Whether you are just about to get a puppy for the first time or simply want your old ball of fur to finally absorb some of the most basic commands, it is actually never too late to start teaching that famous “stay” command and begin training your pooch.
In an attempt to glean the most important tips for having a well-behaved dog, we are listening to what Elizabeth Bachle, a technician at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences pharmacy has to say.
Starting Early
These are a great foundation to training more complex behaviors and can keep your pet out of harm’s way,” says Elizabeth Bachle, who is also an agility instructor at Puppy Love training.
The problem occurs early on, when the new puppy owners have the tendency to get caught up in the excitement of having this new, cute and fluffy friend to play with and the fact that that training them early on is most effective simply slips their minds.
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks?
Contrary to popular belief, and the idiom from our subtitle, older dogs can in fact be subject to successful learning sessions. Even your more seasoned companion can improve on his current techniques or learn completely new skills.
“Training your dog not only rewards good behaviors, but can also prevent unwanted behaviors before they begin,” Bachle states. “I would highly encourage new puppy owners to attend a group class to socialize and create a strong foundation of learning, but dogs of all ages benefit from a new challenge.”