Learning Appropriate Ways to Discipline Puppies
Taking care of a puppy is a big responsibility. Even though puppies bring much joy to our lives, they can also cause huge amounts of stress and frustration when they don’t behave the way we want them to. In such cases, we have to learn how to discipline our puppies so that they can learn and understand the rules that we set for them.
This doesn’t mean that we have to resort to punishments like spanking or yelling. In fact, there are far better and more effective ways to discipline our pets to ensure that their behavior stays in line. In this article, we’ll look at some of the best and most appropriate ways to discipline puppies.
Pick Out Positive Guidelines
Puppies won’t be able to learn the rules and regulations of your household if you don’t make them clear. This is why it’s important to pick out some positive guidelines that you want your puppy to follow and make them as clear and consistent as possible. These might be things like not chewing on furniture, not barking excessively, not jumping on people and so on.
Once you’ve selected your guidelines, communicate them to your puppy in a clear and concise way. Make sure they understand the rules by repeating them often, preferably in the same language and tone of voice. It’s also important to reward them with treats and love when they obey the rules.
Set Up a Routine
Setting up a routine will help your puppy to get used to a regular schedule and it will make it easier for them to understand and follow the rules. You should start by setting a regular wake-up time and allowing your puppy the same amount of sleep each night. Feed them on a schedule and set aside specific times for their exercise and playtime.
This helps your puppy to understand when it is time for specific activities and it will also help them to settle into a consistent routine that’s easier to monitor and manage.
Enforce the Rules Firmly and Fairly
When your puppy breaks the rules, it’s important to enforce them firmly but fairly. Don’t yell at your puppy or hit them, instead, issue a verbal warning and if they don’t listen then remove them from the situation. For example, if they’re barking too much, isolate them in another room until they settle down.
It’s also important not to reward their bad behavior. This means that if your puppy is whining for attention or jumping on people, don’t let them get away with it. Ignore them until they settle down and reward good behavior instead.
Limit Your Puppy’s Access to People and Places
It’s important to control your puppy’s access to people and places so that they don’t get into any unwanted behavior that can lead to punishments. That means that you should limit their access to high traffic areas and keep them away from strangers. Supervise them closely and limit their access to rooms that aren’t suitable for them.
For example, if you don’t want your puppy chewing on furniture then don’t let them enter a room where there are couches or armchairs. Similarly, if you don’t want them jumping on people then don’t let them greet visitors at the door.
Use Crate Training
Crate training is one of the most effective ways to discipline puppies. A crate gives your puppy a safe and secure environment that serves both as a den and a way to limit their access to other areas of the house. The crate should be used for specific activities like sleeping and potty training.
Your puppy should also be rewarded when they follow the rules. This helps them to understand that following the rules leads to rewards and this encourages them to engage in good behavior.
Socialize Your Puppy
Socializing your puppy is also important for their development and it can help them to learn and understand the rules of your household faster. Take your puppy to puppy classes and let them interact with other puppies, as well as people. This will also help to prevent behavioral problems down the line.
Keep Calm and Patient
Finally, it’s important to stay calm and patient when disciplining your puppy. It can take a lot of time and effort for your puppy to understand the rules, but screaming and hitting won’t help them to learn any faster.
Instead, take a few minutes to calm down and remember that it’s all part of the process of learning and growing up. Patience and consistency are key when it comes to disciplining puppies and rewarding them for good behavior.
Learning appropriate ways to discipline puppies is important, not just for training your puppy but also for creating a strong bond between you and your pet. Don’t resort to punishments and punishments, rather pick out positive guidelines, set up a routine, enforce the rules firmly and fairly, limit access to people and places, use crate training and socialize your puppy. Most importantly, stay calm and patient as you both go through the process of learning and understanding.
