Positive Dog and Puppy Training Tips that Work
At Warman dog Training, we believe every dog and puppy learns best through positive reinforcement and clear communication.
Positive reinforcement training builds a strong bond between you and your dog while creating lasting good habits. Instead of focusing on what the dog/puppy does wrong we focus on what the dog does right. Dogs need to be taught what the correct behavior is, they don’t know, until we teach it. For example, jumping up is what a dogs thinks is the correct way to get attention based on their knowledge of being a dog. Alternatively we teach the dog that in the human world sitting quietly infront of me is how you get attention. This approach makes learning fun, stress-free, and very effective for both dogs and puppies.
Our Puppy Head Start Program and Puppy Classes are designed to support this early learning. Early socialization is key. The experiences your puppy has the first few months shape their future behavior. Introduce your puppy to new sights, sounds, people and experiences after your puppy has settled into its new home. Warman Dog Training will help you teach essentila skills like, recall, leash walking, basic obedience and manners training using reward based training methods.
Adult dogs benefit from positive reinforcment. Book an in-home private training session with Jen to work on specific behavioral, reactivity, fear, barking behaviors etc. With patience, consistency you can teach older dogs new skills. From basic obedience to bewhavior consultation, we tailor training to fit your dog & families unique needs.
At Warman Dog Training, our goal is simple: to help you understand how your dog learns so you can creat a calm,happy home together. Explore the tips below to discover practical ways to encourage good habits and improve communication with your dog/puppy.
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The first few days after your puppy arrives in its new home can be quite overwhelming for both you and the puppy. There will be many new experiences: different sounds, unfamiliar people, other animals, and a completely new environment. It’s important to allow your puppy to explore this new space only when it feels confident and shows a genuine interest in doing so. Give your puppy plenty of time to settle in at its own pace. Avoid overwhelming your puppy with too much handling during these initial days, as young puppies need plenty of rest with frequent potty breaks.
Don’t use puppy pee pads, because they can encourage your puppy to relieve itself indoors rather than outdoors. Establish a consistent schedule for potty breaks—take your puppy out immediately after waking from a nap, after meals, following playtime, and every couple of hours throughout the night. Your puppy will gradually be able to wait longer and longer before your need to take it out for a potty break . Always reward your puppy with praise and a small treat right after it finishes pottying outside to reinforce th what you want and makes you happy. Training should begin the as soon as your puppy joins your family. Puppy training begins from day one.
Consider booking a Puppy Head Start training session with Jen at Warman Dog Training. In your home, Saskatoon and area. Jen will help you set up a proactive training plan and provide effective solutions to common puppy behaviors such as nipping, biting, chewing, and jumping up. Positive puppy training does Not mean permissive; the sooner your puppy understands the rules and boundaries of its new home, the smoother and easier the transition will be for everyone involved. Provide a quiet, safe, enclosed space to contain the puppy when it is unsupervised. Description text goes here
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Positive Reinforcement builds trust and a confident puppy.
1. Structure: Ensure your new puppy or dog understands which areas and items are theirs and which are off-limits. Set this up on the first day they come home. For example, if you want your dog to go to a mat when entering, place one by the door. Your dog will learn to wait on the mat and be given permission before coming inside with wet paws. Training begins on day#1 is very important.
2. Daily routines: Your puppy will learn to wake up, eat, play, and sleep at set times. Try to keep a regular schedule for training, walks, playtime, and potty breaks. This helps your puppy know what to expect and feel calm and secure.
3. Consistency: Consistency is Key! Your dog will do best when it knows the rules and limits in your home. For example, if you don’t want your puppy on the furniture, it should never be allowed. Puppies don’t understand sometimes yes, sometimes no, so you must be consistent. Another example is begging at the dinner table. Teach your puppy to stay in a designated spot or put it in its crate during meals to avoid rewarding begging behavior.
4. Positive Reinforcement: You can’t reward your puppy too much. Use its daily food for training—no extra treats needed at home. Call your puppy, wait for it to sit in front of you, then give several pieces of food. Practice recalling several times, practice before you really need the puppy to come to you.. This teaches the puppy its name and that you are the source of food (not the dish). At the end of the day, let the puppy eat any leftover training food, but don’t leave food out all day. Food is valuable—use it for training.Description text goes here
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Make the crate a safe, cozy place with soft bedding for your puppy to relax. Feed meals inside the crate with the door open at first. Gradually start closing the door while the puppy is eating and for short periods of time. During the day, toss treats or food inside to encourage your puppy to explore, keeping the door open so they associate the crate with good things.
Start nighttime crate training from day one. Cover the crate with a blanket and put a cuddle buddy inside for comfort. Close the door and let the puppy settle. Be prepared for some whining and howling at first. Ignore, do not talk to the puppy or let it see you while it is adjusting to its new bedroom. open if the puppy is quiet. Talking to puppy at this time will confirm that whining gets you to come to his rescue. If the whining continues, cover the crate door to help puppy settle without outside distractions.
Crate training takes time. Be patient—expect some whining and howling as your puppy gets used to it.