Any top dog trainer, who employs a reputable, positive dog training program with respectful dog training techniques, knows that dogs are not solitary beings. In the wild, dogs and wolves live in family units, and instinctively choose to work together to hunt and protect themselves. As the idiom goes, there’s safety in numbers, and their family units offer that.

Your dog’s ancestors were, indeed, predators, but they weren’t invincible. Especially when separated from their packs, they were vulnerable in unfamiliar situations that included unknown creatures and landscapes. This fear was necessary for survival, and lives on in modern dogs.

In many cases, fear of strange situations can morph into bigger problems: like life altering, fearful aggression. Many dogs who growl, bark, and bite do so because they are fearful, and deem strange places, people, and situations worthy of defense.

For these reasons, not excluding the safety of your family, neighbors, other dogs, and your own dog, it’s important to start socializing your puppy as early as possible.

Early in a puppy’s life, namely during months two and three, he’s literally absorbing his world; learning, exploring, and building his confidence. This is your chance to show him how exciting and nontoxic the world can be.

Think about the things that you anticipate doing with your adult dog, and expose your puppy to those experiences. Here are some ideas for socializing your puppy:

It’s never difficult to find children who are willing to mingle with your puppy. Encourage this, so that your puppy can become accustomed to the quick hands and feet of children.

Hop in the car for rides with your puppy.

Walk her on nature trails, where she’ll see squirrels, birds, etc.

Frequent the dog park or dog obedience training schools, where social opportunities with other dogs abound.

Frequent city sidewalks. Give your puppy the chance to develop a tolerance for loud engines, horns, cyclists, pedestrians, and other walking dogs.

Stop in at the groomer’s, the kennel, the vet clinic, and the pet shop for visits. Allow your puppy the opportunity to introduce herself to the staff at each venue.

Many retailers, pet supply stores, and banks welcome pets. Don’t miss this opportunity to introduce your puppy to new people. Allow those people to offer her treats, to build trust.

Use clicker training to reward her most confident behavior, despite sharp noises, quick children, and unfamiliar dogs.

If your puppy is frightened by a noise or a strange dog or human, ignore her fear. If you reassure her, she’ll mistake that reassurance for reward of her fearful behavior. Disregard this behavior, and save the rewards for the time when she sheds the fearful display.

If your puppy shows fear of a stranger, or another dog, never push him into that situation. Allow him to stay back, while you display your own confidence. Soon, he will take a cue from you, and will approach. When he does so, calmly and fearlessly, you can click and reward.

Many times, pet owners find that they aren’t physically able to take their puppies out into the wide world. If you find that this is your case, hire a top dog trainer, or even a dog walker, who will socialize your puppy properly. Invite friends with children and animals to your home to meet your puppy. If you don’t take these steps, your puppy could grow to become a dog who is uncomfortable with, and possibly aggressive toward, visitors.

Every time you take your puppy for a ride, or a walk, or meander through a crowd of people with her, she’s gaining the confidence that’s necessary to be a calm, friendly adult dog.

If you’ve ever walked into a room full of strangers, you know how unnerving it can be. This mirrors your dog’s emotions. But you can change that, with puppy socialization. Dog obedience training victory, and a first class dog human relationship, rely on it.

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Using positive reinforcement to modify behavior in humans, particularly children, has been popular for a number of years. This is just a fancy way of saying that behavior that is acceptable to you will be rewarded and unacceptable behavior will be ignored. In recent times this same method has been found to have positive effects on non-humans.

Recently I watched a couple of young ladies putting a Killer Whale through her act and it struck me that the only way that huge animal could have been trained to do that was using the positive reinforcement method. If you are ready to train your new puppy you can take the advice that’s widely accepted among the vast majority of dog training experts today: the most effective and humane way to train your dog is through positive reinforcement training.

Some of the popular dog training techniques of the past are completely opposite from today’s preferred method. Some of these outdated methods are now considered abusive and are avoided by all who wish to treat their dogs in a humane manner. Using the more humane positive reinforcement method you can have a puppy that is a well-trained and a loved member of the family.

Your puppy’s natural instinct is to please you, but she has to know what you want her to do. Puppies are easily confused; for this reason it is important that you be consistent in the language you use in giving commands. Before teaching your dog a command, decide ahead of time what verbal cue you’re going to be giving her, and then stick to it. So, when training your dog to not jump up on you, select one word or phrase such as “no jump”, and use it every time. Dogs learn through consistent repetition the appropriate actions associated with a particular phrase.

Dogs respond well to meaningful rewards during training. Patting on the head is not such a reward for most dogs. They like to have their backs and chests rubbed and some like their ears played with. Play with your puppy in a very gentle manner to determine if she gives a positive response to physical affection

To keep the quality of your dog’s learning at a high standard, it’s also good to use tempting incentives for good behavior. Food treats and physical affection are what dog trainers refer to as “primary incentives” – in other words, they’re both significant rewards that most dogs respond powerfully and reliably to.

Rewards work when training your puppy, but they must be given at just the right time. When your puppy responds to a command with the correct behavior, is the moment to give the reward. She will soon make the connection between her response to your command and the reward she receives

You can also use your voice to mark desired behavior: just saying “Yes!” in a happy, excited tone of voice will work perfectly. Make sure that you give her the treat after the marker – and remember to use the marker consistently. If you only say “Yes!” sometimes, it won’t have any significance to your dog when you do it; she needs the opportunity to learn what that marker means (i.e., that she’s done something right whenever she hears the marker, and a treat will be forthcoming very shortly). Here again, consistency is important.

A very important ingredient in successfully training your puppy is that you both enjoy it. Find a time when you both are refreshed and an incentive program that works for your puppy.

Want to find out more about The Absolute Best Puppy Training for your new pal.

It takes more than a few stacks of newspaper to house train a puppy. Patience, commitment, paying attention and consistency are needed.

A guide for training your puppy is listed below. Remember that accidents will happen even if you have a full grown dog.

Be patient and consistent when training your puppy as this training period can last a couple of weeks or more.

Develop a routine.

As with babies, puppies learn faster with normal schedules. This helps the puppy learn that there is a time for going to the bathroom, playing and eating.

For every month of age, a puppy can control their bladder for an hour. So, if the puppy is two months old, then he can control his bladder for two hours. Remember this when taking your puppy out for potty breaks. Hiring a dog walker might be necessary if you work away from the home to keep the schedule.

Take your puppy outside as soon as he wakes up, after drinking or eating, and during or after playing. Also, choose a spot outside for the bathroom. Always take him to that spot while he is on a leash. Use words or phrases such as “get busy” while he is going to the bathroom. He will learn to associate these words with relieving himself.

Give your puppy praise and a reward for using the bathroom outside. This needs to be done before you come back inside.

On average, puppies eat approximately three to four times per day. Feed your puppy at the same time to help develop a regular feeding schedule and bathroom schedule.

Make it easier to get through the night by picking up his dishes about two hours before going to bed. If he does happen to wake up in the middle of the night, do not freak out. If you do he may think it is playtime. Do not play or turn on a bunch of lights. Take him outside and then go back to bed.

Supervise.

Watch your puppy carefully when he is in the house so he will not have an accident.

Keep your puppy near you using a six foot leash if you are not playing with or training him. Some signs that he may need to use the bathroom include scratching at the door or barking, restlessness, circling or sniffing. If you see your puppy acting like that, take him outside immediately. After he uses the bathroom, reward him with praise or a treat.

Learn how to pick the correct Dog Bedding for your dog. Do not allow Puppy Potty Training become a prolonged or tedious experience.