It’s not easy to train a puppy but the time you will spend together during this process will create a loving bond that will last a lifetime. Once your puppy understands the commands and schedules you want them to learn, you will have an easy and enjoyable time staying with him or her.

The best time to start training puppies is when they are between 12-16 weeks old. At this age, the puppy has enough control over her bowel and bladder movements. If younger than 12 weeks, the attention span is very short. If the puppy is older than 16 weeks, it might take her longer to learn basic obedience commands.

Start training your puppy the moment he arrives at your home. Help the puppy recognize its name by constantly using it every time you feed, cuddle or play with her. This will make the communication with her easier.

A general rule is that a puppy can hold his bladder for as many hours as he is months old, plus one. So if your puppy is two months old, he can hold it for three hours. Take your puppy outside the first thing in the morning and the last thing at night before you go to sleep. You may consider putting your puppy in a crate at night to avoid accidents. When outside, take him to the same spot all the time so he can establish a pattern and a sense of smell.

When the puppy does something the right way, give her a small treat or extra affection. She will make mistakes often, but do not punish her or this could make the puppy fear you, which will slow the training process.

During the teething process, your puppy’s gums are sore and she tries to relieve the pressure through biting and chewing. To prevent this, offer her alternatives such as toys she can chew on. When the puppy bites or nips you hard when playing, tell her no firmly, end the playtime abruptly and ignore her for as many minutes as she is months old plus one. She will learn that biting or nipping terminates her fun and affection.

Puppies are social and exploratory animals. They like playing together and interacting with almost anything that brings fun. Take your puppy out for walks and let her play with other puppies.

It will take time to train your puppy. You should be very consistent and patient during this training period as you will be using positive reinforcement and a lot of repetition. Take numerous breaks and structure the training into short, regular sessions.

We hope this list of tips brings your pup happiness and saves you some stress. Those are our goals at Dog Day, Every Day! , too! Please give us a call at 513-860-3647 to talk with us about your doggie daycare or grooming needs! Check us out on Facebook , Twitter and Pinterest !

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