Every day is a learning day for a curious pup and whether they learn manners and other appropriate behaviours is the responsibility of its owner.
You should start training your puppy as soon as you welcome it into the household - while it is young, eager to learn and hasn't picked up any bad habits. Your new best friend wants to please you, so it is more effective to lavish praise and reward good behaviour than to punish bad behaviour. Undesirable behaviour that does occur must be corrected at the instant it happens with a loud, gruff, "NO".
Even an eight-week-old puppy can learn to sit before it gets a treat or a meal. Your pup can also begin to learn to walk on a leash, to ride quietly in the car, to wait before going out the door, and to keep all paws on the floor when greeting guests. The key is gentle guidance, consistency, and consideration for a puppy's fragile spirit.
|
