How to Train Discipline in Puppies

Puppies need to learn many things as they grow, which means they may display undesirable behaviors while exploring boundaries and discovering what is acceptable. You must respond appropriately to these behaviors while also rewarding and encouraging good actions. By investing time into training your puppy's discipline, you’ll help your furry friend grow into a well-behaved dog.

Start Early and Be Consistent. It's important to begin training your puppy as soon as you bring them home. Puppies learn quickly and need to be shown which behaviors are unacceptable in your household. Consistency is key when addressing negative behaviors, or your puppy may become confused, making it more difficult to stop undesirable actions.

• For instance, if your puppy barks at neighbors and you tell it to stop, but later it barks at the mailman and you don't intervene, your puppy won't know when it's not appropriate to bark, potentially leading it to bark whenever it wants.

Use positive reinforcement techniques to encourage desired behaviors. Reward-based training helps puppies understand what behaviors are inappropriate through discipline. Any reaction from the owner can be perceived as a reward by the dog, so it’s best to completely ignore bad behavior. However, if a puppy engages in an action for self-reward (like chewing shoes for enjoyment), this method won't be effective. In such cases, a gentle, brief command will work better. If the puppy behaves in a way you disapprove of, simply say 'No' or similar disapproving phrases in a firm tone. Guide them without scolding.

Ignore bad behaviors when they are not self-rewarding. If your puppy tries to grab your attention by barking, jumping, or biting your fingers, it’s best to disregard these actions. Try to figure out what they want when they misbehave to decide when to ignore them. For example, if they jump on you when you come home, they might be seeking attention. By ignoring them, your puppy will learn that only good behaviors get your attention and affection.

• For instance, if your puppy starts barking at you, simply turn away and don't respond. Your dog will learn that barking brings no reward.

Distract and redirect your puppy's attention. Use loud noises to grab their focus, like clapping your hands, and firmly say 'No' when they engage in unwanted behavior, such as chewing shoes or peeing on the carpet. The noise and tone of your voice will distract the dog from its current action. Then, redirect its attention to a more desirable behavior.

• For example, if your puppy is peeing in the wrong spot, pick it up immediately and take it to the designated bathroom area.

Effectively use timeouts to correct behavior. If your puppy misbehaves, remove it from any situation causing the undesired action and take it to a different environment. You could place it in a quiet room to avoid distractions, or take it outside. Let the puppy 'reflect' for 10 to 30 seconds before bringing it back and acting as if nothing happened if the bad behavior has stopped (like no more barking). If the puppy continues the behavior, wait until it stops before releasing it.

• Respond to bad behavior immediately and consistently. Every time your puppy misbehaves, remove it to a timeout. Ensure that every time it acts out, you respond the same way.

Teach your puppy to stop barking. Ignore its barking if it's simply trying to get your attention. If it continues barking despite your lack of attention, identify the cause and remove it. For instance, if the puppy is barking at traffic outside, pull the curtains down. If it doesn't stop barking, take it to another room for a few minutes.

• You can also stop the barking by giving the puppy something to chew, like a toy rope.

Stop puppies from biting. Puppies are playful and curious, but they need to understand where the boundaries lie when they start biting roughly. As soon as a puppy bites, say 'ouch'. Ignore them for about 20 seconds after they release your hand. By doing this, your puppy will learn that rough play is not acceptable.

• Avoid jerking your hand away when the puppy bites. It may think you're still playing and will continue to chase you.

Avoid using violent punishment. Studies show that using violence as punishment (such as hitting, kicking, yelling, or glaring) actually leads to more aggression in dogs. Never use violence to correct a puppy’s behavior.

• Violent punishment can cause harm and damage the bond between you and your puppy.

Understand what motivates your puppy. Puppies are highly social animals. They crave your attention and affection, whether it’s through a friendly glance, talking to them in an enthusiastic tone, giving them a special toy, petting them, or rewarding them with tasty treats. Pay attention to what your puppy enjoys the most. Immediately reward them when they display good behavior, so they associate positive actions with praise.

• Be consistent in reinforcing good behavior in a positive way. Your puppy will quickly learn which actions earn your praise and which ones do not get much of your attention.

Establish a routine. Puppies thrive on knowing what to expect. Set up a daily schedule with fixed times for eating, potty breaks, walks, and training sessions. This way, your puppy will know what comes next and what to expect.

• A clear routine will help regulate your puppy’s behavior. For example, if they know a walk follows after meals, they may save their energy for it.

Assert your authority. Puppies will be more respectful and obedient when you clearly show your authority. To do this, give commands in a firm tone. Besides training sessions, you should also require your puppy to follow commands. For instance, make it sit and wait before feeding it.

• Give your puppy time to follow the command. If the puppy seems unresponsive, don't give up or relent. You need to make it clear that it must obey your commands. Show your authority calmly and confidently.

Train your puppy to relieve itself in the proper place. When establishing a routine, make sure to include regular potty breaks for your puppy. For example, pottying should be the first thing in the morning, 15-20 minutes after meals, and frequently after nap or playtime. Your puppy will learn when it’s the right time to go, helping reduce accidents.

• You can start by training your puppy not to relieve itself in its crate if you don’t plan to take it outside.

Train your puppy. Teach your puppy basic commands (such as 'come here', 'sit', 'stay'). This way, if the puppy is misbehaving, you can quickly redirect its attention. For example, if it runs up to someone and jumps on them, you can immediately call it to 'come here'. The puppy will stop jumping on the person and come to you.

• Teaching your puppy a few basic commands also helps ensure its safety. If your puppy is about to do something dangerous, like running into the street, you can command it to 'sit' or 'stay' to stop it in its tracks.

Seek help. If you’ve been patient with your puppy but it still doesn’t respond to commands, it’s time to ask for help. You can ask your veterinarian to recommend a professional dog trainer or an animal behavior expert.

• You could also enroll your puppy in a training class with an expert instructor. You’ll learn some useful tips, and your puppy will begin to understand what you want it to do when training at home.