Training methods at home

[Lauren and Kona]

Can anyone recommend a few good training methods to do at home (and on your own) with a young puppy? I've done some researching online and watched a few videos on YouTube but I'm still at a bit of a loss and don't know where to begin. I know you can never start too early when it comes to training! Kona can't begin puppy classes for a few more weeks, so I would like to get started with her on my own in the mean time. Especially since there are definitely some things we're struggling with.

Thank you all!!

[Julie and Max]

There are some great books out there, The other end of the leash was one of my favourites, it's more about how your behaviour effects your dog, and it's really helped me a lot. I also bought a trick book 

http://www.amazon.com/Puppy-Tricks-Step-Step-Activities/dp/15925357...

It had great ideas on trick training. 

My favourite youtube videos for training here:

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRyHBkIJ90SZNRyq1iVda5g

This guy is great, and his videos are very well done with step by step instructions.

Another guy who is pretty good here:

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZzFRKsgVMhGTxffpzgTJlQ

I like his stuff a lot too.

I also really like this girl

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/pets/dog-behavior/playing-tug-of-w...

She has great advice on tug and many other things. 

I use a combination of clicker and the stuff from the other end of the leash. I like positive training, but I also let Max know when I don't agree with something he's doing, not in a mean way, just firmly, like kids they need to know there are consequences to their actions. I use things like time outs, or a firm no.

I hope these help Lauren, and I'm sure other people will add some great stuff too. :)

[Julie and Max]

Since I haven't owned a dog in ten years, I did a lot of research, then I took the stuff that I felt would work best for Max and I and made myself a little notebook of sorts, to keep track of what I am doing with training. Being consistent is key. Your puppy doesn't know what you want until you teach her, so try to keep that in mind at all times. One word commands work best, be patient, make training fun for both you and her. 

[Adina P]

I say this over and over and perhaps I'm the only one who feels this way about puppy training, but here it goes anyway.
I think obedience commands for puppies under 5-6 months are overkill.  Yes, they learn words fast and they are often eager to please at that stage.  But then they hit 6 months and they act like they learned nothing at all.  It's the work you put in 6 months and on that really makes or breaks your goal toward a well behaved, obedient puppy.  Before that time I think it's much more important to work on the following:

-- Reliable potty training..perhaps even potty on command (so there's ONE command I'm all for early on).
-- Tolerating confinement (crate, gate, alone time, being leashed and unable to get everywhere they want to go)
-- Tolerating body handling (brushing, paw and ear checks, handling limbs and bottom and overall being comfortable being touched.
-- Keeping teeth OFF humans
-- Keeping four paws on the floor for greetings
-- Socialization to the world around them.

These six things are A LOT and more than plenty in my opinion.  I think it is FINE to wait on sit, come, stay, etc until you enroll in a formal obedience class.  Even "Puppy Class" is usually like preschool when it comes to solid obedience.  It's going from Beginners through Intermediate and finally finishing Advanced Obedience that will get you to a well behaved, obedient dog. 

[Patti and Bosco]

Ian Dunbar has a couple of free downloads that you might want to take a look at.  They are located here:

http://www.dogstardaily.com/free-downloads

There a so many good youtube videos out there.  Kikopup is one of my favorites and I subscribe to her channel which is located here:  http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-qnqaajTk6bfs3UZuue6IQ

My vet behaviorist has sent me links to some of kikopup's training videos.

Hope that helps!

 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

This is from a prior discussion I started in this group. 

I came across a Facebook site for a woman who trains puppies...mostly Doodles.  She has a whole series of videos on You Tube and I watched most of them.  I love her style and it's so heartening to see what she's been able to do with these puppies.  We've been reading about so many people who are struggling with their new puppies and don't know where to turn.  It's so awesome to see what can "be" when you have the patience and take the time to work with the puppy.  I love her "style" of working....she's calm and works hard to be sure that the puppies are in a calm state of mind when working.  I truly believe that state of mind is so important.  She runs a "training camp" and exposes the puppies to all kinds of sounds and experiences, but in a controlled way.  I think that's perfect!  She rewards with praise and I so like that it's not the frantic "click and treat" that we see from so many puppy trainers.  She talks about "helping" the puppy when they make a mistake.  She is working with the "whole puppy" and focuses on exercise as a key component of their training.  She teaches "place" and proper greetings.  Here's the link to the videos.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY_4tPrgs74&list=UUMegZvuzHVC60H....  Take a look and let me know what you think.

Read more here: http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/trainingmindsets/forum/topics/pup...

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

This is the very best introduction to dog training I have ever seen, by far.

http://michaelellisschool.com/lecture.htm

[Julie and Max]

Jane I've looked at her stuff and she is great also, I do like clicker training for "tricks' but prefer her style for basic obedience stuff. I agree with you that state of mind is so important with a puppy and also with ourselves when training a dog. If we are not in a calm state of mind we can't really expect our puppies to be, I do think to some extent they feed off of us.