The day has come, and you’ve just brought your puppy home for the first time. You and your family couldn’t be more excited. One problem, however, is that if you don’t put the effort into housebreaking your puppy properly, you could be in for a lot of trouble in the coming weeks and months.
Whether you decide to train your new puppy on your own, take classes to learn some pointers, or hire a private puppy trainer, there are a number of basic training tips any dog owner should keep in mind. Not only will this make your life easier out the gate, but this effort at the start will pay off a long way down the road. And if you are looking for a professional dog trainer, we recommend you click the link.
Spay or Neuter
When your puppy is old enough, you should consider getting him or her neutered or spayed, as it will make any dog more less aggressive, more docile, and will make them a lot more open to successful training.
This will also ensure that if your dog ever escapes from home, she won’t come back with a litter of puppies.
Establish House Rules
From day one with your new puppy, you’ll want to establish what he is or isn’t allowed to do. Will your puppy be allowed up on the furniture or in your bed? Will parts of your home be off-limits? Will he have his own bed and be expected to use it?
All dogs are creatures of habit and order, so the quicker you establish and enforce the rules, the happier your dog will actually be.
Private Den
All dogs need a room of their own — or at least a room they know they can escape to when things get chaotic elsewhere in the house.
From the earliest moment, give your pup a place to sleep that isn’t used by any people or other pets in the house. Your dog will greatly benefit from time alone in the safety and comfort of this den.
Replicate Nature
Here’s a trick most people won’t know — when your puppy first gets home, give him a hot water bottle and a ticking clock in his bed. This sound and heat will imitate the heartbeat of litter mates and will soothe any puppy in their new environment. If you’ve just taken your pup home from a busy shelter, this will help soften them to their new environment. Anything you can do for your new puppy’s comfort will be good for both of you.
Invest in a Pee Pad
This one is no joke. It’s essential to housebreak your beautiful new pooch as soon as possible, and there are indoor pet patches available on the market that actually replicate your dog’s feeling of going outdoors thanks to 100% real grass dog pee pads that will prevent your puppy from going on the carpets, floors, or furniture when you can’t walk him.
Discipline from the Get-Go
Be sure to take care of the jumping up issue from day one. Puppies absolutely love to jump up and get into people’s grills when they greet them. Don’t reprimand him, as this can have its own set of negative consequences, but instead ignore his behavior and wait until the pup settles down before giving any attention or positive reinforcement.
Another important thing to remember is to resist the urge to pat or praise your dog when they are in this jumping up mode. Curb this negative behaviour by turning your back on a jumping pup and paying him or her no attention whatsoever.