Bringing home a new PUPPY
How you should prepare when bringing home a new puppy.
PREPARATION
Before you go to pick up your new puppy, you should prepare by buying:
CRATE. a good quality crate, appropriate in size for your puppy. One that has a divider is excellent if you are picking up a large breed puppy. The crate can grow with the puppy. The space the pup needs is only big enough for it to turn around in. Either a hard plastice crate or wire is okay, but don't cheap out as it will be used for a long time, if not the remainder of the dogs life.
FOOD. A good quality food should be provided, don't purchase grocery store food. Find a reputable pet store and make an informed purchase. When you pick up your puppy, a good breeder will supply you with a day or so supply of the food they are using. Over the next few weeks you can mix the breeders food and your choice of food, gradually making the change.
LEASH. Buy a leash 4-6' in length. One that is an appropriate weight and thickness for your puppy.
COLLAR. Buy a decent breakaway collar appropriate in size for the breed. Understand that the collar will need to be replaced as the pup grows.
BOWLS. A good metal dish for water and food, again, appropriate for the size of your dog.
TOYS. Purchase top quality toys. NO squeekers or furry toys, as this teaches the pup bad chewing habits and avoids pup accidently swallowing bits that are chewed off and resulting is expensive vet bills. Good quality toys, for tug and stimulating play.
VETRINARIAN. Search out a reputable vetrinarian.
HOUSE. Puppy proof your house. Pick up all the small objects you don't want chewed, slobbered on, or otherwise inspected by curious mouths. Remember, their eye level is very low and they are curious.
CHOOSING A BREED
At this point, I am sure you have researched the appropriate breed for your lifestyle. If you are not an active person, or live in an apartment, you should already know, despite being adorable that certain breeds will not fit your lifestyle. When searching out a puppy, make sure the breeder is above board. That means:
view the parents, not only see both but observe their behavior, obedience size, healthy?, agressive?, fearful?, and any other behaviors that are suitable or not suitable. These qualities could be inherited by or taught to the offspring. If the breeder refuses to allow you to see all the litter, the parents, mother for sure (the sire is not always on site), then find a different breeder.
If the breeder wants you to take home a puppy before 7 weeks, find another breeder. The pups learn important doggy social skills from their mothers. Lacking this discipline will manifest in other negative behaviors later on.
Remember this is a 10-12 year investment.
BRINGING HOME YOUR PUPPY
Take the crate with you! If you have to, take a second person to calm the puppy. Remember you are ripping him away from his family. A calm puppy will be a happy puppy.
What to do when you get home/house training:
spend some quality time with your puppy.
Start teaching his name. To do this, simply say his name once, when he looks at you reward him. Spend a few minutes doing this, take a break. He is a sponge at this age, make your sessions short and fun.
Set up a potty schedule. AND STICK TO IT. It is not normal for dogs to deficate in their den. The rule of thumb is # of months plus one, when determining how long a puppy can hold his bladder. Figure it out and stick to it. At night, if you go to bed at 10, limit water and food after 7 pm, and yes, get up in the middle of the night to take the puppy out.
If pup has an accident, it is already too late to punish, take him outside, use your cue word.
Taking the puppy out. Carry it to the door and out to the spot you want it to eliminate. When the puppy starts to eliminate use your 'cue' word ONCE. Eg. ' go potty' or 'go pee' whatever word you want to use. When the puppy is finished, praise and reward him (use pieces of his kibble).
Contain your puppy to a common area when in the house, one where you and your family will spend the bulk of your time. Do not allow free access to the house, you will be rewarded with a lot of accidents.
If you can't keep an eye on the puppy, crate him. It is a safe place for the puppy and will reduce the frequency of accidents.
Do not allow free access to toys. Toys are instructional. For training, as rewards, or for structured play. You want to be the world for the puppy and free access to toys does not make your their world.
In the crate, no blankets, pillows or toys. The puppy will chew and/or destroy them. A heafty vet bill is not a good way to start your puppy's life. To allow uncontrolled chewing creates bad chewing habits.
Following this routine should allow you to sleep through the night by 4 months old, hopefully sooner!
TRAINING YOUR PUPPY
Spend time with your puppy. Let the puppy explore, both inside and out. I don't take the puppy outside on a leash right away, let him be free. The pup will follow you wherever you go. If the puppy strays a few feet, call him, make it exciting, then reward him right away. Have that treat ready. Timing is everything.
Socializing your puppy does not mean he needs to meet every dog and every person. Random encounters could end up being a negative experience for your pup. People and dogs do dumb stuff, it happens. Control your encounters. If your pup becomes interested in a dog or person, simply call your pup to you and reward him for his obedience. Make your space more exciting than the distraction is.
That brings us to the leash. Don't expect your pup to know how to walk on a leash. Start with a light weight leash on the collar in the house. Let the pup drag it around, this ensures he will get used to the drag. Any resistance on a leash causes a dog to automatically resist, or pull in the opposite direction. We have all seen someone trying to walk a puppy who has sat down and planted his feet. Fine, turn in the other direction, or call the puppy. Make where you are more exciting. Or better yet, have a piece of his kibble ready in your hand. Be sure, he will follow his food!
Teaching sit. Simple, where the head goes the butt will follow............ meaning, if you have food in your hand and you raise it above the pups head, his butt will automatically drop to the ground. You do not even have to speak. A pup will learn your body language long before he learns words. In a family of many, have one trainer. Not everyone speaks the same body language. As the pup gets older, he will learn the others body language. After he is proficient in body language start introducing the word before the body language. He will learn easily.
I am sure I have forgotten a million things or you have that one difficult puppy.
Drop me a comment about your newest family member!