If you’re new to dog ownership, you may think that training your puppy takes hours and hours of your time. While it’s true that training your dog requires regular commitment, it doesn’t have to be hard! If you follow these ten steps, your dog will be trained in no time and you’ll be able to enjoy all the joys of owning a pup!

Create a Goal

We all know that dogs need to be trained and that training can take time, but what if I told you it could take just 10 minutes? Daily dog training will help create structure for both the dog and owner. Once they have their morning routine down pat, they’re more likely to be well-behaved during other parts of the day. The best part is, even if you work full-time or are out of town for the week, there’s still an option for your pup. In fact, the company Dog Talk has developed an online course called Dog Train By Phone. And trust me: Dog Talk makes training so easy that even beginners can get started!

Break it down into smaller steps

1. Select toys and treats based on what you have at home or can find easily at the store. Point out the toys, with This is a ball, this is a stick. Reward them with the food when they are interested in the new toy.
2. Add structure by introducing them to three cues: get it for picking up an object, sit for sitting down on their haunches, and down for lowering themselves onto their stomachs.

Establish short and long term goals

Your short-term goal should be to convince the dog that it is NOT him or herself that you are frustrated with, but rather their behaviour. Your long-term goal is just as simple: You want the dog on a leash or preferably off the leash and under voice control. In other words, while both of these goals seem simple enough, each requires an adjustment from you as well as from the canine.

Be consistent

Being consistent is the most important step in training your pup. It’s hard for them to get used to what’s going on if they’re constantly trying to figure out what you want from them. Dogs live by the rule of I’ll do anything you want, as long as I know when it will happen. It’s time for us humans to take that same approach with our pets!

Don’t give up.

Let’s be honest, teaching a new behavior is never easy. It can take weeks or months to get the hang of it. If you don’t have that kind of time or you just want to make your training easier, I have an idea for you. There are some really helpful techniques out there and it doesn’t take long at all if you keep with it! Follow these steps and before you know it your pup will be well on their way!