NEW PUPPY!!!

That’s so exciting!! I bet they’re so cute and fluffy! You have some work ahead of you, but it’s worth it! And if we do it, right, you can set your dog up for a lifetime of confidence and success.

Play!

There’s nothing better to do with a puppy than play. Teach them that you are the most interesting thing in the world and that they will always have a place to be who they are so they won’t look for that fulfillment elsewhere. Border collies that don’t learn how to chase balls often end up chasing cars and bicycles. German Shepherds and Pitbull that don’t learn how to play (and win) at tug, often end up looking for aggressive outlets elsewhere. Play with your puppy. Play a lot. Learn more about play here:

https://www.thetrustedcompanion.com/thetrustedcompanionblog/play-why-its-important-and-how-to-do-it

Goals: what do you want to do with your puppy

I’d figure out about what your goals are for him or her. There are loads of fun things you can do with your dog as they get older and many roles they can play in their relationship with you and your family! Possibilities include:

Household companion
Tracking
Nosework
Bitework
Agility
Dock Diving
Flyball
Herding
Frisbee Competitions
And many more!

The list of drive sports your puppy could grow into is endless, and where your dog can pick those up at any age, doing the right things now could set them on a path of higher-level success. Most dogs are also content to just hang out with you and play tug or fetch. Regardless, we can direct your training towards any goals you’re excited about now to help your pup excel at them later (though you’ll care far more about their success than they will).

Potty training and crate training

The second thing I’d consider with a new puppy is crate and potty training.

These two trainings go hand in hand, and if you properly condition a crate to your pup early, no matter where you travel with them, they’ll always have a constant place to provide comfort and a sense of home. There are many crate options. Cheaper wire crates are fine, though they do increase risk of your pup getting out or hurting themselves trying to get out. If you start crate training early enough, you can minimize these risks. Harder plastic or aluminum crates usually provide more security and less likelihood your dog will hurt themselves while in them, but they also provide more protection in travel whether by plane or car. Some crates are even crash tested to provide your dog optimum safety while riding down the road with you!

For more advice on crate training your puppy, check out my blog on crate training here.

Dog’s aren’t typically comfortable using the bathroom where they sleep. So if your crate is properly sized, we can help them want to hold it until they go outside. It’s not a good idea to punish your puppy for using the bathroom inside, so instead we’ll have more success restricting their ability to use the bathroom to only when they’re outside, and then heavily rewarding them when they do! Using a crate is the fastest and most stress free way to help your dog learn to use the bathroom outside.

New puppy tips and creating structure!

Yes, your puppy is cute. And I really hope I get the chance to meet them! Sometimes, though, things that are cute set us up for bad habits as they grow. Jumping looks cute at first, so you pet their noggins or pick them up, but as they grow, jumping gets less cute and it will be hard for them to understand why no longer can do something that you liked before. So it’s a good idea to set boundaries early. There’s not going to be an easier time to teach your puppy what gets positive feedback and what doesn’t, as well as where they can go and where they can’t, than right now. Such training doesn’t require any correction or punishment for a puppy, it just requires you being aware that you only give them what they want when they do things that you want, and to not give them things they want when they do things you don’t want.