|
|
|
Puppy - Getting Started and House Training Guide When you bring a new puppy into your home there will be a period of adjustment. Your goals are to help your puppy quickly bond to its new family, and to minimize stress associated with leaving its mother, littermates, and former home. If there are already dogs in the new home the transition will be a little easier as the puppy is able to identify with its own kind. Obtaining two puppies would be another option. However, most puppies, especially those obtained before 12 weeks of age, will form attachments almost immediately to the people and any other pets in the new home, provided there are no unpleasant consequences associated with each new person and experience. How do I prevent my puppy from doing damage or getting into mischief? The rule of thumb for dog training is "set a dog up for success". Supervise the puppy at all times until it has learned what it is allowed to chew, and where it is supposed to eliminate. Keeping the puppy on a 10 foot remote leash is an excellent way to keep it in sight and to train it not to wander off. This is particularly helpful with a highly investigative puppy or for a very busy household. At any time that the puppy cannot be supervised, such as throughout the night or when you need to go out, house it in a secure area. An escape-proof crate, a dog run, or collapsible pen are simple, highly effective, and most important, safe. The puppy could also be confined to a room that has been carefully dog-proofed. When selecting your dog's confinement area it is useful to consider a number of factors. The dog will adapt fastest to the new area if it is associated with rewards. Have the puppy enter the area for all its treats, toys, and perhaps food and water. The area should have some warm, dry comfortable bedding, and should never be used for punishment (although it can, and should be used to prevent problems). Housing the puppy in isolated areas where there is minimal human contact, such as in a laundry room or basement should be avoided. In fact, often the best are is a kitchen (so that this can also be the dog's feeding area) or a bedroom (so that it becomes the dog's sleeping area. Each time the puppy needs to be confined, it should first be well exercised and given an opportunity to eliminate. Another consideration in selecting the type of confinement area is how long you may need to leave the dog alone. Anytime the puppy will be left for longer than it can control its elimination; you must provide an area for elimination. A room or collapsible pen with a paper-covered area would be needed. A cage or crate could be used for owners that do not have to leave their puppies confined for longer than 2-3 hours. This web page is still under construction, please check back for additional information. |
|
Send mail to leely@teleport.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|