Raising your Puppy

The following tips will help establish a good foundation relationship between you and your new pet.

While your family and home are familiar to you, it is new, unfamiliar, and possibly a bit frightening to a small puppy that hasn't seen much of the world yet. This change of home environment is very stressful on your new puppy, even if he doesn’t seem to be stressed. Give him time to get used to your family first. He needs to bond with you, his new “pack.”

Your puppy will adjust best if you resist the urge to have visitors in or to take your puppy out to show him off during the first few days. Take the time to establish routines for feeding and crate training. Both will serve your family and your puppy well.

It is very scary for a puppy to come into a new home and be left alone for many hours at a time. While it is fine to leave the puppy for a little while each day, it needs to be done in a manner that will be conducive to helping your puppy adjust well.

If you have children, be sure to read books and watch videos about children and dogs. The puppy is not a new toy, and the children need to be very respectful of the new puppies space and sleep schedule. Parents/guardians of children need to be sure the children are NOT holding the puppy unless they are sitting down, and no more than two times a day. The puppy is not a toy.

Watch for signs that your puppy needs to use the restroom. Sniffing and circling are good indicators that he/she is looking for a spot to relieve himself.

Puppies have very little bladder control and will need to take frequent breaks to eliminate. The key times to be watchful and initiate potty breaks are: after eating, drinking, playing, or waking from sleep. Do not ever punish your pet for an accident. Just pick him up and redirect him. Then praise him each time he goes outside.

Never ever take a puppy that has not been fully vaccinated to a retail pet store. Vaccinations will usually be completed by 16 weeks and your vet can inform you of the timeframe that your pet will have the full coverage of the vaccinations. Pet stores are frequently the culprits of a puppy being exposed to harmful diseases that are life-threatening.

Be sure you have read a few books to understand what typical "puppy behaviors" look like. A few normal puppy behaviors include: nipping, chasing, chewing, and barking. Good pet owners will have a plan in place to address these issues in a manner that is positive and will redirect the behavior. Like children, puppies respond best to repetition. Australian Labradoodles are particularly sensitive in nature and do not usually require harsh discipline.

The minute you pick up your new puppy he will be learning how to act around you and his environment. Puppies are like little sponges and absorb information better than any other time in their life. So, now is the best time to concentrate on socializing, getting them out to meet people, and teaching your puppy manners they will need throughout their life. You will want to get your puppy out and experience as much of the world as possible. Ask your vet what they recommend is safe to do with your puppy before they get all of their vaccinations. After that, the possibilities are endless for where and what you and your puppy can explore.

Look into puppy classes and socialization classes as soon as possible. There are all types of classes and puppy play groups offered in most communities. One resource for finding classes and trainers is The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT). The AKC has a couple of great programs that I feel are wonderful for dog owners and their puppies to participate in. The first one, for young puppies is the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program. From there your puppy will be prepared for the AKC® Canine Good Citizen® Program.

The First Few Days

Settle on a name for you puppy so he can start to learn it.
Let puppy investigate one room, preferably the one he will be spending most time in, then move on to others when he seems comfortable in that one.
For the first few nights he will need reassurance about his new home. He will look to you for comfort and guidance. Keep him next to your bed to calm him when he gets scared and to take him out quickly if he has to go.
Limit visitors till puppy has become used to his new home.
Puppies are very fun to play with but, when he is sleeping let him sleep. They really need it at this age.
Establish a routine with eating, going to the bathroom, play, and sleep.

House Training

Designate the area you what your puppy to go to the bathroom. Take him there every time and use a command like, “potty” or “hurry” when he goes. Make sure you praise him when he is finished. Take him in afterwards. Do not encourage play since this will confuse him of the purpose of the activity.

Until your puppy has learned to “go” outside, always keep a close eye on him to prevent or catch accidents. If you catch him in the act, firmly tell him “No” or “Bad” and take him out to his designated area to go the bathroom. Puppies can only connect scolding to what is happening at that moment. If you do not catch him in the act, it is YOUR fault for allowing him to make the mistake. All you can do now is clean up the mess.

Times when your puppy may need to go to the bathroom is when he wakes in the morning or from a nap, after play, after eating or drinking, and just before bedtime.

At night, take water away about an hour or two before bedtime to help puppy hold himself till morning.
If you crate train, generally, puppies can safely be left in their crate the number of hours equal to their age in months plus one, until their first year.

Support Good Behavior

Puppy’s normal behavior is to growl, nip, mouth, and chew. However, these are things we do not want to continue into problem behavior.

Growling– Since dogs cannot talk, they use growling to communicate fear or warning. First, you need to figure out why your puppy is growling. If it is from fear, use a calming voice and gentle touch to settle him down. Help him overcome his fear but, never force him to accept it. At the same time, do not smother him with affection to try and comfort him. Show him that there is nothing to fear, you do not have any reaction to the thing that is causing the his fear. This can sometimes take take repeated confrontation with the fearful thing to overcome the anxiety. If your puppy growls as a warning to keep a toy or food from you, firmly tell him “NO!” and take the object from him. Return it back to him. Then in a minute or so take it again. If he does not growl, praise him enthusiastically. If he growls again, tell him “NO!” and take the object from him and repeat the process until he does not growl. Do not give up. Never let a dog get away with bad behavior.

Nipping or Mouthing– Puppies use their mouths like babies use their hands to touch and investigate their environment.

Puppies also play with their litter mates by nipping and biting. So, when they play, they are are using their mouth in a way that comes naturally. When your puppy bites, nips or mouths you, make a loud, high pitch cry or you can tell him “NO!” You want to startle him so he stops. Try to have a toy or bone that he can have after the incident to show him what you would prefer him to bite on. You can also put your palm, flat in front of their nose and wait for them to lick it. When they do, praise them for being pleasant. Whether you have a substitute for him to chew or not, once he has stopped the bad behavior, praise him for his improved behavior. You will find that this can be a long process. Keep up with your corrections and make sure you do not get angry, just be firm.

Chewing- Puppies need to chew. Their teeth are moving and growing which makes them want to chew. Also, chewing is a way for them to clean their teeth. Make sure your puppy has plenty of appropriate toys and bones to chew. If you catch him with something he is not suppose to be chewing, tell him “Leave it!” Take it and redirect him to an acceptable chew toy. Be patient and consistent. You can also take the opportunity to praise him when you find him chewing one of his chew toys or bones. Remember that chewing is something they need to do.

Training Habits for You

Here are just a few simple things that you can get in the habit of doing which will make you a better teacher for your puppy.

Be firm but gentle
Be consistent. Everyone in the family needs to use the same words for commands and use the same method and timing for corrections.
Follow through with every command.
Never hit your puppy.
Always reward your puppy when he shows good behavior. You can never over do praise. Additional positive reinforcement like playing with him and his a favorite toy or offering a tasty treat can be rewarding for your puppy and you.

Remember, I am always happy to help if you have questions or have a problem situation that needs attention. Of course, I always get excited when I hear how one of my puppies is doing and how they are growing. Please do not hesitate to contact me, whatever the situation is.