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Join Expert Dog Trainer Kathy Santo as she goes through the basics of puppy obedience training. She’ll show you how to train your puppy to follow three basic commands: “sit”, “lie down”, and “stay. Then she’ll discuss how proper nutrition plays an important role in the overall training process.
Hi, I'm Kathy Santo with IAMS, and today we're going to discuss basic puppy obedience training. Obedience training is one of the best things you can do for you and your puppy. So this video will focus on the three basic commands: sit, lie down, and stay. A puppy can learn a great deal, even as early as seven weeks of age, if learning is fun and presented in the form of play. To establish a positive rapport with your puppy and prevent many future problems, start training a few days after your puppy settles in. A relationship based on friendship and trust will ensure that he tries hard to win you praise and approval. Before giving a word command to your puppy, speak his name to get his attention. Then speak a one word command, such as stay, sit, come, or heel. Your puppy won't respond to commands until he knows his name. Don't get impatient. The quickest way to teach your puppy his name is to reward him every time he looks at you. Always train when your puppy is hungry, lonely, or bored. When all his needs are met, he won't be as motivated to do as you say. For example, training right before meals will help him associate his meal with a reward for the training, and also make him more interested in the treat you use in your training session. Also, remember to use motivation, not negative reinforcement. Reinforce desired behaviors by offering toys, food, and praise, so the puppy wants to obey. Different dogs value different rewards. Some may think a tennis ball is the best thing in the world, while another puppy may find a tennis ball meaningless, but would do nearly anything for the chance to have a treat. Never use physical punishment on a young puppy, as you may scar him both mentally and physically. Also, refrain from calling your dog to come to you for punishment, because this will teach your dog not to come on command. Dogs can feel human emotions, so stay relaxed, firm, and confident. Be sure to keep any frustration out of the tone of your voice. And if you feel yourself becoming frustrated, take a break. Your dog can sense this, and will start to associate training with your unhappiness. Most puppies, like young children, enjoy learning, but have short attention spans. Training sessions should be frequent and short to prevent your dog from becoming bored. 10 to 15 minute sessions, two or three times a day, is ideal. The first command I'm going to show you is sit. Your puppy's on the leash, and you're sitting on the ground with a leash under your legs, so he can't take a field trip away from you. Hold your hand high over his head with the reward in it. Your dog will look up at the reward. Use your other hand to gently guide your dog into a sitting position, and say in a clear, firm, tone, 'sit,' while still holding the reward in the air above the dog's head. When your dog sits, give them the treat, and verbally praise him. The second command I like to teach is lie down. Have your dog sit. Let him know you have the treat, but don't give it to him. Slowly lower your hand with the treat to the floor to bring your pup's nose close to the ground. When he starts to follow it, say 'lie down.' Once he's fully on the floor, you can give him the treat. Repeat saying lie down and rewarding correct behavior. Now for stay. Have your dog sit. Let him know you have the treat, but don't give it to him. Go in front of your puppy, raise your open hand, and say 'stay' firmly, so your puppy can associate your open hand with what he's learning. Start to move away from your puppy while occasionally repeating the stay command. Start with only a few seconds of staying at a time, and then move to slightly longer amounts. Always come back and reward your puppy if he follows instructions. The last thing I'd like to talk about is nutrition, and its implications on puppy training. Good nutrition leads to a healthy dog with higher quality of poop, and more predictable and balanced behavior, so he's easier to train. Make sure your puppy is getting the well balanced diet he needs for optimal development. For more information on puppy nutrition, watch the video 'What is the best puppy food for your puppy?' I'm Kathy Santo with IAMS, and I hope that you found this helpful as you welcome your new addition into your family.
Bringing a new furry friend home is one of the most exciting things you will experience. And as a pet parent, the first thing you need to do is lay down a puppy vet care plan. Hence, it is essential that you take your new, little pet for a general check-up within the first week of bringing it home. During this vet visit, you can learn about your dog’s vaccination schedule, nutritional requirement, training needs, and more. It is crucial to seek professional medical advice to make sure that you do not overlook any aspects that may need immediate attention. If you are not sure why and when you need a vet for your dog, this article is for you. It gives you a gist on how often you should visit your vet, vaccinations, annual check-ups, and more.
A veterinarian is going to help you keep your floofy healthy and in check. A puppy, just like a senior dog, will require more attention. So, if you are wondering how often a puppy should go to a vet, here’s your answer: once every 3-4 weeks. If your puppy requires special attention, your veterinarian will recommend frequent follow-ups. If this is your pup’s first vet visit, contact the breeder for information on vaccination and any other medical history. If you have a rescue pup, let your vet know. It will help your doctor assess your pup’s case better.
Moreover, take your puppy to the doctor immediately if you notice any of the following issues:
Note: Even if your dog comes with a documentation of up-to-date vaccination shots, you should take it to the vet at least once to get a green signal.
We humans visit our family doctors at least once a year even if we do not exhibit any symptoms. Similarly, even your fur baby needs to be taken to the vet once a year for annual vaccination and a general medical check-up The vet will check your baby’s heart, lungs, ears, eyes, look for any abnormal growth, and do other basic tests.
Based on the medical examination, your vet may recommend certain dietary changes, physical activities, and a dental care routine. Follow their recommendations religiously to improve your puppy’s health! Here are a few things you can carry during your dog’s yearly appointment:
Puppies are born with some immunity passed on to them by their mothers. However, they start losing their inherited immunity once they turn 6 to 8 weeks old. Therefore, it becomes imperative that you start vaccinating your puppy around that time. Their innate habit of sniffing and licking everything that strikes their fancy exposes dogs to a plethora of diseases. Thankfully, a vaccination plan can shield them against fatal viruses and diseases. Vaccine shots are administered when puppies turn 6-8 weeks old, and they are repeated every 2-4 weeks until the puppy is 16 weeks of age or older. Sometimes, a vet may recommend an earlier vaccination regimen, starting at 4 weeks of age in the face of an outbreak or when the mother has an unknown vaccination history. You can ask your vet for a vaccination schedule customized for your puppy.
As kids, we were inoculated against several health issues with different types of vaccination. Similarly, your dog too needs to be vaccinated against multiple diseases such as rabies, distemper, hepatitis, etc. So, Let’s take a look at the types of vaccines commonly administered to your dog:
The above vaccines may come in different combinations; hence, consult your vet and get a proper understanding of
