Basic Training for your New Puppy
Although I would love to tell you everything you need to know about training your Schnoodle puppy, the books at the right will do a much better job at that. Start training in the basics as soon as you bring your puppy home. Enroll in a Puppy Kindergarten class after his second set of shots. Once your puppy is fully potty trained, allow your puppy to follow you about Keep your puppy with you as much as your life allows it. The more you include your puppy in your regular life activities the more your puppy will look to you for your direction.
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I encourage you to take your puppy with you on errands, visits to friends (call ahead and get permission). In my experience, many stores will allow a tiny puppy to accompany their owner when tucked away in a puppy sling. (do not take him in the grocery store) A puppy bonds very closely to the one he spends time with...so do not waste your puppies early life, keeping him stuck home alone. The early puppy months is the prime time to bond with your puppy for a life time.
1st week training (at 8 weeks of Age and same with older puppy)
The first week is an important time to go slow and bond with your puppy. BONDING is super important for the first few days as it establishes the connection between you and your puppy that is needed for focus and training.
As you bond you will find many natural training opportunities that will be the foundation for training. 1) NAME: Teach puppy his name by saying it and giving treat. Repeat and repeat. Do NOT use his name at any other time. Build a positive association first 2) YES: Teach your puppy a marker to be used throughout training to mark the moment the puppy has done the action you are requesting. In clicker training the use a CLICK from a Clicker. But saying YES provides the same benefit. 3) LEASH Training Get the puppy use to a leash and collar but attaching leash and letting him run around under supervision. 4) POTTY TRAINING You may begin to put your puppy on the 8 week potty training schedule. Make sure to use Confinement strategically. When Puppy is not confined he needs 100% SUPERVISION. You need to watch for signs that he may need to go potty. 5) LURING Lure your puppy back and forth and treat as he follows your fingers. This will be helpful in training later on. 6) 100% SUPERVISION when ever the puppy is not in a crate or pen. |
2nd week training (9 Weeks)
This second week with your puppy you will notice the puppy is relaxed and confident. Trouble will follow if you do not supervise and guide his activities. He will want to explore more, be more active. The week continue with last weeks excercises plus add...
HANDLING - Hold the puppy, massage his ears, look inside, open his mouth, touch his paws, brush him gently
HANDLING - Hold the puppy, massage his ears, look inside, open his mouth, touch his paws, brush him gently
3rd week training plus (10 - 16 weeks)
7 days - SIT - LURE - REWARD
7 days - SIT - (periodic lure...sometimes no lure) - empty hand sit
Remember YES marks the moment he does the action
7 days - SIT - With and w/out lure
HANDLING
NAME and RECALL
7 days - SIT - (periodic lure...sometimes no lure) - empty hand sit
Remember YES marks the moment he does the action
7 days - SIT - With and w/out lure
HANDLING
NAME and RECALL
Video -- Puppy Biting.... Important training tips
A Basic Puppy Vocabulary
A big part of training is teaching your dog language cues. That is right, your puppy can learn a wide vocabulary. Make a list of the helpful words that you would like your dog to know. A few of the basics are SIT, STAY, DOWN, COME. The books above can show you how to train your doggy in these basic commands. Be sure to note that when you treat your doggy you should also give a verbal award. Say YES!!! as you treat your puppy. The word YES becomes a marker to tell your puppy he did a good thing.
Once your puppy knows that YES is a verbal reward. You can easily assign words for all kinds of important actions. A few of my favorite words that I taught my puppy is as follows:
INSIDE, OUTSIDE, Drop it, Take it, LETS GO, Go to BED.
My puppy learned these words because I would just say these words when they were happening. Every time we go outside I use the word INSIDE. (and when we go in the door, the word is OUTSIDE) As he approach the car door for a ride I say, LETS GO! Later on you can say "Lets Go" and he will run to the car and jump in! Same thing with GO to BED. I just use the command as he goes into his crate at night. He learns the command just by our daily activity. Say the word as your dog is doing the action! I follow the command with an enthusiastic YES!!! The YES is a verbal reward that tells the puppy that he did a great job, (There is nothing wrong with giving a treat in the beginning of training a new word....but I don't want to run for a treat every time I ask my dog to do something. (A simple YES!!! is a good reward!) If you keep a regular routine with your dog, and repeat the same things day after day, encouraging good actions with a YES is also a great way to teach him. I hope the above advise helps you build a meaningful vocabulary for your puppy.
Once your puppy knows that YES is a verbal reward. You can easily assign words for all kinds of important actions. A few of my favorite words that I taught my puppy is as follows:
INSIDE, OUTSIDE, Drop it, Take it, LETS GO, Go to BED.
My puppy learned these words because I would just say these words when they were happening. Every time we go outside I use the word INSIDE. (and when we go in the door, the word is OUTSIDE) As he approach the car door for a ride I say, LETS GO! Later on you can say "Lets Go" and he will run to the car and jump in! Same thing with GO to BED. I just use the command as he goes into his crate at night. He learns the command just by our daily activity. Say the word as your dog is doing the action! I follow the command with an enthusiastic YES!!! The YES is a verbal reward that tells the puppy that he did a great job, (There is nothing wrong with giving a treat in the beginning of training a new word....but I don't want to run for a treat every time I ask my dog to do something. (A simple YES!!! is a good reward!) If you keep a regular routine with your dog, and repeat the same things day after day, encouraging good actions with a YES is also a great way to teach him. I hope the above advise helps you build a meaningful vocabulary for your puppy.
PDF of Basic Training for Dogs
Helping Dogs Overcome Separation Anxiety
Being left alone is difficult for a young puppy. But a young puppy will need to stay at home sometimes, and it takes a little while before they become accustomed to it. Dogs are social animals and enjoy being around the other members of their group. A young puppy who is not potty trained may need to spend a lot of time in his pen until he is reliably potty trained. If you use a puppy pen with your puppy from the first day you bring him home, it will help your puppy learn to be away from you while you are in another area of the room, and eventually in another area of the house,. Leave the house for short periods of time during his first week. Gradually increase that time. Ignore any whining, and provide some yummy chewies in the kennel to make alone time is easier and more pleasant. Let your puppy out BEFORE they finish their treat.
If your dog already has a mild case of separation distress (NOT full blown separation anxiety) these tips will help:
• Exercise your dog before you leave—a tired dog is more likely to sleep while you are gone.
• Put on some background noise, such as a TV or radio to mimic the house’s noises when you are around.
• Keep comings and goings LOW KEY—ignore your dog for the first few minutes you get home and before you leave. You may be inadvertently contributing to the problem!
• Toss your dog a stuffed chew toy or goodie as you walk out the door-now your dog anticipates your departure as something GOOD, not something bad
Being left alone is difficult for a young puppy. But a young puppy will need to stay at home sometimes, and it takes a little while before they become accustomed to it. Dogs are social animals and enjoy being around the other members of their group. A young puppy who is not potty trained may need to spend a lot of time in his pen until he is reliably potty trained. If you use a puppy pen with your puppy from the first day you bring him home, it will help your puppy learn to be away from you while you are in another area of the room, and eventually in another area of the house,. Leave the house for short periods of time during his first week. Gradually increase that time. Ignore any whining, and provide some yummy chewies in the kennel to make alone time is easier and more pleasant. Let your puppy out BEFORE they finish their treat.
If your dog already has a mild case of separation distress (NOT full blown separation anxiety) these tips will help:
• Exercise your dog before you leave—a tired dog is more likely to sleep while you are gone.
• Put on some background noise, such as a TV or radio to mimic the house’s noises when you are around.
• Keep comings and goings LOW KEY—ignore your dog for the first few minutes you get home and before you leave. You may be inadvertently contributing to the problem!
• Toss your dog a stuffed chew toy or goodie as you walk out the door-now your dog anticipates your departure as something GOOD, not something bad