3 Ways to Encourage Positive Behaviour in a New Pup

Puppies are naturally curious and full of energy. They love to explore and be stimulated both physically and mentally. This is why they sometimes get into mischief unintentionally. Fortunately, they can be taught good and acceptable behaviour with the right approach. Here are three helpful ways to teach your puppy how to be well-mannered:

 

#1 Reward Your Puppy for Good Behaviour

 One of the ways to ensure your puppy grows into a well-rounded member of your family is to reinforce good habits. Motivate your puppy by praising it every time it obeys your commands or completes a task. Let it know that you are proud by saying “good dog” or “good boy,” patting its head, cuddling it, rubbing its belly, or scratching it behind the ears.

Another way to encourage acceptable behaviours is by using a reward system. If your puppy enjoys treats, give it something that it likes whenever it does something right. This can be a yummy biscuit, a chew toy, or a small piece of meat. The more you reward your puppy with its favourite treats, the more it will enjoy being taught positive behaviour. Once it becomes consistent with its actions, you can gradually decrease the treats you give it.

 

#2 Spend More Time with Your Puppy

 Strengthening your bond with your puppy is a great way to encourage good behaviour. To do this, spend more quality time with your pet. Use your bonding time as a chance to interact with your dog, build its trust, and develop a closer connection. By taking a few minutes or hours a day to be with your pet, it will feel cared for and will most likely reciprocate.

 There are several things that you and your puppy can do together, one of which is playing. Some dogs, like a Cavoodle and Corgi, need physical and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. Keep them active by playing games like fetch, tug-of-war, or hide and seek. Keep them entertained by teaching them new tricks, involving them in family activities, socializing them with other people and dogs, and giving them plenty of exercise.

#3 Teach Your Puppy Basic Obedience

It is every pet owner’s dream to have a puppy that is always on its best behaviour. However, training a dog can be exhausting and, at times, frustrating. Just like a human baby, a puppy requires dedication, patience, and consistency when being trained. This is because it can take time before it fully understands what is acceptable and what isn’t. The good this is, once a puppy learns to distinguish right from wrong, it will be one of the most rewarding feelings.

In addition to basic obedience, engaging in specialized training methods to enhance your dog’s cognitive abilities is essential. One such method is Brain training, which sharpens your dog’s mind and strengthens the bond between the pet and the owner. This training ensures that your dog remains mentally stimulated, reducing the chances of unwanted behaviors arising from boredom or lack of mental engagement.

The best time to teach a puppy basic obedience is the moment you bring it home. The younger your dog, the easier and quicker it will learn to follow commands, socialise, and house train. This is because it is still new to the world and has yet to learn negative behaviours. Make your training sessions brief, as a puppy tends to have a short attention span. Fifteen minutes divided into five short minutes a day are sufficient.

Some pet owners, especially those who are inexperienced at puppy training, prefer to enrol their dogs in training programmes to prevent behavioural problems. Look for trained professionals or puppy kindergarten classes in your area, or ask your veterinarian for recommendations.

 

Summary:

Just like human babies, a puppy’s behaviour is not only influenced by its temperament but also its environment. This is why adopting from registered breeders is very important. Verified breeders make it their responsibility to nurture a puppy, teach it basic obedience, provide it with a clean shelter, and ensure it is happy and healthy. When a puppy comes from a loving place where it is properly cared for, teaching it to grow into a well-rounded pet will be much easier.