- Be consistent. …
- Be prompt. …
- Be firm. …
- Use positive reinforcement. …
- Give timeouts. …
- Don’t use physical punishment. …
- Don’t stare down, drag, or hold down your puppy. …
- Don’t shout or scream.
Puppies are lovable, energetic and often quite mischievous. While it is important to show patience and understanding as your puppy learns the rules, it is equally important to also teach your puppy proper behavior and discipline them when they do not follow the rules. Knowing how to effectively discipline your puppy is key to preventing bad behavior from occurring in the future. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at how to effectively discipline a puppy for bad behavior. We will discuss the importance of consistency in the discipline process, what types of discipline are and are not effective, and how to use positive reinforcement to help encourage good behavior. With the right tools and techniques, you can help your puppy learn what types of behavior are acceptable and which behaviors are not.
It is OK to punish your puppy?
Teaching a puppy that you are his friend, protector, and that you are dependable, predictable, and entertaining is crucial during the first few months of life.
If you discipline your puppy, it’s likely that he has no idea what you are punishing him for. When you use yelling, time-outs, or even smacking as a consequence for his behaviors, he cannot understand what went wrong.
The puppy will learn to distrust you because he will associate the punishment with you as owner rather than with something he did. This is the very last thing you want!.
It is frequently argued that because dogs occasionally correct each other harshly, it is acceptable to discipline your dog. I disagree with that strongly.
Dogs learn to treat others as they would like to be treated because they have very complex social structures. Your puppy might be wary of him and snap when he gets too close if, for instance, he has observed that one dog at the dog park can be arrogant and bold. On the other hand, if your new puppy discovered that all dogs are friendly and sweet, he or she will be much more submissive and submissive around that nice dog.
The same is true of a puppy’s relationship with his owner. The puppy will recall this and change his behavior if the owner chooses to be stern and demanding. When I train dogs in Albuquerque, I encounter many cases of problematic behavior that started out in this manner.
On the other hand, if the owner is dependable and kind, the puppy is much more likely to bond quickly and learn through positive reinforcement just as well – actually even much better.
How do I prevent my puppy from doing damage or getting into mischief?
To begin, create a daily schedule that meets all of your puppy’s needs, including exercise and socialization, play and training, feeding, and sleeping (for more information, see the handout “Using Enrichment, Predictability, and Scheduling to Train Your Dog”). Set the dog up for success is the general rule for training dogs. Until the puppy understands what it is permitted to chew on and where it should relieve itself, keep an eye on it at all times. The puppy can be trained to stay in sight by being kept on a lightweight leash that is 10 feet long. This is especially useful for a busy household or a puppy that is very curious.
When the puppy cannot be watched, such as at night or when you must leave the house, keep it in a safe space. The handouts “Crate Training Your Dog – An Overview,” “How to Crate Train Your Dog,” and “Reasons to Crate Train Your Dog” explain how to safely use an escape-proof crate, a dog run, or a collapsible pen. Another option is to keep the puppy in a carefully dog-proofed room. Consider a few things as you choose the area where your dog will be confined. If the new environment is linked to rewards, the dog will adjust to it more quickly. Invite the dog inside so that it can access all of the treats, toys, and possibly food and water. Avoid putting the puppy in the area when you are upset or correcting the puppy (although it can and should be used to prevent problems). The area should have some warm, dry, comfortable bedding. Avoid keeping the puppy in solitary spaces with little human interaction, like a basement or laundry room. In fact, the best place to keep a dog is frequently a kitchen (so that it can also be used for feeding) or a bedroom (so that it can be used for sleeping). Every time the puppy needs to be confined, it must first be thoroughly exhausted and given a chance to go potty. The length of time you may need to leave the dog alone is another factor to take into account when choosing the type of confinement area. Anytime the puppy will be left alone for a period of time longer than it can control its elimination, you must provide a place for it to go. If the puppy is being left alone for extended periods of time, a room or collapsible pen with a paper-covered area would be necessary. For owners who cannot confine their puppies for more than two or three hours, a cage or crate may be used (for information on crate training your puppy, see the handout “How to Crate Train Your Dog”).
How to punish a puppy appropriately
Consistency is key to all aspects of puppy training. You might occasionally feel tempted to avoid receiving punishment for a transgression. If you let them get away with something one day and chastise them for it the next, your puppy will be very confused. Okay, so they peed on the floor again, and you don’t have the energy to yell — surely they’ll do better next time, right? Wrong. Repetition and behavior reinforcement are essential components of effective puppy training.
FAQ
How do you punish a puppy for being bad?
Try making a loud noise, such as clapping your hands, a loud “uh-uh,” or a sharp “off,” if you see your puppy acting inappropriately. Remind yourself that reprimands must be given while the behavior is occurring, preferably right when it starts, and never after.
Should I punish my puppy for misbehaving?
Punishment should never be used to train a pet. Instead of trying to train pets to do something we don’t want them to, we should use reinforcement and shaping to teach them what we want them to learn. Waiting until the pet misbehaves before giving it something unpleasant is illogical.
At what age can you discipline a puppy?
A puppy can begin training as soon as you bring them home, which is typically at around 8 weeks of age. They can learn fundamental puppy training cues like sit, stay, and come at this young age.
How can I stop my puppy from unwanted behavior?
- Start with liberal doses of management. “Management” is dog trainer lingo for prevention.
- Remove reinforcement. …
- Teach the dog what you want her to do instead.
- Use a positive interrupter. …
- Use force-free corrections sparingly.