There’s a LOT of dog training information online. We know how daunting it can be to try and figure out how to approach this with a growing puppy in your lap.

At The Sharp K9, we emphasize owner-education and make sure you are set up to succeed not only with this puppy, but all of your future puppies as well. We’ve created this guide to give you some REAL insight into how puppy training works.

Determine Your Dog’s Breed Class(es)

Dog breeds exist because, at some point in history, we wanted a dog to serve a specific purpose. Some breed classes have higher mental stimulation needs than others.

Mental Stimulation: The methods you use to stimulate your brain. The more intelligent a being is, the more mental stimulation they need. Some dogs are much smarter than others, and need puzzles and complex tasks to remain sound-of-mind.

Breed Classes, as determined by the American Kennel Club:

• Herding
• Hound
• Toy
• Non-Sporting
• Sporting
• Terrier
• Working

Your dog’s breed class will give you some insight into what they were bred for, which will largely affect how they behave and respond to stimuli.

• Herding dogs have the instinctive ability to learn complex tasks and control other animals. These dogs oftentimes have very intense drive and high intellect. Herding dogs need a lot of mental stimulation and a job to do in order to remain sound-of-mind. These jobs need to be complex, like navigating mazes, herding animals, and agility courses. These breeds tend to have a wider range of emotional capacity than other dogs, even causing handlers to think they act in “spite”.
  
• Hounds are bred to track scent trails and assist humans in hunting. These dogs run more on instinct than intellect. They need a job that channels their inner need to track scents and feel rewarded by finding something. These dogs make great detection animals, such as for ammunition, food allergens, and even missing people. These dogs need to have a clear distinction between their role in their job and their role as a pet dog in order to succeed in obedience training.
  
• Toy and non-sporting breeds may be intelligent, but generally were not bred to provide a distinctive service for humans. These dogs were bred merely for joy and display. They are low-energy, low-drive, and need a strong emotional bond with their handler to succeed. Avoid harsh punishments with these guys to maintain their trust and eagerness to please.
  
• Sporting dogs are bred to have high energy and provide a variety of high-stamina tasks, such as pulling sleds, game bird hunting, and running for long periods of time. These dogs need active owners who can take them on bike rides, hikes, and other high-stamina adventures. The sporting dog class has a wide variety of temperaments; each breed in this class will have a different panel of instincts from the next.
  
• Terriers are bred to hunt vermin & pests who eat crops or dig holes, like rats, moles, groundhogs, and other rodents or small birds. These dogs need a heavier hand when being trained, as their strong independent-hunter instincts often override their eagerness to please humans.

Consistency is Key

One of the most important aspects of puppy training is consistency. All family members should use the same commands and follow the same rules. If one person allows the puppy on the couch while another doesn’t, it creates confusion and slows the learning process.

If you are training your dog to perform a specific job, it may be best to only allow one family member to be in control of that job. Multiple people calling the shots can confuse your dog and lower their confidence. For complex tasks, service dog training, scent tracking, and herding, keep it to one leader.

For general obedience, family dogs should be able to listen to multiple people. However, some people may want their dog to only listen to them. This is something to consider and discuss with your family before bringing your dog home.

Different Methods for Different Dogs

We strongly advocate for you to train the dog in front of you. There are many different methods of training dogs, and a lot of the information you may find online focuses on whether or not you should punish your dog. Instead of trying to find the “best” method possible, determine which approach would work for the breed class and individual temperament of YOUR dog.

Intellect, drive, personality, preferences, and sensitivities vary from breed to breed, litter to litter, and dog to dog. While it’s not likely to have a Belgian Malinois that can succeed with only R+ training, and not likely that a French Bulldog would succeed with harsher corrections, each and every dog is unique; just like people.

Socialization Isn’t Always Necessary

Proper, thorough socialization is only necessary for therapy dogs and family dogs who are expected to need to be calm, collected, and friendly around different kinds of people and animals. Socialization is not as important for people who would prefer their dogs remain wary of strangers for security. However, dogs should always, at minimum, be socialized with the people and animals they will encounter in their family at home.

Too much socialization with strangers and other animals can stunt public access training in service dogs and other working animals, causing them to feel the need to approach other people and animals while working.

Not enough socialization with strangers and other animals can stunt search-and-rescue training since those dogs need to be excited and happy to track and find a complete stranger,

Improper socialization can lead to reactivity and aggression in some dogs.

Socialization ≠ Sensory Exposure

Sensory exposure IS necessary for EVERY DOG. Puppies need to be exposed to the noises, feelings, smells, and situations they will experience throughout their lives. Sensory exposure must be started as early as possible, maintained throughout adolescence, and continued through young adulthood (3-24 months of age).

The best way to expose your puppy to different sounds, smells, people, and animals is to sit with them in the back of your car with the windows down and your puppy restrained on a leash or seatbelt. Remain as calm as possible and offer your dog rewards for observing their surroundings and sniffing the air.

Don’t focus on telling your dog they are going to be okay. Rather, remain calm and collected and allow them to develop their own neural pathways toward understanding their surroundings. Dogs can easily feed on your emotions, so if you are anxious or excited, they may mirror that and develop reactivity to the stimuli you are exposing them to.

Emergency Recall & Impulse Control

This is the absolute most important part of puppy training, above all else. Emergency recall is the command you use to call your dog back to you in ANY emergency: running into traffic, chasing another dog, chasing a human, approaching a poisonous pond, chasing a rodent, or otherwise getting loose when they shouldn’t be.

It is highly recommended to consult a professional trainer to learn how to properly train an emergency recall command with your dog. While impulse control can be shaped over time with general obedience and leave-it training, emergency recall needs to be conditioned with big rewards, intensity and specificity.

“When your dog’s life is on the line, you need to be able to recall your dog.”

Professional Support

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or encountering specific challenges, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. At The Sharp K9, we offer personalized puppy training programs tailored to your dog’s unique needs and your family’s lifestyle.

Training your puppy is an investment in your future together. With dedication, consistency, and the right approach, you’ll raise a well-mannered, confident dog that’s a joy to be around.