Poodle training should be done with patience and consistency.  You should always be firm with your Poodle, but at the same time you will need to be gentle.   Fortunately, as well as the poodle being a fantastic pet, poodle training is not that hard.  Sometimes they can be a little stubborn, but generally, if you put in the time and effort you can have a well trained Poodle that will be a delight to have around.

Let’s take a look at where to get started.

Poodles are a hunting dog and a very intelligent breed.  They originated from Germany and were used to hunt bears because of their fearlessness, quick responses and sharp minds.

For that reason, it is important to keep your Poodle very active, and mentally stimulated.

Poodle training is all about patience and consistency.  Consistent training  will result in your Poodle responding to a command whenever it is given, rather than him respond when he wants to.

When training your Poodle, always remember that your Poodle, no matter how cute he is, is still a dog.  He needs to be treated properly with discipline. As soon as you start treating your Poodle like a child, or giving him privileges, you will lose the upper hand in your training.

Also remember that you are neglecting your Poodle if you don’t train him well.  You can actually place them in risky situations without the correct training.

So what are the fundamentals of Poodle training?

Poodle Training Fundamentals

Exercise

Firstly you need to make sure you start young and give your Poodle as much exercise as possible from an early age. Poodles were bred as hunting dogs and are used to lots of hard work.  They have heaps of energy and if they don’t get to use that energy they will get bored.  When your dog is bored he will no doubt get himself in trouble.

When your Poodle gets the exercise he needs, the training will be a lot easier. But, the training still needs to be carefully planned and consistent.

Schedule Training

All dogs function better when they have a routine.  Always try to schedule your Poodle training at the same time every day.

Be Reasonable

Poodle training should be done in short sessions.  Probably 5 minutes at a time is sufficient, as they will be able to concentrate for the whole session.  Start with the very basic commands first and only teach one command at a time.

The Basics

A Poodle, like any dog needs to start with the basics.  Don’t try to teach your Poodle tricks before they have learned “sit”, “stay”, “down”, and leash training.  Teach them one basic skill, and don’t move on to the next skill until they have learned the first.

Praise

You will get the best results when training your Poodle if you give lots of verbal praise.  Whenever he performs the correct command, praise him immediately.  When your dog knows he has pleased you, he will be happy to do it again.  Praise reinforces that you approve of your dogs behavior.

Rewards

Rewards can help with your Poodle training, especially when he is very young.  Only give small rewards, and make sure they are healthy.  Remember that your Poodle will be very happy with lots of praise, so don’t give rewards every time.

Don’t Quit

Training a Poodle is for life, so it is important that you carry through and train him properly.  If a training session is not working, it is better that you stop the session that day, and start it again the next.

Remember that consistency is the key to successful Poodle training.  Once your dog has learned and mastered a command, you need to re teach it on a regular basis.  Always be firm and give your Poodle lots of praise.

The end result will be a dog that will respect you, and obeys you.  He will know what is expected from him and will be happy to please.