Raising a puppy is a lot like raising a human child. Puppies also need to grow up with certain rules, good manners and discipline. And this should be immediately followed by a reward which can be a treat, a pat on the head or just a very happy exclamation of "good girl". Always reward good behaviour every time it happens, no matter how tiny it is. And use positive reinforcement to encourage her instead of shouting, hitting or using other harsh methods. Here are some basic commands that your pup/dog must learn within the first few weeks of coming home:
Re-call: This is the most important command that will potentially save your dog’s life when nothing else can. “Re-call” means your pup/dog will come to you as soon as you call out her name. No food should be used as a reward here since you won’t always have it handy. Imagine you are walking your dog on a busy road and the leash breaks; the only thing that is going to save her from running into oncoming traffic and getting into an accident, is your voice. Hence the reward for coming to you when called, every time, should be lots of cuddles and praise from you.
No: It is very important for your dog to stop doing whatever she is doing or ignore what she is eyeing when you say ‘no’, whether it is chewing your fingers or picking up a potentially dangerous item from the road while walking. When your dog responds to “no”, it automatically reduces her chances of getting into trouble.
Sit: This command helps teach patience. It’s not safe for a dog to keep jumping at you while you are preparing her dinner, handling hot food or carrying something fragile. So teach your dog to “sit” before she gets her meal or treats. The same can be used to calm her down before taking her for walks or other tasks.
Stay: This is a preceding command that will help your dog stop and focus on what you are trying to tell her next. For example, if the gate is left open by mistake and you are on the outside, obeying the “stay” command will keep her safely inside instead of her excitedly running out towards you. Look at your dog and get her focus, keep her in the “stay” position till you have control over the situation. Remember to use only one word/command at a time. Sentences or multiple commands together do
not work and will end up confusing your dog. These four commands will open a clear channel of communication. Now all you have to learn is what she is trying to tell you: watch her, and you will know!
(The authors are canine training and behavior consultants and can be reached at cheekypawscc@gmail.com)
