To understand dog training it is necessary to have some basic knowledge on how dogs think, learn and behave. A puppy decides whether or not he is going to repeat a behavior by the direct consequence of that behavior. If I behavior brings about a reward, either from you or the environment, the behavior is likely to be repeated. Similarly, if a behavior brings about an unpleasant consequence, chances are good that the puppy will not repeat the behavior.

Consistency is extremely important for your puppy to understand and learn your rules. The rules must be clear and fair. Once a rule is established, everyone in the family must reinforce it consistently. You must not permit your puppy to misbehave one minute and punish it then next. Don’t allow him on the sofa normally and then not when you have guests in the home. This is inconsistent, unfair, and will confuse and frustrate your puppy. Rules should be clear-cut in black and white, with no gray areas in between. Dogs do not understand the concept of “sometimes”, they only understand never or always.

Timing is everything when you are training your puppy. Puppies live in the present. They connect good and bad things with what they are doing at the moment. So, whether you are trying to reward your puppy for good behavior or trying to discourage bad behavior, you must catch you puppy “in the act.” If you are rewarding him, tell him right away, with a “good” or “yes” that you like what he is doing. If you are reprimanding him, the reprimand should interrupt his behavior and immediately direct him to a positive activity. “After the fact” reprimands and punishment are useless and will only teach your confused puppy to distrust and fear you. A common misconception is that you can scold your puppy for soiling the house after, provided you “show” him what he did. He can’t make the connection with what he did even a minute before. If you are able to catch your puppy soiling, startle him with your reprimand to interrupt him right in the middle, then take him outside, wait for him to finish there, and reward him for a job well done. If you find an accident, simply clean it up and remind yourself that the puppy should not have had the opportunity to soil without you seeing him.

Ignoring bad behavior is a powerful way to discourage behaviors that are designed to get your attention. Probably the most common way for a puppy to get the attention of his owner is through nuisance barking. Barking tends to get a reaction and so, the more owners attempt to quiet a puppy. The more the puppy barks. Even if the attention is “bad”, some puppies will find it rewarding. If you are confident the puppy is barking to gain your attention, the best method to discourage the behavior is to ignore him. Leave the room if possible. If you are consistent, the puppy will quickly learn that barking causes you to leave. This method can be difficult for owners to implement, for two reasons. First, the puppy will initially become more persistent. The behavior got your attention so why isn’t it working now? The puppy will try even harder by barking more often, barking more loudly, maybe even pawing at you. The good news is that the behavior gets worse because you are successful. The puppy is performing the bad behavior to get your attention, because when you stop, he gets frustrated. This is called an extinction burst and is only temporary. Do not give up because it will work! The second problem with this method is that the bad behavior comes back every now and then. It, too, is only temporary. To help this method be even more powerful, always replace bad behaviors with good behaviors. If you plan to ignore your puppy for barking, you will be much more likely to succeed if you also teach him an acceptable way to gain your attention. Teach him that if he sits in front and watches you, you will pay attention to him. If he barks, you will stare at the ceiling for 30 seconds.

Training should be fun for both you and your puppy. Using rewards as positive reinforcement to shape your puppy’s behavior encourages upbeat enthusiastic responding and ensures that your puppy will have a happy attitude toward learning. If you give your puppy lots of feedback for his behavior, relying primary on positive reinforcement and just occasionally on punishment, you will win your puppy’s trust and start to build a lifelong bonding relationship on a strong and secure foundation.

Highland Canine Training offers puppy training and group classes often. We have puppy group classes coming up starting December 8th, at 9a.m. These classes are conveniently located off exit 36 in Mooresville, NC. Check our group class schedule often for more upcoming classes.