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Puppy
Training
I will
also provide you with the following 2 books when you pick up
your puppy. Both are excellent resources for you to feel
confident in training your puppy. How to housetrain your
puppy in 7 Days and How to raise a puppy you can live
with.
Downloadable Puppy Resources:
Puppy Socialization
New Puppy Shopping List
Labradoodle Puppy Training Tips
There are
six general commands to teach your new puppy. Those six
include Heel, Come, Sit, Stand, Stay, and Down. We typically
teach our dogs in this order:
Come, Sit, Stay, Down, Heel, Stand.
Practice
Time
The important thing to remember about practice time is to not
be in a hurry and practice every day. Remember that you don't
set the pace for learning but that your puppy does. Your
training sessions should last for only two to five minutes,
that way you're matching the attention span length of your
Labradoodle. If you push them longer, they may stop paying
attention to you. As you work each session, make sure that
every one is completed with a near-perfect performance. This
could be as simple as a one or two-second sit, or three little
"heeling" steps next to you. When they do it successfully tell
them how "perfect" it was. Really let them know how pleased
you are they got it right. Excitement in your voice and an
ample supply of small treats.
When Not
to Practice
Don't start training right after your Labradoodle puppy has
eaten because they'll be sleepy and the treats you use as
rewards won't be as enticing. However, you can practice at any
time throughout the day, even if it's a three-second "stay."
They will love the attention. One thing many owners don't
realize is the motivation for them to do anything is rooted in
their desire to please you. Verbal praise has a range from
ecstatic (for the first few correct responses from a very
young pup) to a calm "good dog" as they grow up and become
better a performing the lessons.
How About
Treats?
Basically, treats run a close second to their desire to please
you. As for treats, dog biscuits generally aren't good
training treats because they take your puppy too long to chew.
Tiny bits of dog treats make a better treat and will keep them
motivated. As each word command is learned, gradually cut back
on the treats and substitute "good dog."
How to Say It
What you say and how you say it determines how quickly dogs
learn. All conversation is perceived as meaningless sound. To
see how quickly they can learn their name, try this exercise:
In the middle of conversation with a friend, say your dogs
name emphatically and watch them take notice. When using the
one-word training commands, remember that lesson. Their name
gives you their attention; one word tells them what to do. It
is "Rover, SIT" - loud and clear. Don't go this route, "Rover,
Sit. Sit. Sit. "Rover, you're not listening - I said Sit. SIT,
Rover! " That's nagging and Rover will tune you out just like
children will. Your Labradoodle puppy isn't being disobedient
or stubborn. They're just confused, so avoid sounding like a
drill sergeant! Smile, speak clearly and say it once. If your
puppy did not listen to the command gently maneuver him to the
position you want then give lots of praise “Perfect, or “Good
Dog” and a treat. He will eventually catch on that doing that
is a good thing and he will be rewarded.
House
Training
Contrary to popular belief, housetraining a puppy requires far
more than a few stacks of old newspapers—it calls for
vigilance, patience, and plenty of commitment. By following
the procedures outlined below, you can minimize house soiling
incidents, but virtually every puppy will have an accident in
the house, and more likely, several. Expect this—it's part of
raising a puppy. The more consistent you are in following the
basic housetraining procedures, however, the faster your puppy
will learn acceptable behavior. It may take several weeks to
housetrain your puppy.
Establish
A Routine
-
Like
babies, puppies do best on a regular schedule. Take your
puppy outside frequently—at least every two hours—and
immediately after he wakes up from a nap, after playing, and
after eating or drinking.
-
Praise your puppy lavishly every time he eliminates
outdoors—you can even give him a treat—but remember to do so
immediately after he's finished eliminating, not after he
comes back inside the house. This step is vital, because
rewarding your dog for eliminating outdoors is the only way
he'll know what's expected of him.
-
Pick a
bathroom spot near the door, and always take your puppy to
that spot using a leash. Take him out for a longer walk or
some playtime only after he has eliminated. If you clean up
an accident in the house, take the soiled rags or paper
towels and leave them in the bathroom spot. The smell will
help your puppy recognize the area as the place he is
supposed to eliminate. While your puppy is eliminating, use
a word or phrase, like "go potty," that you can eventually
use before he eliminates to remind him what to do.
-
Put your
puppy on a regular feeding schedule and feed a high-quality
diet to make housetraining easier. Depending on their age,
puppies usually need to be fed three or four times a day.
Feeding your puppy at the same times each day will make it
more likely that he'll eliminate at consistent times as
well, and that makes housetraining easier for both of you.
Keep Your
Eyes Peeled
Don't give your puppy an opportunity to soil in the house;
keep an eye on him whenever he's indoors. You can tether him
to you with a six-foot leash, or use baby gates to keep him in
the room where you are. Watch for signs that he needs to
eliminate, like sniffing around or circling. When you see
these signs, immediately grab the leash and take him outside
to his bathroom spot. If he eliminates, praise him lavishly
and reward him with a treat.
Confinement
When you're unable to watch your puppy at all times, he should
be confined to an area small enough that he won't want to
eliminate there. The space should be just big enough for him
to comfortably stand, lie down, and turn around in. You can
use a portion of a bathroom or laundry room blocked off with
baby gates. Or you may want to
crate train your puppy and use the crate to confine him.
(Be sure to learn how to use a crate humanely as a method of
confinement.) If your puppy has spent several hours in
confinement, you'll need to take him directly to his bathroom
spot as soon as you let him out, and praise him when he
eliminates.
Oops!
Expect your puppy to have a few accidents in the house—it's a
normal part of housetraining. Here's what to do when that
happens:
-
When you
catch him in the act of eliminating in the house, do
something to interrupt him, like make a startling noise (be
careful not to scare him). Immediately take him to his
bathroom spot, praise him, and give him a treat if he
finishes eliminating there.
-
Don't
punish your puppy for eliminating in the house. If you find
a soiled area, it's too late to administer a correction.
Just clean it up. Rubbing your puppy's nose in it, taking
him to the spot and scolding him, or any other punishment
will only make him afraid of you or afraid to eliminate in
your presence. In fact, punishment will often do more harm
than good.
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Cleaning
the soiled area is very important because puppies are highly
motivated to continue soiling in areas that smell like urine
or feces.
It's
extremely important that you use the supervision and
confinement procedures outlined above to prevent the number of
accidents. If you allow your puppy to eliminate frequently in
the house, he'll get confused about where he's supposed to
eliminate, which will prolong the housetraining process.
Paper
Training
A puppy under six months of age cannot be expected to control
his bladder for more than a few hours at a time. If you have
to be away from home more than four or five hours a day, you
may want to consider a professional pet sitter or neighbor to
allow him out to eliminate or instead, you may want to
consider an older dog, who can wait for your return.
If none of these options work you'll need to train him to
eliminate in a specific place indoors. Be aware, however, that
doing so can prolong the process of housetraining. Teaching
your puppy to eliminate on newspaper may create a life-long
surface preference, meaning that even as an adult he may
eliminate on any newspaper lying around the living room. When
your puppy must be left alone for long periods of time,
confine him to an area with enough room for a sleeping space,
a playing space, and a separate place to eliminate. If indoor
is your only option consider using a training tool like
www.wizdog.com or a sod box. To make a sod box, place sod
in a container such as a child's small, plastic swimming pool.
If you clean up an accident in the house, put the soiled
rags or paper towels in the designated elimination area. The
smell will help your puppy recognize the area as the place
where he is supposed to eliminate.
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