The ultimate training guide for Mini Sheepadoodle puppies
So, you are all ready to welcome a Mini Sheepadoodle pup to your family. You have indeed made an excellent choice, and very soon, you will be proud of your fun-loving, energetic, loyal, and affectionate companion. Generally, the breed is considered sharp and intelligent as it has the traits of its parents, the Old English sheepdog and the Miniature Poodle, still, you must guide it with proper training to make it a well-behaved adult. This training guide has got you covered, right from the basics to the advanced tips. So, read on, and watch how your faithful friend grows up.
Reasons that make training indispensable
As already mentioned, Mini Sheepadoodles are renowned for their intelligence and desire to please everyone. However, the young pups are confused like any other young ones, and they need the right guidance so that they can enhance their inherited qualities appropriately. Lack of training can make them stubborn, suffer from separation anxiety, or various behavioral issues. A well-guided training schedule will make the pup feel secure and it will develop stronger social skills and interact with other pets and humans better.
The best time to start
There isn’t any rocket science involved in this one. The logic is simple, the earlier you start, the better results can be expected. So, you can start as early as the Mini Sheepadoodle is around 8 weeks old. This is an age when the puppies, be it of any breed are highly vulnerable and they tend to learn through repetition and consistency. However, that doesn’t mean, you cannot start training the pup if it is older than the abovementioned age.
The basics
Potty training: Maintaining a regular schedule like it should be the first thing the pup should do after meals in the mornings and bedtime. Make it a point so that it becomes habituated to use the same spot. After they perform their task, give them a word of appreciation. Meanwhile, avoid punishing them for accidents, which they will do for sure. You have to bear with it patiently.
Leash training: Since Mini Sheepadoodles are a bundle of energy, without leash training, you can find it a big issue when taking them out for a walk. Therefore, start by introducing them to the leash indoors. Follow it up with gradual short walks. As soon it completes the task, reward it by losing the leash and giving it some treats. Lengthen the duration step by step.
The most significant commands
Sit, stay, and come, are the three basic obedience commands that Mini Sheepadoodle pups must be taught. Like before, always praise or reward the pup when it performs the task well. Let us break up the commands in detail:
- Sit: The best way to begin is to hold a treat above the head of the pup and play with it. As soon as they sit, you can give the reward to the pup.
- Stay: Do this after it completes the above step. Maintain a time gap, so that they understand when to pause and when to sit.
- Come: Lastly, when you utter this word, they should come running towards you. This is also the best time to make them realize, you are calling them with a specific name. Soon, they will get accustomed to it.
Handling behavioral issues
The most common behavioral issues would include dealing with separation anxiety, unexplained barking, and chewing. Make the puppy become familiar with short separations, and increase the time gradually. If you can afford to remain at home with it, then you do not need to make it undergo this training.
Mini Sheepadoodles, even when they are young can get vocal. It may be because they are bored or trying to alert their owners for some reason. To keep a check on their barking you can do the following:
- Make them familiarized with the doorbell.
- Train them to be quiet and not bark unnecessarily.
- Keep them preoccupied with tons of activities and mental stimulation.
During the growing period, the Mini Sheepadoodle pups will chew as they are teething at this stage. Offer them chew toys and keep changing them to keep them interested. You should also keep a close eye on them to identify if they are chewing inappropriate items. For the best results, you can make use of bitter sprays on specific items that they love to chew, and they will abstain from chewing them again.
Advanced training tips
After the Mini Sheepadoodle puppy completes the mission of mastering the basics, you can now move on to the advanced training. Here, the priority should be to make them understand to obey commands when they are out on the roads. It also helps when you order them to go to bed. Lastly, you can also teach them fun tricks like rolling over, spinning, and so on. However, remember not to indulge in these trainings early. Also, remain patient, as it can take some time before they learn to obey each of these commands accurately.
Let training sessions become a routine
Even if the Mini Sheepadoodle pup grows up to be one of the best dogs around, you should not leave training it. In simple words, training should be a part of their daily activity routine. The more you train, the better they will behave.
Need for a professional trainer
Well, of course, not every dog owner has the patience or the skills to train pups. If after a few sessions, you notice, this isn’t something you are comfortable with, you can opt for professional guidance.
Whether you consider training yourself or hiring a professional is entirely your decision. Here are some training tools that can prove to be useful during training sessions.
A treat pouch can be used to give the pups a quick reward.
- Clicker is another tool that can be used for precise training feedback,
- The harness is useful when you take the pup out for a walk.
- Lastly, a training mat or crate is very useful when you teach them place training.
Make good use of these tips and very soon, your affectionate Mini sheepadoodle would become the most loving member of your family.