Dog Training Tips

When you bring home a puppy or an adult dog for the first time, the idea of training probably means potty training. But after they chew up that pair of shoes and run away off leash for the first time, you quickly realize there is a bit more training you'll need to do. In this post, we'd like to offer a few things to consider when training your puppy or adult dog:

• Establish house rules. Just like your children have house rules, so should your dog. Will you allow your dog on the couch when you are binging Netflix? Will they be allowed to sleep with you on the bed or will they be expected to sleep in the crate in another room? It’s best to establish these kinds of rules even before the puppy or adult dog arrives so that everyone (including your furry friend) knows what to expect.

• Start socializing early. When you bring home your puppy or adopted dog, getting them used to their surroundings and interacting with people is an important part of the training process. It’s important to do this as soon as possible to avoid any set-in fears and anxieties. If you have an adopted dog, you can socialize with frequent walks around the neighborhood, having people over, and taking them to a dog park.

• Reward good behavior. When your puppy or adult dog does the right thing, treats and praise help reinforce the behavior you expect. Dogs are people pleasers and want to make their owners happy. Positive praise helps build trust between you and your furry friend and ensures they develop into a confident, well-adjusted dog.

• Be patient. It can take three to four weeks of consistent training before it becomes a habit. With puppies, you need to exercise patience during the training process by implementing short training sessions every day. If you are bringing home an adult dog, they can be easier to train than young puppies as they can focus for a longer period to time.

• Give daily exercise. A bored dog tends to get itself into trouble. Daily exercise not only keeps your furry friend healthy but also helps provide needed mental stimulation while reducing common behavioral problems such as chewing, digging, and barking.

Follow these tips and you'll be well on your way to having a happy and well-behaved new family member. And if you're looking for an excellent nutrition regimen for your new dog, don't forget to stop by one of our stores. Now's a great time to give our new line of Nutrena True products a try! Our associates will be happy to take care of you.

NOTE: This post is adapted (with permission) from content proudly brought to you by our partners at Nutrena and Cargill Animal Nutrition. The original article appears here.