Puppy training can make a huge difference for you and your furry friend. Puppies should start simple training through socialization when they are quite young. They can then escalate to more structured puppy obedience classes with age and if necessary.

Notably, not all puppies will require training. Some are inherently receptive to basic training. However, every household with a puppy should know the signs that their little buddy might need a bit more structure while working with a professional.

Destructive Behavior

Puppies use their noses to explore the world. Once they sniff something interesting, their next instinct is to touch it. For a puppy, that means putting their mouth on it. Some puppies will get toothier than others, and this can destroy furniture and other belonging.

Many people treat this as a phase. You need to intervene, though, and see if the puppy responds to the command to quit the behavior. If the puppy doesn't register the command or resumes the behavior once you're not watching, that could be a problem that calls for obedience classes.

Jumping on People or Other Animals

Energy and puppies go together. Oftentimes, the energy explodes out in jumping. Unfortunately, people aren't always wild about the jumping behavior.

Also, puppies can jump on other animals. Those animals may not take so kindly to the jumping, and that can trigger confrontations. Worse, the puppy may register the other animal's hostility as play. Especially if you have an older pet that can't bear the puppy's energy, this can make your home life difficult. Training and socialization in a structured setting, however, can often calm jumpy puppies.

Yanking the Leash

You are likely going to leash-train your puppy at some point. Pups respond to the leash in a myriad of ways. Some strain on the leash. Others fight with it. Some will try to break it with aggressive dashes.

No matter whether the puppy is going to grow up to be a small or huge dog, control matters. Leash difficulties rarely get better without training so it's wise to start them when they're young.

Unreceptive to Commands

A puppy doesn't need to respond as well as a champion dog on an obstacle course. It does need to handle the basics like sit, stay, shush, and come. A puppy won't instantly pick up these commands, but they should be attentive to them within a couple of weeks of training. If they're not, it might be time to explore puppy obedience classes.

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