Christmas Puppy 101
With the holidays right around the corner thousands of puppies are being given as Christmas gifts. But when the lights fade and the excitement wears off pet owners are blindsided by reality. Sadly many of those Christmas puppies will be surrendered to the shelter shortly after the holiday. Many new owners are unaware of the time and training commitment of a new puppy. Lets look at five key things you need to know about a new puppy.
Potty Training
Puppies must be let out every hour. Take them out on a leash, once they have done their business give them a treat. Be patient. If the puppy has an accident in the house do not punish them. Punishment does not lead to success. To aid in the success of your new best pal I have a potty training schedule. This will help you start on the right foot with your new best pal.
2. Crate Training
Do not give your puppy full reign of your entire house! This can give them more time to have an accident in your home. They also may get into things that are not safe for them. What can you do?
The crate will be your best friend with a new puppy. If you cannot keep an eye on them it will give the puppy a place to be safe. The how to basics of crate training can be found in my Crate Training Handbook
3. Exercise
There are two types of exercise for dogs. The first most know, physical exercise. Throwing a ball or playing tug of war with them is great. Just make sure you always end up with the toy at the end. Taking them for a walk is a great way to get them moving and used to the leash. It also allows them to get to know the world around them. Be sure they have their shots first! Sniffing is their social media they get to see what or who is around them.
The second type of exercise is mental exercise. I have found that mental exercise tries them out quicker than physical. A great example of this is obedience training. Teaching them to sit and stay or lie down. A ten minute training session can tire them out quickly.
Remember, puppies have a short attention span. Always try to end a session on a positive note. For more info see below.
4. Crate Training
Crates give your puppy a safe place to be. They also allow you to keep your bed yours. We have to remember that puppies become dogs. If you allow a puppy to sleep with you pretty soon you or your significant other end up on the floor! The crate also gives them a space to be when you’re not home leading to less accidents in the house.
5. Commitment
Puppies are a 10-15 year commitment. If you do not intend to keep a dog its whole life you should NOT get one. Parents please note that if you got a puppy for your child you will be the primary caregiver/owner of the pet.
Let’s keep your dog from being a statistic. Click the link below to get the Puppy Bundle. In the bundle you will find a potty training schedule, crate training handbook and a puppy milestone chart. If you get the bundle you will receive a code to get 25% off.
