If you are wondering how to discipline a puppy, you are not alone!
There are thousands of dog owners who are looking for effective ways to instill discipline in puppies and make them follow commands.
Young puppies can be a handful with all the chewing and barking they do. However, you can train them from an early age and discipline them in a positive way to avoid destructive behavior.
Educating your puppy is a crucial part of their development!
It will influence their behavior, teach them good habits, and develop a strong bond with their owner.
Reprimanding your puppy is very important. The best time to do this is during the misbehavior. This way, you can direct your puppy’s attention to something else.
For example, if your puppy barks at the neighbors, you can close the curtains. This will prevent the barking from resounding outside. You can also use the timeout method to instill discipline in your puppy.
When disciplining a puppy, always keep in mind that punishment never works. Instead, use firm signals or a tone of voice to reinforce positive behaviors.
Fortunately, training your puppy does not have to be a difficult process, and it doesn’t have to involve spending thousands of dollars on a dog trainer.
Here are a few tips to help you get started. In this guide, we will show you how to discipline a puppy without any punishment or harsh behavior.
What Does Puppy Discipline Entail?
The first step in teaching appropriate dog behavior is discipline. Many people confuse discipline with punishment which is not right. Here, discipline entails training and correcting destructive behavior using positive ways.
When a dog behaves in a negative manner, the owner should correct them and offer them a suitable alternative. Never hit or yell at your pet; this will only make the animal more fearful.
Instead, reward them for good behavior. This way, they will want to do that behavior in the future. Moreover, positive reinforcement is an important part of discipline.
Do not use physical punishment to correct your pet. It will only make the problem worse. When a dog is punished physically, it can develop fear, aggression, or distance itself from its owner. It may even exhibit behaviors such as barking at its owner. This is a sign of a fear-based approach to training.
It is best to reward good behavior with praise or treats. Positive reinforcement helps your dog learn that the act of behaving is a desirable outcome. It is also not a good idea to leave your dog alone in the backyard. In this way, you will be creating a bad habit and ruining your dog’s life.
Is It Okay to Discipline A Puppy?
Yes, it is okay to discipline a puppy if you are doing it in a positive way without any harsh treatment. Disciplining your puppy is an important part of a puppy’s early development. Using the correct methods and applying the correct technique is crucial.
A well-trained puppy will understand when he needs a good lesson and will respond better to it. For best results, correction should be applied immediately after the misbehavior.
There are many ways to discipline your puppy, including timeouts. While timeouts are a good choice for puppies who bite your hands or chew on furniture, you may not want to use this method unless necessary.
A timeout can teach your puppy not to repeat the wrong behavior. If your puppy has gone unrestrained for a while, try putting him in his cage to sleep. These are some effective ways to discipline them.
How Long Does It Take for a Puppy to Become Obedient?
The length of time it takes for a puppy to become obedient can vary greatly depending on a number of factors, including the puppy’s breed, age, and individual personality. Some puppies may naturally display more obedience and are easier to train than others.
In general, it’s important to be patient and consistent when training your puppy. It may take several weeks or even months for your puppy to become fully obedient. It’s also important to remember that puppies are still learning and may make mistakes along the way.
To help speed up the training process, it’s a good idea to start training your puppy as soon as you bring them home. This will help them learn to trust and respect you as their leader. It’s also a good idea to enroll your puppy in a training class, which can provide structured training and support from a professional trainer.
When Should One Start To Discipline A Puppy?
It is essential to start disciplining your puppy from a young age. When they are young, they will easily follow your commands. It is the right time to train them and teach them what type of behavior is appropriate.
You need to teach your puppy when it is not acceptable to chew. The stop command can prevent unwanted behavior at the moment, and it will also reinforce the desired behavior.
If you avoid them and don’t train them from an early age, they will grow up to be troublemakers. They might develop destructive behavior and will cause problems for you as well as others.
Disciplining an adult dog is more difficult than training a young pup. So, make sure you start training them from an early age when they are eager to please you. However, you should never physically punish your puppy.
Instead, you should try to teach them the correct behaviors with treats and praise. This will help you keep them from hurting themselves in the future. Your puppy should be trained not to chew household items and furniture.
How to Discipline A Puppy – The Right Way
If you feel like your puppy is causing problems and need discipline, here are some effective techniques to help you.
These tips will help you to easily correct their bad behavior and make them into well-behaved dogs without you having to be harsh.
- Ensure All Your Dogs Needs Are Met
One of the best ways to maintain discipline with your dog is to ensure that all of its needs are met. A good way to start is to make sure the dog gets all the necessary attention. For example, if your dog is always pulling you around, it may be looking for food that’s lying on the floor.
So, make sure you give them proper food, water, and treats along with physical exercise and mental stimulation. If they get proper attention and all their needs are met, they will naturally avoid destructive behavior. The main reason why puppies become antsy and start chewing things is that they are bored. If you give them toys and play with them, they will stop chewing and barking.
- Start Training Early
Discipline your puppy as soon as you can. Your puppy needs to learn about boundaries and that he can’t do whatever he wants from a young age. Use a timeout, a room in your house, or a crate, and stick to it. When they are young, they will learn things quickly.
Puppy training starts at an early age, which means you can make sure your puppy learns right from wrong. The first step in correcting your puppy is to teach it what acceptable behavior is. For example, chewing on household objects is never acceptable behavior. If your puppy chews on something, you need to introduce them to chewing toys. You can also use the crate as a socialization tool.
Another way to discipline your puppy is by giving him a treat every time he performs a task. When a puppy is performing a specific task, he will associate the treat with the action. If he doesn’t, you can give him a verbal command to stop the action.
- Be Firm and Prompt
Dogs learn from experience, and yelling or shouting is not an effective way to teach them. The only way to discipline your puppy is to use a calm voice and clear instructions. You need to use a firm voice and body language when disciplining your puppy.
When disciplined properly, a puppy will realize that the behavior is not acceptable and will stop it immediately. Instead of yelling at the puppy, use a calm, firm voice to let it know that it is unacceptable. You also need to be prompt when training them.
For example, if you notice that they are doing something wrong, stop them immediately instead of waiting for their training session. You need to take action at the right time to make the puppy understand that what they are doing is wrong.
- Use Positive Reinforcement and Redirections
When disciplining your puppy, use positive reinforcement and redirections. This method is a great way to encourage good behavior. When a dog performs good behavior, it will be rewarded, and the owner should give a treat or praise. The best way to ensure that these reward sticks is to reinforce the behavior immediately. For example, if your puppy lays down while you’re eating, you should give him a treat.
The most important factor when using positive reinforcement is timing. The reward should be given right after the desired behavior. If it is delayed, the puppy may confuse the reward for the actual behavior. Also, it is important to reinforce your pet with treats after they have performed the desired behavior. If a treat is not immediately available, the dog may stop responding to it and become confused.
- Give Timeouts
The best way to discipline a dog is to use timeouts, which means ignoring the bad behavior for a few minutes. Because dogs are very smart, they will try to do different things to get your attention. While it may seem counter-intuitive to ignore bad behavior, it will help you learn how to handle a problem more quickly. Often, a short time out will do.
You should not give timeouts for long. The goal is to make your puppy lose interest in whatever it is that it is doing. A good timeout should last no longer than five to seven minutes. Extending a timeout too long can lead to boredom in your dog, which can cause more stress and anxiety. A good rule of thumb is to never use a timeout more than three times in a row.
- Make Time for Your Puppy
When training a puppy, it is important to provide plenty of time. If you’re in a hurry, it’s easy to get a little distracted. A proper schedule will keep you and your puppy on track. To give your puppy the proper amount of time, try to schedule training sessions in the afternoon.
Once your puppy is fully vaccinated, you can begin training them. It is very important to spend time with them and train them. If you ignore your puppy during the early days, it will develop destructive behavior. So, make sure you give them all the love and attention.
- Establish Signals as Cues
There are several benefits to using hand and verbal signals to train your dog. While you can use both kinds of signals, it is more effective to use one when the situation calls for it. For example, you can use a hand signal for sitting most of the time and a verbal come when you want to command your dog to come or stop moving.
Another benefit of using signals is that they can help you make your commands more visible to your dog. A palm-facing-forward gesture is effective for a dog’s attention. It can mean “off,” “stop,” or “freeze.” It’s important to use just one hand signal for each behavior. By establishing cues that your dog understands, you can increase your chances of achieving the desired behavior.
- Make Some House Rules
If you want to keep your new puppy under control, it’s important to create some house rules. It’s best to set clear expectations and stick to them, but don’t forget that a puppy needs a little guidance along the way. A good rule is to never let your dog jump up on the couch or sit on your bed. You’ll both be much happier if your puppy follows the rules.
House rules should be set together with your family and your new puppy. This way, you’ll both be holding each other accountable. Creating a rule manifesto with twenty pages may make your puppy feel overwhelmed and hard to train, and it’s not likely to stick. Instead, try to focus on a few simple rules that will help your puppy adjust to the family dynamic.
Things to Avoid When Disciplining A Puppy
Now that you know what to do in order to instill discipline in your puppy, here are some things which you need to avoid. No matter how difficult your puppy is, make sure you avoid these things, or else it will make the process more difficult.
- Don’t Use Physical Punishment
Don’t use physical punishment when training your new puppy. Although your new puppy will likely make some mistakes, you shouldn’t punish it. This can lead to aggressive behavior, and the dog may begin to feel afraid of you, leading to more misbehavior. Instead, reward your puppy when it goes potty outdoors by praising it and rewarding it when you are away from it.
It’s important to remember that physical punishment never works to correct your puppy’s behavior. The key is to use positive reinforcement and signals to teach your pup what is right and wrong. The worst thing you can do is make your puppy afraid of you. This can lead to fear-based aggression. Even worse, most dogs don’t bite until they are frightened, so it is crucial that you don’t punish your puppy physically.
- Don’t Shout, Scream or Yell
When training a puppy, never yell or scream at it, or loud noise in general. The reason we yell is that we are angry, frustrated, or irritated. Instead, use a more composed voice to reprimand your pet for bad behavior. If your puppy does something wrong, use a form voice but avoid yelling. It will keep him or her from getting confused or feeling confused.
Shouting and screaming at a dog is not effective. It doesn’t help the situation and can even cause more problems. It scares the animal and damages your relationship. You should train your puppy with time, patience, and a firm voice. Remember, this is a process that will require patience and love on both sides of the equation.
- Don’t Hold Down Your Puppy
When your puppy does something wrong, don’t hold them down. This is an extremely common mistake that many owners make. While this action may make you feel better in the short term, it’s not the best way to handle the situation. It will only encourage your puppy to keep doing the behavior.
Trying to punish your puppy by shoving him in the corner will only make him more likely to do it again. And while you may want to punish your puppy, it’s also unnecessary and counterproductive. Instead, use positive reinforcement to redirect your puppy’s behavior. A good method is to play with them, which will encourage them to stop misbehaving.
Solutions for Common Puppy Behaviour Problems
Here are some common dog behavior issues and the solutions to avoid these problems. It will help you to effectively discipline your puppy.
- Nipping or Biting
If your dog has developed a habit of nipping and biting, addressing the problem early can prevent further problems. One way is to reward good behavior. This will help your pup understand that you do not want him to engage in destructive behavior. Also, giving your pup a chew toy or other durable object will keep him busy and away from the source of aggression.
While you’re training your puppy, you may also want to invest in a nipping shield. This can be a stuffed toy or even a bully stick. Remember to make the distraction enticing to your puppy. If you have a dog that bites on furniture, it’s a good idea to place it in a crate for a while.
- Barking
Dogs are able to learn new tricks very quickly, which is a big benefit to your pet’s training. When your dog is barking, make sure to distract it by doing something else. A distraction can be as simple as jangling the keys in your car. This way, the noise is diverting your dog’s attention.
Once your dog stops barking, give it a treat and wait for at least five seconds before rewarding him or her. This will help your dog understand that barking gets no rewards while staying silent means that you get everything.
It is also important to investigate why your dog is barking. Most dogs bark when they want attention, to warn you of danger, or to communicate their feelings. If you think your dog is simply trying to seek attention from you, it is best to resist the urge to respond with praise.
- Chewing
This behavior can be very frustrating for both you and your dog. However, there are a few ways you can curb your dog’s appetite for gnawing. First, you should never punish your dog for chewing. Even though you may want to discourage your dog from misbehaving, it’s important to understand that a dog’s appetite is a way to cope with anxiety and stress.
If your dog chews on things that aren’t food, treat it with a tasty treat – or take it out of the house completely. This will keep your pup from becoming bored, frustrated, or destructive. Second, you should never reward your dog for chewing items that are off-limits. You must put off-limit items out of reach of your pet. On the other hand, keep available toys inaccessible places.
- Pooping and Peeing In the House
The first step in training your dog to avoid pooping and peeing inside the house is to establish a consistent potty schedule. When your dog has an accident, make sure to take him out of the house immediately and praise him for going outside.
It is also important to remember that dogs need to relieve themselves frequently, so forcing them to stay in the house is cruel and ineffective. When you are away from home, make sure your dog is taking frequent potty breaks outside. Increasing your supervision will also help prevent accidents. It is also important to provide a comfortable environment for your dog to relieve himself.
- Separation Anxiety
There are a few steps you can take to help prevent your dog from developing separation anxiety. The first thing you should do is start a stopwatch as you leave the house. Start by keeping a close eye on your dog, and pay attention to any signs of stress. Look for pacing, whining, barking, howling, digging, yawning, and jumping on the door.
If your dog begins to behave this way right away, it is a sign that he is feeling anxious. You can counter-condition him by placing a stuffed toy near the door when you leave.
Another way to prevent separation anxiety is to minimize the amount of time that your dog spends alone. A dog will not be able to tolerate a long period of time alone if it is still excited from the previous separation.
How Do You Discipline a Puppy That Won’t Listen?
Training and disciplining a puppy can be a challenging but rewarding experience.
Here are a few tips for disciplining a puppy that won’t listen:
- Stay consistent: Consistency in your training is very important so that your puppy knows what to expect. Choose specific commands and stick with them, and be consistent in your enforcement of rules.
- Use positive reinforcement: Whenever your puppy does something you want them to do, make sure to reward them with treats, praise, or toys. This will help reinforce good behavior and make your puppy more likely to listen to you in the future.
- Set boundaries: Make sure your puppy knows what is and is not acceptable behavior by setting clear boundaries. For example, you could use a baby gate to keep your puppy out of certain areas of the house.
- Use negative reinforcement sparingly: Negative reinforcement, such as scolding or punishment, should be used sparingly and only in extreme cases. It’s important to remember that your puppy is still learning and may not understand why they are being punished.
- Seek help if needed: If you’re having trouble disciplining your puppy or training them to listen, consider seeking the help of a professional dog trainer or behaviorist. They can provide you with additional guidance and support.
Wrapping Up
Puppies can be quite difficult to handle; they especially develop a habit of chewing or barking. To avoid this problem, you need to discipline them from a young age. However, you need to follow the right way to discipline them, i.e., use positive reinforcement.
If you use harsh behavior like punishment, yelling, and shouting, they will become more aggressive.
In this guide, we have discussed how to discipline a puppy in the right way. Follow the guide to make the discipline process easier for you and your puppy. Good luck with the training!
Sources
- “Early Puppy Socialization: A Vital Part of a Dog’s Behavioral Development” by Kathryn M. Wrubel and Victoria L. Voith, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Link: https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2014-04-01/early-puppy-socialization-vital-part-dogs-behavioral-development
- “The Importance of Positive Reinforcement Training for Dogs” by Karen B. London, Applied Animal Behavior Science. Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159107002403
- “Punishment-Based Dog Training Undermines Moral Agency and Welfare” by Erica F. Feuerbacher and Clive D.L. Wynne, Animal Behavior and Cognition. Link: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.12966/abc.05.02.2019
- “The Role of Training in Enhancing Animal Welfare: A Critical Analysis” by Joanne M. Williams and Natalie K. Waran, Animal Welfare. Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226118939_The_role_of_training_in_enhancing_animal_welfare_a_critical_analysis
- “A survey of the use and outcomes of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesired behaviors” by Emily J. Blackwell, Rachel A. Casey, and Mark A. J. H. Stevens, Applied Animal Behavior Science. Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016815910800329X
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