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When your puppy comes home, it is important to be prepared for many training opportunities ...
Puppy training basics during the first week the puppy is home is critical. It is obvious that you need certain physical items such as a dog bed or crate, food and water bowls, puppy chow, collar, leash, toys, etc. Equally as important, all family members must decide and agree on routine, responsibility and rules. The first few days are extremely important. Enthusiasm and emotions are up. Everyone wants to feed the puppy, play with the puppy and hold the puppy. Pre-established rules are easily broken. Everyone agreed that puppy will sleep in her crate but as soon as she is home, someone melts and insists that puppy will sleep in bed. Everyone previously agreed not to let puppy jump up on them, but in the excitement, no one even notices that puppy is jumping up. No one sleeps the first night. Puppy wins and gets to sleep in bed. The next morning we find puppy has "eliminated" all over the bed. So, the following night puppy is banned to her crate and screams all night. No one sleeps tonight either. Grouchiness sets in; enthusiasm is down. No one wants to get up at the pre-agreed upon early morning feeding time. How are we going to housetrain puppy? How are we going to sleep with her constant whining? Your new puppy has just been taken away from her mom and littermates. She is vulnerable and impressionable. What she needs now is security and routine. Set up a small room to be her very own special haven for the next couple of months. Paper the entire floor and put her food/water bowls and bed in one corner. Scatter her toys everywhere. Play with her quietly and gently. Do not flood her with attention and activity. If she looks like she wants to sleep, leave her alone. Puppies need lots of sleep. Decide who is responsible for feeding and cleaning up after her. Do not deviate from the schedule. Routine is especially important for your puppy. Do not spend all your time with her, if she is going to be alone during the day or night; she needs to start getting used to it now. If she wakes up from a nap and whines, resist the urge to run in and comfort her. You will find much advise on the internet however we suggest that you get advice on material that you read from us or from a friend that has raised a dog before.
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