“Puppies bite and thank goodness they do.” That’s a quote from Dr. Ian Dunbar and one that initially puzzles people. Biting is normal dog behaviour. Our human job in the early weeks of owning a puppy is to teach him what he can and cannot bite. I give every new puppy I work with a stuffable rubber chewtoy such as a Kong™ to assist in teaching him what he can [...] Read more »
When is Puppy Training Finished? Are We Done Yet?
The big world beckons. Are you and Bozo ready? His immunity is building, his people socialization is excellent, and his dog-to-dog socialization is up to par now that he’s in puppy class. Your wee, wiggly, sweet-smelling puppy is growing up. Doghood is just over the bridge of adolescence. Just as with humans, adolescence is a time of heightened interest in his own kind, a time to focus on what it [...] Read more »
Training Your Puppy To Walk On A Leash
Without a doubt, the easiest way to have your puppy walk calmly on leash is to play ‘follow me’ off leash. How to do that? Move away from him and keep moving. It is not possible to follow a stationary object. If Bozo doesn’t follow fast enough, move faster. If his attention is diverted, clap your hands, say something like, “come along” and move quickly in another direction. If he [...] Read more »
Training Your Puppy To Settle Down
Imagine that immediately your pup, Bozo, hears the words,” Bozo, ‘settle’ “, he lies down quietly. No more begging at the table, no more nudging you or leash pulling when you stop to visit a neighbor while on a walk. It’s important to interrupt play sessions with Bozo even and especially when he’s very young. Uninterrupted play sessions quickly deteriorate into an out-of-control free-for-all; no good for pups or humans. [...] Read more »
Puppy Socialization… Outings
It may be too soon for puppy class and the dog park but outings are still important. Using the crate in the car is important too, for his safety and yours. Once Bozo has learned a reliable ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and ‘settle’, you can teach him those cues in your stationary car (more on that later). Starting with short rides, a quick trip for milk or a hop to pick up [...] Read more »
What to Do When Puppy’s Family Comes Home
Bozo has been home alone all day. The family returns either together or one at a time and Bozo goes bananas. He barks, jumps up, and launches himself at the gate of his confinement area. “Wait! Please wait.” As difficult as it is not to meet his energy with your own high-pitched greeting, especially if there are kids involved, PLEASE DON”T. Right now, today, on your very first homecoming, let’s [...] Read more »
Leaving Your Puppy Home Alone
Being home alone is not so bad for Bozo if you set it up well. Dogs are crepuscular … isn’t that a neat word? I had no clue what it meant when I first heard it. Simply: active at dawn and dusk. That’s a helpful thing to know about dogs if you have to leave Bozo. It’s likely he’ll be happy to spend most of the day sleeping. Perhaps on [...] Read more »
What, When, and How to Feed Your New Puppy
Like babies, puppies have small holding tanks (stomachs) and grow very quickly – twenty times more quickly than adult dogs, I’ve read. What? When? How? Where? Who? How Much? Are all questions that need to be answered. What? A breeder will most likely give you a bag of good quality puppy food with your new puppy. Other puppy sources will probably not. In any event, read the list of contents [...] Read more »