How to Train Your Puppy at Home: DIY Tips and Tricks

Looking for puppy training near you? While you’re searching for the perfect puppy training program in Denver (ahem, we’d love to help!), use this guide to get your puppy started off right. Whether you’re looking to crate train, potty train, or teach basic obedience commands, we’ve got you covered with helpful tips and tricks.

Start with Basic Commands: Train your puppy to sit, stay, come and lie down. Use treats and lots of positive reinforcement to make the process enjoyable for your new pup.

One of the first things you should focus on when training your puppy at home is teaching them that working with you is fun. You should be the most interesting thing in your puppies life. This means working on engagement with you,. Commands like “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and “lie down” are essential for building the foundation of your puppy’s obedience training. To make this process enjoyable and effective, use treats and positive reinforcement. When your puppy follows a command correctly, reward them with a treat or lots of praise to encourage good behavior. It’s important to be consistent with training, so make sure everyone in your household is using the same commands and techniques when working with your pup.

House Training: Potty training can often be the most challenging part of raising a puppy. Be consistent with taking them outside to potty after meals and naps, and praise/reward them when they succeed in going outside.

One of the most common challenges of puppy training is housebreaking, also known as potty training. It’s important to be consistent with your training efforts by taking your puppy out often, especially after meals and naps. When you catch them going potty outside, be sure to praise and reward them with treats or verbal praise to reinforce positive behavior. On the other hand, never punish your puppy for accidents in the house, as this can lead to negative associations with potty training. With patience and consistency, even the toughest cases can become fully housebroken in a matter of weeks.

Crate Training: A crate can be a great place for a puppy to feel safe, secure, and comfortable. Introduce them to their crate gradually until they feel at ease spending time inside it without whining or barking.

Crate training is a popular method for housebreaking and providing puppies with a cozy space of their own. When crate training, it’s important to select the right sized crate that is big enough for your puppy to comfortably stand up, turn around, and lay down in. Puppies may need some time to adjust to the crate and should never be forced or locked inside. Instead, gradually introduce them to the crate by placing treats and toys inside as positive reinforcement. Over time, they will learn to associate the crate with positivity and feel at ease spending time inside without whining or barking.

Socialization: Properly socializing your puppy is crucial for their future behavior and temperament around people and other dogs. Take them on walks, introduce them to new people, dogs, experiences in a positive way.

Socializing your puppy is a crucial aspect of their development, and it helps to shape their behavior and temperament around people and other dogs. Introducing them to new experiences and environments in a positive manner can help prevent fear and aggression issues later on. Taking your puppy for walks around the neighborhood, visiting dog parks, or even taking them to puppy training classes can provide opportunities for socialization. Always monitor your puppy’s interactions with people and other dogs and keep them on a leash until you are confident in their behavior. With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, you can ensure that your puppy grows up to be well-behaved and socially adapted.

Consistency is Key: In order for your puppy’s training to stick, you must remain consistent with rules, commands, praise/rewards throughout the process. With patience and persistence, you can teach your furry friend good habits that will benefit both of you for years to come! If you are located in Colorado or Ohio and are looking for training for your new puppy, we offer puppy boarding and training camps to fit your needs.