The New Addition

Puppies2

Originally uploaded by Laura & the pack.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW ADDITION

Congratulations on your new addition, there is nothing like a new puppy! If this is your first pup or if it has been a while since your last puppy you will find the community offers a lot for the new puppy owner. Many services are available for example doggie day care, dog walking, yard clean up, to make the management and quality of life for a new puppy in a busy household possible.

Because of better veterinary care our pets can be expected to live longer healthier lives. Your veterinarian will be a wealth of information throughout your pup’s life. New and improved techniques for training dogs enable us to teach and train more efficiently. We can start teaching puppies as soon as they come into the new household. In the past, when dog training was primarily based on compulsive techniques, it was advised to wait six or more months before we even started formal training. It really is a lot easier to teach the puppy right the first time than to have to undo bad habits that may have developed in those first six months. So start your puppy learning the household rules right from day one. There are opportunities for sports and activities you and your pet can participate in that were unheard of a decade ago. There is something for everyone regardless of age or physical ability.

At LJT Training inc. our mission is to help people enjoy their pets. We want help provide life-enriching opportunities for pets. This booklet is intended to address some of the most frequently asked questions and concerns that we have addressed from people with new puppies in the household. While it does not compare with the individual coaching of a trainer it should help you with getting started.

If you opened your home and heart to an adolescent, older, or rescued dog you should find this information helpful also. It has been my experience that it is best to introduce household rules to any new dog coming into the house just as you would to a new puppy. That way you can start out on the right foot from day one making the transition easier for everyone. You will find that a dog that has had previous training will pick up your new rules a lot faster. If not, don’t despair it is in fact possible to teach old dogs new tricks we do it every day.

The first rule was advice dad used to give me regarding automobile care. “If it is not broken don’t fix it.” After all you are the one living with the puppy, if you’re not breaking a law, and you do not consider the behavior a problem then it is not one.
Plan ahead, how do you want your adult dog to act? If you know now that the adult dog will not be allowed in the bed or to jump on you or guests, then simply do not allow the puppy to do it. Knowing what your goal is will help keep you consistent with your puppy.
The more consistent you are the faster your training will progress. If everyone in the household agrees to the goals and rules there will be less confusion for the pup.
Focus on improvement not perfection; this will reduce a lot of frustration especially when we are talking about puppies that still need to do a lot of growing up. We do not expect our children to perform complicated calculus exercises before they understand counting or adding and subtracting. For some reason dog training is supposed to be accomplished in less than two months try a longer-term approach and focus on the puppy’s foundation first.
Try to think and communicate in positives to the pup. For example dogs have a much easier time understanding the positive concept of “do something” rather than the negative concept of “stop doing something”. So instead of telling the pup to “stop jumping”, try telling him to “sit” when company arrives.
Dogs do what works for them. If your puppy has discovered that he can manipulate you into a game of tag just by showing you a shoe or your sofa cushion in their mouth then you are in trouble. If your pup is being “bad” as a method to solicit your attention give him some appropriate ways to get you to play with him instead. Ecourage him to bring you the shoe then have him get and his toy and spend the time playing with that instead. BTW a little management will go a long way here. Leave appropriate dog toys out and put away the shoes, so that when he is making that choice he really only has the right choice initially.
Never do anything to damage your relationship with your pup. “You are always the good guy”. That does not mean nothing bad will ever happen to the pup it just means that you are always on your puppies side. Try to avoid confrontation which can make a puppy defensive. That doesn’t mean do not set rules and limits and insist on them. It means that we insist nicely without turning the lesson into a battle of wills.
Take the time to enjoy your puppy! This is really important they grow up and then they grow old way too fast. Pick up anything that would be unforgivable if broken or destroyed, then enjoy those puppy zoomies and the cuteness that is what makes a puppy a puppy.

House training

Manage the pup to prevent accidents in the house.Teach the pup to ask you when he needs to go outsideTake the pup to the same place in the yard every time (this will make pick up easier also)Give a cue word as the pup begins to goIf you reinforce for going outside give the treat as soon as the pup goes. (Rewarding after he comes back inside is rewarding the wrong behavior.)Feed at regular intervals if you know when it goes in you can predict when it is coming out.Do not give too much freedom too soon. Your pup needs to be accident free for a month before you can consider him housetrained.If your pup does the submissive or excited peeing don’t yell that will usually make things worse.If your pup seems to be having too many accidents consider a trip to the veterinarian it is almost impossible to housetrain a pup that has a bladder infection or parasites without treating the problem first.

Mouthing & Chewing
It is normal behavior for puppies to put each other in their mouths all the time. The pouncing and biting is how puppies play with each other. Sadly those little puppy needle teeth do not endear themselves to humans. Cute wears off fast when your feet and legs and hands are full of little puppy teeth holes.

Teach an incompatible behavior (for example kiss kiss to lick instead.Be consistent any time you feel teeth stop the game and give the little one a time out.Have puppies and children play interactive games instead of letting puppies get away with bullying your children. Control the pup with a leash if necessary.Encourage play with toys not hands.Hold a chewy in your hand while the puppy chews – This lets him do his normal bonding thing but allows you to control what he is chewing on.

I have a dog named “chewy” and not after the cute “Starwars” character either. So we understand that some dogs have a little identity problem thinking that they are actually beavers not dogs. The good news is that the mouthing behavior usually stops naturally once the adult teeth come in. The bad news is that once the adult teeth come in is when the destructive chewing starts.
If you have small children and a house full of kid toys give the puppy his own toys that are nothing like children toys. (Made out of different material.)

Give your pup appropriate chew items but not all at once rotate them so your pup has some new things.Don’t retire your crate too soon.There is no rule that says puppies need to be fed out of a bowl. Portion your pups’ meals into stuffable kongs and let him work the food out while getting plenty of chewing exercise.

Jumping
Jumping up to greet you either with joy at seeing you or as a greeting to get close to your face is a natural behavior for dogs. For the little guys it is almost the only way they can compete for attention.

Do not ever pet or greet your little puppy until all four feet are on the floor.Do not let your pup jump up knock children down then play roughhouse games. End of game both child & dog get a time out from play.If your pup is greeting company at the door by jumping all over them either put them on a leash or put them away before you open the door. (Interestingly I have never heard of anyone insisting the door be opened immediately if you say “wait a minute I need to put the dog on a leash first.”)

How to greet is one of those behaviors that it is much easier to teach right from the beginning than to change later in life.
Socializing

Socializing is all about building your puppies confidence. This is the opportunity for your puppy to learn what works and how to deal with new or stressful situations. Good social skills are a necessity for all dogs. That includes people, dogs and other kinds of animals.You want to enjoy the process be comfortable with the people you are letting your puppy meet.Let your pup approach the person. The enthusiastic people will sometimes overwhelm a sensitive puppy.Don’t let your pup mug the people. Teach him to sit for greeting and keep his teeth to himself. Sometimes enthusiastic puppies can overwhelm people.If your pup wants to move on and explore other things let him.Puppy parties are great but don’t forget to provide the opportunity for down time and rest for the guest of honor.A few good experiences are better than a whole bunch of poor ones.If your puppy appears to be unusually afraid or reacts defensively or aggressively toward new things, people animals etc you may want to consult with a trainer or behaviorist in this case sooner is usually better than later.

Handling & Grooming
The time to get your pup used to handling and grooming is while he is still tiny. Even while your little one has nothing but puppy fluff that does not need brushing or clipping. This way you are under no time pressure to get the job done. Instead just go through the motions of grooming and restraining your pup.

Often groomers offer an inexpensive puppy visit it is mostly just to introduce the pup to the idea of grooming and the environment.Your veterinarian and groomer will appreciate it if your pup is comfortable with the whole physical exam thing. If you can put your pup up on a table, get him comfortable with you looking into the mouth, ears, feet, hold the tail up, and move it to either side.I schedule the first visit to the veterinarian is just a physical w/o giving the puppy shots or invasive and possibly scary treatments let your pup make friends with your veterinarian.

Copyright Laura Totis Feel free to copy and disseminate this material as long as you include credit the author and the website address. www.ljttraining.com

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