How to Train an Australian Puppy
Australian Shepherds are friendly, beautiful dogs who work hard to please their owners. Fiercely intelligent and physically inclined, Australian Shepherds are prominent as medal winners in the agility training circuit. But all this talent has to shaped somewhere, and that begins with puppy training. Your Australian Shepherd puppy needs proper training early to become an obedient, balanced adult.
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Instructions
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Show your puppy that you are the leader and are in charge. Australian Shepherds have dominant personalities and will want to establish that dominance over you. Instill your leadership role by walking through doors before your puppy, placing your pup on his back and being in control when on walks. This is probably the most important aspect of your Australian Shepherd puppy's training.
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Begin crate training your Australian Shepherd puppy the first day you bring him home. Crate training not only makes potty training easier, but it also gives your puppy a place where he can feel safe, similar to a den. Keep your Aussie puppy in the crate when you are gone and at bedtime.
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Use consistent wording when teaching commands. Use the same words for what you are trying to accomplish. For instance, if you want to use the word "sit" to train your Australian Shepherd puppy to sit, say that word exclusively when training that technique. If you use other words, such as "down," your puppy will become confused and it will impede her training.
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Socialize your Australian Shepherd puppy. Puppies should come in contact with other puppies and people when they are young. This will help them become more comfortable around other animals and humans. Dogs that do not have this interaction usually become fearful and skittish when placed in these situations.
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Tips & Warnings
Buy a crate that is just big enough for your Australian Shepherd puppy to stand up and turn around in. Training your puppy in a crate that is too large will make it harder for your puppy to become house broken; she will be able to move away from her mess in a large crate.
Your Australian Shepherd puppy learns and retains the most information in the first 20 weeks of his life. So give him positive experiences and proper training during this time.
Reward good behavior with treats and affection. This positive reinforcement will encourage your puppy to be well-behaved.
Let your Australian Shepherd puppy interact with other dogs only after she has received all of her shots, including distemper, rabies and bordetella. This will prevent your puppy from contracting diseases.
Never hit or physically punish your dog. Instead of teaching him to become obedient, this cruel practice will foster fear and aggression.
