Akitas are beautiful, loyal, and intelligent dogs. But they can also be stubborn and independent. This makes them a challenge to train, but it’s not impossible. With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, you can train your Akita puppy to be a well-behaved member of your family.
Here are some tips on how to train your Akita puppy:
Start early. The best time to start training your puppy is when they are young, between 8 and 12 weeks old. This is when they are most eager to learn and are more easily influenced by their environment.
Be consistent. It’s important to be consistent with your training methods. If you’re not consistent, your puppy will get confused and won’t know what’s expected of them.
Use positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is the most effective way to train dogs. This means rewarding your puppy for good behavior, such as sitting, staying, or coming when called.
Keep training sessions short and fun. Puppies have short attention spans, so training sessions should be no longer than 10-15 minutes at a time. Make sure the sessions are fun and engaging, and end on a positive note.
Use a variety of training methods. There are many different training methods available, such as clicker training, praise and treats, and the “leave it” command. Experiment with different methods to find what works best for you and your puppy.
Be patient. Training a puppy takes time and patience. Don’t get discouraged if your puppy doesn’t learn a command right away. Just keep practicing, and eventually they will get it.
Here are some specific commands that you should teach your Akita puppy:
Sit. This is one of the most basic commands, and it’s a good place to start. To teach your puppy to sit, hold a treat in front of their nose and slowly raise it up over their head. As they follow the treat with their head, their bottom will naturally go down. Once they are sitting, say “sit” and give them the treat.
Stay. Once your puppy knows how to sit, you can start teaching them to stay. To do this, say “stay” and then take a step back. If your puppy stays, give them a treat. Gradually increase the amount of time you expect your puppy to stay.
Come. This is an important command for safety reasons. To teach your puppy to come, say “come” and then run away from them. As they follow you, say “come” again and give them a treat when they reach you.
Down. To teach your puppy to lie down, hold a treat in front of their nose and slowly lower it to the ground. As they follow the treat with their nose, their bottom will naturally go down. Once they are lying down, say “down” and give them the treat.
Leave it. This command is useful for preventing your puppy from chewing on things they shouldn’t. To teach your puppy to leave it, hold a treat in front of their nose and then put it on the ground. If your puppy tries to eat the treat, say “leave it” and move the treat away. If they ignore the treat, give them a treat.
With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, you can train your Akita puppy to be a well-behaved member of your family. Just remember to start early, be patient, and use a variety of training methods. With time and effort, you’ll be able to teach your puppy all the basic commands they need to know.
Here are some additional tips for training your Akita puppy:
Make sure your puppy is getting enough exercise. A tired puppy is a good puppy. A tired puppy is more likely to be cooperative during training sessions.
Socialize your puppy with other dogs and people. This will help them learn how to interact with others in a positive way.
Be consistent with your rules and expectations. If you’re not consistent, your puppy will get confused and won’t know what’s expected of them.
Don’t punish your puppy for bad behavior. Punishment can make your puppy fearful and aggressive. Instead, use positive reinforcement to reward good behavior.
Be patient and consistent, and you’ll be successful in training your Akita puppy.
