11/03/2025
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Tips & Tricks
The simple things that make all the difference!
Awhile back, I was at the gym when one of the trainers brought her little girl to class and mentioned her daughter had been kicked out of the kids club because she bit someone. Apparently this was a repeat offense. Interested, I asked the trainer what happened the first several times this happened. She replied each time it occurs, the kids club staff brings her daughter to her. Then I observed as this little girl seemed VERY happy to be with mom. So I started thinking in terms of puppy training because that’s what we do!
What happens when your puppy does something, good or bad, and you reward them? They do it again. As we like to say, “Whatever gets rewarded gets repeated.” Are you following me? So what am I thinking about this situation? Yep! You got it. This little girl has figured out if she bites someone, she gets to go hang out with her mom. The kids club staff are simply rewarding this little girl with a trip to mom each time she bites. How does she get out of kids club? Simple. Just bite someone and my mom will appear.
Puppies are the same way! They try behavior - if it works for them they keep doing it. We free shape them to train behaviors we want. For example, for attention we expect our puppies to sit or at least keep all four paws on the ground. So we wait for it and reward four on the floor the instant it happens with a “YES! Good dog!” and food reward. Be careful not to let your puppy free shape you. If they bark for attention, giving them any sort of attention, such as yelling, shouting, scolding, etc. will not work to decrease the behavior but to increase it. If they know they will get attention by stealing a stinky sock from the laundry, they'll keep trying to get it.
Do your best to manage situations that are avoidable: keep garbage in covered cans, clear off tables and countertops of food and other objects, put laundry behind closed doors and shoes in the garage. Then take note of your puppy’s common behaviors, think what you want them to do instead, and train them to do it! Teach LEAVE IT for sneaking items, expect CALM by practicing SETTLE and GO TO BED. Also, reward your puppy for entertaining themselves as well as choosing on their own to relax on the floor. I love it when my dog does this by themselves without being asked. Rewarding that will likely increase that behavior in the future.
For more help, check out The Online Puppy School on our site. We'd love to help you work with your puppy.
Happy Training,
Amy & Team
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