New owners often train for too long, usually because they want so badly to get it right. A quick practice turns into a long one, and suddenly the puppy is chewing a shoelace instead of listening. Puppies have short attention spans, so short sessions tend to go better for everyone.
For a young puppy, a few minutes at a time is plenty. Aim for several short sessions spread throughout the day instead of one long one.
End each session while your puppy is still enjoying itself. If it starts to wander off, sniff the floor or get bitey, the session probably went too long, so stop a little sooner next time.
Finish with something easy your puppy already knows, like a sit, then reward it and stop, so training always ends on a positive note.
You don't need a set training time. Practice a sit before meals, a short stay before you open the door and the name game during commercial breaks.
Puppies often seem to "get it" after a nap, so a crate nap after a training session is a good habit to build.
Write down one or two things you practiced each day, because looking back at your notes makes it easier to see what's working.
Find all of PawPampering's free guides and tools in one place on PawPampering links.
You can also build your puppy's day with this free potty routine card.
Written by the PawPampering team. PawPampering was founded by Dr. Michael Northcutt, PhD, CCAT.