How to train a puppy to learn how to pick things up

When we joyfully welcome a cute little dog, its lively eyes and lively appearance always bring endless joy to life. Watching the little dog explore everything around it with curiosity, we often expect it to master some interesting and practical skills, such as learning to pick things up. Training a puppy to pick up things not only exercises its physical coordination and obedience, but also deepens the emotional bond between humans and puppies, making their companionship more enjoyable.

Before starting training, it is important to fully understand the characteristics and habits of the puppy. Puppies are usually at the golden age of 3-6 months for this type of training. At this stage, puppies are curious, energetic, and passionate about learning new things. Moreover, their physical coordination and responsiveness are rapidly developing, enabling them to better adapt to the requirements of training. At the same time, it is also very important to prepare some suitable training props. Choose soft, lightweight, and moderately sized items such as plush toys, small balls, etc. These items will not harm the puppy's mouth and are convenient for it to pick up. In addition, delicious snacks are the "secret weapon" for training puppies. Small pieces of chicken jerky, cheese cubes, etc. can greatly stimulate the enthusiasm of puppies.

In the early stages of training, it is important to familiarize the puppy with the training equipment. Place the selected toys or items in front of the puppy, allowing it to freely smell and play. This process can make the puppy interested in the item and eliminate any sense of unfamiliarity. When the puppy takes the initiative to touch or manipulate objects, it should be praised and rewarded with snacks in a timely manner. Say "great" and "really good" in a gentle tone, so that the puppy understands that such behavior will be recognized and loved by its owner. Through multiple such interactions, the puppy will gradually develop a sense of closeness towards the object.

Next, you can try guiding the puppy to pick up the item. Gently pick up the item and shake it in front of the puppy to attract its attention. Then, bring the item close to the puppy's mouth and guide it to bite it with its mouth. If the puppy successfully bites the object, do not take it away immediately, but let it hold it for a while while while continuing to give praise and rewards. At the beginning, the puppy may only be able to hold onto objects briefly, and may even release them quickly, which is normal. Don't worry, patiently repeat this process and extend the time the puppy holds onto the item appropriately each time. When the puppy is able to hold the item steadily, it can issue simple and clear commands, such as "hold", to establish a connection between the action and the command.

After the puppy becomes proficient in grasping objects, the training enters the next stage - allowing the puppy to learn how to return the picked up items to its owner. When the puppy is holding onto an item, slowly step back a few steps while reaching out to make a gesture of wanting to pick up the item and giving the command to "come over". If the puppy is willing to follow you and deliver the item to you, immediately give it the warmest reward and praise, letting the puppy know that doing so will be rewarded generously. If the puppy is unwilling to come over, do not forcefully pull on the object, but instead use snacks to attract its attention again and guide it towards you. This process may require repeated training multiple times for the puppy to understand and execute proficiently.

Patience and positive feedback are key throughout the entire training process. The learning speed of puppies varies, some may be mastered quickly, while others require more time and practice. Don't criticize a puppy for learning slowly or making mistakes, as it will only make the puppy feel frustrated and confused, and develop resistance to training. On the contrary, always maintain a gentle attitude and give timely recognition and rewards every time the puppy makes progress, even if it's just a little bit.

In addition to training skills, emotional communication with the puppy is also crucial. In daily life, spend more time with your little dog, play and interact with it, and establish a deep trust relationship. When a puppy feels your love and care for it, it will be more willing to follow your instructions and actively participate in training. Training a puppy to learn how to pick things up is a journey full of love and patience. Every successful training is a sublimation of our emotions with the puppy. Through this small skill training, we can not only make the puppy smarter and cuter, but also gain endless joy and warmth through interaction. Let's use scientific methods and full of love to accompany the puppy to grow together and create more beautiful memories.