Teaching your puppy what to do and what not to do using simple and easy-to-understand commands is key to having a well-behaved dog and something every responsible dog owner needs to do.
But that task can be even more difficult if you’re using inconsistent commands and body language. To help you out, we’ve put together some tips for training your puppy using consistent commands and tone of voice:
Why Using Consistent Commands is Important When Training Your Puppy
Puppies learn quickly and it’s best to keep things simple. If you use different words for the same command, your puppy will learn those words instead of what you wanted him to know. Here are some tips to make this process easier:
- Be consistent and clear.
- Use the same word for the same thing, and use it every time.
- Use a firm voice, but not too firm, when teaching your puppy commands.
- Be clear about what you want the puppy to do, then repeat yourself until he gets it right – or better yet, give him lots of praise when he does!
What Tone of Voice Should You Use When Training Your Puppy? And Why is it Important?
You should use a calm and clear voice to train your puppy. It’s important to avoid using a high-pitched, harsh, or loud tone of voice when training your dog because this can be stressful for them and less likely for them to want to obey you.
The Commands You Should Be Teaching Your Puppy
The commands you should be teaching your puppy are:
- Sit
- Down
- Come
- Stay
- No!
Training your Family Before Training your Puppy
Teaching everyone in your family how to train is especially important if you have young children or other pets who may be interested in playing with your new dog. If everyone uses the same commands, it will be easier for you as a trainer because your puppy will not have any confusion about what he or she should or shouldn’t do.
This includes what command words to use when training your new puppy, how many treats to give the puppy when they are training, the type of praise your puppy might receive, and the tone of voice you use when addressing the dog with commands.
The best way to get started with training is to work on the basics and then slowly build up from there. Remember that consistency is key when training a dog, so don’t give up! Using a consistent tone, using the same command words, and making sure that everyone in your household is on the same page with training will surely lead to success as your new puppy adapts to life in your home.
