Resources for the New Puppy Owner
For those of us with more than one child, we remember preparing for the second child much better than the first. Of course, with the second, there was less to put away this time because the first child destroyed everything. If you have never had a puppy or haven’t had one in a while, it is time to get your house in order. This page is here for you to refresh or learn for the first time what you need to prepare for and then how to properly train a puppy.
We know the puppy is now yours and as a pet owner, just like parents, you get to choose how you raise your pet. We just want to raise some awareness on current thought processes about scientific research in animal behavior and the current debate about emotional intelligence in our dogs. With that said…
Puppy Development Stages
We suggest looking at key developmental stages in dogs. This article by Simon Lissa “The Developmental Stages Of Puppy Growth” talks about this.
If you follow the approach of great trainers you will get great results and believe me, we suggest following great trainers or programs (we have listed several below). What Jozie and I want, is that no matter what approach, please think about the what and why behind what you are doing both with and for your pet.
Our advice from years of puppy training? First, have fun and be patient! We suggest crate training your new family member. Please follow the advice of professionals. When I first started training my dogs years ago I did not use crate training. In those cases house training was painful and frustrating. Since we have used crate training, house training and destruction has been minimized. As they age and no longer need the crate, the dog still loves it as they love having a safe place that is exclusively theirs.
Second, have fun and be patient! I do not suggest puppy pads in the house. I used puppy pads once and only once. It is a nightmare to break a dog of thinking that it’s okay to go to the bathroom in the house. Just my thoughts.
Third, have fun and be patient! Socialize early and again I say, socialize, socialize and socialize more. Invite friends and family over, Go to friends and family often. Invite friends and family to meet you in a park and if their pet is good with other pets have them bring their pets too. Give them opportunities to be out and about and hear new noises and experiences. Be safe and follow expert advice. The more you can make those neural pathways early the easier it is to have excellent socialized dogs as they age.
Finally, have fun and be patient! My brothers and I have trained several hunting dogs. I currently have four dogs at home and none of them have been fearful of gunfire, none of them were fearful of thunder and none of them were fearful of fireworks. Why? Because we introduced them properly to the sounds and we always made it fun.
Fireworks are going to happen. Thunder is going to happen. You can either introduce them properly to life or life will train your dog. I cannot emphasize this enough, don’t coddle your pup in scary situations. Your dog will look to you on how to respond and will condition themselves to it. Get out there and play with your dog as a thunderstorm is coming. Go buy some fireworks and play with them when shooting them off. Watch this video about gun training, and look at the dummy firing mechanism as an incoming thunderstorm and fireworks. Start with the noise far away and then bring it systematically closer. Make it fun and they will associate those noises with fun. Please, follow expert advice. Don’t just wing this one.
What to do before the puppy comes home?
Below are three videos from three different trainers. They will give you a start on some good resources to watch. There are literally thousands out there.
In the end, it comes down to being consistent, loving and most of all, have fun and be patient. OH OH OH be fun yourself, give yourself that excuse to be a little bit silly, your dog will love it. And when should you start training your pup? Now!