🐶 Is your adorable puppy turning into a bit of a handful? 🐾 Renowned dog trainer Will Atherton shares his top tips to prevent your lovely pup from becoming a nightmare! Having trained thousands of dogs with behavioural quirks, Will’s insights are worth noting.
1️⃣ **Reinforcing Fear**: When your pup is barking or howling, it’s tempting to rush over with cuddles, thinking it’ll calm them. But guess what? You might be telling them there’s something to fear. Instead, aim for a calm and collected response to reassure them.
2️⃣ **Rewarding Bad Behaviour**: If your pup is chewing or being overly boisterous and you continue fussing them, it sends the wrong message. It’s all about being firm yet loving and knowing when to draw the line.
3️⃣ **Lack of Socialisation**: From day one, introduce your puppy to various sights, sounds, and smells. A well-socialised pup grows into a more relaxed and confident adult dog. PDSA says un-socialised dogs face more anxiety and behavioural issues.
Will’s advice? Pay attention to those everyday interactions. It’s often not about getting the perfect ‘sit’ or ‘stay’ but about understanding and managing the little day-to-day moments that shape your dog’s behaviour. 🐕✨
Have you picked up any tips from your dog-training journey? Share your experiences below! 👇#DogTraining #PuppyLove #PetTips