Start your training off on the right foot!

SCHEDULE/ROUTINE

Develop a daily routine for your puppy from the start! Consistency is key with puppies in training and routine! Having a routine builds trusts. It allows your dog to have a sense of what is coming next. Just like us humans, we thrive on routines. Wake up and take your puppy outside to potty first thing every morning. If he knows that breakfast is sure to follow he will not likely goof around, he will take care of business and be ready to come inside. Feed the same time(s) every day. If you are a walker, take them out for a walk the same time every day, after dinner? Developing a routine will not only be beneficial for your puppy, but for you as well! He will become more predictable over time. Your puppy will quickly learn their schedule and will look forward to these events every day!

CRATE/KENNEL

This may seem like a cruel thing to do to your brand new puppy. They do not typically like to be confined, especially being in a new environment! Keep in mind that your new puppy has been used to sleeping with his/her littermates, so this will more than likely be his/her first experience alone. It does help to have a blanket, towel or article of clothing with the scents of mom and littermates for them to sleep with. Give them a nice bath mat or bed to take up one end of the crate, potty pad on the other end for accidents. Crating has great benefits. Stay consistent with crate training, make sure the puppy knows that is where he/she sleeps at night or goes in when you are not home. The puppy will probably fight it for the first couple of nights, but this is one of the best things you can do for your puppy. Eventually the puppy will find comfort being in the crate. They will have a place to go when they feel overwhelmed or simply to rest on a nice comfy bed. A crate will build structure- the dog will sleep in his/her crate every night. It will be a safe place for the dog at times he/she is uncomfortable or scared whether it's a thunderstorm or loud noises. Crating a puppy is also beneficial when it comes to leaving the dog home alone. Puppies/young adult dogs get bored and it is not uncommon for them to find something to chew! It will also contain any messes they may have while you are out. Crates are NOT meant to keep dogs for long periods at a time. If you are gone for work for 8 plus hours I would pick a pet proof room that you can block off and keep a crate in. During the potty training time you may want to only allow the puppy a small portion of the room and keep puppy pads down for accidents.

PERIMETERS

Before you bring your new puppy home it is best to pick out a common room that the puppy can be in throughout the day. Most commonly a kitchen- popular room that can be blocked off by doors or baby gates to contain the puppy. It is best that the chosen room have a hard surface that allow for easy clean up, accidents will likely happen until puppy is trained. It is best that the crate be in this room as well, so the puppy can choose to lay down at any point whether he is tired or overwhelmed. As the puppy grows and succeeds in training you can give him access to more rooms. Having a perimeter for a new puppy contains the mess on a cleanable surface and does not overwhelm the puppy to all the new scents in the environment. It also prevents puppy from chewing on anything that he's not supposed to!

BAD HABITS

Avoid starting bad habits, establishing healthy guidelines with your puppy at a young age is best. Don't allow a 10lb puppy to do what you do not want a 60lb dog to do. Whether its jumping up on you to greet you or even snoozing on the couch. Nipping is also common problem among all breeds of puppies, it is important to teach them from the start that nipping hurts. I have seen a lot of trainers recommend making a yelping sound or a loud higher pitched "Ouch!" to let them know that they are hurting you. With having young children make sure that they do their best not to encourage the behaviors as well. Children naturally get so excited around puppies, when they run they are unintentionally telling the puppy that they want to play. So it is important to remain calm around learning puppies. Behaviors are easy to start and sometimes difficult to break. Everyone needs to be onboard! Bringing home a puppy is an adjustment and learning experience for everyone.

SOCIALIZING

It is very important to handle your puppy daily! Also keep in mind that the more people of all ages and sizes are around your puppy the more well rounded- socially he will be. This includes other dogs as well! Take him to the pet store often to get some treats or a new toy! Take him to the park to interact and meet other dogs. Set up play dates with friends. Let him greet new people and other dogs. Keep him well socialized!

Moose