Chapter 8: PUPPY Mode, How to Deal

My husband was quite spoiled because when he met my PJay, he was already 9 months old and quite well trained. So when it came to coming home with Brady, now adopted and renamed Riley, he wasn't sure how to change to puppy mode. But he was cute as ever and we accomplished all our goals before he was adopted!

Just the same, 5 commands to teach all puppies:

1.  Sit
2. Down
3. Stay
4. Come
5. No and/or Leave it

 There are always many ways to accomplish a good thing and each pup is an individual. But certain themes should be the same when raisin a puppy.

• Be consistent. Be patient. My first rule with any puppy or dog is to pick a name and begin the first second you can and repeat until he/she gets it. No "sweetie", "darling", "baby", "puppy". How do you begin training if your dog think it has 4 names?
• If training, (especially with a family of multiple people) , remember to agree on one command for the same task. Your husband can't "get it", if your daughter says "fetch". Those are 2 different things. It's not fair to the dog if they don't get it and you get frustrated.
• Establish an eating and potty schedule
• Have a family meeting prior to any of this and establish things like:
• where does the doggy bed go?
• where do we feed the puppy?
• can puppy sleep on the bed? jump on the couch?
• what method do we discipline with?
• Puppies can be weaned from their mother at 7 weeks. Probably safest to pick up at 8 or 9 weeks old. If person giving or selling you puppy says otherwise, be leery!
• Always establish your pup with a vet as soon as you can. Initial appointments should be to check for congenital diseases, worms, and vaccinations.

  

  Brady playing with his teething rings
• Vaccinations should begin at 6 to 7 weeks. Vets will give parvo vaccine at 5 weeks if at high risk.
• YES puppies have their own nutritional need and need to be fed puppy food. Read or ask for directions how much depending on breed.
• Keep them entertained or they chew and that's not their fault. Toys, teething chews, bully sticks, crating or gating to an area where they can't chew up things you care about
• SOCIALIZE YOUR PUPPY. Bring them around people and other dogs if vaccinated. 
• Lots of mouthplay is bonding
• Touch their paws, mouth and teeth, tummy, and rump to tail to get them used to these touches so they are not scared or aggressive at the vet or grooming

• Introduce them to things and noises that ate normal to avoid developing fears
• Doors opening and closing

  

  Ear cleaning is a term of endearment
• Stairs
• Vacuums
• Leashes, chains, collars 
• Anything that makes loud noises (coffee machine, starting the shower, etc)

• Potty training...
• Toilet them every 2 to 4 hours until you figure their bladder capacity.
• If you are gone 8 hours, consider teaching them to pee on a mat or puppy pad AND outside. 
• If they have accidents anywhere other than designated, take the, straight outside and remind them where they are suppose to go
• They probably won't go if they've just gone, but do it anyway...consistency
• If they go where they should LOTS OF PRAISE!!!
• At around age 1 they should be able to hold a good 8 hours with maybe an accident here or there. Still praise on those good days. 
• If you have the luxury, you can always send them to daycare, or come home midday to toilet them. Reality is most of us work, so toilet when you can. 
• Truly don't go longer than 8 hours. If so, and you come home to an accident, toilet the, and praise if they go outside. But disciplining them for your long travel is mean and wrong. 

GOOD LUCK!!