It's never too soon to begin training your new dog

Summer is peak season for dog and puppy adoption because families expect to have free time to attend to the needs of their new addition over the summer months.

Adding a pet to the household requires planning: from picking a name to purchasing supplies to choosing a vet. Often overlooked during the excitement of bringing that new family member home is dog obedience training.

“Training your dog is one of the most important things you can do to help him or her become a happy and well-mannered member of the family,” says Jennifer Hill, President of Canine Company, which trains thousands of dogs each year. “It also will help ease the transition into your home and enhance your bond with your new pet.”

Hill recommends starting training right away -- whether it’s a puppy or an older dog who already has some skills. She also offers these tips to help the training process go more smoothly:

1. Practice frequently. It’s better to do several short sessions each day that one long session once a week.
2. Be consistent with words and gestures. Everyone in the household should use the same command or the dog will become confused.
3. Always reward desired behaviors with words of praise and treats.
4. Ignore unwanted behaviors, like whining. Responding, even negatively, is a form of reinforcement and will encourage your dog to repeat the behavior.
5. Be patient. Learning dog obedience commands is like learning a new language; it takes lots of repetition for a dog to understand what the words mean.

“If you’ve never trained a dog before, you may want to seek out professional help,” adds Hill. “A professional trainer can teach you the best way to help your dog become a well behaved family member.”

Canine Company provides at-home pet care products and services that help people keep their dogs and cats healthy, safe and happy, including Manners dog obedience training and Invisible Fence® brand pet containment systems as well as mobile grooming and pet sitting in select markets. Speak! Good Blog! offers more advice on dog and puppy care.

# # #