If you just got a brand new puppy, congratulations! You’re in for a very fun yet frustrating time. One second, you’ll be smiling at him for being so cute, while the next second, you’ll want to scream at him for breaking something in the house. So when it comes to a puppies training, the sooner you do it, the better off you’re going to be.

Although it’s definitely important to begin training with your puppy while it’s still young, you must remember that you are also in training. Your puppy is in a completely new situation, learning how to navigate a strange home and get along with unfamiliar people. It won’t happen right away.

The first portion of the puppy training should concentrate on limits. What is the puppy allowed to do? Where can it go? These are the things that have to be answered, and the best way to do it is to watch him. See where he goes when indoors. If he ventures into a closet, be prepared to firmly say “NO”. The dog will soon recognize the tone in your voice, and associate it with his location in the house. This tells the puppy that the closet is off limits.

You should be sure to walk him often on a leash. It is not only good for physical stimulation, it also helps reinforce that he is to do his business outside. After he has relieved himself, be sure to reward him with a treat so that he knows he has learned well.

It’s very difficult for a new pet owner to learn to deal with a dog who will not stop barking. Sometimes, it seems that a new dog barks incessantly, without noticing that you just want peace and quiet. A new pet-owner needs to learn that their pet’s barking is not meant simply to bother them. They need to pay attention to why the dog is barking, and understand the “dog’s barking trends.”

Try to be more attentive. What’s the cause of it? Is it something that’s really obvious which is causing him to bark or is it something more subtle? A lot of times a dog will bark when he sees someone they are not familiar with. Dogs, being a natural territorial animal, will bark at that person, as to say “get off my property”.

The secret to getting your dog to stop barking is to be ready for it. Be aware of what is making him bark and take action to prevent it. For example, if you know he barks at the mail carrier every day, be ready. When you think its around the time the mail gets delivered, put a leash on your dog. When you see the mail carrier approaching, give just a small tug on the leash, before the dog gets an opportunity to bark. Just a little tug, though, to remind him to keep quiet.

It is very good, to use a water pistol when you are outdoors. If you are aware of what makes your dogs bark, spray him with water before he has the opportunity to bark. He will quickly realize that there is punishment for his barking. But, this won’t work if you don’t give him a treat when he doesn’t bark. Dogs must have good and bad reinforcement.