A new puppy can be cute, playful – and a furry bundle of terror if he is not properly trained. This is why dog behavior training is such an important first step in the puppy care process. A well-trained dog is a welcome addition to the family, and a source of companionship and enjoyment for many years. Training should begin from the first day that your dog enters your home, and will continue until your pet understands all of the rules of the house and abides by them consistently. The time that you spend working with your pet on dog behavior training will be time well spent indeed.

When you do sit down to work with your puppy, there are some good rules of thumb to follow. First, make sure that the commands that you give your dog are always consistent. This means that if you do not want your puppy sleeping on your leather sofa, do not ever allow him to sit upon it. Get those rules of the house established early, and you won’t find yourself working overtime to try to break your pet of the bad habits that have been allowed previously. As you teach the rules to your pup, make sure that you stay calm and controlled in dealing with your dog. If you find your pet continuously misbehaving, a “time out” in his crate will allow both of you a cool-down period and show your dog that his behavior is not acceptable.

Since puppies do indeed have a short attention span, keep the focused training sessions short and to the point. Ten minutes a day of intense work with your dog will be sufficient to help your pet behave properly. As your dog obeys your commands during your dog behavior training time, a response of “Good dog” and a stroke to the head is sufficient praise for a job well done. Let your pet know by your expression, tone and touch that you are pleased with his obedience and then move on to your next dog behavior training point. Dogs will respond much better to this type of approach that allows them to focus more effectively on their training session.

The most important thing to remember with your dog behavior training session is that you always bring along plenty of patience. With time and some effort, your dog will become a welcome addition to your family and an enjoyable companion for you for many years to come.