Puppy Training

Okay, so you thought you really wanted a puppy, but now he is whining and crying and you can’t get any sleep. Before you decide to get rid of the little critter, realize just what is going on with your pet.
Dogs are pack animals and you have just separated the young pup from his family. If you are going to train your puppy, you got to understand that he is just acting normal. He knows by instinct that being separated from his family is dangerous and is looking for his pack.

The best way to deal with your puppy’s first night is with preparation and the proper puppy training techniques. After he has had fun with his new home, meeting his new family, make sure to take his food and water away at least four hours before your bedtime. Don’t let him nap during this time because if you do he will be ready to play when you want to go to sleep.

For the best way to go about training the puppy, make sure that he spends the night in your room. He needs to be constantly reassured that you are his new pack leader. If the breeder had already began crate training, than put the crate in your room for the night. Otherwise, tether him to something and put an old blanket or sweater with your scent down. It is not a good idea to let him sleep on the bed because he will treat this behavior as normal.

Puppies don’t usually soil the area where they sleep, but it is a good idea to get up a few times in the night to help relieve his small bladder. Also, if he does whine in the night, it is a good to learn the difference between a cry for attention and a cry for a bathroom break. If it has been a couple of hours since he made a sound, this is a good sign that the puppy needs to go to the bathroom. If he cries at other times, just reach down and give him a quick reassurance. Don’t pick him up and cuddle him, because this is not proper reinforcement and could create problems later on. If it continues, the best thing is to ignore him. I know this sounds mean, but you don’t want to reinforce a stern, then sympathetic routine that confuses the pet. He will eventually learn that crying in the night has no rewards.

Most importantly, in the morning, get up immediately, pick up the puppy and take the puppy outside to do his business. If you let him walk on his own, he might find a different more convenient spot along the way. Now you are ready to begin your first day of puppy training.

So, you have decided to add a new puppy to your life and your family. Hopefully, you have chosen a breed that is well suited for you and your family. Before puppy training begins, an important part of this choice is to understand what you expect of the dog as a puppy and as an adult. This is crucial, especially if the dog is to serve a special purpose like herd dog, watch dog, or guard dog. Make sure that what you teach the puppy is not what you expect of an adult dog. Doing some research on dog training and breed selection should begin before the puppy comes home.
Before the puppy comes home, you should have already puppy-proofed your home. Make sure that whatever areas you are going to let the puppy roam are free of hazards: check for dangling cords, items left on the floor, dangerous chemicals that might be left out in the open. Puppies are curious, so make sure he is not harmed by his own curiosity!
Wherever you get your puppy from, make sure to discuss the puppy’s previous diet and bring home the same foods he was eating, if not, the change in diet could cause diarrhea. Also, it is good to have some toys and a blanket to bring along to introduce the puppy to you.

It is also good to have a dog crate to keep while training your puppy in for the first few days. Now, this isn’t a cruel thing and is actually beneficial for the puppy as he gets used to his new surroundings. It is good idea to make sure this is a small, easy to clean crate that will make house breaking easier. The crate should be big enough for the puppy to stand up, lie down, and turn around. Also, make sure it is portable so you can carry it to the bedroom at night that way the puppy doesn’t feel alone and you can hear if it goes to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Once the puppy sets foot in the house, treat him exactly as you would want him to behave. Be consistent in your approach. If you don’t want him to jump on people or furniture, don’t let him do these things no matter how cute everyone thinks he is acting. Also, don’t just let him run around acting excited and hopping all over your family. Carry the puppy in your arms and introduce him to everyone first so that he can get to know everyone and become comfortable with his new family.
Most of all enjoy and love your new puppy and he will love you back! In the next article I will explore the first night with a new puppy and other issues of puppy training.
If you are looking for information relating to guard dogs, check out my other site www.guarddogsguide.com .