Basic Training You Should Give Your Puppy

Some things you shouldn't do when training your puppy is humanize her, punish her, or not provide a special space for her in the home.
Basic Training You Should Give Your Puppy

Last update: 25 February, 2019

When you get a puppy for the first time, you might be a little lost as regards training them. The worst thing you can do is to not give your puppy any basic training. However, there are other pitfalls to avoid too. We’ll give you some practical tips to set you on the right path.

The dangers of not providing good basic training for your puppy

A lack of knowledge, or taking advice from the wrong people, can lead you to commit serious errors when carrying out basic training with your puppy. Here are some of the most common mistakes:

Humanizing your puppy

This might be one of the biggest mistakes you can make if you don’t know how to give basic training to a dog. Many people fall into the trap of treating the dog as a person. They speak to it as if it’s a baby or allow it up on the bed or couch, just as if it were a child.

So here’s our first bit of advice: your dog is not a person. Treat your dog as what it is: an animal. Humanizing is actually a disguised form of abuse. When a dog is humanized, it isn’t permitted to express its natural personality. As a result, it isn’t able to live a balanced and happy life.

Punishing your dog

Many people still believe that the most effective form of discipline is through yelling and hitting a dog. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Positive reinforcement is proven to get the best results in basic training for animals. If you use yelling or hitting as a punishment, not only is it animal abuse, but it’s actually also totally ineffective for teaching your puppy.

Basic training for puppies shouldn't involve punishments.

The opposite of what you desire will happen, and your puppy will get scared. He may also become aggressive or even end up with mental disorders that lead to destructive behaviors.

Don’t let it get away with everything

On the other hand, neither can you let your dog do whatever it wants. This isn’t a good idea, because, as time goes on, it will be harder and harder to retrain the dog. As the owner of the house, you need to show it what its role is in the family.

As a pet becomes part of the family, it’s important that each member of the family understands their role. How will your dog understand if you don’t show it what to do? You should be the leader. Show it what the rules of the house are.

Basic training you should give a puppy

Depending on the age of the puppy and the amount of time you can commit to training, there are a number of things you can teach your new dog. These are the most basic:

Where it sleeps

Find a place in the house that is relaxing. There should be a little light, but not too much. It should also be cool and not humid. Choose a bed that’s the right size for your pooch, and then show it to him.

You can show him that this is his space to sleep, relax, or to get away from any noise or commotion. You should also encourage him to go to his bed when the rest of the family goes to bed.

A sleeping puppy.

Where it eats

A dog’s food and bed are totally separate things, and, because of that, they should be in different places. This means that you’ll need to teach your puppy where his food and water will be. But don’t worry! He’ll learn this quickly.

Using the bathroom

This can be the most difficult task in your basic training. However, with some patience, you’ll be successful! Nowadays there are even mats that have a scent to encourage the dog to do their business on them, instead of on the floor.

Of course, once the puppy is old enough to go outside and has his vaccines, you should have three set times a day when you take your puppy out. This way he’ll get used to when he should use the bathroom. Once your pup is used to going outside, you can get rid of the mats. However, if you leave the dog at home alone a lot, you can continue to use them to prevent any accidents.

If you follow these practical tips and avoid any of the errors that we’ve mentioned, basic training with your new puppy should be a breeze!


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.