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How to turn puppy into a well behaved, happy dog
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Will your puppy grow up to be the dog you want? |
Puppies require a great deal of interaction and time for socialization and training. They need to be fed three times a day until they are about six months of age. Young puppies need frequent potty breaks throughout the day and sometimes in the middle of the night. As your dog grows older, he'll still need a lot of love and attention from you. Most dogs need regular walks and exercise. And many breeds can live up to fifteen years or more.
If you've decided that despite the commitment, you still want a dog, you'll find the rewards of a loving, loyal companion are well worth it. |
Dogs adapt easily and can be trained with little effort, making it possible to maintain a happy home. Teaching your puppy to behave properly is a huge responsibility and may seem much more daunting than it is.
Start with the proper puppy supplies. It will make training and your life a whole lot easier. A crate, crate pad, collar, leash, dog dishes, toy, shampoo, brush and treats.
With a little patience, you can put an end to most of your puppy’s bad habits by redirecting his natural instincts to something more appropriate. The first thing to remember is to establish boundaries for your puppy. By boundaries, I mean "what's allowed" and "what's not. |
Puppy starter kit |
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| Puppy kit for boy and girl puppies in three sizes. Visit our store for details. |
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Can a little nip hurt you
Puppy nipping is common and normal, especially when you and your puppy are playing. This ordinary puppy instinct is seemingly harmless, but soon hurts as puppy's sharp little toothies turn into big dog teeth. Teach your puppy early to never press down on your hand with his teeth, and he will be much less likely to bite later in life.
The best way to train your puppy to stop nipping is to direct his urges away from your hands with puppy toys. Your puppy needs a variety of toys that are fun to play with and also satisfy his desire to nibble and chew. Soft, plush toys are a good choice, especially those with bright colors and rubber dog toys invite puppies to chew and bite. But choose wisely, because big dog breeds... even when a puppy... can destroy a toy, put big holes in it, or eat part of a toy... all of which is not good for your puppy.
Start training your puppy the very first time you play with him and every time thereafter. Puppies as young as eight weeks old can be trained with little effort. If your puppy starts to bite as you play, always respond with “ouch” and stop your playtime for about 10 seconds. If your puppy continues nipping when you resume your play, turn your back on him for a moment.
Turning your back on puppy each time he bites helps him realize that nipping ends his playtime. Soon, he will stop the habit. Your dog wants to play with you, and most puppies and dog want your praise and approval, and will behave the way you want to get it... and that includes stopping nipping... to continue playtime. Start training your puppy each time he bites down hard and slowly work toward ending the habit altogether.
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To chew or not to chew
Much like infants, most puppies are born without teeth and start to teethe in a few weeks. That's why they "chew," because it soothes their sore, tender gums. Unfortunately for dog owners, this natural chewing can destroy shoes, newspapers, and even furniture. You can't and really shouldn't stop your puppy’s need to soothe his pain, but you can help him focus his chewing on more constructive materials. There are some fantastic teething toys available.
We provided our Lab puppy with a variety of chew toys - and I do mean a variety. We have two baskets full of toys. One basket is stored by our dog beds and one is in my office (where I spend a great deal of time). Each basket has Kong toys, dog tennis balls, squeaky toys, bones and a few odd shaped toys. It is because of our investment in dog toys that we believe our dogs have never... chewed on our stuff (furniture, shoes, etc). |
Dogs love to chew |
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| Our Bailey loves to chew on his bone. Every morning, he finds it (where ever it is that he left it the day before) and he chews away for an hour or more. Find lots of choices all for puppy in our store. Plus, puppy treats, bones, chews and toys. |
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I like to remember that one or two or even three toys would quickly bore me. So I make sure our dogs have lots and lots of toys. I get more when they wear out and also to show our dogs that we love and care about them. Both of our dogs get so excited with a new toy.
Never scold. Replace. For example, if your puppy chews on something he shouldn’t, firmly say “no” and place his chew toy in front of him. Always praise your puppy when he chooses his toy over your belongings. |
The look of new puppy fear |
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When we brought our new Lab puppy home, he was definitely afraid. It's natural. Puppy doesn't know what to expect.
We went slow to welcome him and he soon was the happy pup he is today. |
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A bark is an alert and a communication
There are a number of reasons why puppies bark. Hearing your dog barking is a joy the first few times. "Yea! He has a voice," was our thought. But you may want your puppy to quiet down after the novelity of new puppy barks sets in. But first, consider why the puppy barks.
It could be to warn you when a stranger approaches or worse, when an intruder tries to break into your home. A puppy also barks when scared of something or in pain.
Sometimes barking is a simple matter of asking for attention from you. Whatever your puppy's motives are, there are a few things you can do to train a puppy not to bark... unless there is just cause. |
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We actually want our dogs to bark... but not at everything and everyone. We trained our dogs to be alert dogs. We want to know when a stranger approaches our home... a stranger, not a family member or neighbor! If you want to train your dog to bark only at certain times, the best way is to teach your dog when to recognize the appropriate times to bark. You have a few options; however, the tried and true "stop and reward" method works well, because it is effective and humane. There is never a reason to hit your dog.
Some people try and circumvent the training option all together with an electronic collar, known as a bark collar. Other dog owners opt for another type of collar which works on the same theory as the electronic version. The citronella collar emits a mist whenever your dog barks. Dogs dislike this smell (at least most of them do). Whenever they bark, they smell this citronella scent. Eventually, the dog links the two together and avoids having to smell that odor by not barking.
Most vets and dog trainers feel that while these collars are great tools, they are no substitute for a good solid foundation in obedience training. |
Will Puppy Be the Dog You Want? |
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