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Advice on Dog Training For New Pet Parents

A beautiful new puppy or rescue dog has joined your family and now comes the important task of training your new best friend. To help you get off on the right foot (and paw), our Charlotte vets some of our best dog training advice. 

Training Your Faithful Four-Legged Friend

Whether your dog is big or small, a puppy or a rescue, every dog can benefit from learning (and mastering) a few basic skills. But training dogs is a real skill and most of us need support and guidance along the way.

If you have a new pup in your life our vets highly recommend enrolling in a local puppy class to help both you and your new dog learn the basics. If you aren't able to attend puppy classes in your area, or if your dog is older, many reputable trainers offer virtual lessons that teach pet parents how to train dogs of any age how to walk and leash and behave well in all kinds of situations.

Dog Training Advice Tips

To help get you and your pup off to a great start together here are a few dog training tips to keep in mind:

Set Firm House Rules

When it comes to training, dogs respond best to consistency. It’s only fair to be clear with yourself and your family on what you expect of your new pup before you bring them home.

Decide what your pup is and isn’t allowed to do. Can your new fur baby sleep in your bed? Stake out a spot on the couch? What about rooms - are any rooms off-limits? Clarifying your expectations avoids confusion and indecision later in the process.

Teach Your Dog to Come On Command

One of the first basic commands your furry friend will need to master is “Come!” Always use your pet's name when commanding them to come and follow up with positive reinforcement when they obey.

As your pet develops, try the command in other situations, such as when their attention is elsewhere, and get your pup used to responding to the command in any situation.

Reward Good Behavior & Be Quick With Treats or Praise

One of the first tenets of dog training is to always reward good behavior with positive reinforcement. Whether it’s a pat on the head, belly rubs, scratches in their favorite spot or a treat or toy, your pup will learn fastest if rewarded for good behavior quickly and consistently.

Puppy-Proof Your House

If you have kids, you’ll remember child-proofing your house to keep them safe and reduce risk of danger - or your prized possessions getting destroyed. Do the same for your puppy by providing a safe place to put your pup whenever they are not being directly supervised, such as a crate or pen, with safe toys that are exclusively theirs.

Don’t Delay Teaching Moments

Just as you want to reward good behavior, you want to recognize teaching moments as they happen. Seasoned dog owners will tell you that pups live in the moment and need lots of repetition.

If you’re going to enforce a rule or lesson, it has to be done immediately after they do the deed - they’ve already forgotten what they’ve done a few minutes later, so they will truly be confused and unable to make the association between their actions and corrections or training techniques unless they’re done right away. Consistent repetition gets great results.

Remember: Dogs Do What Makes Them Feel Safe & Happy

One of the most common mistakes we see dog owners make is that they attribute human emotions to their four-legged friends.

While we love them dearly and they feel like a member of the family, they’re not human, meaning they aren’t vengeful creatures who plan to upset us or trick us. They do what makes them feel happy or safe at the time, and that can be both good and bad.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.

At Carolina Veterinary Specialists our vets provide emergency and specialist care for dogs and cats in the Charlotte area. Contact Carolina Veterinary Specialists to learn more about our services and how we can help your pup.

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Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Charlotte accepts all clients for our 24/7 emergency service. Our specialty services accepts new clients by referral only.

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