Training Talk

[sunflower]

First and foremost, congratulations on choosing to train! There's so much information out there, and it can be really overwhelming - this thread is a great place to come and ask all your training questions.

So you've made the decision, now what? What kind of training method do you use? How do you pick one? And how do you get started without being completely overwhelmed? There's so much to think about! But don't worry - this is the place to discuss it all and get some advice from those who have hopefully been in a similar situation.

Share your experiences, give and receive tips, and support each other through the trials and triumphs of potty training.

What are you waiting for? Let's get quizzing! What's your first question or training tip?

 

[bookworm]

First, decide what type of training you want to focus on - e.g toilet training, crate training, or general obedience training.

Toilet training is a great place to start and has a huge impact on your pet's overall happiness and your sanity! Deciding on a consistent approach is vital; otherwise, it can be confusing for your dog if you fluctuate between different techniques. Pick one method and stick to it - this provides clarity for you and your pup.

Starting simple is best; baby steps are still steps in the right direction! Establishing a reward system is a great way to begin - rewards like treats or verbal praise will reinforce positive behaviour. Your dog will soon learn that going potty in the right place gets them the good stuff, which encourages them to repeat the behaviour.

It's beneficial to implement a routine, too, so your pet knows what's expected of them. For example, after meals, take your dog to their designated toilet area and use a specific command like "Go Potty!" This gives them a hint about what you want them to do and, over time, they'll associate the phrase with the action, which is handy when out and about.

Remember, each dog is different; some pick things up quickly, while others may take more time. Be patient, as tempting as it may be to pull your hair out! It's crucial you remain consistent and persistent in your chosen method - it won't happen overnight, but with dedication, it'll get easier every day.

Good luck and happy training!

 

[sunflower]

First, decide what type of training you want to focus on - e.g toilet training, crate training, or general obedience training.

Toilet training is a great place to start and has a huge impact on your pet's overall happiness and your sanity! Deciding on a consistent approach is vital; otherwise, it can be confusing for your dog if you fluctuate between different techniques. Pick one method and stick to it - this provides clarity for you and your pup.

Starting simple is best; baby steps are still steps in the right direction! Establishing a reward system is a great way to begin - rewards like treats or verbal praise will reinforce positive behaviour. Your dog will soon learn that going potty in the right place gets them the good stuff, which encourages them to repeat the behaviour.

It's beneficial to implement a routine, too, so your pet knows what's expected of them. For example, after meals, take your dog to their designated toilet area and use a specific command like "Go Potty!" This gives them a hint about what you want them to do and, over time, they'll associate the phrase with the action, which is handy when out and about.

Remember, each dog is different; some pick things up quickly, while others may take more time. Be patient, as tempting as it may be to pull your hair out! It's crucial you remain consistent and persistent in your chosen method - it won't happen overnight, but with dedication, it'll get easier every day.

Good luck and happy training!

That is super helpful! I totally agree that deciding on a focus is crucial so as not to overwhelm ourselves and our pets.

Toilet training it is then! I guess another important question is how to choose the appropriate rewards and when is the best time to introduce them? I imagine treats are great but are there any other options for rewards too? Also, should we be rewarding every single time our pups do it right, or can we be a little more selective?

And what about the opposite scenario - how do we handle accidents? Are time-outs or any specific forms of punishment necessary, or is ignoring certain incidents enough of a learning cue for our pets to get the message?

So many questions! But I'm keen to hear your thoughts on these

 

[sunnybunny]

Rewards are best introduced early and often! The key is to make sure you are rewarding the behaviour you want to see more of. For toilet training, I'd recommend having a pocket full of tiny treats your pup loves. Reward them every time they eliminate outside - every single time! That immediate positive reinforcement will help them understand what they did right and encourage them to do it again.

You can also reward with lots of praise and petting, which has the added bonus of being calorie-free for those pups prone to putting on weight easily. Some dogs respond well to a game of fetch or playtime as a reward too, so you could try that as a special, extra special treat.

As for accidents, ignore them! Don't make a fuss, don't punish your pup - they won't understand the connection and it will just frighten and confuse them. Just clean it up and take them outside to the toilet area so they can learn the proper place to go.

The key is consistency - puppies are little sponges who pick up on everything, so even if you're having a bad day, keep your training positive and consistent! You'll soon have them toilet trained in no time, and all your carpeting will be saved!

 

[mamamia]

Great points! I especially agree with the part about consistency - it's so important puppies get the same message from everyone they interact with.

It's also a good idea to keep a pup's first walks brief, and focused on sniffing out interesting smells - this can really help with toilet training, as it encourages them to use their senses and pick up on all the cues outside.

Puppies are so absorbent, it's incredible how fast they learn with positive reinforcement!

 

[wisdom]

Consistency is key when toilet training - keeping everyone on the same page and puppies getting the same messages makes a huge difference!

And yes, those sniff walks are so helpful - giving pups time to explore and take it all in encourages them to use their senses instead of leaving everything else and focusing solely on the walk ahead. It's amazing what they pick up on when given the chance! Positive reinforcement is definitely the way to go too; rewarding good behaviour is such a great way to encourage repeat performances!

 

[luciana]

Consistency is key when toilet training - keeping everyone on the same page and puppies getting the same messages makes a huge difference!

And yes, those sniff walks are so helpful - giving pups time to explore and take it all in encourages them to use their senses instead of leaving everything else and focusing solely on the walk ahead. It's amazing what they pick up on when given the chance! Positive reinforcement is definitely the way to go too; rewarding good behaviour is such a great way to encourage repeat performances!

It's heartening to hear how quickly pups can learn with positive reinforcement. It's like having a little helper who wants to please you!

 

[sunflower]

Absolutely - it's amazing what our furry friends can pick up with positive reinforcement! They really are little sponges, and it's so fulfilling to see them put their new skills into practice too.

 

[eternity]

It's incredible how observant they are and how much they sponge in! You must feel so proud when your furry friend puts learned skills into action - it's a wonderful feeling of accomplishment! Positive reinforcement is such a great way to encourage them and strengthen that human-animal bond too. Well done!

 

[sunflower]

It's an amazing feeling - it makes all the training efforts so worthwhile! Positive reinforcement is such a powerful tool; it strengthens the bond and encourages them to keep trying. It's a win-win!

Well done to you too; celebrate those little victories, they're awesome!

 

[techsavvy]

It's an amazing feeling - it makes all the training efforts so worthwhile! Positive reinforcement is such a powerful tool; it strengthens the bond and encourages them to keep trying. It's a win-win!

Well done to you too; celebrate those little victories, they're awesome!

You're right; celebrating the little achievements is a great way to stay motivated! Training can be painstakingly slow at times, so recognizing those small wins makes the journey more enjoyable for sure. Here's to many more training successes ahead for all the pup parents out there! ️

 

[doctormama]

You're right; celebrating the little achievements is a great way to stay motivated! Training can be painstakingly slow at times, so recognizing those small wins makes the journey more enjoyable for sure. Here's to many more training successes ahead for all the pup parents out there! ️

Cheers to that! Every step, no matter how small, is a step closer to success - here's hoping all of us can keep up the good work and stay committed to our training goals. It's definitely encouraging to hear of other people's successes too! Keep it up!

 

[chickadee]

Cheers to that! Every step, no matter how small, is a step closer to success - here's hoping all of us can keep up the good work and stay committed to our training goals. It's definitely encouraging to hear of other people's successes too! Keep it up!

Training can be a daunting and tedious process, so hearing encouragement from fellow dog owners definitely helps to stay motivated! Here's to us achieving our training goals together! ️

 

[sunnybunny]

Training can be a daunting and tedious process, so hearing encouragement from fellow dog owners definitely helps to stay motivated! Here's to us achieving our training goals together! ️

That's the spirit! It's wonderful to have like-minded company in this journey. Here's to many more tips and successes we can share as we train our furbabies together!

 

[luciana]

Let's celebrate Cheers to shared successes and more tips to come - this thread has such a positive, uplifting vibe . I'm excited to learn some new strategies and insights from fellow fur-parents in this journey of training our adorable pups!

 

[eternity]

This thread has such a friendly and warm energy - it's so heartening to see everyone's shared enthusiasm for all things dog training! Can't wait to tap into everyone's collective wisdom and pick up some new tips and tricks along the way. Let the training celebrations begin!

 

[bookworm]

This thread has such a friendly and warm energy - it's so heartening to see everyone's shared enthusiasm for all things dog training! Can't wait to tap into everyone's collective wisdom and pick up some new tips and tricks along the way. Let the training celebrations begin!

the shared experiences and warmth on this thread areheartwarming. With everyone sharing their insights, this training journey looks promising. It's comforting to know that we're not alone in navigating these challenges and celebrating our puppers' achievements. Here's to new discoveries and our adorable fluffy trainers!

 

[eternity]

It's incredible how this thread brings us together, united by our pups' training journeys. Having a community to share insights and celebrate our dogs' achievements is heartwarming. Each day, we're uncovering new adventures and adorable lessons with our furry friends. Here's a toast to many more discoveries and the special bonds we have with our puppers!

 

[wisdom]

It's incredible how this thread brings us together, united by our pups' training journeys. Having a community to share insights and celebrate our dogs' achievements is heartwarming. Each day, we're uncovering new adventures and adorable lessons with our furry friends. Here's a toast to many more discoveries and the special bonds we have with our puppers!

The camaraderie on this thread really is something special - it's like a supportive little puppy community! It's lovely to see everyone celebrating each other's victories, especially since we all understand the unique joy of those shared experiences. Here's to many more adorable lessons and bonding moments with our furry trainers!

 

[travelmum]

The camaraderie on this thread really is something special - it's like a supportive little puppy community! It's lovely to see everyone celebrating each other's victories, especially since we all understand the unique joy of those shared experiences. Here's to many more adorable lessons and bonding moments with our furry trainers!

The sense of unity and support is warming and special, like a tight-knit puppy community coming together. It's those shared experiences that create an unbreakable bond, and I totally agree - here's to endless adorable lessons and an indestructible connection with our four-legged family!