January is National Train Your Dog Month! Our canine friends make wonderful pets, but they do need quite a bit of petucation to learn how to behave properly. This training isn’t just about manners, however. It’s also very important for safety reasons! Here, a Carolina Forest, SC vet lists some things Fido should know.
Basic Doggy Commands
Sit is usually the best to teach Fido first, as it’s quite easy for him to learn. Your furry pal should also obey commands to Come, Heel, and Lay Down. You may also find the commands to Drop It and Leave It useful. Work on one thing at a time, and don’t move on until your pup has mastered each one. Be sure to offer your adorable student lots of treats and praise!
Housebreaking
Housetraining isn’t the best part of adopting a dog, but it is absolutely crucial. There are a few different methods you can use. Do plenty of research, and ask your vet for tips. That said, it’s best to stick to one tactic, rather than changing methods. Regardless of what method you pick, you’ll need to walk Fido several times a day, and immediately reward him when he does his business outside.
Crate Training
Even if you don’t plan to crate your dog regularly, it’s best for him to be familiar with being crated. Chances are, Fido will need to be crated at some point, such as when he visits his vet or groomer. We also strongly recommend keeping pups crated for travel. You want to make your furry buddy think of his crate as a cozy den, rather than a jail cell. Add comfy bedding and toys to the crate, and offer your pet meals, treats, toys, praise, and attention near it.
Door Manners
Man’s Best Friend has been protecting our homes for thousands of years, so he’s pretty well adjusted to his role as door doggy. However, if your canine companion tends to say hello to your guests by, well, jumping on them, you may want to work on Fido’s petiquette. This is especially important with large dogs, as they can actually knock people over. With smaller pups, like Chihuahuas, this bad behavior isn’t as dangerous, but it’s still bad manners. Please contact us, your Carolina Forest, SC vet clinic, for all your pet’s veterinary care needs. We are here to help!
