Hunter's Heart Brittanys - Training Puppies

This section of our website deals specifically with how to train puppies. Some essential training you should do at home was discussed in our Essential Training section, and most of this information can also be used for training puppies. But training a puppy is different in a lot of ways than training an adult dog. It's these differences that we discuss here.

Probably the most important advice we can give you about training puppies (& dogs) is to start your training as soon as possible, before problem behaviors arise!

TOILET TRAINING YOUR NEW PUPPY

The #1 behavioral problem which causes people send their dog to an animal shelter is failed potty training. Once an older dog gets into the habit of "messing" inside the house, the behavior is very difficult to change. This is one reason why we strongly advise against paper training a puppy that you have just brought home.

For more info about toilet training your new puppy, go to our FAQ's.

WHEN TO START TRAINING YOUR PUPPY

As soon as you bring your new Brittany puppy home, you can begin some "pre - training" (aka " fun" training.) Don't expect too much of your puppy: you're just getting started! The goal at this age is not absolute obedience. What you're doing is teaching the basics. You won't regret this early work together: it will shape your dog's attitude towards learning for the rest of his life.

The emphasis is on fun! Whenever you can, incorporate play into your training session. For example, once your puppy is walking on a loose lead you can begin to teach the recall. If you turn & run away from your puppy while talking in an animated way, your puppy's first instinct will probably be to come to you to see what's happening. This fun strategy will probably get you further with your young puppy than pulling or jerking on his leash.

You want your puppy to look forward to training, so that they are encouraged to try their best, learn new things & build confidence. If you are in a bad mood, it's probably better to wait until you're feeling more positive before training. You are bound to have some training sessions that are frustrating & don't seem to accomplish much. Don't take your frustrations out on your puppy!

Remember that dogs can only learn what you want & don't want by trial & error. That's by trying new things & inevitably making mistakes. Don't end any training session with a correction. Always start & finish your training session with a positive experience, such as play, or praise for something the puppy already does well. This way, your dog will look forward to future training sessions.

Puppies have a short attention span, and you don't want your puppy to get bored (souring their attitude towards future training). Keep training to a maximum of 3 sessions/day each lasting up to 5 minutes. Daily training & practice is the ideal: your puppy will learn from one daily session lasting 5 minutes. That's probably a better approach than putting off training altogether, until you "have more time" (if that ever happens.)

Formal obedience training (i.e. beyond puppy kindergarten classes) is not recommended until at least 6 -7 1/2 months of age.

HOW TO CORRECT YOUR PUPPY

There are many different methods of correcting a puppy. Try to use the gentlest method first. If it doesn't work, go to the next step, and so on.

Whenever you're using a physical correction, you should take your puppy's small size into account. You don't need much force to correct a small puppy: you just want to make your point, not to hurt him or permanently damage his confidence and his trust in you.

First, catch your puppy in the act. Immediately say "No!" or "Hey!" or "Bad!" in a firm low tone of voice that means business. (Pick any words you like. Puppies rely on your tone of voice & your body language more than anything else! Make eye contact. Hold your puppy's head (gently). i.e. In a very small pup, just put one hand gently under his chin. In a large puppy, put one hand at either side of his face. Maintain eye contact until he looks away from you. That is the signal that he got the message.

As soon as the misbehavior stops, always praise him i.e. "Good boy!" in a happy, upbeat tone of voice, and/or gentle petting. Corrections teach a puppy/dog what misbehavior is. But you also want to praise your puppy when he's behaving like you want: this makes it clear to him what the proper behavior is. (For example, if you correct your puppy for jumping up on you, you should praise him for sitting quietly.) It is also important to praise your puppy because it lets him know that you still love him; it's just the bad behavior you didn't like.

If the puppy returns to the same unwanted behavior say "No!" (or whatever word you always use) and maintain eye contact. But this time, "scruff" him too i.e. grab the loose fold of skin on the top & sides of the shoulder blades and give a quick shake. The puppy will usually yelp in response, but you are not hurting him. (He is just uncomfortable, surprised, and panicky.) This is the same correction that bitches use to maintain control of their litter.

If a firmer physical correction is required, grab onto his collar on both sides and lift upwards until his front feet are a few inches off the floor.

A puppy does not understand what a spanking means. That's a human method of discipline that dogs can't relate to. (He won't listen to your attempts to reason with him either.) If you use the natural correction methods described above, you will be using canine instinct to your advantage. Your puppy will understand that you are displeased and that you expect his behavior to improve.

For more information about training your puppy, go to our
Essential Training section.