The training of the puppy marks the beginning of your journey to become the loving and faithful dog that will be by your side for a lifetime.

WHEN CAN THE PUPPY START TRAINING?

Ahead! If you are getting your puppy from a breeder, it is likely that you will have it at home when you are around eight weeks old. At this age your new puppy has already developed around 80% of his adult brain and in the coming weeks his brain will continue to develop.

Your puppy is ready to learn and it is important for you that you feel safe and constant from the first day.

Puppies have a short attention span and will need several attempts to learn; but once you realize what is expected of them, you have a great opportunity to educate them quickly. And remember that it is easier to educate them now than when they have a few more months, and be bigger, stronger and acquire their own customs.

BUILD YOUR PUPPY'S CONFIDENCE

Confidence and perseverance give your puppy the necessary tranquility so that he can trust you, his father. Using your name often may seem simple, but for them it is a very important signal.

Another way to build your confidence is through positive reward and recognition of your good behavior - instead of punishment through physical force. Through the previous one, you can foster a strong bond of trust based on mutual respect and adequate reward.

Puppies are fun but they can also be frustrating when they do not always do what you want. Apart from the fact that they do not speak the same language, please bear in mind that they are very young and, therefore, they are very easily distracted.

Be patient and constant with your puppy. He is still learning and will finally understand what you want him to do.

BASIC TRAINING FOR PUPPIES

Be prepared for a bit of persuasion, a lot of repetition, some goodies and some well-deserved compliments. Once you can sit back and lie down responding to your command, you will be very proud - you will teach your new skills to your friends and family, and they will love all the positive attention you reserve them.

Sit down

Show a small treat to your puppy, near his nose (do not let him take it from your hand) and move it slowly to his eyes so that his nose rises. Your body should go in the sitting position naturally. As soon as you sit down, give your puppy the treat by praising it and at the same time apply the verbal command 'sit down'. Keep practicing until you finally do not get the treat, with your serene praise.

Down

Show a small treat to your puppy, move it slowly to the ground and put it between the legs. This should encourage them to lie down to pick up the treat. As soon as you lie down, give your puppy the treat by praising it and at the same time apply the verbal command same time 'down'. Once again, keep practicing until you finally do not get the treat.

Walking with the strap

It is essential that your puppy learns to walk with the leash. Start in the interior where you feel comfortable and you can control the environment.

The first thing to do is put the strap on the neck and immediately afterwards give them a prize and a treat so they understand that wearing the strap is good.

Place some healthy treats in a room nearby and let him walk with the strap next to you, towards the container. Then try to walk with a treat in your hand and your puppy next to you on a loose leash, using the candy as an incentive.

Little by little, he constructs this process; avoid throwing the leash because you can resist and end up playing "tug of war" with the puppy. Once you feel comfortable inside, start teaching him to walk on the leash in the garden, if you have one. Remember to be patient and praise him when he gets it. Walking with the leash is not difficult, but the puppy will not do it until he is taught.

The food you have chosen can help you with the puppy's training.

When choosing food for puppies, look for an ingredient called DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). It is a natural fatty acid Omega-3, key element in the development of the brain. When included in your diet, DHA helps puppies learn and be more trainable. All EUKANUBA Puppy and Junior formulas have adequate levels of DHA to give your puppy the best possible start during its first years and beyond.

Puppy training classes

Most of us who have dogs in EUKANUBA have taken advantage of the puppy's training classes at one time or another. A good class is very fun, useful and without realizing your puppy will be obedient responding to all instructions ... well, almost all instructions. We have put a pocket guide to consult the puppy's training classes.

ADULT DOG TRAINING

They say you cannot teach an older dog new tricks, but that could not be further from the truth. Even if you have adopted a new adult dog that needs some help with the basics, or if the dog needs just a short reminder, here are some tips on their training.

The constancy is the key

Whatever the behavior of an adult dog with which you are facing, the principles of basic training used for puppies will still apply. Training a grown-up adult dog may require a little more time and patience.

First and foremost, it is vitally important to be consistent with the commands and compliments. It is also important to make sure that all family members know the purpose of the training and how to use the controls correctly, to prevent your dog from receiving contradictory messages that may confuse him.

Praise instead of punishing

Dogs learn by positive reinforcement. This means that you can only achieve your goals praising the behavior you want to encourage and teach your dog what good behavior is? Punishing your dog for bad behavior will probably cause him to behave worse, and will make it more difficult to train him in the right way.