All of us hope for training the perfect St. Bernard, a pup that’s a CGC or canine good citizen and is very well mannered and trustworthy at all times. Well dreams really do come true if the training is done with kindness and focus. Realize pups learn from day one and really need to be advised what is right, what is not, and proper interpersonal skills.
Puppies are like young children, they are in need of continuous supervision and training. Training a pup needn’t be an ordeal, all you need to remember are a few straightforward principles:
Top Ten Tips For Training Your St. Bernard
- Till your pup learns, you must keep an eye on him at all times. If you can’t then you should cage him. Create a schedule for the pup, this will enable him to settle down quickly. The calendar should incorporate things like hourly potty breaks, eating times, relaxation periods, walks, play time, instruction, and more. A pup that has a hectic day has no time for being unoccupied or get into mischief.
- Teach the pup to value you. St. Bernards stay in packs and instinctively need a leader. If you establish your dominance in no uncertain terms then training will get easy as the pup will obey orders at all times and not defy your authority.
- Utilize only positive training strategies. Do not ever shout at, whack, or abuse your St. Bernard. It is not just cruel but might trigger behavioral problems. Using electric shocks, prong collars, sprays, and so on could very well wound the animal.
- Teach the pup “absolutely nothing in this life is without cost.” This is a system that is frequently regarded as an useful coaching tool. When you execute this, the pup will be taught that to experience anything like love, a walk, or treat, he will need to behave properly.
- Teach the meaning of “No,” from day one. Do not endorse behaviors such as jumping, mouthing, tug-o-war, snarling, or escaping open gates and doors. Celebrate proper behavior and disregard or leave when there is bad conduct. The pup will realize that if he acts up he will lose his companion/playmate.
- To fix a habit you have to catch the St. Bernard in the act and surprise him by rattling a jar of pebbles. As soon as you have done this help him correct his behavior and instantly give him a snack and praise. St. Bernards do not recollect what took place previously so rebuking him after an event is of no use.
- Be sure to call/use his name favorably. Don’t say “Bad TOM,” or “No Tom,” this will cause mental confusion and the St. Bernard will think that if you call his name then it is something negative. The puppy must identify his name with pleasant events like hugs, petting, strolls, food, and such. If this occurs he will come happily the minute you call his name.
- Make a training regimen that is short and sweet, say 10 minutes 3 times a day. Lengthy repeated sessions can be uninteresting and the St. Bernard will lose interest in the learning session. Make learning fun-filled and use trick training sessions to show orders like sit, down, come et cetera.
- Bond with the St. Bernard and both of you will definitely appreciate your sessions. The pup needs to wait to spending quality time with you and not stay clear of you by breaking away or hiding. Make certain to socialize the doggy early. Socialization is one of the most essential lessons. The St. Bernard must definitely figure out how to coexist with other animals, people, sounds, vehicles, and other activities. Therefore, slowly introduce the puppy when he is small to ordinary endeavors and noises. Take him to the store/ dog park, present him to kids and other animals, and make him unafraid of the vacuum and water hose.
- Study all about potty training, leash walking, house breaking, as well as food training. These are training 101 lessons that every St. Bernard puppy should grasp. Learn about all the habits in addition to qualities of the breed. This will give you important insights on how to properly train the puppy dog.
As a St. Bernard parent you have countless choices. You can choose to train the St. Bernard on your own or enroll at a skilled professional training school. Training a St. Bernard has numerous steps: kindergarten, behavior training, doggy sports, presenting and conformation, in addition to other elements like therapy dogs, hearing dogs, and so forth. What level you choose to coach hinges on you in addition to the brainpower of your St. Bernard. As you recognize, various dogs, like humans, have varied talents. Choose well and both you and your St. Bernard pup will have good times together.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about St. Bernards.
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