How To Train A Puppy

It is useful to teach your puppy that ‘off’ means ‘take your face and body away from what you are interested in and you will be rewarded’. This exercise is easy to teach and can be used if, for example, your puppy is getting too close to biscuits on a low table or is biting your fingers too hard.

Your puppy needs to learn that humans always get their own way and that it is easier to give in to them sooner rather than later. For this reason, ask your puppy to do something, even if he doesn’t want to do it, only if you are in a position to ensure that it happens.

Give your puppy a treat. Hold another up, say ‘off and keep it held tightly between your thumb and finger. Allow your puppy to lick, chew and paw at your hand, but ignore this behavior. Be patient, keep your hand still and wait until you see a space appear between your hand and your puppy’s nose, then feed the treat immediately.

Repeat until your puppy learns that when you say ‘off, he needs to take his face away to get the treat. Practice this in several sessions until he will move his head away as soon as you say ‘off. Then gradually build up the time he can wait for until you can count to ten before rewarding. Practice in different locations and situations.

Puppy Training Tips For Success

• Keep your hand absolutely still when you say ‘off’.
• At first, give the treat as soon as you see a gap appear between your hand and your puppy’s nose.
• Only say ‘off’ once and then keep quiet and wait for your puppy to take his face away.
• When you use the ‘off’ for a real-life event, such as if your puppy is about to take something off the table, reward him well for responding and find him an extra tasty treat to reinforce his good behavior.
• If your puppy bites or scratches your fingers too hard, wear an old leather glove while you teach ‘off’. When you take the glove off, you will need to teach him again, but this time it should be faster and less painful.

How To Train A Puppy – FAQs

Q ‘My puppy won’t do what I want. How should I discipline him?’

A There is no need to discipline, shout at or punish your puppy, but you will, on occasions, need to be strong-willed about making him behave as you wish. This will help your puppy to learn to deal with the feelings of frustration that will inevitably occur when he does not get his own way.

Q ‘When should I start to insist on getting my own way?’

A All puppies, and humans, need to learn how to deal with the feeling generated when they cannot get their own way, and it is easier to teach him this while he is little rather than when he is bigger and stronger.

Q ‘What do I do if he gets cross or barks at me?’

A If your puppy cannot get his own way and begins to get cross or bark, continue to prevent him doing what he wants until he relaxes, then reward him well.

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