Welcoming a new puppy into your home is an exciting adventure! Puppies bring joy, energy, and plenty of learning opportunities. At K9 Heeling, we believe in setting a solid foundation for your pup through training that is fun, engaging, and effective. In this guide, we'll cover the "fun-damentals" of puppy training, including house training, engagement, and socialization.
House Training: Consistency is Key
Potty training is one of the first and most important lessons for a puppy. Sticking to a structured schedule helps prevent accidents and reinforces good habits. We strongly recommend crate training, which not only aids in house training but also provides your pup with a safe space to relax.
Here are some key tips for successful house training:
Take your puppy outside at scheduled times throughout the day.
Always accompany them outside. Walk with them and have a their food with you so it is handy to use to create positive associations of engaging with you and as a reward.
Use a verbal cue like "Go potty" to encourage them.
When they finish, reward them with praise, affection, and a few pieces of kibble.
With patience and consistency, your puppy will learn where and when to relieve themselves, setting them up for long-term success.
Engagement: Building a Bond Through Play
Engagement is the key to keeping your puppy interested in training. Play is one of the best ways to strengthen your bond and teach valuable skills. Try incorporating food and toy games into their daily routine:
Use hand feeding and make mealtime interactive.
Play games that encourage chasing, sniffing, and problem-solving, such as tossing kibble into the grass and letting them search for it.
Teach patience by gradually increasing the time they wait before receiving a reward.
By making training feel like a game, your puppy will naturally develop better focus, problem-solving abilities, and responsiveness to commands.
Socialization: More Than Just Meeting New Friends
Proper socialization is not just about letting your puppy interact with every dog and person—it’s about helping them feel comfortable in different settings and situations. Here’s how to do it right:
Go on “puppy-sized adventures” by exploring new areas, textures, and environments.
Expose your pup to various sights, sounds, and experiences (e.g., watching cars pass by or walking on different surfaces).
Use food rewards to create positive associations with new stimuli.
The goal is to build confidence so that your puppy remains calm and comfortable, no matter what’s happening around them.
K9 Heeling’s Puppy Training Programs
At K9 Heeling, we offer professional puppy training programs designed to set you and your pup up for success:
2-Week Puppy Stay: A structured program covering obedience, house training, and socialization and you take home the included equipment needed to continue at home.
3-Lesson Puppy Package: One-on-one sessions tailored to your puppy’s needs with included equipment to set you up for success.
Puppy Group Classes: A fun environment for learning basic commands and social skills.
By investing in early training, you're giving your puppy the tools they need for a happy and well-behaved life.
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re looking for expert guidance in training your puppy, K9 Heeling is here to help! Contact us at (443) 397-4141 or visit www.k9heeling.com to learn more about our training programs.
Now, let's put that work in!
Happy Dog Training - The K9 Team
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