The majority of owners find it more difficult than they anticipate. Usually, they ascribe this to the insufficiency of the toy poodle, but that’s not the case. Pet owners don’t realize that pups are prone to attempting a variety of things to which the owner must respond quickly and appropriately. If you are finding it hard to train your toy poodle, keep reading for some useful information.
Resource: My #1 favorite resource for effectively training your poodle is Doggy Dan. His methods are gentle and effective and right now he’s offering 4 FREE training videos to help you get your poodle to CHOOSE to obey you.
How to Train a Toy Poodle?
Many methods are used for training a toy poodle. The most relevant ones among them are discussed below.
Implement Reward-Based Method
In this training approach, the dog is rewarded for excellent behavior. As a result, he/she learns to observe good manners to obtain a treat. On the other hand, bad behavior is either overlooked or acknowledged with a brief verbal censure or other (non-violent) measures. The aim is to inform your dog that he/she made a mistake by choosing the wrong activity.
You should look for a reward that your dog enjoys. It could either be food, a unique toy, or simply words for appreciation. Generally, a treat is used for this purpose because even a picky eater might have a preferred meal.
You may need to spend some time to figure out what your canine really enjoys. Try out various possible options and see what works best. For example, cheese, hotdog sausage, steak, chicken, or a commercial training treat can be used to train your toy poodle.
Teach your Poodle Basic Commands
Stay and recall are two essential commands that must be taught to every canine. When your dog starts to obey these commands, you gain a lot of control over his/her actions. For instance, you can stop a toy poodle from jumping up at an anxious child by instructing the dog to “stay and calm down”.
To teach these commands, position the dog in front of you so that you can both see each other. Hold a treat in your palm and place it in front of the dog’s head (slightly above it). Most dogs would sit to get a better view of the treat held above their heads. When the dog sits, praise the good work and give him/her the treat.
Potty Train Your Dog
The basic goal of potty training is to reward a dog for eliminating at the designated location. You achieve this by keeping a close eye on your toy poodle and taking him/her outside at regular intervals. Make sure that you have a fixed spot and you are following a routine to reduce to chances of accidents.
Use Canine Playpen
According to All Poodle Info, an indoor canine playpen is one of the most effective solutions. These are durable, open-top pens that allow a poodle to wander around, play, and enjoy all his favorite items like food, water, toys, and bed. In addition to that, the messes of your poodle stay confined in the playpen and it won’t spread around your house.
Playpens are also excellent for dogs suffering from separation anxiety because they provide a secure ‘den’. In the playpen, all the necessities of the poodle will remain close and he/she will feel secured. These are also ideal for controlling a Poodle puppy during the teething stage.
Tips to Train a Toy Poodle
The following are some useful tips for training a toy poodle.
Socialize Your Toy Poodle
It is very important to socialize your poodle at an early age to ensure that he/she becomes a decent canine when they grow older. Therefore, you should make your poodle meet different people and animals so that he may learn to handle different situations without getting anxious. Puppies have a period of social interaction in which they learn more quickly by observing their surroundings. It is easy to train young poodles and you must take advantage of this by taking your pup outside so that he becomes used to all the noises and people.
Focus on Minor Areas
Calmness is the key to effective training. Your Pure-Bred Puppy suggests that you need to work on basics to get the desired results. You could be tempted to concentrate on commands (such as “Come” or “Lie down”) while letting your dog run around inside and bark at visitors. Similarly, your poodle may indulge in other negative behaviors, like jumping on people, seeking attention, and yanking on the leash. It’s not going to work like that.
Allowing excitable, impulsive, or disrespectful conduct breeds hyperactivity, instability, and disobedience in a poodle. This state of mind is stressful, and it almost guarantees that the puppy will develop more behavioral issues in the future. Hence, you must commit to work on each ability that is crucial in promoting a calm and polite attitude.
Find the Reason for Disobedience
Pet Ponders suggest that finding the reason for the misconduct of your toy poodle should be your first priority. For example, if your pooch is barking for no apparent reason, make sure you urge him/her to stop. Be firm and direct (do not shout). After a few repetitions, the dog will learn to stay silent.
Choose the Training Ambience Wisely
Always train your dog in a peaceful, distraction-free environment, such as your backyard. However, make sure to take your toy poodle to several places during the training phase so that he/she can learn to obey you in all situations.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.