Have a new puppy? It’s advisable to take him/her to socialisation classes, as these teach young dogs how to interact correctly with other dogs, establish boundaries, adapt to different situations and respond to discipline. At organised playgroups, puppies learn to share toys, treats and water in order to prevent future ‘guarding behaviour’.

Here’s what you need to know

• Dogs can go to puppy school from 8-16 weeks old, but when they are older, they’ll need to attend a different course.
• Sign up for obedience school as soon as you get a new dog. Although dogs that have already attended puppy school are much easier to train when they do reach adulthood, you can and should still take a new adult dog for some form of obedience training.
• The most important thing that you can teach your dog is to sit and stay on command.
• When you are out walking your dog, take advantage of this time to train him/her. Apart from sit, wait and recalls, find other ‘tests’ to make walks even more stimulating for your dog.
• It is important to teach your dog to walk on a lead as soon as possible. If she/he resists, start by leaving a collar on at all times. Once the dog is used to this, clip on a lead and use treats to encourage him/her to walk. Keep doing this so that the dog associates the lead being clipped onto the collar with a reward. In time, your dog should totally accept the lead being put on and walking with it on.
• Dogs are creatures of habit; being consistent and sticking to a routine will help you to gain some control over them.

Text Source: The SA Pet-Friendly Directory team
Image source: World of Dogs & Cats