Reasons For Investing In Puppy Training Early On
Meet puppy Teddy!
By Anthony De Marinis
Congratulations, you got a puppy! Now what?
Many puppy owners purchase or adopt a puppy without being prepared and then scrabble to get help when they are struggling to much. However, finding a professional dog trainer sooner then later can help you and your puppy start having success right away. This can help you avoid unnecessary problems and concerns and set you and your puppy up for success.
Getting help from a dog trainer
You might be thinking that your puppy will already know how to go to the bathroom outside or at least on a weewee pad. Maybe you expect your puppy to know how to be social and comfortable with the world they live in. Or, you might think they should naturally know how to walk on a leash as well.
BUT, this is not typically the case! In fact, most puppies and their owners need training. It is worth your time and money to invest in a quality training professional with credentials. This will ensure that you have the right tools in your toolbox. Investing in training right away can help in many ways. Here are the most important reasons to invest in training ASAP:
1. BASIC FOUNDATION SKILLS ARE LIFELONG SKILLS- Teaching a puppy basic foundation skills from the start is paramount for success. It ensures that your dog succeeds not only as a puppy but as a lifelong companion! Basic foundations make it easier to address problem behaviors down the road.Foundation training also helps teach puppies impulse control. This is essential for many things like living in a home, being around visitors, meeting other dogs, and much more. To get some tangible tips, skills and advice to hit the ground running, take a look at my blog on my Top 10 Skills To Teach a Puppy.
2. RELATIONSHIP BUILDING-Training is very beneficial in creating a relationship with your puppy. But it isn’t that easy and it doesn’t just come. It will take time, patience and hard work to earn your puppies trust and to build a long-lasting and enjoyable relationship together. Training needs to be a fun, enjoyable and engaging experience between puppy and owner. Training does not need to be a time-consuming formal session. It can be short and sweet and fun! When you start looking at training as a game it will become more enjoyable for you and your puppy. So get some treats, some toys, and a clicker and get to work!!!
3. YOUR PUPPY’S SOCIALIZATION PERIOD ENDS AROUND 16 WEEKS OF AGE- There are probably many places you would like to go with your dog. You’d like them to be able to explore the world they live in without fear.It’s easy for us to take our world for granted. However, our puppies are babies with no worldly experience. They need to have positive interactions and experiences with new places, things, sights, sounds, people and other dogs. Hiring a qualified professional to help you with this can help start your puppy off right!
4. HOW TO BE A POLITE FAMILY PET- Many people think that puppies should know how to behave both in and outside the home. This is false. As I mentioned before, your puppy is a baby. The owner must teach them about the world and how to behave in it.Training helps teach impulse control, rules, and boundaries. These are essential experiences for young puppies!
6. PREVENTING AND RESOLVING ISSUES WITH EARLY INTERVENTION STRATEGIES- Every puppy owner will have issues come up. Some puppies might start barking, others will start jumping, some will start digging or chewing on everything in sight! When you hire a qualified professional you will learn about how to properly address these issues so that you can mitigate them. Addressing them early makes them easier to deal with in the long run!
Teddy hanging out with his family on their deck.
