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Train a puppy in an affectionate and fun way for both

Train a puppy

Dog

Train a puppy in an affectionate and fun way for both

A question that many Fido’s adoptive parents often ask is whether or not it is easy to train a puppy. Read below for the answer.

Train a puppy
Training a puppy: something that many underestimate (Photo Unsplash)

Many people are convinced, when they find a small dog in front of them, that it is not a real dog at all: perhaps a dog in the middle, a subspecies of canine hobbit, but certainly not a dog like a German shepherd can be eg. And no, a bichon, a pug or a chihuahua are four-legged friends in the same way as a mastiff can be. It is true that the dimensions are quite different, but the spirit is almost identical. They too are pets (we refer to the little ones) and as such they must receive the same attention as a large dog, even if by “themselves” we mean less than what they usually receive. Yes, because too much throttle, and even excess, such as total lack, can cause many and serious damage to the health of the dog.

Here because train a little dog it becomes fundamental: we cannot do everything in his place, like carrying it around, in our arms, here and there. No, the small dog must be able to walk with his own legs (in all senses, literal and figurative). We will explain how to do it.

Train a puppy: the smaller they are, the less manageable they reveal, experts say

Train a puppy
Training a puppy: small dogs must be treated like large ones (Photo Unsplash)

Most owners of small dogs treats their animals very differently than owners of larger breeds. Eg, large dogs they must learn voice commands like “come” and “stop”, in part so that their owners can keep them safe. Many small dogs never receive this training, because their adoptive parents find it easier to pick them up and move them in their arms: therefore, because they are easier to handle, people think they can hurry up doing everything on their own. Can this attitude, if you think about it for a moment, ever be good?

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Even small dogs (twenty-five pounds or less, or under eleven kilograms) seem to bring out a strong protective instinct towards their owners. The little ones seem so vulnerable that their safety is a constant concern. Unfamiliar dogs are an immediate threat. Rough play with large dogs can cause crush injuries or breakage of the neck. Eating inedible things is potentially much more dangerous for a small dog than one belonging to a larger breed. And the list of dangers for small dogs continues. These are just some of the thousand and more reasons why one should train a little dog, almost as if it were a big, big and powerful dog.

At home like angels, on the street like devils

Train a puppy
Training a puppy: you have to socialize them as soon as possible (Photo Unsplash)

Since so many puppies and small dogs are untrained and not socialized, it is common to meet small dogs in public places that are afraid of humans, reactive towards other animals and very agitated. They pull on leashes, ignore their owners when they are off the leash, pee and poop whenever and wherever they want, and have no idea what the basic obedience commands are.

Small dogs are often “domestic angels”, but then they reveal themselves as real devils on the street, among other people, especially strangers. At home, their behavior is mostly tolerable, except when the doorbell rings, someone walks past the window or reproaches them for having behaved incorrectly. But outside the home it is a different story, often even a horror story.

By protecting our small dog from training, we are doing him a very serious disservice. It would be appropriate to remedy it as soon as possible, to avoid serious behavioral problems. Training a puppy could even be considered a matter of life or death.

Stereotypes on small dogs

Train a puppy
Training a puppy: all dogs learn the same way (Photo Unsplash)

Tiny dogs they are just as capable of learning obedience behaviors as their larger counterparts, and it is for their sake. Think of it as extra insurance in situations where you may not be able to lead and save your pet from danger.

In addition to training that focuses on obedience, your little dog can also learn to participate in dog competitions that test skills such as nose, agility, flyball, freestyle and many others. Small dogs often do not exercise enough or are not adequately mentally stimulated, so these types of activities can be useful for a variety of reasons.

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Regardless of the size, all dogs learn the same way new skills: therefore training with positive reinforcement works just as well with small dogs as with larger dogs.

Tips on how to train a puppy

Train a puppy
Training a puppy: use things that can entertain him (Photo Unsplash)

Remember, training a small dog is no more difficult than training a large dog. You just need to take into account the space you need depending on the size of your four-legged friend.

  • Make yourself small, like he is. Supervising a dog is intimidating when the animal has not yet learned the human body language and vocal tones. And the smaller the dog, the more overwhelmed he feels by the presence of a huge huge human being. So, while training your little one, until he has had some experience in reading your signals, be sure to show yourself how affectionate he is, perform small movements and try to modulate your voice to make it soft. Never face it in a “head to head” immediately. Turn slightly to the side and drop near his level instead of looming over him.
  • Use mignon treats during training. Small dogs only need mignon treats during training, as a positive reinforcement. Pay attention to the size of the cake, otherwise you will have a not so small dog when you have finished training it. To give a practical example: the dolcetto should never exceed the size of an olive, so to speak. You can buy or make delicacies to be broken into very small pieces; you can also use part of its normal food as delicacies.
  • Train at his level. Training a small dog from an upright position can be hard on your back and the last thing you want is to feel pain when trying to focus on shaping your pet’s behavior. Initially, you should sit on the floor not only to save your posture, but also to appear less intimidating. Other ways to do training exercises include sitting on a low stool or chair or moving the dog on a comfortable raised surface (a table or bed, for example).
  • Use small toys and training tools. Your little dog needs a light collar, harness and leash. In general, leather collars and leashes and chains are not a good idea for the little ones. We always recommend using specific harnesses for small dogs, to avoid neck injuries. Some very small dogs have an incredibly fragile neck. And just as its treats should be the appropriate size, so are your little dog’s toys and other materials such as food and water bowls, and so on.
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Training a puppy: and to conclude …

Finally, treat your little dog like a normal dog (not a half dog or a canine gnome, or something else like that). It is not a child or a doll to use to play and dress it as you like and want. He must be socialized, which means he must have many positive experiences with other dogs and also with other people not in the family. He must stay on the ground most of the time so he can learn to climb stairs, get in and out of the vehicle and move safely on all types of terrain. If you help him make even the simplest move, he will never be autonomous and this means that, on the first occasion when he happens to be alone, the risk that he can be hurt will be very high, much much more likely than that that you can imagine. Leaving him while doing things alone is a sure way to protect him from future threats.

Don’t be afraid to take your little one for a hike, or a walk to hunt for mushrooms and truffles to test his nose, or in the water to see if he is a good swimmer. The goal is to expose your puppy to many and different experiences, activities, animals and people, without forcing him to fearful situations or to put him in any kind of danger.

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