Goldendoodle Training for First-Time Owners

Start early and be consistent!

Puppies are a delight to be around! But because they are soooo cute, it can be easy to make the mistake of letting them do things that you wouldn't let an adult dog do. My number one tip for new puppy owners is to treat your puppy in such a way that you only encourage the kinds of behaviours you'd be happy for them to do as adults. Meaning, if you don't want your adult dog to jump up at people, and risk knocking granny, or a small child over - then you have to discourage it when they're pups.

Dogs are super smart, and they love interacting with their humans. Early training is a great way to form a strong bond with your puppy, whilst at the same time, you will be creating the behaviours that will make your dog a joy to be around as he or she grows. So, before you bring your puppy home, invest some time learning how to raise happy, balanced, and well-trained dogs. There are plenty of options on YouTube to get you started. Have a look at them and see which style or method resonates more with you.

It will be key for everyone in the family to use the same training methods to avoid confusing your pup with mixed signals. Puppy training requires a lot of time in the beginning, but the more work you put in now, the more you will enjoy one another's company over the years to come.

I recommend training your puppy at meal times, using their own food. This avoids using dog "treats" which may make them gain weight and contain little, if any, nutritional value. It is good for your puppy to learn that it has to work for its food.

Top tips to get you started:

1. Before you begin, take your puppy to relieve itself in its designated toileting area.

2. If the puppy is excited and has high energy levels, try playing a game of tug or fetch to help them use up some of their energy and calm down a little.

3. Do the training in a quiet place where there are little to no distractions. This may mean removing other pets from the space.

4. Start by teaching your puppy simple, functional commands, such as "sit" or "down", "stay" etc. gradually increasing the levels of distractions around them.

5. Try not to say too many words, dogs are very visual, they read your body language and hand gestures. Accompany your signals with one-word commands.

6. Have fun with your puppy. End your training with a game and remember that they will probably need a drink and to go to the toilet again.