Training your puppy begins the very moment that you bring your puppy home. “Training” is essentially teaching your puppy everything from potty training and basic manners to tricks and working disciplines. At Maverick Ranch, we strongly suggest training your puppy with positive reinforcement training. Positive reinforcement training uses a reward (treats, praise, toys) to encourage desired behaviours. A great positive reinforcement training method is clicker training. Another great idea for training your puppy is to use a training program such as an in person puppy class or Baxter & Bella. Baxter & Bella is an online puppy training course that your entire family can use right in your home. Maverick Ranch is a partner with Baxter & Bella. Use our discount code MAVERICK to receive 25% off the cost of the course. Click the link below to learn more about Baxter & Bella.
One thing to always take into consideration with young puppies is that at a young age they have a short attention span, so you never want to drag out training longer than it has to be! Short, fun training sessions are way more beneficial than a gruelling, long training session. We recommend no more than 5-10 minutes a session. Try to always end a training session on a positive note. Remember, when training a puppy consistency is key. Make sure every member of your family knows what behaviours are acceptable and unacceptable when training your puppy.
CLICKER TRAINING
What is clicker training? A method for training animals that uses positive reinforcement in conjunction with a clicker, to mark the behaviour being reinforced. The clicker is used during the acquisition phase of training a new behaviour, it allows the dog to identify the precise behaviour we are seeking.
HOW TO CLICKER TRAIN YOUR DOG:
Your dog will learn to associate the sound of the clicker with the reward. All you have to do is...
1. Get the desired behaviour
2. Mark the behaviour with the sound of the clicker
3. Reward the behaviour with a treat
TIPS
- Have fun! Play with your dog!
- The timing of the clicker matters
- Be patient, every dog learns at a different pace
- Use lots of tiny treats. They should be no bigger than half a pea.
- Keep training sessions short and sweet!
- If you or your dog becomes frustrated just take a break and train again later
- Only reward your dog when he/she is in the correct position
- If your dog is struggling, go back to an easier step
SOCIALIZATION
Why is puppy socialization so important?
A well-socialized puppy creates a behaved, relaxed, safer dog.
Socializing your new puppy requires more than meeting new people and dogs. Your puppy needs to be exposed to new sights, sounds, situations, smells, and textures. Please remember that your puppy is not protected against deadly viruses like Parvo until they have received their full course of puppy vaccinations (approximately 16-18 weeks old). Please socialize your puppy carefully. Quarantine their socialization to your home, private property, and homes with vaccinated animals until your puppy is fully vaccinated.
PLACES
- Vet Clinics
- Downtown
- Playground
- Grooming Facility
- Training Class
- Hiking
- Field
- Beach
- Shopping Center
- Big City
- Restaurants
- Friend's Houses
- Hotel
PEOPLE
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Pre-teens
- Teens
- Young Adults
- Elderly people
- Women of all sizes
- Men of all sizes
- People of all races
- People wearing hats
- People in uniforms
- Wheelchairs/walkers
- Crowds
ANIMALS
- Big Dogs
- Small Dogs
- Cats
- Rodents
- Birds
- Livestock
SOUNDS
- Thunder
- Fireworks
- Engines starting
- Barking dogs
- Loud music
- Crying babies
- Hair dryer
- Power Tools
- Vacuums
- Running water
- Traffic
- Honking
- Beeping
- Banging pots/pans
- Lawn mowers
- Garage doors
- People cheering
- Sirens
- Doorbells
- People Singing
- People Yelling
SITUATIONS
- Mild restraint
- Holding Tail
- Inspecting Ears
- Holding Paws/Nails
- Patting Head
- Touching Collar
- Trimming Nails
- Brushing
- Turing on side
- Looking at teeth
- Temperature taking
- Picture taking
- Camera flash
- Picking up
- Stretching
- Massaging
- Riding in carts
- On grooming/exam tables
- Darkness
- Windy
- Raining
- Bathtub
- In car
- In truck
- Elevators
- Automatic doors
- Low Agility Equipment
- Thrown objects
- Shallow water
- Deep water
- Airplane
- Crowds
- Balloons
- On Boat
- Campfire
- Umbrellas
- Skateboards/bikes
EQUIPMENT
- Collar
- Leash
- Crate
- Harness
- Vest
- Boots
- Jacket
SURFACES
- Dirt
- Grass
- Gravel
- Sand
- Snow
- Tile
- Concrete
- Slippery Surfaces
- Puddles/Water
- Carpet
- Metal
- Grates
- Stairs
- Inclines/declines
Note: Keep a close eye on your dog for signs of stress or discomfort (ears down, low tail, low body posture, increased jumping/mouthing) and quickly remove your dog from a situation. Keep a safe distance from things that cause discomfort and encourage your puppy to approach at a pace they are comfortable with. Socialization should be fun and exciting, never scary.
- It is a good idea to get your dog used to different smells that would be common in your home and wherever you take your dog.