Puppies have a lot of hyper energy and very short attention spans.
They are also infinitely curious and want to put everything that they see in their little mouths. This can make puppy obedience training something of a challenge.
When it comes to puppy training, we want to get our puppy to repeat good behaviors, and stop bad behaviors. The more a puppy practices a behavior, the more likely she will repeat it. Therefore, by encouraging good behaviors, we ensure that she will have a good repertoire of people friendly actions to draw upon when she grows up.
Here, we deal with the 3 primary elements of puppy obedience training –
- How to communicate consistently and effectively with a puppy.
- How to encourage good puppy behaviors.
- How to discourage bad puppy behaviors.
1. How to Communicate with Puppy
The first two words I teach my puppy are “Yes” and “No”.
“Yes” is used to mark a desirable behavior and “No” is used to mark an undesirable behavior.
Yes is usually followed by a positive consequence (e.g. a food reward, affection, toys), and No is usually followed by a negative consequence (e.g. withdrawal of attention, timeout).
In fact, we do not need to use the words “Yes” and “No”, and can pick whatever mark-words we want. The best mark-words are unique, and do not frequently come up in normal conversation. This helps to prevent confusion with our dogs.
For my dogs, I use Ack-Ack as a no-mark and Good-Boy or Good-Girl as a yes-mark.
- When my puppy does something good, I say “Good-Girl” and present her with a small treat reward.
- When my puppy does something bad, I say “Ack-Ack” and redirect her into doing something positive.
Consistency is very important while communicating with our dogs. We want to stick to the same yes-mark and no-mark.
In addition, we also want to establish very consistent rules and a fixed routine. This helps our puppy understand what is expected of her, as well as what she can expect from us.
One of the first things that I do with a new puppy, is set up a fixed routine. My puppy schedule includes playing time, training time, walking time, feeding time, and the ever important sleeping time. I try to keep the schedule consistent, so that each of these activities happen at around the same time every day.
Keeping a fixed schedule is good for me, and good for Puppy. It allows me to be more efficient about getting things done, and it sets aside some me-time while Puppy is sleeping and resting in her crate.
It also helps get a puppy accustomed to a new environment, without being overly stressed. In the beginning, everything is new, foreign, and possibly scary for a new dog. A fixed schedule helps to reduce stress, increase trust, and quickly integrates her into the existing family rhythm.
Similarly, a consistent set of rules will help to avoid confusion, and hasten the puppy learning process.
2. How to Encourage Good Behaviors
Puppy obedience training and even adult dog training is centered around two key areas-
- How to encourage and get puppy to repeat good behaviors.
- How to discourage and get puppy to stop bad behaviors.
It is important to recognize though that what we see as good and bad behaviors may not coincide with what our dog considers to be good and bad behaviors.
Dogs, even puppies, think for themselves and have needs of their own.
Therefore, we want to use our newly established communication system to teach our puppy what is good and bad for us. In addition, we must also motivate our dog so that she actually cares about our human values, which very likely, make little or no sense to her.
We encourage good behaviors by using the yes-mark, as soon as our dog finishes doing something good.
For example, when our puppy finishes doing a Sit we say “Good-Girl!” and then present her with a reward. The yes-mark is very helpful in training because it allows us to immediately mark the behavior that we want to reward.
To effectively train our puppy, we want to clearly indicate which action she is being rewarded for. If we wait too long, she will have moved on to something else, and we may inadvertently reward the wrong behavior.
Therefore, quickly use the yes-mark as soon as our dog finishes a good behavior. Then, we can take more time to present Puppy with her reward.
3. How to Stop Bad Behaviors
When it comes to stopping bad dog behaviors most of us think of applying a physical punishment, for example spanking the dog, jabbing the dog with our fingers, or giving the dog a collar correction.
These techniques apply pain to the dog, at which point the dog may stop her current behavior in order to avoid further pain and stress.
However, such pain based techniques are risky. If they are not executed with exactly the right force, timing, and redirection, they may cause more behavioral issues down the road; even aggression. It is especially risky to apply such techniques to puppies because of their young minds, and still developing bodies.
How then can we stop bad puppy behavior?
I have found that the best way to stop bad behavior is through the control of resources. *We* naturally control everything that a puppy wants, including food, toys, freedom, affection, and play.
To encourage good behaviors, we motivate our puppy by giving her something that she wants.
To discourage bad behaviors, we motivate our puppy by taking away something that she values, for example her freedom, or our attention and affection.
Note – This does not mean that we should tease our puppy and take away food while she is eating, or forcibly remove a toy that she is playing with. Doing so can encourage food aggression or resource guarding behavior.
What works best is to withhold something that my puppy wants, but does not yet have. Another possibility is to take away a privilege, such as withdrawing my attention or restricting her freedom.
When my puppy bites at my hands, I give her a no-mark (Ack-ack) and then redirect her to do something else, for example, chew on a toy. If Puppy redirects, I give her a yes-mark (Good-Girl), and reward her with something that she really wants, such as a yummy treat.
If Puppy ignores the no-mark and continues to bite at me, I withdraw my attention by standing up, folding up my arms, and turning away from her. In this way, she loses a valued play-mate, and no longer gets to engage in something fun.
If Puppy escalates her behavior and starts to jump on me or bite my clothes, I take away an even more important privilege; her freedom. I do this by calmly saying Timeout, and then taking my puppy to a boring but safe timeout area.
Puppies often bite at us to initiate play or to get our attention. We can effectively stop puppy biting by teaching her the following-
- Biting = No attention and no play,
- No biting = Attention, play, and treats.
How to Train a Puppy
To stop bad behavior, I have found that it is important to –
- Start by redirecting Puppy into doing something positive. In this way, we turn a negative situation into a positive one. We not only get our dog to do what we want, but also teach her that following our commands, is the fastest way to get to her heart’s desires.
- Make the punishment suit the crime. I always start small and give my puppy many opportunities to choose a path for success. If she continues or escalates her bad behavior, then I slowly escalate her punishment.
- Stay calm at all times. Puppies have high energy and are easily distracted. If we get angry or frustrated, we will only inject more bad energy into an already volatile situation. This will likely cause our puppy to lose focus, become more hyper, and behave in an even more erratic fashion. If we want our dog to be calm, we must stay calm ourselves.
- Set Puppy up for success. Carefully manage our puppy and only expose her to situations that we think she can handle. For example, start by introducing her to new objects that are not moving, then slowly move on to moving objects, then objects that move and make noise, and so on. Start small and slowly move up to bigger things. The more successful a puppy is, the more confident she will become, and the more balanced she will be when she grows up.
Goal of Puppy Obedience
The goal of puppy obedience is to learn how to communicate with our puppy, and teach her how to live well and harmoniously with us.
Obedience training can also help to protect our puppy from inadvertently harming herself and others, or from engaging in activities that may be detrimental to her health (e.g. over-eating, walking on glass).
Obedience training is *not* for acting out our anger, or venting our frustrations when our puppy poops on our furniture, eats poop, and spreads garbage all over our expensive designer couch.
We are not perfect, and Puppy is not perfect. In the initial stages, mistakes will be made, some of which may lead to chewed up designer shoes, scratched kitchen cabinets, and stained carpets. However, this is all part of the learning process.
Puppies, and indeed all dogs do not perform bad behaviors just to piss us off, make us angry, or exact revenge.
Puppies Acting Badly
Puppies or dogs act badly because …
- They do not know that something is bad because we did not teach them properly.
- They were stressed and started chewing, digging, or even pooping in order to relieve that stress (displacement behaviors).
- They felt threatened and thought it was necessary to protect themselves, or their belongings.
The key to puppy obedience training is in learning to see things from our dog’s point of view.
Once we understand what motivates our puppy, we can prevent undesirable actions and encourage desirable ones.
Dogs spend a lot of time observing us, understanding what makes us tick, and making us happy. The least that we can do, is try to return the favor.
We have a 10 week old Husky pup- her name is Nona (brought her home at 7 1/2 weeks). I know we have to have patience but the last couple of days have been a nightmare! She did well her first week and half. When she bites us, we yelp and say “No” and redirect her to a toy. She was doing well with this the first week but now she will continue to bite us in which we will stand up and start ignoring her which leads her to jump and bite our pants, shirt, feet, hands- everything! Yelping doesn’t seem to phase her anymore- she just barks back at us and continues to jump. We try to leave the area- giving her a “timeout” from us but then she becomes more wild and sometimes won’t settle down. The vet said to try and grab her by her mane (like her mom would) and put a toy in her mouth but this has not worked. She just growls at us.
When we try and take her outside- the last couple days- she won’t let us put her collar on (even when she goes to the door and tells us she has to go potty). She is growling at us, biting our hands. The only way we can get it on her is to pick her up and she will settle down a little bit. Sometimes it will take 2 of us to get the collar on.
We crate her during the day b/c we work but I have a cousin who comes and lets her out 2x during the day and plays with her as well (at least an hour each time). She still seems to be a ball of energy when we get home. Just last night, we thought we could calm her down (close to her bedtime) by taking her outside and letting her run back and forth in the yard but during the middle of the night she was up every 45 mins whining excessively. She has not done that since she has been with us- not even the first night. Was taking her out and letting her run around a mistake?
I have friends with Huskies and they all advised me she is acting like a normal husky puppy but I am at my wits end- especially with the biting.
Any help or suggestions!? Is this normal husky behavior!?
Ok so I’m not crazy. We rescued a 3.5 month Husky pup and I have never had this much difficulty training any animal! I thought I had the worse animal when I rescued a American Saddlebred Horse that had been left alone for 3 yrs. and had no prior formal horse behavior training , but I succeeded as best you can with Saddlebred . I have had various breeds of dogs my entire life and now have my 5th German Shepherd best dog easy to train and a Jack Russell Terrior difficult but now very well behaved if she just wouldn’t kill small wildlife but DNA can’t be trained out sometimes. This Husky pup has absolutely no fear! I never use physical abuse to train always reward by praise or food and she is defiantly food driven having been starving when we rescued her and she learns commands , sit, stay crates reluctantly but does walking on leash is a challenge still but the defiance and the demand for attention by running at you and biting , INSANE!! Never have I had this behavior from any pup . I will not allow her around my young grandchildren becomes of injuries she’s inflicted on me and her unpredictable behavior. I was told Huskies are “different” but wow. I won’t give up on her just need someone experienced to help read this breed and adjust training . Do they all have that no fear or not cautious instinct in them??? German Shepherds are fearless but they wil caution to evaluate friend or foe first unless directed by their person. Stumped.
The yelling does not help because she is to old and is used to yelping
OMG OMG!!!! We just got a husky pup Luna, she is now 9 weeks old and has been an absolute nightmare. Biting, jumping going to the bathroom wherever she feels. She is not really alone during the day fortunately our schedules work with that that when I am gone my fiancé is home and vice versa. I still crate her for training purposes and so that she becomes accustomed to being in there. She will behave and go outside to potty for a couple days and then slip up and its like downhill for the next couple of days after that. Biting is the worst she will not stop. I don’t know what to do at this point I’m becoming very frustrated and feeling bad for regretting this decision to get a pup. I knew it was work but holy crap, and a husky on top of it, I know it was going to be even tougher. Please help!!
Hi, i bought a siberian husky male, he’s now4 months old. his name is Bowie cos he has 2 different color eyes…
My wife is pregnant and has little patience to train Bowie…I work abroad and am home a few days per month.
he is being trained once a week with a dog behaviourist that collects him from my house for the day…this includes dog socialization…
Problem is, whatever he learns at dog training has no continuity at home…
Little can be changed on the household commitment because I am away most of the time…
Bowie seriously needs attention to get him fully trained…should I get more sessions per week?
Please share your expert advice…this dog is driving everyone up the wall…
Regards
Tony
People need to be trained by the dog trainer . It’s follow through every single day and if that trainer does not insist you or your wife participate, fire her! Pay for someone to come to the house and work with you or your wife through the training exercises then take pup to Doggy day care once a week for socialization. Many so called animal behaviorist will charge unbelievable money and do this . FIRE HER or HIM.
Hi i have a 10 week husky pup (got her when she was 7 weeks and 3 days old) I have taught her to sit and give both paws and she learnt quick with the training pads for her toilet training but my hands and arms are black and blue from when she’s paying with her toys (she has loads of different ones) she will bite me so hard like clamping down and i have to prize her jaws open. She even bites my stomach and anywhere. She’s drew blood about 50 times my hands and arms and legs look like I have got a knife and stabbed myself lots and sliced my arms. I actually have bruises on my upper arms where she’s bit me so hard. My vet said try a teddy and get her to bite it and play and the min she bites me I Yelp and stand up and turn my back on her, she said do this 5 times a day. She won’t stay on her own follows me everywhere and if i shut the door on her to wash the floors or something she goes crazy. Sorry for the long message.. My other husky i had for 9 years I rescued him at 9 months old and 5 weeks ago i found out he had bone cancer and had weeks left to live I tried everything to save him and exactly a week later the vet had to come to my home to put him to sleep he was in to much pain, crying all night in pain. My mum got me this new puppy to help heal my pain I love her so much but the biting is so bad xx
Sounds like your going through what I am going through. Mine is 10 weeks as well. The first week we had her- yelping when she would bite us seemed to help- especially with how hard she was biting. She bites us a lot “softer” now. But we still are having issues with her biting even after we get up and turn our backs to her or redirect her to a toy. She follows me around everywhere as well and when I go to the next room even though she can still see me- she whines terribly. We have had her for almost 3 weeks and last night was one of the worst nights yet with her whining.
I have a 13 week husky lab and rot mixed puppy. I am having problems with her peeing in the house. She goes outside to go poop and pee. But when she comes back in the house not even two mins later she pees in the house. I have used apple cinnamon vinager to clean up her pee. I have her ring the bell and put her outside to go pee. But for some reason she is not ring the bell to go pee. Any help?
Some things that I did to potty train my Husky pup-
http://shibashake.com/dog/puppy-potty-training-facts-and-myths
Your probably already doing this but before u put your dog outside make it paw at the bells or do it with their nose whichever u prefer. We had to physically do this for our pups the first few times, then praising them. After only a few times they got it & they’re praised everyime unless they’re kidding around & we absolutely know their not needing to go to the bathroom. Then we tell them no u just went potty or poop.
Hope this helps
Hi I have an 10 weeks year old Siberian husky and she won’t stop chewing my box spring under my bed I’ve tried everything I could possible do to stop her and I would love some advice
put some vicks vapour rub on the parts hes chewing after trying to eat once or twice they wont want to do it again
Hi me and my partner have recently bought a 6-7 month old huskyxmalamute and he was very shy to begin with and now his puppy side is coming out he has never been trained. He bites at my clothes if I leave a room and tries to get my attention by taking things he shouldn’t, I have tried ignoring him taking away out affection and restricting him. I don’t want his puppy side gone as it was lovely to finally see it but we do need it toned down a little. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated
I have a Shiba Inu puppy and your website has been incredibly helpful in deciding on food and supplies! You mentioned using a soft grooming brush — do you have any specific recommendations or brands that work well? When shopping, there are so many options that it’s a bit overwhelming. Slicker? Furminator? Rake?
We did the 2″ or longer furminater & it works wonders on our Alaskan malamute/German Shepard mix as well as our lab. We also bought their shampoo (on eBay for $10 free shipping & its very consintrated we also bought the brush on there for $13 & waited for it to come from China. We figured its made there anyhow why spend $60 for the xlarge brush when we could get that for so cheap, brand new, & no shipping either. It took about 20 days to get the brush, we ordered the shampoo from in the states tho & it was here in 2 days!) that u bathe them with 1 time a mo. Its worked wonders cutting they’re shedding to a ¼ of what it was. We try to brush them 3 times a wk, it’d be better the more u brush. Best of luck!
I just got an almost 3 months old (DOB: 12/30/2015) Siberian Husky and he bites and chews on everything BUT his chewing toys i buy for him. How do i get him to stop chewing/biting on everything else but his toys? He also pees and poops everywhere. How do i train him? Should i get training pads? I am currently live in an apartment, is there anything i can do to keep him happy and healthy? Thank you so much! Your husky is absolutely beautiful!
How I deal with puppy biting.
How I potty trained my puppy.
Hi! I got a siberian husky same age as yours and Tabasco worked miracles!!!!! I would sprinkle a few drops on the desk, couch or any other furniture she would like to chew on. I used one small bottle in the span of a month and puppy was trained.
Your probably already doing this but before u put your dog outside make it paw at the bells or do it with their nose whichever u prefer. We had to physically do this for our pups the first few times, then praising them. After only a few times they got it & they’re praised everyime unless they’re kidding around & we absolutely know their not needing to go to the bathroom. Then we tell them no u just went potty or poop.
Hope this helps
We recently got a 9 week old husky pup and we are already encountering some issues.
We got out for dinner and come back to see he is growling and moaning in the house. He also growls and moans after he has done his poop.
At the moment we have training pads and we would like him to get potty trained outside but it is raining here.
He also seems to run away when we try to go next to him and he looks scared too.
We will be gone for the day to work and he will be alone in the house, what’s the best way for the pup to be less destructive and be independent.
Today I went to gym, before I left, he was napping and after I came back, he was growling and moaning and when I went inside the room, where he is kept, he had done poop.
He is kept inside the room and we will be closing the door, so if accidents happen, it’s only limited to that room.
Weather is crazy here and it’s raining and it will be hard for us to take him out for a little while.
Lastly, we got a collar tag and leash for him and he won’t walk at all with him.
But if we put him in the yard when it isn’t raining, he will run and go hide in a corner.
We also got a couple of chew toys which he is slowly starting to use them.
We were suggested to maybe leave a radio or tv on, while we will be away.
And also get a big teddy bear, so it reminds him of his mom
Please help/suggest
Hi my name is Stephine
My husky is named Chief. I found him wondering around about a year ago and could never find the owner. When we go him we moved I to a house with a small chain link fence. He always got out. And then we put him in a kennel and he would find ways to get out. So we moved to a house with large back yard with a 6ft wooded privacy fence. Within 24 hours he has gotten out 4 time. A different way everytime. So I put him back in his kennel Soni could go out a do a few things. When I got home he was at the door when I opened it. When I checked his kennel I can’t figure out out he got out. The doors were still locked… what can I do to keep him in the yard. Or do you think it would be best for me to find a husky rescue for him so they can give him the proper care?