Quotes About Training

teach them the 4-paw rule. Shake the cup and reward your puppy if they hold still; if they jump, lift the cup above your head and look up.

Running and shouting "No" to a puppy may make them stop at the moment, but you'd stop too if someone shouted at you. Your puppy doesn't understand; you'll only succeed in making them afraid of people.

Puppies love to play Chase, but you'll notice a theme in the games I describe in this chapter: Always encourage your puppy to chase you, not the other way around.

Help your puppy identify their belongings by keeping their toys and bones in one area. Identify each object as you play with it.

puppies repeat behavior that wins them attention — they don't care whether the interaction is negative or positive.

When you offer your puppy a treat, they will spit out the toy. As they do, say Give and either click-and-treat or simply treat as you praise them. Do not take the toy away from them. The goal is to teach your puppy that "Give" means "spit it out." This action highlights your good intentions to play and not steal.

If you notice your puppy chewing furniture or wires, use a distasteful bitter-apple spray to discourage their curiosity

To encourage proper greeting manners, wait to greet your puppy until they're calm enough to sit for a treat.

To encourage licking on command, spread a thin coat of butter on your hand and say "kisses" as you offer your puppy your open palm.

remember that even bad behavior is a sign of healthy development — it signals that your puppy is engaged, focused, and dependent on you.

It's the same with food or water: Wait to lower the dish until your puppy can sit still.

Imagine the baby has moved in. They're a cute little creature who's just weeks old. Your parenting instincts are in full throttle. Now enters your beloved puppy. Are they used to lounging on the furniture or jumping up for attention? Do they order you to give them a back rub by pawing, barking, or nudging you? Can you see the problem that's developing there? They won't stop this behavior just because you're holding a newborn

Use treat cups as described in Chapter 5 to help your puppy associate kids with fun and food. Toss treats down, saying "Find it" as you cast them to the floor; this helps to ensure that your puppy stays focused on your hands and looks down instead of up when kids are around.

If your pup has been resting by you for an hour and suddenly stands up and starts acting restless, they probably need to go to their potty spot. If your puppy chews on a bone for 15 minutes and then starts acting like a jumping bean, they're likely experiencing an energy spurt and needs time for a little play.

their whole day. If you have the time, ask your puppy to Wait and Sit. Only after you have them settled should you allow them to go and greet a new person.

Allowing your puppy to drag you over to greet another dog is foolish and unsafe. Leashes modify a dog's natural posture, making them look confrontational even when they're anything but; also if your puppy were to break free from the leash, they would impulsively take off, putting themselves and others in danger!

Watch your words. If the phrases you use for baby and dog are too similar, your pup may get hyped up at the wrong time or be utterly confused. (Why are you looking at the newbie instead of me!) Change phrases like "What a good girl!" to "What a great puppy!

Help your puppy get used to being ignored sometimes.

Ease off confrontational games. No more tug-of-war or wrestling, and eliminate all in-home chasing matches. Play games outside and teach your puppy calm

In some circumstances, the puppy views the child as another puppy to bite and bully. At other times, a child becomes jealous of the attention the new addition is getting, which leads to sibling rivalry between the child and the puppy.

Condition them to erratic handling, such as touching, poking, and hair-pulling. Babies and small children like to grab and pull, and your puppy may be startled if the baby's tug is the first one they experience. Feed them a savory or lickable treat as you gently condition them to your mimicking of a baby's touch. Say gentle as you do this, and repeat this phrase when it happens in real time. Don't forget to make some baby sounds, too, for the full effect.

Spread some butter on a serving spoon and use it to lure your puppy some distance away until they have calmed.

Have the kids say "Wait" as they hold the toy in front of the puppy

The butter trick also works as you establish a bond between your baby and your puppy when the puppy settles down. Dab some butter on your baby's foot or booty and say kisses.