It is crucial to begin training your puppy in the first week. Routine, consistency, healthy interaction and positive reinforcement are essential things that must be started as soon as the puppy arrives at its new home.
Routine
It is very important to establish a routine as soon as your new puppy arrives home. Routine helps the puppy to feel safe and secure in its new environment and settle in better. Do not fuss over the puppy too much after bringing it home because it will quickly become unruly and demanding. Make sure that your puppy has its own space in the house straight away that includes warm bedding and plenty of dog toys. Decide and stick to a routine for feeding, walking and cleaning up mess.
Consistency
Train your puppy consistently in short sessions. A puppy will quickly become confused and frustrated if you are not consistent with your training. A puppy is very impressionable during the first week and will quickly learn rules and routines. Start training as soon as the puppy arrives home and do not use the excitement of the first week as an excuse to break consistency.
Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is vital when training your new puppy in the first week. A puppy has no idea how to behave so you need to be patient and show it the correct behaviour. Encourage good behaviour with lots of praise and rewards. Make training sessions fun and based on trust and your puppy will grow in confidence. Never hit or yell at your puppy when it misbehaves. Also, don't forget to follow up with dog treats on positive behaviors.
Socialization
Socialization is a vital part of training in the first week and helps to strengthen the bond between you and your puppy. A properly socialized puppy will become a friendly, well-behaved and mentally healthy adult dog. Get lots of different people to pick up and interact with your puppy in a relaxed environment. Supervise your puppy while it explores its new surroundings. Take your puppy to puppy socialization classes so that it can meet and play with other puppies. Do not expose your new puppy to threatening situations as this can damage it for life.
Vaccinations
It is vital to get an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible after your puppy arrives home. A puppy must be fully vaccinated against the main canine diseases before it can go outside and interact with other dogs.
The training methods you use in the first week will determine what your puppy will be like as an adult dog. Although training a puppy is hard work, it is also hugely rewarding and should be an enjoyable experience.
