Being a puppy parent means lots of cuddles, playtime, and cuteness. It also means having to teach your growing pooch the difference between good behaviour and bad. But how do you stop your pup from misbehaving without being mean or scary? Today, we’re discussing how to discipline a puppy in a way that’s both kind and effective. That should keep both you and your new canine companion happy!
When to start puppy behaviour training
As well as understanding how to discipline a puppy, we need to know when to begin this type of training. You can normally start training your dog when they’re about eight weeks old. This is a good age to teach them basic commands, plus toilet training and how to walk on a lead. If your puppy has no health problems, you should begin socialising them around this time too. Don’t forget that young animals have short attention spans, so keep your sessions brief. And it’s likely to take several months to train your fluffy friend – meaning patience is key!
Training your pet involves teaching them positive behaviours while also discouraging negative ones. In this article, we’ll look at how to properly discipline a puppy in both cases.
Why punishment can harm your puppy’s learning
One of the most important points to consider when addressing puppy behaviour problems is the difference between discipline and punishment. Discipline involves correcting unwanted behaviour in a way that helps your dog learn what’s appropriate and what’s not. Punishment is penalising that bad behaviour with force or fear. The reason this distinction is so critical – apart from the fact that punishing animals is cruel – is that discipline works and punishment doesn’t.
Using harsh methods to train your puppy, like shouting at or hitting them, will only confuse and scare them. Such actions teach your dog to fear you, not obey you, and damage the bond between you and your pet. On top of which, it can cause some animals to become anxious, defensive, and even aggressive.(1) All of this makes training them more difficult and punishment an ineffective option for how to discipline a puppy.
Another problem with punishing your puppy is that it doesn't teach them the correct behaviour you want them to learn. It probably won’t even stop the unwanted behaviour, because your dog won’t understand why you’re punishing them. This is especially true when there’s even the slightest delay between the action and the punishment. For example, imagine you walk into a room and find that your dog has broken something. If you shout at your pet for doing this, they won’t link your yelling with their previous destructive behaviour. They’ll just link it with you.
Furthermore, because punishment is stressful and scary, it hinders your puppy’s ability to learn. It also makes dogs more pessimistic and has a negative impact on their overall welfare.(2) So, if punishment is out, how do you discipline a puppy in a gentle and effective manner?
Positive reinforcement and reward-based training
Experts widely agree that positive reinforcement is the best way to teach your pet good behaviours. What does this involve? It’s easy – when your puppy does the right thing, you reward them with treats, praise, cuddles, or playtime. This encourages them to repeat the behaviour in order to receive more rewards. Eventually, that behaviour will become second nature and you won’t need to reward it anymore.
It might take a bit of trial and error to work out what type of reward motivates your dog most. However, once you’ve figured it out, you should find positive reinforcement a highly effective method of puppy behaviour training. One reason reward-based training works so well is that it’s enjoyable for your pup. Not only that, but it also boosts their confidence and helps them develop a strong bond with you.
One point to remember is that timing is crucial. You want your pooch to understand exactly which behaviour prompted the reward, so you must give it to them immediately. For instance, if you’re teaching your pet to sit, offer them the treat as soon as their rear end touches the ground.
In terms of how to discipline a puppy, you can also use positive reinforcement to prevent unwanted behaviour. Let’s take the example of wanting to stop your dog from jumping up on people to greet them. Instead of punishing them for jumping up, you reward them for sitting down calmly. Using the command ‘sit’ when they meet people will help make sure they understand what you want them to do.
Setting routines and consistent boundaries
Consistency is key when it comes to how to discipline a puppy. Having a regular daily schedule helps your dog know what to expect – and therefore how to behave – throughout the day. As far as possible, try to have consistent times for things like meals, toilet breaks, playtime, and bedtime. This is also a good way to reduce stress and anxiety in your mutt.
Even more important is consistency in how you train your pet. For example, always use the same verbal commands and hand signs when teaching an action like ‘sit’. Otherwise, your pup could get confused about what you want them to do. Although ‘stay’ and ‘don't move’ might mean the same thing to us, they won’t to your furry friend! Along similar lines, you need to be consistent when using positive reinforcement. If you only reward a behaviour some of the time, your pooch is less likely to learn to repeat it.
The same is true when thinking about how to discipline a puppy for misbehaving. Let’s return to the example of training your dog not to jump up at people. If you react differently depending on who your pup jumps up at, they won’t understand that it’s an unwanted behaviour. Being consistent with the boundaries you set for your pooch makes it more likely they’ll adhere to them.
Finally, this also means you have to be consistent even when it’s inconvenient for you. If you’re training your dog to go to the toilet outside and they ask to go out, you need to take them. Regardless of whether it’s raining or you’re busy!
Interrupting and redirecting unwanted behaviours
So far, we’ve mainly focused on rewarding and encouraging positive behaviour in your pet. But what about how to discipline a puppy for negative behaviour without punishing them? One option is to interrupt and/or redirect the behaviour so it’s no longer a problem.
For instance, if your pup tries to nibble your shoes, get them to bite on a toy instead. Offering them a reward for chewing the toy then reinforces that as good behaviour. To ensure the alternative is more appealing, turn it into a playtime. That way, your pooch also gets the reward of your attention. Need to prevent your mutt from getting up to mischief during walkies? Try gently pulling on the lead and walking in a different direction or distracting them with a game of fetch.
Another way to interrupt bad behaviour is to give your dog an opposing command. Use a clear and firm tone of voice so it’s easy for your pet to understand you, but don’t shout. As an example, if your pooch is jumping up at someone, tell them to lie down. Again, it’s important to reward them when they obey you, to strengthen this good behaviour.
It’s worth noting that you won’t be able to interrupt or redirect all types of unwanted behaviour. For instance, if your pup is urinating in the house, you’ll have to rely on positive reinforcement training. Choosing the right technique for each situation is a key part of how to discipline a puppy effectively.
Withdrawing attention and giving timeouts
We mentioned above that your attention is a reward for your dog. As such, withdrawing it can be an effective method for how to discipline a puppy engaging in unwanted behaviour. It’s particularly useful in situations where your attention might inadvertently reinforce the inappropriate behaviour.
For instance, if your pooch jumps up at you, tell them ‘no’ firmly, then don’t say anything else or even make eye contact. Ceasing your interaction with your pet should teach them that jumping up at you doesn’t get the reaction they want. Likewise, if your puppy bites you during playtime, say ‘no’ and end the game calmly but immediately. Remember that dogs can understand our facial expressions and tone of voice, so don’t smile or laugh when doing so.(3) We also recommend speaking in a low-pitched voice rather than high.
If your dog still won’t stop the unwanted behaviour, you could try giving them a timeout. Put them in a different room – one that’s quiet and has no distractions – with the door closed. You only need to do this for a couple of minutes. It isn’t a punishment, and your pet shouldn’t feel any fear. You’re just providing them with a chance to calm down, and preventing the negative behaviour from escalating. It’s an especially helpful option for how to discipline a puppy who’s overexcited. After the timeout, if your pooch is relaxed and well-behaved, reward them with cuddles and attention.
Creating a calm and supportive environment
Timeouts aren’t the only way you can use the environment as part of how to discipline a puppy. Ensuring that your pet always has a stress-free space to retreat to could also promote good behaviour by lessening anxiety. Many people find that a crate filled with comfy bedding and their favourite cuddly toys works as a relaxing spot.
Along similar lines, one common reason that puppies act up is boredom. You can prevent this by giving your pooch plenty of toys and taking time to play with them every day. Puzzle feeders also help keep mealtimes fun. Sufficient physical exercise is key too, because it allows your dog to burn off excess energy that might otherwise lead to mischief.
Even diet is important. On a basic level, just like us humans, animals are more likely to get irritated and act out when hungry. But more than that, it could be poor nutrition that’s behind your need to know how to discipline a puppy. For example, the condition of your dog’s gut microbiome can have a direct impact on their mental health and behaviour.(4) Research also shows that certain dietary amino acids could influence canine behaviour because they’re involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters.(5)
Feeding your pet top-quality food is an important part of a holistic approach to how to discipline a puppy. For extra peace of mind, at Boosie we offer a range of functional foods to support your adult pup’s wellbeing. Whether it’s gut-friendly Jerusalem artichoke powder or relaxing reishi mushroom powder, you just mix them into your dog’s normal wet food.
When to seek professional guidance
Sometimes knowing how to discipline a puppy isn’t enough to tackle problem behaviours in your dog. If your pooch experiences persistent anxiety or aggression, or simply won’t obey your commands, speaking to a professional may help. Depending on the issue, you might find it useful to consult a vet or a canine behaviour specialist for advice. We recommend doing this early, because it lessens the risk of reinforcing or worsening negative behaviours. It will also ensure you catch any potential health conditions that could be causing the problem in plenty of time.
Even if your furry friend’s mischief levels are normal, you may find training classes useful. These teach you the basics of how to discipline a puppy, plus provide a valuable opportunity to socialise your pet.
The best way to discipline a puppy
In short, the most effective method for how to discipline a puppy is positive reinforcement – not punishment. You can use reward-based training to both teach good behaviour and discourage bad behaviour without being harsh or frightening. Combining this with redirection and interruption of negative actions, plus withdrawing your attention, is a great approach. For the best results, ensure your dog has plenty of mental stimulation and physical exercise, along with a nutritious diet. If you follow this advice, your pup should grow up into a friendly and well-behaved adult you’ll be proud of!