So, you’ve just brought home a new puppy. It’s exciting, isn’t it? You might be beaming from ear to ear because of it. And no one would blame you for that! After all, you now have a cute bundle of fur to cuddle, play with, and love. Some people actually spend their entire childhood wishing for this, only to achieve their dream in adulthood. If that’s you, don’t worry – your excitement is entirely justified.
But that doesn’t mean you just forget about the necessities. Sure, this means purchasing puppy food, a collar and leash, toys, water and food bowls, and the like. It also means getting a head-start with training. A puppy who doesn’t receive the required training will surely pose problems in the future – so, to prevent issues, it’s best to begin early.
If you’re unsure what to tackle first, then this post is here to help. Primarily, teething and toilet training are the focus for new dog owners. Not only will this simplify the process of settling your puppy in, but it will also save your home and furniture from sharp teeth and accidents.
Master Toilet Training with a Strict Routine
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Puppies are small. As you can imagine, their bladders are small, too. With such limited bladder control – and a lack of understanding related to the rules of a human home – accidents happen. When this happens – and it is a when – you shouldn’t react with anger. This is a quick way to cause the pup to fear you, and this wouldn’t be ideal.
If you focus on toilet training early on, you’ll reap the benefits. Accidents are prevented. Stress is reduced. A foundation of trust and reliability is built. It does require some work, though. This isn’t unusual for pet ownership; it requires effort to get right.
Establishing a strict routine goes further than just a schedule. Puppies need a pattern, so think of it as:
Potty > Play > Eat > Potty > Nap > Potty
Simply put, whatever they do, the toilet is the next stop. There’s no such thing as too many trips outside for the toilet – for example, young puppies (eight to ten weeks) need out every 45 to 90 minutes!
A designated spot in the yard is helpful. Using the exact same area every time will help the puppy associate that space with going to the toilet. Of course, your yard might take a bit of damage from this, especially if you have a female dog. It might be necessary to invest in fake grass for dogs to pee on outside. Artificial turf is more durable than natural grass.
Manage Teething with Proper Redirection
Now, despite their size, puppies’ teeth are sharp. They’ll bite and chew if given the opportunity. While, for some, this is a behavioral habit, others do this to cope with teething. Puppies experience a fair amount of discomfort as their baby teeth fall out and their adult teeth grow in. This typically occurs between three and seven months of age.
You might be a target of some puppy-bites. Either that, or it’ll be your furniture. If so, you need to teach them that teeth do not belong on human skin or household objects. This training means redirecting the need to chew. Do not punish the puppy for biting and chewing – instead, redirect them to appropriate outlets as soon as you notice the behavior.
There are numerous types of appropriate outlets. Teething toys, for example. This might be rubber chew toys or frozen, safe treats. These will be a variety of textures. Different items will provide different types of comfort, and this is key. When the pup chooses the right item to chew, praise them! Reward the good behavior to ensure it continues.
To conclude, training a puppy is a tough task. If you focus on the essential teachings – toilet training and teething – you will have an easier time settling the pup into a new routine. And that should be the goa, right? Having an enjoyable, and simple, first few months with your new companion?
