Essentials of Puppy Training
Puppy training is a fun and enjoyable experience for you and your puppy. Puppies are not human and they do not necessarily understand your language and mannerisms. You have to be very careful during every step of the puppy training because even a minor mistake during the training program could be counterproductive.
These mistakes could delay or even derail the training process and lead to development of strange behavior and responses in your puppy. The worst part is that most of the puppy trainers keep on committing these mistakes due to ignorance. Each repetition reinforces the undesired behavior and ultimately the puppy becomes incorrigible.
Most of the puppy owners commit these training mistakes because of carelessness or excessive love and affection for the puppy. For example, the most common complaint of puppy owners is that their puppy does not come when called. The harder they try to correct this behavioral disorder, the more she refuses to come.
The development of this disorder has a simple explanation. Puppies are very playful and energetic by nature. They enjoy playing and going out. However, puppy owners use the ‘come’ command only when the puppy is going back home, ending a training program or to confine the puppy to the crate.
In short, the word ‘come’ is associated with all sorts of uncomfortable and unwelcome events for the puppy. She understands that ‘come’ indicates the end of fun and outing, putting on the leash and collar, or being confined to the crate. Why should she accept the command, which means the end of fun for her? This is the reason why many puppies refuse to come when called.
Some owners further aggravate this problem. The puppy has refused to come when called for two or three consecutive times. This is a reason sufficient to make a puppy owner red with anger. Now the owner starts shouting and yelling at the puppy, which makes the puppy even more scared and confused.
After repeated efforts when the puppy finally obeys and comes back, she gets a reprimand and or a beating as a reward. Imagine the impression it leaves on the puppy’s mind. She automatically assumes that she will get a reprimand if she obeys the ‘come’ command.
The better alternative would have been to associate ‘come’ with some good experiences and rewards for your puppy. You should use the ‘come’ command during her outing and play to offer her a warm hug or pat. Try to associate ‘come’ with fun, happiness and the things that your puppy loves to do. The more you associate ‘come’ with good things and rewards the easier it will be for you to ensure flawless and swift compliance.
Always keep in mind that good puppies are not born but made by owners and trainers. They are born as puppies and this is how they are going to behave unless you provide them sufficient motivation to behave otherwise.