Welcome Home Puppy!

Firstly, congratulations on the newest addition to your family! How awesome and exciting of a life it will be. If you haven't signed up for training, you're in luck because we specialize in Puppy Training!

Until then, here are 5 tips to help set you and your puppy up for success at home.

1. Freedom isn't a great idea for your puppy. While it may seem crazy, puppies thrive with structure. Structure allows you to set your puppy up for success by limiting unwanted behaviors, and rewarding behaviors you want more of. It also helps to create oppotunities for training and training enhances your relationship big time! Having a leash on your puppy, using an x-pen, crate time and utilizing a place bed are all great ways to help set them up for success at home.
   

2. Potty training will be over before you know it. Accidents are going to happen, but you can do your best to prevent them by creating a schedule. The general rule of thumb, is your puppies age in months +2. For example, an 8 week old puppy can hold it for about 4 hours. NOW, if your puppy is eating and drinking at their own pace, you are going to need to take your puppy out sooner. If you puppy is just coming out of their crate or finished up play time, take them out to potty. If they just ate and had water, take them out about 20-30 minutes after. At bedtime, stop the water around 6:30/7pm. This way you are allowing their bodies to really empty out before bedtime, and a night time potty walk helps! Now, this next part will mess with your sleep schedule, but it won't last forever. When your puppy goes to bed, set an alarm for every 3-4 hours for the first few nights. Even if you have to wake them up, give them the opportunity to potty before you get woken up by crying / whining OR a potty accident. As they are successful, extend your alarm out. Puppies gain full control of their bladder around 6 months old.
   

3. It's ok to take your puppy to new places! Puppies grow through a critical socialization window from when they leave their litter mates up until they are about 4 months old. During this time, they are super impressionable and it's our job to create positive, fun and neutral experiences when we take them somewhere new. Not every experience will be a positive, and thats ok! Of course, be smart about where you go - avoid places that area heavily trafficed with dogs. If you're going to a store, take a blanket for the shopping cart. They can explore the world from above!

   
   

   

   
   

4. Puppy noises are ok. Whining, crying, grunts and small barks are all part of having a puppy but your timing is what matters! Stressful situations are going to happen where our puppy "doesn't like" something and cries or whines - especially when it comes to time away from you. When your puppy is crying is NOT the time to let them out, believe it or not this will reinforce the behavior. Your puppies mind says "If I behave like this, it's going to earn me that". Wait until they have a break in their whines to walk into the room. Grunts and small barks can happen when a puppy is exploring, playing or sleeping. Sleeping we can't do much about, but the other two times is normal. What you want to avoid is excessive amounts or the beahvior growing. Redirecting your puppy can help give their mind something else to do!
   

5. Stress is healthy.

   Not everything you do with your puppy will be a positive experience. Sorry, but it's going to happen. Teaching a puppy at a young age how to work through stress, recover, and tolerate the things they may not initially enjoy, will make such a difference for them as they continue to get bigger and stronger. Not only will they learn, but you will be creating a relationship of trust and leadership. Where they look to you for what to do next. Think of vaccinations, vet visits, nail trims, grooming, handling, new surfaces, new places - these are all things training can help with!

If you're puppy isn't frustrating at times, then wow are you a lucky one! Remember, they are learning everything as they go. Each moment of interaction with you, is a moment they are learning about you and their environment. Daily life with your dog is where majority of your training happens. Structured training sessions make up about an hour total per day.