Important Tips For Training English Bulldog Puppies

You may have just gotten your new English Bulldog puppy and are ready to embark on some training exercises. Or you and your English Bulldog are long friends and are ready to teach him some new tricks and commands. Whatever the case, here are some important tips that any dog owner can use in their training experience.

1. The most important thing to remember is that training should always be enjoyable for you and your English Bulldog puppy. Doing training when you're tired after a hard day's work or when you puppy is hyper and in a playful mood. Training will go much smoother for both of you with a clear, open mind.

2. You can't do anything without the basics. If you are just starting training with your English Bulldog puppy, you will want to teach him the basic commands first such as sit, come, stay and down. Once your puppy masters these, you can move on to more complex and difficult commands. The basic commands give you a foundation to work off of for future training exercises.

3. English Bulldog puppies, and all other puppies for that matter, have short attention spans. If you notice that your puppy is not understanding and/or following your commands, try moving on to something that he does know or try a different command. You may also want to take a short break and allow him to roam around by himself, then bring him back for more training. Give him, and yourself, a short break when things aren't going smoothly.

4. Because training should always be enjoyable, training should never include punishments - physical or otherwise. If your puppy is not following the command correctly, do not give him a reward such as a treat or praise. Withholding the reward is negative reinforcement, not punishment. Physical or verbal abuse will only create a relationship based on fear which you do not want to form.

5. Timing of the reward is also one of the most important steps in training as well. You want to reward your puppy within a second of him completing the action correctly so that he connects his action with the reward.

6. When praising your English Bulldog puppy, remember to use high-pitched singsong tones. Dogs respond to these tones best and realize the tones are excited and positive.

7. Start training in a quiet, uninterrupted place when you are teaching a new command to your puppy. Noises and other distractions will make training more difficult for both of you. When your puppy starts to respond better and quicker to the command, move him into a noisier place and continue the training. You want to eventually be able to have your dog respond immediately even in an area that is full of distractions.

If nothing else, remember to have fun when you are training your English Bulldog puppy. Training is a chance for you and your puppy to bond and create a long lasting, respectful relationship for years and years to come.