your puppy.

Choose the class and trainer carefully. You want you and your puppy to learn in a loving, positive, and non-threatening environment.

Never send your puppy to class without you, after all, the skills that you learn while training your puppy in the class can be used all throughout the puppy's life.

The third step to having a well trained and well behaved puppy is socialization

Puppies need to be introduced to a variety of environments so that they become desensitized to change and feel secure in many different situations.

Each situation should be a positive experience so that the puppy gains confidence in the world around him/her.

The forth step to having a well trained and well behaved puppy is doggy day care.

It sounds like an extravagance, but a good doggy day care can help your dog learn to get along with all different types of dogs. It also helps the puppy learn to be taken care of by someone other than you and your family. This will also give the puppy confidence so h//she won't be so fearful.

Around the age of seven months to one year is the critical time for a dog to learn how to get along with unfamiliar dogs.

I took Leon to doggy day care once a week starting at the age of seven months. His first few visits were very nerve wrecking for him, but every week he showed signs of improvements. Today at only five pounds, he has the confidence to meet any dog on the street and not be fearful or aggressive.

Doggy day care also had the added benefit of keeping him tired for the days that he was left at home while we were at work.

This brings us to the fifth and final step to having a well trained and well behaved puppy; exercise.

Remember that a tired puppy is a good puppy! Keeping your puppy well exercised and tired will make him learn faster and easier. Your puppy will use the time that you are away for resting instead of getting into trouble. Believe me...they can get into trouble!

Leon used to destroy his playpen while we were at work before we started taking him to doggy day care. We would come home to see that he had flipped over his bed onto his puppy pad, thus rendering the pad useless. He would then be forced to pee and poop on the floor because the pad was not accessible.

One day a week at doggy day care and a daily walk was all it took to ensure that his play pen would always stay organized and he stopped play biting our hands.

Having a puppy takes dedication and time, but if you follow these five steps, you will have a well trained and well behaved puppy and you will be on your way to having a well trained and well behaved dog.

About the Author:

Written by Jennifer Andrade at A Dog for Life, LLC , dedicated to helping you choose and find the best dog for your family. We also feature many other resources that help you have a more positive and closer relationship with your canine companion.

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