A new dog will always require training; they are naughty and love getting up to mischief. But what is cute during puppyhood becomes problematic in adulthood very quickly. Knowing how to train your doggo is vital, from house training to tricks.
Here is all you need to know about training your Iggy:
Yes, you should! Training is essential and will make life much easier for you and your pup. The better trained your doggo is, the more you can enjoy your time together. A well-trained Iggy can go everywhere with you, won’t misbehave, and will be a well-rounded pup!
Yes, they are. These small dogs are highly intelligent, alert, and eager to learn. You shouldn’t have trouble training this breed; they are also fast learners. Many Italian greyhounds make training a breeze!
Italian Greyhounds are a sensitive breed, so you must be patient with them, be gentle, and always use positive reinforcement.
You should start toilet training your pup as soon as possible. The sooner, the better! Give them a designated toilet spot and take them there when you bring them home. You need to teach them your desired behaviour, which is easier while they are young.
Potty training an Italian Greyhound can be rather challenging, so it may take some time until you find the appropriate training method for your pooch.
You need to watch your pup and learn to read their behaviours constantly. Most pups will start exhibiting certain behaviours, telling you they need the toilet. Your pup may start whining for no reason, sniffing the floor, shivering, or nervously walking around.
All dogs are different, so learn to spot your pup’s signs!
As soon as you see they are ready to go, take them outside immediately – you need to be super quick! It will be better to create a routine and stick to it.
You could take your pup outside as soon as they have woken up from their nap, eaten their food, had a drink, or after playtime. Start by taking your pup outside every two hours or so.
Teach your pup a command for when you take them outside so that they associate the action with the command. Once your dog has done their business outside, you can praise and feed them a yummy treat.
You may need to repeat this multiple times and be consistent! Eventually, your pup will learn to take themselves outside or let you know when they need to go. Iggys will only learn the desired behaviour through conditioning.
Yes, it is. Crate training an Italian greyhound is crucial. Crate training can help with potty training and is also great for giving your doggo a sense of security.
You can start crate training your pup at about eight weeks old. The earlier you start with any form of training, the better.
You first must introduce your pup to their new best friend – the crate. Make sure the crate is in a room where you and your family spend most of your time, and place a dog bed and comfy blanket in the crate to look comfortable to your doggo.
Be patient and let the pup explore the crate. You may find that your pup is curious and comfortably gets into the crate almost immediately, or your pup may be one of those shy dogs who need a bit more guidance and motivation.
If this is the case, start by dropping your pup’s favourite treats close to the crate, then move them closer, inside the door, and lastly, move them further into the crate – this should persuade your doggo to enter the crate.
Be slow and give them time; do not rush them, as it will only cause problems. If treats don’t seem to do the trick, try putting their favourite toy or blanket inside the crate. This process could take anything from several minutes to a couple of days.
Once your pup is familiar with the crate, start feeding them all of their meals in the crate. Through this, they will associate the crate with something positive. If your dog enters the crate fairly easily by this step, you can start putting their food at the back of the crate.
Your pup may still be a bit hesitant, so you may need to slowly move their bowl further and further away from the door each time you feed them. Once your puppy can eat inside the crate, close the crate door.
Once they have finished eating, you can open the door. Then, leave the door closed for a little longer the next time you feed them. Repeat this process and extend the time you leave the door closed.
The goal is to have your pup eat their meal and happily stay in the crate for at least 10 minutes after eating their food.
You can start leaving your pup in the crate for longer periods when they are more comfortable with the crate. Teach them a vocal cue or command to enter the crate and point to it.
Once your pup has entered the crate, treat and praise them for doing such a good job. Sit quietly beside the crate for five to ten minutes before leaving the room. When you return, sit there quietly again before finally letting them out.
Slowly start lengthening the crate time and repeat this process. Eventually, your pup will be able to sleep inside their crate.
This process will be different for each pup, so be gentle and patient with your fur baby!
Each time you leave your house, crate your doggo. Always use the same command and a treat to get them into the crate. When leaving the house, leave quickly and don’t make a scene. You also shouldn’t praise them when you get back home.
Yes, you can. Remember always to use positive reinforcement and feed them treats when training. You can teach them to roll over, wave, and give you a paw.
Always keep your verbal and non-verbal cues the same, as well as your methods and the tools you use. It is better to be consistent and avoid confusing your doggo. They like routine.
Doggos are more motivated to learn when they get praised for doing things, and positive reinforcement is the easiest way to get your pup to learn the desired behaviour.
Treats are great, and they’ll get tails wagging – every dog loves treats, but they can also lead to weight gain and stomach issues. So, have a good balance between vocal praise and treats!
Clicker training will keep your pup focused and is an excellent method.
Training your pup is essential and is the best way to mould your fur baby into the best little dog he can be. An Italian Greyhound may throw some challenges your way, but overall, they are pretty easy to train!
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