Decide First What Behavior You Want From the Teacup Dog
Before training begins, you must first think clearly about the behavior you want your teacup dog to show. For example, when you make a certain movement or give a certain cue, what kind of response do you hope to get? Once that is clear, training can be designed in a targeted way.
Use a Zero-Force or Positive-Reinforcement Theory
Use positive reinforcement to shape the teacup dog's behavior and increase the likelihood of correct actions appearing again. Punishment cannot really teach the dog what appropriate behavior should look like. Instead, it may create fear or even increase aggression.
Reinforce Good Behavior
Catch the teacup dog in the act of doing something right. Whenever good behavior appears, reinforce it immediately. If you do not have a clicker or treats nearby, then use verbal praise such as ?Good!? A teacup dog is always learning, so you have opportunities at all times to strengthen desirable behavior.
Set Up the Situation Properly to Ensure Success
Break the learning of any new behavior into small steps. That way the teacup dog can succeed more easily, and the frequency of reward can stay high. When teaching a new behavior or asking the dog to work in a complex and noisy environment, make sure that rewards appear frequently. Even ten click-and-treat repetitions per minute is not too much in some situations.
Teach the Teacup Dog Self-Control
Owners should also understand that a teacup dog is capable of controlling its own behavior. Sometimes we can control the environment, and sometimes we can control the training process, but we must also teach the teacup dog how to stay calm and regulate its emotions.