Training a Young Dog

Training a young dog is like bringing up a child.

Put in the effort early on to teach them the guidelines and you will be rewarded with a well-adjusted, sociable individual who will be a joy to live with.

Miniature Schnauzers are intelligent, extremely eager to please and totally loyal to their humans. They also LOVE praise and treats!

All of this adds up to one of the easiest breeds of all to train – but only if you put in the time too.

The secret of good training can be summed up in 4 important points:

• Patience
• Consistency
• Praise
• Reward

Start training and socialising early.

Like babies, puppies learn quickly and it’s this learned behaviour that stays with them through adult life.

Puppy training should start with a few minutes a day a few days after he has arrived home, even if he’s only a few weeks old.

Your voice is a very important training tool.

Your dog has to learn to understand your language and you have to understand him.

Commands should be issued in a calm, authoritative voice – not shouted. Praise should be given in a happy, encouraging voice, accompanied by stroking or patting.

If your dog has done something wrong, use a stern voice, not a harsh shriek. This applies even if your Schnauzer is unresponsive at the beginning.

Avoid giving your dog commands you know you can’t enforce.

Every time you give a command that you don’t enforce, he learns that commands are optional. One command equals one response.

Give your dog only one command – twice maximum – then gently enforce it.

Repeating commands or nagging will make your Mini Schnauzer  tune out. They also teach him that the first few commands are a bluff.

Telling your dog to “SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT!!!” is neither efficient nor effective.

Give your dog a single “SIT” command, gently place him in the sitting position and then praise him.

More Training Tips in The Miniature Schnauzer Handbook.