Teaching your puppy good manners is important. It makes your dog a loyal and well-behaved friend. You need to be patient, do it regularly, and stay positive. This is a unique opportunity that shapes your little companion’s personality with relevant behavioral values and helps him to integrate harmoniously into society.
Inspired by the idea of socializing a puppy, in this article, we will thoroughly explore how to teach your four-legged friend good manners so that in the future, you can enjoy every minute spent together.
How to Teach Puppy Good Manners?
In the early stages of development, the brains of our faithful friends can absorb and process a lot of information, however, knowing the world and understanding how to behave in an environment full of impressions is a very difficult task for puppies.
Interestingly, puppies learn by association. They are quick to perceive patterns between action and reaction and transform actions in such a way that they receive maximum encouragement, whether it is verbal praise or eating their favorite food. Therefore, if a puppy learns that good behavior is associated with a reward, it will undoubtedly grow into a companion with an excellent personality.
Punishment has never been an acceptable form of training, as it is a proven fact that aggression shown during training may cause you to associate it with negative emotions. It is important to remember that teaching manners and dog obedience are two completely different concepts. Just as we teach small children good habits and manners, we must teach puppies what is good and what is bad.
For example, the puppy should know that biting during play is also unacceptable; that one should be patient while waiting, and should not chase an oncoming cat or bicycle. When it comes to teaching your puppy the rules, patience, and consistency are essential.
All family members must follow predetermined rules because if one family member allows the puppy to sleep on the bed, and the other prohibits this action, the puppy will get confused. Also, it is advisable to agree with the family members on the words that you will use for each command in the teaching process.
Teaching Your Puppy Commands Such as Sit & Stay
Start teaching your puppy patience by choosing a specific place. Using a favorite toy or special dog food, lead the puppy to the chosen location and give instructions such as “stay” or “sit”. Gradually increase the waiting interval and reward the puppy with praise for following the command. After the indoor space, try to repeat the same outside the building.
If you want the puppy to remain calm in the sitting position, bring the food close to the nose, which you move with a light movement of the hand from the bottom to the top. In the process, you will notice that your furry friend will naturally find himself in a sitting position. At this time, be sure to praise and reward the puppy.
The strategy changes if you want the dog to move from a sitting position to a lying position during the waiting process. In such a case, the direction of movement of the food should be changed and it should be moved from top to bottom until it is on the floor between the puppy’s paws. The teaching process mustn’t be associated with stress, therefore, try to make the training as short as possible and full of positive experiences.
Teaching a Polite Greeting
You will probably agree that a polite greeting is an integral part of socializing. To help your puppy develop this skill, ask guests to approach him calmly, without any excitement. At the same time, instruct the puppy to wait quietly until you allow him to come to the guests. Reward the puppy for following the instructions. Over time, your puppy will learn that staying calm is rewarded with positive feedback.
How to Refrain Puppy from Biting
Teaching a puppy that biting is not acceptable even during play requires a consistent and patient approach. If your puppy bites you and this behavior is systematic, instead of getting frustrated and upset, calmly divert his attention to an activity such as offering him an interesting toy. When the puppy shows a calm and controlled action, it is desirable to appreciate his behavior with praise and expressions of love for him.
Prevention of Aimless Barking
Preventing a puppy from aimlessly barking requires a strategic approach. First of all, it is important to understand the cause of barking, which can be related to boredom and anxiety, territorial behavior, and lack of attention. When your puppy starts barking for no reason, avoid scolding him and instead try to reward his quiet moments appropriately.
To eliminate the problem, create a consistent routine that includes feeding and walking, as well as mental and physical activities for the puppy. With consistent practice and patience, you will be able to create a more peaceful living environment for both your family and your faithful companion in a short time.
The Importance of Good Manners in Dog Socialization
Dogs are social creatures by nature, so teaching them good manners goes beyond simple obedience and greatly improves their safety and happiness along with their overall well-being. The role of good manners in puppy socialization involves several valuable aspects.
1. Prevention of behavioral problems
Learning good manners early in development can help prevent behavioral problems in your puppy in the future. Like humans, dogs experience stress, but knowing how to control emotions and impulses gives puppies the ability to proactively deal with negative emotions.
It is advisable to note that your role as the person responsible for the puppy is especially important in this process because when dogs understand what is expected of them, they feel less confused.
2. Security
Puppies are naturally curious and energetic creatures. However, when a dog is trained, it becomes easier to handle dangerous situations. For example, if a dog is approaching a road, a “stay” command will surely save it from potential danger. It should also be noted that teaching a puppy good manners builds a strong bond of trust and makes communication between a person and their faithful companion more harmonious.
3. Public interaction
Well-mannered puppies are greeted more wholeheartedly in public places, including parks, cafes, and shops. Positive interaction with the environment significantly improves the public image of our furry friends. Since well-mannered dogs are easy to manage, puppies with a positive attitude toward people are more likely to participate in a variety of family activities.
As you can see, puppies with the manners necessary for healthy social interaction live very diverse and fulfilling lives, which significantly affects the happiness of their humans.