how-to-teach-your-puppy-his-name

How to teach your puppy his name

You have just adopted a puppy and you have even found a nice name for him but you don't know how to make him respond to it?

I give you here a very simple method to teach your puppy his name as well as various important advices to guarantee the success of the learning.

 

Tip #1: Choosing the right name

First and foremost, you need to find a name. It is often recommended not to choose a name that exceeds 2 syllables.

This name must also be easy to pronounce, you must be at ease!

Don't hesitate to do simulations as one would do for a child: "Pierre Henri Daniel à table! "(...a bit long for one person, no?)

In short, don't necessarily look for originality or complexity in the name you give your dog. It's not a contest for the best name, you see.

Moreover, it can help you in your choice but know that it is absolutely not obligatory to stick to the letter of the year of birth of your dog.

Choose a name that speaks to you, that you like and that you won't have trouble pronouncing on a daily basis.

 

Tip #2: A learning environment

Once the name has been found, the puppy adopted, etc., it is now time to make your puppy understand that he is called that.

To do this, I recommend that you start the learning process in a place without too much stimulation. Even if there is no such thing as "zero stimulation", especially for a puppy, choose a calm environment to start learning, like your living room or your garden for example.

Furthermore, I advise you to teach your dog his name when you are alone with him. Don't be several to solicit him in which case he will have difficulty concentrating.

 

Tip #3: Choose the right training method

Even for this simple training, you must choose a technique adapted to the age and character of your dog.

Of course, it is always advisable to respect the principles of positive education by giving priority to reinforcing good behavior and not punishing bad behavior.

When you have a puppy, he starts from zero, he is virgin of any learning: do not be too hard with him and be patient!

The faster you want to go, the more pressure you will put on him and the less you will achieve the desired results. In other words, the faster you want to go, the slower you will progress!

Also, don't punish your puppy for not understanding. If you can't get the results you want, then question yourself and change either the environment, or the method, or your attitude (or all three...).

 

brain-training-dog

 

Tip #4: Have a welcoming and enthusiastic tone

Your attitude will also be the key to success. You'll need to have a welcoming posture (crouching, arms open) and an appropriate, enthusiastic voice (rather high-pitched, so...).

Having a welcoming and enthusiastic tone of voice will attract your puppy's attention and motivate him to come to you.

Be aware that if you call your puppy with a neutral or even serious tone, he will have very little enthusiasm to come to you, for fear of being scolded.

Remember that dogs are opportunistic animals and will not naturally go for something they don't like.

 

Tip #5: Adapt the sessions

Whether it is for any learning, and therefore also for the one of his name, you must adapt the sessions to the age and the capacities of your animal.

Therefore, keep the sessions short (5 or 10 minutes) but repeat them as often as possible. A puppy needs a lot of rest, don't overfeed him and don't exhaust him with an intensive education that he will end up hating and therefore avoiding and ignoring.

 

Tip #6: Encourage Success

Don't set yourself or your puppy up for failure! I often observe owners calling their puppy incessantly and being satisfied with a simple glance from the puppy.

Or masters who call their puppy and then finally give up when they see their pet's total lack of interest.

This is a serious mistake because by doing so, the puppy is already learning that it is possible, acceptable and tolerable not to listen. And even if it's a puppy: it's not right!

So, call your puppy (at first) only when you are 100% sure that he will be focused and receptive to your indication.

And for added security and control, when you teach your puppy his name, don't hesitate to put a light lanyard around his neck so that you don't have to experience a failure situation or lose control of your puppy.

 

Teaching your puppy his name in a few simple steps

Concretely, here is how in a few steps you can teach your puppy his name (while applying the advice given above of course):

• Step 1 : Provide yourself with treats
• Step 2: Set up in your living room or backyard (tie your puppy to a light tether if needed)
• Step 3: Crouch down and open your arms, calling your puppy with a high-pitched, enthusiastic voice
• Step 4: Your puppy arrives, congratulate him warmly by giving him the treat and repeating his name "yesss" "its good".
• Step 5: When you have your puppy's full attention, create the following association: "his name" = treat.

Repeat this as often as possible and when it is fully integrated, you can then move on to the next level by offering him this exercise in more and more stimulating places.

This learning will be the key to the success of all the other learning because the basis of a good cooperation between a master and his dog is the connection. And this connection goes through the name of the dog.

For future training, you should always create the connection and then give the chosen indication: "his name" (connection) and then "sit" (indication).

Take advantage of the fact that your puppy is totally attached to you during the first weeks of living together to teach him his name. He will often be with you, he will always want to play and be by your side: so take advantage of these moments to make them fun AND educational.

 

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