Category: Puppy Training

Puppies are a bundle of joy that can bring endless hours of fun and love into our lives. However, raising a puppy can be challenging, and it requires a significant amount of time, energy, and patience. Training your puppy is an essential aspect of puppyhood that cannot be overlooked. The skills your puppy learns at an early age will shape their behavior and personality as they grow into adult dogs. Puppy training is not a one-time event; it requires ongoing attention, and this is where continuing puppy training at home comes in. Let’sl discuss the importance of continuing puppy training at home and how it can benefit both you and your furry friend.

Puptown Houston has Puppy Training Program and let’s watch a clip of how professional they are:

Reinforcing Positive Behaviors

Continuing puppy training at home is crucial in reinforcing positive behaviors. Puppies learn by repetition and positive reinforcement. When you take your puppy home from a training session, they will not remember everything they learned. By continuing training at home, you reinforce the behaviors they learned during training sessions. You also get to reward your puppy for their good behavior consistently. Consistency is key in training your puppy to be well-behaved and obedient.

Building a Stronger Bond with Your Puppy

Puppy training is not just about teaching your puppy to sit or stay; it is also about building a stronger bond between you and your furry friend. Spending time with your puppy, teaching them new tricks, and playing games together can help you build a deeper relationship with your puppy. When your puppy feels connected to you, they are more likely to obey you and follow your instructions. By continuing puppy training at home, you can strengthen the bond between you and your furry friend.

Addressing Behavioral Issues

Puppies can develop behavioral issues such as biting, chewing, and barking excessively. These behaviors can be frustrating for dog owners, but they are also common in puppies. Continuing puppy training at home can help you address these behavioral issues before they become more severe. You can work with your puppy to redirect their behavior and teach them appropriate ways to express themselves. Addressing behavioral issues early on can save you and your furry friend a lot of stress and frustration in the future.

Improving Your Puppy’s Socialization Skills

Socialization is a critical aspect of puppy training that helps your puppy learn to interact with other dogs and people. Puppy socialization should begin as early as possible and continue throughout your puppy’s life. Socializing your puppy helps them develop confidence, reduces anxiety and fear, and helps them adapt to new situations. Continuing puppy training at home can help improve your puppy’s socialization skills by exposing them to different experiences and situations. You can also take your puppy on walks, to the park, and to other public places to help them become more comfortable in new environments.

Keeping Your Puppy Safe

Finally, continuing puppy training at home can help keep your furry friend safe. Training your puppy to obey commands such as “come,” “stay,” and “leave it” can prevent them from running away or getting into dangerous situations. Teaching your puppy to walk on a leash can also prevent them from running into traffic or getting lost. By continuing puppy training at home, you can help ensure the safety of your furry friend.

Continuing puppy training at home is crucial in reinforcing positive behaviors, building a stronger bond with your puppy, addressing behavioral issues, improving your puppy’s socialization skills, and keeping your furry friend safe. Puppy training is an ongoing process that requires patience, consistency, and dedication. By investing time and effort into your puppy’s training, you can ensure that they grow up to be well-behaved and obedient dogs that bring you joy and companionship for years to come.

Here at Puptown Houston, TX  we understand that various behaviors can provide additional training challenges with your new puppy. Our puppy training specialist specialize in behavior-based, and positive reinforcement training. So, not only can we help identify these behaviors we can help your pup overcome them. It’s all about consistency and communication, and not just for the dogs. We also train a dog’s hooman to help them work with their canine companion when not at Puptown for optimal results. So, let’s talk about the factors that affect puppy behavior.

Here are three common behavioral issues that need to be addressed immediately in dogs and especially puppies:

Fears and Phobias

While fear is a normal response to an actual or perceived threatening situation or stimuli anxiety is a response to fear and agitation. Anxiety can also lead to apprehension when your dog anticipates a threat or fear-inducing situation. A phobia is an exaggerated fear response generally associated with loud noises and the stimuli generated from these events. Examples include thunderstorms, fireworks, gunshots, backfiring cars, etc.  Some fears might become extreme enough to be considered phobias such as going to the vet, going outdoors, or even entering certain rooms.

The most common fears include fear of other dogs, fear of unfamiliar people (especially those who look, act, or sound different), and unfamiliar noises like construction work. Fear of other dogs and people can be overcome with careful socialization. This also fits into training your dog to be a good citizen and “playing nicely” with others. Puptown, with owner’s permission, specializes in socialization training by taking your dog/puppy to several different places and exposing them to several different situations and elements. This helps a dog understand their surroundings thus helps to take fears away when a dog realizes that a sound won’t hurt them and (for the most part) neither will other people.

Separation Anxiety

While this behavior is challenging to correct, it can be done. Please, note that some particular breeds of dogs are more prone to separation anxiety than others. Examples include German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Border Collies, and Cocker Spaniels. Please, note that some of these are among the most popular breeds of dogs in the United States. In addition to that, it is estimated that 14% of dogs have separation anxiety, which is defined as the inability of a pet to find comfort when separated from its family members.

This behavior is easier to address in puppies by leaving them alone, in a safe place, regularly during the day.  Not unsupervised but just giving the dog or puppy time to themselves. The best way to do this is to give them some alone time in a pleasant place like their crate or playpen with plenty of toys. This is also a terrific way to crate train your dog since a crate needs to be perceived as a safe place. Separation Anxiety is a critical behavior to address and overcome as it can lead to physical destruction, extreme vocalization, and restlessness.

Repetitive Behaviors

Repetitive behaviors can actually be indicators of conditions such as compulsive disorders or other forms of abnormal behavioral pathologies. German Shepherds are known to spin around while chasing their own tails while Dobermans have a tendency to suck on their own flanks. The behavior might be a sign of the dog being frustrated or conflicted which is overcome by giving your dog a set daily routine. Once more, good training comes to the rescue in situations like this, but consistency is the key in treating repetitive behaviors. Once you have your dog on a set schedule, they know what to expect and when. This will help immensely as your pup is taught new and more positive repetitive behaviors that should override the less desirable ones.

When you get a dog, especially a puppy, please be aware of the responsibility you have taken up. You will need to teach your furbaby good manners, how to follow basic commands, potty train them, and just teach your dog how to be an overall good canine citizen.

Puptown Houston knows that sometimes even the most seasoned dog owners need some help, especially if a dog or puppy has behavioral issues that is making training even harder. If you are looking for the best professional dog trainers around, you will find them at Puptown.

We are fully aware that there is no “one size fits all” training approach because dogs differ in personalities and learning abilities every bit as much as people. Our trainers also know there is a very short window of time to praise or reprimand a dog for a behavior. If this behavior is not addressed within 1.3 of its occurrences, your dog will not understand why you are praising or punishing him/her for. This brief window is also critical when training a dog to abandon particular behaviors.

Puptown Houston: Puppy Training: There are few things more precious and delightful in this world than a new puppy. That little face with its big eyes can make you want to melt, as can those little paws and tail. Puppy kisses with that tiny tongue are equally adorable, as are the yawns and first attempts at barks. All you want to do is just snuggle with this little furball, and not worry about anything else. Let’s certainly hope that before getting your precious pup you took into consideration the commitment you have just made.

A puppy will require time, attention, and considerable expense to make sure it is happy, healthy, and well-behaved.  Potty training aside, there are a lot of other things a pet parent needs to be prepared for to make sure they give their dog the best care possible.  After all, do you want to come home to “presents” on your floor, garbage everywhere, and your sofa closely resembling a chewing toy? Even worse, do you want you pup getting into something that could make it sick, or worse? Never fear, because the best professional puppy trainers in Houston, TX are standing by to help you turn your puppy into well-mannered little lady or gentleman.

Puptown Houston Training Philosophy

Here at Puptown we believe that each dog is unique and should be trained to their individual needs.  We don’t have a “cookie cutter” approach, which is why each dog receives the time and attention it needs to learn a healthy and happy lifestyle.  Not only do we take each dog’s needs into consideration, we do the same with the pet parents to make sure they can provide optimal training at home.

Our program is built around three core principles:

Timing has to do with the way a dog’s brain processes cause and effect. This is very important because any dog’s behavior must have a consequence within 1.3 seconds for the dog to associate a behavior with a consequence. People usually praise or reprimand a dog too long after an event has taken place thus it is important for your dog to understand what behavior you are reacting to.

Consistency is clear communication between a dog and its owner.  You must promptly react the same way to any behavior your dog exhibits. Once more correction or praise must occur within the 1.3 second window.  Finally, motivation influences a dog’s decision making.

Positive and negative motivation can help praise or correct a dog’s behavior, as long as it is within the associated window of time.

Additional Notes

These are the three things that training at Puptown is centered around. Our most popular program, Lodge and Learn, consists of your dog staying with our trainers at “doggy day camp” to learn and explore while learning manners and simple commands.  Our professional trainers will take your dogs out on errands and to parks in order to learn real-world skills in different environments instead of being confined to a training ring.  This also means that trainers won’t be working with your dog for a short period of time, but for several days to maximize your pup’s training experience.

About Us

Our dog training experts don’t just teach basic obedience but an array of skills to dogs of all ages.  Dogs need to be on their best behavior not just for their owners, but to all members of society.  The last thing a person wants is for the dog to frighten or even worse, bite someone.  No owner wants to get a complaint about their dog or see it be taken away by the police or animal control.  Here at Puptown we understand that dogs must also be good members of society, which is why our training includes controlling excessive barking, chasing people, and even redirecting bad potty habits.  Our goal is to correct not only a dog’s bad behavior, but also an owner’s bad behavior.  We want to see people and pets have mutual bonds that will bring more joy and a happier relationship.

When it comes to dog training patience is key, and our trainers want to help owners develop patience with their dogs in order to continue training and further foster improved behaviors.  While training is imperative for young puppies to learn these behaviors as early as possible, here at Puptown we believe that all dogs are able to learn new things and can break bad habits.  If a dog is having trouble learning, then the communication and motivation need to be altered so the dog can effectively learn a command or behavior.  This goes back to understanding what a dog needs, and more specifically, the individual needs one dog will have instead of another.  As every dog is unique, so is the Puptown approach to training.  It is this approach that delivers great results and well-behaved dogs.

Bringing home a new puppy is a very exciting time. Puppies are cute, cuddly, and fun to play with. However, for many people, the initial excitement can quickly turn into frustration and stress, which is commonly referred to as “puppy blues.” Puppy blues are very common and can happen to anyone. It is important to remember that bringing a new puppy home is a big responsibility, and it will take time and patience to properly train and care for your new furry friend. We will provide six tips for beating the puppy blues.

Puptown Houston Dog Training, TX:

Be patient and consistent with training

Training your puppy can be a challenging and time-consuming process, but it is essential for your puppy’s growth and development. Consistency is key when it comes to training your puppy. Set a routine and stick to it. Reward your puppy when they exhibit good behavior, and be firm but gentle when correcting unwanted behavior. It is important to remember that your puppy is still learning and may not understand everything you are trying to teach them right away. Be patient and consistent with your training, and eventually, your puppy will learn.

Socialize your puppy

Socialization is critical for your puppy’s development. Introduce your puppy to other dogs, people, and new environments. This will help them develop their social skills and become more comfortable in different situations. It is important to socialize your puppy at a young age, as this is the time when they are most receptive to new experiences. Socialization will also help prevent your puppy from developing anxiety or aggression later in life.

Establish a routine

Establishing a routine is crucial for your puppy’s well-being. Puppies thrive on routine and consistency, and having a set schedule for feeding, training, and playtime will help them feel more secure and comfortable in their new home. Make sure to include plenty of time for exercise and play, as this will help your puppy burn off excess energy and reduce unwanted behavior.

Use positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool when it comes to training your puppy. Rewarding good behavior with treats, praise, or playtime is an effective way to encourage your puppy to repeat the behavior. It is important to avoid punishment or negative reinforcement, as this can damage the bond between you and your puppy and may cause them to become anxious or fearful.

Take care of yourself

Taking care of a new puppy can be overwhelming and stressful, but it is important to take care of yourself as well. Make sure to take breaks when you need them, and don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends, family, or a professional trainer. Remember to practice self-care, such as getting enough sleep, eating well, and engaging in activities that you enjoy. Taking care of yourself will help you be a better caregiver for your new puppy.

Seek professional help if needed

If you are struggling with the puppy blues and feel like you are not making progress with your puppy’s training or behavior, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. A certified dog trainer or behaviorist can provide guidance and support, and may be able to identify underlying issues that you may not have been aware of. They can also provide you with a personalized training plan and help you work through any challenges you may be facing.

If you’re in Houston, TX visit Puptown Houston now for all your dog training needs!

Beating the puppy blues requires patience, consistency, and a lot of love. Remember to take care of yourself, establish a routine, and use positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior. Socialize your puppy and seek professional help if needed. With time and dedication, you and your puppy will form a strong bond that will last a lifetime.

Adopting a puppy can bring you a lot of joy, but there are also challenges attached to it. Training a puppy for obedience can be difficult, and the first few stages of getting them to do things can take a while. Puppies add a lot to our lives and become our undeterred companions. Raising an obedient puppy requires patience and time.  They need to be taught how to do things and not think of the living room as a toilet, much like children. Puppies if not treated properly may show signs of aggression and bad behavior, which can lead to other problems. Remember taking a dog in is a responsibility; it does not matter if you are simply adopting it or buying it for your choices, and it is a two way relationship. Training, a lot of affection and positive reinforcement are the keys to raising a loving, healthy and obedient puppy. Here are ways to raise an obedient puppy:

Positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is the best way to get your puppy to obey. New experiences can be challenging for your puppy, they may feel afraid and overwhelmed, which can cause them to freak out. When taking them on their first walk or car ride, talk to your puppy and maintain a positive attitude, and yes, keep rubbing his belly. Make sure that they feel ready for the adventure. Whenever he listens to you or does something that is positive, give them a treat if they are acting-out or barking at people or jumping on them presuming a disappointed tone is better than resorting to extreme measures and punishment.

Hire a trainer

Rely on professional help if you need help; you can always take the time out to enroll your puppy into a board and train facility.  Professional trainers will teach your puppy how to behave obediently, they will potty train him and teach them how to act in crowds and whatnot – which will make things easier for you in the long run.

Obedience

Obedience is not just limited to your dog getting off the table; training your puppy to listen to you is a powerful means of keeping the little guy safe. Practicing multiple situations such as telling your dog to come to you when in the park, telling them to jump over an obstacle or avoid touching something that may be harmful; can set the right pace for you and your dog. Telling it to lie down, roll over and stand up are starter commands that can help your pup learn to be more obedient.  And of course, a treat can always help.

Trust

Puppies require attention and affection.  They can become attached to the individual spending the most time with them.  As a result, they may begin to become aggressive or intolerant of others.  So your family needs to be as involved in their daily activities as they can. Make sure all the members in your family are on the same page when you are adopting a puppy.

Bottom line

Your efforts will make the right impact on your puppy and they will definitely respond to your approach and actions. Using the above mentioned tips can be extremely helpful in training a well-loved obedient little puppy.

Ask a professional for advice

If you have any questions about the above information, please contact us.  Or if you would like to inquire about training options where our professionals train your puppy for you at our facility, please call us today at 832-930-0073!

Crate training is an important aspect of raising a happy and well-behaved puppy. A crate can provide a safe and comfortable space for your puppy to rest and relax, and can also aid in house training and preventing destructive behavior. However, crate training can be a challenging process, especially if you’re a first-time dog owner. We’ll share five tips to help you in successfully crate training your puppy.

Photo by Brett Sayles

Choose the right size crate

One of the most important aspects of crate training is choosing the right size crate. A crate that is too small can be uncomfortable for your puppy, while a crate that is too big may not feel secure enough. When selecting a crate, make sure it’s large enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. However, avoid choosing a crate that’s too big, as this can encourage your puppy to use one end as a bathroom and the other as a sleeping area.

Make the crate a positive place

To make the crate an inviting and comfortable space for your puppy, start by placing soft bedding, toys, and treats inside. Encourage your puppy to enter the crate on their own by leaving the door open and placing treats or toys inside. You can also feed your puppy their meals inside the crate to help them associate it with positive experiences.

Start with short periods of time

When first introducing your puppy to the crate, start with short periods of time and gradually increase as they become more comfortable. Begin by leaving the door open and allowing your puppy to explore the crate on their own. Once they’re comfortable inside, close the door for a few minutes while you’re in the same room. Gradually increase the time your puppy spends inside the crate, and start leaving the room for short periods of time as they become more comfortable.

Avoid using the crate as punishment

It’s important to never use the crate as a form of punishment for your puppy. The crate should be a safe and positive space, not a place of confinement or isolation. If you use the crate as a punishment, your puppy may develop negative associations and become resistant to entering it.

Be consistent

Consistency is key when it comes to crate training your puppy. Stick to a regular schedule for feeding, exercise, and potty breaks, and crate your puppy during times when you can’t supervise them. Over time, your puppy will become accustomed to their routine and feel comfortable and secure in their crate.

Crate training is an important aspect of raising a well-behaved and happy puppy. By choosing the right size crate, making the crate a positive place, starting with short periods of time, avoiding using the crate as punishment, and being consistent, you can successfully crate train your puppy and provide them with a safe and comfortable space to call their own.

Bringing a new puppy into your home can be an exciting experience, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. One of the most important aspects of caring for your new furry friend is training. Proper puppy training sets the foundation for a happy and well-behaved dog in the future. Below we will discuss the dos and don’ts of puppy training.

Photo by Mia Anderson

Do: Start Training Early

Puppy training should start as early as possible. The first few months of a puppy’s life are critical for socialization and behavior development. The earlier you start training your puppy, the easier it will be to shape their behavior and prevent bad habits from forming. Puppies have a natural desire to please their owners, and with positive reinforcement, they can learn quickly.

Don’t: Use Punishment

Using punishment as a training technique can be harmful to your puppy and can actually worsen their behavior. Instead of punishing your puppy for bad behavior, focus on rewarding them for good behavior. Positive reinforcement is a much more effective training method and will lead to a happier and more well-adjusted puppy.

Do: Be Consistent

Consistency is key when it comes to puppy training. Your puppy needs to understand what behaviors are expected of them, and consistency in training will help reinforce those expectations. Consistency also helps to prevent confusion and anxiety in your puppy, leading to a more well-behaved and confident dog.

Don’t: Overwhelm Your Puppy

Puppies have a short attention span, and trying to teach them too much at once can be overwhelming for them. Keep training sessions short and focused, with a maximum of 10-15 minutes at a time. Gradually increase the duration and complexity of the training sessions as your puppy progresses.

Do: Use Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is the most effective training method for puppies. It involves rewarding your puppy for good behavior, such as following commands, using treats, toys, or praise. This method encourages good behavior and strengthens the bond between you and your puppy.

Don’t: Ignore Bad Behavior

Ignoring bad behavior can be just as harmful as punishing your puppy. It can lead to the development of bad habits and make it more difficult to correct that behavior in the future. Instead of ignoring bad behavior, redirect your puppy’s attention to a more appropriate activity and use positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior.

Do: Socialize Your Puppy

Socialization is an important aspect of puppy training. Introducing your puppy to new people, animals, and environments can help them develop into a confident and well-adjusted dog. Socialization should be done gradually and in a controlled environment, to prevent overwhelming your puppy.

Don’t: Rush Training

Training your puppy takes time, patience, and consistency. Rushing the training process can lead to frustration for both you and your puppy, and can result in bad habits developing. Take the time to train your puppy properly, and remember that progress will be gradual.

In conclusion, proper puppy training is essential for a happy and well-behaved dog. By starting early, using positive reinforcement, being consistent, and socializing your puppy, you can set them up for success. Avoid using punishment, overwhelming your puppy, ignoring bad behavior, and rushing training, which can all hinder progress and damage your relationship with your furry friend. With patience and dedication, you can raise a loving and obedient companion that will bring joy to your life for years to come.