Training your Goldendoodle will go a lot easier and faster if you set yourself and your puppy up for success from the start. The fact that you have now opened up your home to a puppy means that you that you will be starting from scratch or step one with your training.
Discuss a few key factors with the rest of your family prior to bringing the dog home. For example, are you going to be crating the dog for bedtime? If so, where will the crate be and what are the guidelines for the crate training?
It is vital to get a plan together and discuss your expectations so that everyone in the family clearly understands what to expect. Consistency is key when it comes to training your new puppy.
Here are 5 simple commands to teach your Goldendoodle puppy to help make sure life is both fun and relaxing for everyone:
Sit
Sittng on command is a vital life skill that your Doodle need to master. It can potentially save your dog’s life one day and keep other dogs and people safe. Many owners prefer their dog to sit prior to crossing the street on walks or to sit and wait at the perimeter of the property. You will want to use a treat to reward you puppy. Work with your pup in a gentle way and let it know your expectations.
Stay
Many trainers use a combination of a word and hand signal to communicate with their pet. This is helpful if you are planning to socialize your puppy at a public dog park or other populated area. Using a flat stop-sign hand for the stay command will help you avoid yelling at the top of your lungs when you are out and about.
Come, or Here
It may seem like a given that if you pat your legs, your puppy will naturally come bounding over. The opposite can occur, however, when your dog is intensely focused on something else, such as the neighbor’s cat perhaps. Having a solid tone and word that directly translates to “report back to me immediately” will help you trust your dog when you are at the beach, camping or walking through a parking lot together. Your dog needs to understand that you are the alpha and what you say goes. Even the most well-intentioned dog can be scary when it runs up to small children or accidently intimidates other dogs.
Mine, Leave It, or Drop It
This is a particularly useful term if you are planning on being the fetch champion in your neighborhood. You will enjoy the games with balls and sticks and stuffys much more if you don’t have to wrestle the items away from slobbery jowls. Training your Goldendoodle to drop their toys at your feet after retrieving them will offer you a higher degree of overall enjoyment while making your pooch ecstatic that they pleased you.
Bed
This one-word command is commonly accompanied with a pointing finger. It is great to familiarize your dog with a safe place where it knows it can retreat or where it can patiently await further instructions. For instance, sending the dog to its bed or mat after entering from outside can potentially save you a substantial amount of time cleaning the floor and dealing with muddy paw prints.
As always, consistency is key. Decide on which commands you are going to use and stick with them. Communicate with your family members to avoid confusing the dog with multiple gestures or words. If everyone is able to offer the same training tactics, you will ensure that your dog knows what is expected of it much earlier.
We highly recommend watching You Tube videos on line to help you understand how to properly train your new puppy!
NOW…Have FUN!!!