Helpful Tips on Cockapoo Training
Cockapoo training can seem a daunting task when you first welcome one of these adorable dogs into your home. Many people do not know where to begin and are terrified of making mistakes. This article will help guide you through some basic concepts in cockapoo training that can help save you a lot of time and frustration, allowing you to enjoy your new friend all the more.
Professional or Do-It-Yourself
Ideally, you have the time and energy to engage in proper cockapoo training on your own. If you have recently adopted your cockapoo from a pound though, it may have been poorly trained and in need of some serious re-wiring. In cases such as this, you may want to consider seeking out a professional trainer’s help.
While hiring a professional trainer may be more of an expense than you’d like, you will gain a multitude of tips and tricks to help create a wonderful bond between you and your animal friend. You may also gain insights and learn to watch for certain signs that may point to anxiety, sickness, and anger. This is also ideal for people that work long days, although hiring a trainer to come to your home will likely cost you more than going to a big pet store that offers lessons.
Training Basics
The good news is that cockapoo training is usually quite simple. Cockapoos are exceedingly intelligent dogs, and love to learn new tricks and behaviors. You may be tempted to give your new dog lots of treats to make him or her feel at home, but this is to be avoided since your dog will come to expect rewards for doing nothing in particular. Essentially, you want to get your dog to trust you, and then condition them accordingly.
Trust Issues
Building trust between your cockapoo and you is very important if training is to take place. One of the best ways to establish this bond is to handle your cockapoo a great deal. Petting is great, but you need to touch them all over—get them used to being rubbed and patted by you.
This can be trickier than you’d think, though. Many dogs get agitated when they are handled or touched excessively. It’s important to work through this though, and to reassure them that you aren’t going to hurt them.
Build trust through handling by touching them all over every day. Rub their ears lightly. Rub their bellies. Handle each foot and be sure to touch the pads of their feet with your fingers, although most dogs shy away from this. Grasp and manipulate the tail, positioning it upwards and downwards. If possible, rub your cockapoo’s face and muzzle, followed by lifting their lips to expose their teeth to you.
Essentially, it will feel to you like you are giving your dog a medical examination. Pay attention to areas that your dog is a particular fan of being rubbed on, like the belly. You can combine this with treats during training to act as a double reward and to encourage good behavior.
Classic Conditioning
Most tricks and behaviors are learned through classic conditioning. You condition your dog to respond to commands that you give. This is done through rewarding good behavior and favorable outcomes, as well as negative reinforcement for bad behavior. Negative reinforcement does not mean that you should hit your dog, so be sure that you don’t do that. A simple pinch on the neck will normally suffice.
The first behavior you should focus on is of course potty training. Condition your dog to going potty outside by offering a treat only when they do their business outside. Do not reward them for the simple act of going outside. Eventually you can wean them off of the idea of treats for going potty, and simply praise them with a “Good boy!”
For more details on training and tricks you can teach your cockapoo, several resources are available online as well as in most pet stores and departments.