When it comes to puppies, the patience of a saint is a definite must-have. We get it, as lovely as they are, puppies need a huge amount of input, and it can be a struggle for many people, as they pee on your floor yet AGAIN after you JUST brought them in. Argh!! We hear you, and you’re not alone!
In this article we’re going to help you understand why having patience with your puppy is so important, Zigzag’s tips for being patient with your pup, how to stay patient when struggling with toilet training, as well as advice on getting your puppy started on a training plan.
If you feel like you’re losing patience with your puppy, apart from taking a big deep breath, you can contact the Zigzag puppy coaches for help. They’re available 24/7 via our in-app chat to help give you support when you need it most.
Why having patience for your puppy is important
Puppies are pretty blank slates when you bring them home. They have no concept of right or wrong, therefore it’s our job to teach them with positive reinforcement training. It takes time for them to learn the ropes, so we need to be patient!
Dogs need many repetitions to learn basic obedience cues, to understand where to go to the toilet, or that biting hands hurts, so practising frequently, being persistent and remaining patient will be the way to go, to help your puppy learn effectively.
Getting cross, or being impatient just isn’t fair on your new puppy, they don’t know the rules of the game yet, so try to stay calm and chilled to keep your puppy happy and to learn more effectively.
If you’re welcoming a new puppy to your home, then check out our tips for bringing a new puppy home.
Tips for being patience with your pup
Sometimes you just need a few tips to help you through the day, here’s the Zigzag top tips for how to stay patient with your puppy:
- Lower your expectations – your puppy has only been alive and on the planet just a few short months, they don’t know a single thing about the world, so don’t expect much while they learn the ropes.
- Manage the environment – using baby gates, crate training, and puppy proofing the area your puppy is in will go a long way to preventing unwanted behaviour. You can learn more in our article all about management for puppies.
- Get a routine – having a routine for playtime, toilet training, meals and sleep will help you know what you’re doing with your puppy day to day, and puppies thrive on routines too!
- Keep training sessions short and sweet – puppies lose focus very quickly, so it’s essential that you don’t keep going for too long and tire them out.
- Use positive reinforcement training – training with rewards improves the bond between you and your puppy. It also helps them listen to you better, and you’ll get less frustrated with them. It also just feels so much better to use praise, and rewards – be that toys or food treats.
Training should be fun for both parties, and Zigzag does that with our positive reinforcement based training programmes. Download today and get started on training your pup, the sooner you start, the easier it will be long term.
Patience During Toilet Training
Losing patience with puppy potty training is not uncommon, but toilet training success varies among puppies, and will initially depend on the breeder’s efforts. If your puppy is used to puppy pads, they may prefer soft surfaces like rugs, whereas a puppy already trained on turf or using a litter tray, can find toileting outside easier.
When you first bring your puppy home, take them to their toilet area, so they get a chance to get it right from the very beginning. Then you’ll need to be taking them to it after sleeping, eating, drinking, and playing probably around once an hour, it’s a lot, but doing it this often means we remove the chance of accidents.
It can take a while for toilet training to click so have patience, getting frustrated with your puppy will just make them feel stressed. When they’re worried they do stuff like eating their poo to hide it from you, or peeing behind the TV or in secret!
Get your pup started on a training plan
The best way to stay patient with your puppy, is to give them and yourselves an organised training plan. The Zigzag app will help you figure out what you should be training and when so that your pup grows into a well-behaved member of canine society.
Download the app today and get started on a training plan that will provide you with reassurance that you’re doing the right things at the right time. When your patience is tested, you can always contact our puppy coaches for a helping hand and a calming voice.
If you want to read more about how to keep things calm and relaxed with your puppy day to day, then take a look at our training schedule article. Or, how about toilet training your puppy in 7 days?
FAQs
Is it normal to lose patience with a puppy?
Yes! Puppies can be hard work and have high needs when you first bring them home.
What age is the hardest for puppies?
Leaving their mother and littermates is a particularly stressful time for puppies, but they also go through various developmental stages where their emotions and hormones fluctuate wildly. Adolescence can be a challenging time for them and really try our patience, as they look like dogs, but they’re not emotionally mature at all!
