You may have heard the old adage, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks," and while that may not be strictly true (as alumni of Unleash Fido's Puppy Training Program will attest), your life will be easier if you prepare for your new puppy before they arrive.
One thing to consider is to have your pup trained as early as possible. Puppies are adorable and playful, but putting up with their energy 24/7 can soon become problematic.
Untrained puppies pee and poo just anywhere, chew on anything they latch on to, and cause all sorts of havoc in their curiosity and eagerness to play. Without training, puppies can develop destructive behavior that will be difficult to correct when they are older and more stubborn. Preparing for puppy training early will help you and your puppy establish good behavior and trust as quickly as possible.
There is so much you need to do to get ready to welcome your new bundle of joy! Here are some tips on readying your home and preparing for puppy training with Unleash Fido.
What To Expect From Puppy Training
You’re not alone if you feel nervous on the first day of a puppy training. If you’re a first-time pet owner, all your puppy’s firsts will also be yours: first car ride, first time leading them on a leash, first time putting them in a crate, first time cleaning up after your dog, etc.
What’s great about puppy training is it is the best place for puppies and owners to feel nervous and learn to gain confidence in one another.
If you signed up for one of our training programs soon after getting your puppy, you’re probably still learning about each other, being comfortable with each other’s company, and trusting each other. Experienced dog trainers can help develop your relationship with your pet from Day 1. They’ll teach you and your puppy how to give and follow basic commands, for example, and for your puppy to recognize your authority.
Here are some of the things that will be covered in a puppy training class:
Manners: Puppies are trained not to jump on people, bite, or chase other pets and strangers. Part of this training is coaching owners on how to enforce discipline – firmly but gently – so their puppies will accept their leadership and follow when they command them to stay, stop barking, stop biting, release their grip on a shoe, etc.
Socialization: Puppies are taught confidence and curiosity without displaying hostile behavior toward other dogs and people. Trainers teach owners how to help their puppies acclimate to social settings.
Crate Training: Puppies are taught patience and trust, and trainers help create positive associations with the crate through rewards and games. With proper training, puppies will view their crates as “their space” where they can feel calm and secure. Crate training also helps with potty training. Most dogs don’t like living in a dirty and smelly environment. When puppies are made to stay in their crates (not locked in but trained to sleep, rest, or play there), most develop habits to alert you when they need to be let outside to pee or poo.
House Training: The lessons puppies learn at training should be continued at home. It’s how they retain good manners, lose bad habits, and become genuinely well-behaved at home or in public places. House training includes establishing toilet areas and eating times, not allowing jumping on the dining table or kitchen counters, and other household routines.
Leash Training: Many cities have regulations about keeping dogs on a leash when taken out of the house, so owners must introduce the leash and collar to their puppies and train them to get used to being on a lead whenever they go outdoors. Our trainers take leash training further with some obedience training, like teaching puppies to stay by the owner’s side at all times, stop walking when their owner stops, etc.
Problem-solving and Prevention: Dogs are intelligent and would benefit from activities that would exercise their ability to understand situations and respond proactively when necessary. Teaching them tricks and engaging them in puzzles and games will help keep their reflexes and minds sharp.
Introduction to Commands: Puppies easily mistake attempts at training as playing, so it takes an experienced trainer to ensure your young, playful pet gets something worthwhile from every training session. Our expert trainers at Unleash Fido teach puppies to recognize and follow commands. More importantly, we show you how to do it correctly so your puppy will learn to follow you above others.
Dog Separation Anxiety Training: Many puppies suffer separation anxiety and cry and whine when left alone. Dogs need to be independent; the earlier they learn it, the better. Your participation in dog separation anxiety training will be crucial because these usually start with low-intensity separation scenarios, like leaving puppies in a pen or crate with their owners still in full view. These training sessions increase in intensity and longevity, like asking the owners to leave the room for long minutes at a time.
Unleash Fido covers all of these in our puppy training programs. We have a fully equipped and air-conditioned training facility with a padded playroom, separate rooms for tiny dogs and big dogs, and even pet pampering station – the Pooch Parlor – where your pet can be comfortable while getting cleaned up.
Puppy Training Tips for Owners
Training a pet puppy doesn’t start and end with the trainer. Owners play an important role as well. Consistency is vital to teaching a puppy good manners and obedience, so owners must continue at home what’s taught at the training center.
With that in mind, here are some puppy training tips for owners signing up their puppies for training the first time.
When to Schedule Puppy Training
We get this question all the time: when’s the best time to start puppy training? The best time to train your dog is when they are still a puppy because they have not yet had the opportunity to form bad habits that you will need to work to undo.
For dog owners in and around Jacksonville, Unleash Fido offers Puppy Foundation training. Our expert dog trainers are ready to help you teach your dog the essential skills they need to have to behave properly in your home and around other people and dogs.
No matter how much you love your new pup and just want to have fun with them, you will still need them to pay attention and follow your commands. Think of puppy training as a preventive measure to make it easier to live with and love your dog for many years - even after they stop being adorable puppies.
Preparing Your House
While puppy training is great for helping to ensure that your new puppy learns how to behave, it is also important to get your house ready for their arrival. Otherwise, you won't get the most out of puppy training.
For example, your puppy may not know which rooms they are not allowed to go into. To get them used to your rules, use baby gates. These gates will likely be temporary, as your puppy will soon learn that these rooms are not for them, but it is important to start this type of training early.
It’s also crucial to “puppy-proof” your home before your pet arrives. Remove breakables like vases off the floor, and check if you have stools or side tables with narrow legs that might topple over if an excitable puppy runs and smashes right onto them. If you have indoor plants, consider getting tall, decorative pots that puppies can’t reach into. Many pet owners also do not realize that some house plants may be toxic to their puppies. It's a good idea to either put your plants out of reach when you get a new puppy or move them to a room that your dog does not go into.
Other preparations you will want to make are things like removing all electrical wires from their reach. Also, dispense with low-hanging objects such as curtains or tablecloths. Your puppy, especially before puppy training, may find these tempting to pull on, which is not only a hassle for you, but potentially unsafe for them.
Preparing for Puppy Training at Unleash Fido
When you’re taking your puppy to one of our training programs, here are some tips on how to make the session proceed as smoothly as possible:
Please don’t give them too much food to encourage them to work hard for treats during training.
Let them out for some mild exercise to warm up (not too much playing, though, so they’ll still have the energy to interact with their trainer).
Let them outside to potty. It helps if they pee and poo before training because they won’t be distracted by their body’s urgent needs.
Prepare a bag with things your puppy needs, like their favorite treats, food, collar, blanket for them to sit on in the car, etc.
If it’s your puppy’s first session, bring their vaccination records and their latest health report from their vet. Your trainer might ask to review them for a pre-training assessment.
If your puppy isn’t feeling well and shows signs of illness, reschedule. Please don’t take them to the training center in case what your pet has is contagious.
Follow these tips in preparing for puppy training, and you’ll soon see improvements in your puppy’s behavior and temperament.
Dog Obedience Training at Unleash Fido
Few other dog training facilities offer as many services as we do or have spacious facilities explicitly designed for puppy training as we do at Unleash Fido. For your peace of mind and your pet’s safety, we encourage signing up at a reputable center like Unleash Fido, where experienced trainers and dog handlers will watch over your pet while on the premises.
Once your puppy graduates from basic training, you can sign them up for our advanced dog training programs such as Doggie Boot Camp, Day Camp or Private Lessons.
All this information can be overwhelming for first-time dog owners, and nobody in Jacksonville knows that better than the team at Unleash Fido. Schedule your free consultation today to put your future or current pooch into puppy training and get your pet-owner relationship off on the right paw!