A New Puppy! (What Do I Do?) Jen Ticsay, Dances with Woofs Dog Training Congratulations on your new puppy. The tasks ahead may seem overwhelming, but the payoffs will be years of unconditional love and friendship. The first few months of your puppy’s life are very formative. Your puppy needs to be socialized, he needs to learn where to eliminate appropriately and he needs to learn to inhibit his bite. These important stages in development can ensure a behaviorally healthy adult dog and a joyful companion.

Young puppies have very sharp teeth After you say “ouch” you should get you are frustrated, keep in mind that as I am sure you have found out by up and step away from you puppy your puppy has only been on the now. The goal is to have the puppy ignoring him for a few seconds. When earth a very short time and teaching stop biting, but first you must teach the you go back to the puppy you should him where to eliminate appropriately puppy to bite soft. When your puppy ask for a sit and offer an item that is can be a very tall order. Dogs and softens his bite you can move on to acceptable for your puppy to chew on. Puppies are habitual about where they not to biting at all. We start with bite It is helpful to have a variety of alterna- choose to eliminate. It is our respon- inhibition because if your dog ever tives such as toys, bully sticks, chew- sibility to teach them the appropriate needs to bite, he will need to know ies and Kong toys. If your puppy’s place to go. The amount of time this how to bite without causing injury. biting is inconsolable at the moment will take depends on many factors. If Puppies learn bite inhibition prior to then he probably needs a nap. a dog was purchased from a pet store four months of age. It is one of the or kept inside of a whelping box which most important lessons in their young they cannot get out of, their innate de- lives. When adult dogs are hurt or Teach Your Puppy sire to keep their sleeping area clean fight with another dog, they may bite. to Soften His Bite by may have been damaged. Learning bite inhibition at a young age will insure their bite is not dangerous Offering Him Acceptable Watch for signs that the puppy needs to people and other dogs. Puppies Items for Chewing to go. They will pace, sniff and circle. learn to inhibit their bite from other Puppies need to go to the bathroom dogs, so make sure to get your puppy after they wake up, after they play, around friendly vaccinated dogs at a after the sleep and after they eat or young age. The first couple of weeks When your puppy has learned to drink. soften his bite it is time to teach him that your puppy is in your home you Begin by putting the dog on a sched- not to bite at all. At this point, any time should yelp or say “ouch” in a high ule. Start by taking him out every 30 your puppy puts his mouth on you the pitched tone when your puppy bites. minutes and then gradually increase game and attention should end. You the time. When you take your puppy can get up and walk away or teach the outside to go to the bathroom, say “go puppy to “leave it”. Never teach your potty” as your dog starts to go and dog not to bite using pain or aversive then reward your puppy with praise actions. Pinning your dog down or and a treat. Your “go potty” cue will flipping your dog over will cause your be helpful when you really need your dog to fear you and fear is the number dog to go in a hurry. The dog will one reason why dogs bite. learn where to relieve himself and be Housetraining is on everyone’s list assured that you will take him to the of first things to do when you get a right spot. Be consistent about the puppy. Housetraining takes a lot of door you choose to go out when bring- patience and observation. When ing the dog outside. This will make it you are present, watch the puppy at all times. Every mistake you prevent or stop brings you one step closer to your final goal.

The most important thing you can do to ensure your puppy has a good temperament as an adult is to social- ize your puppy. Socializing limits fears and increases friendliness to strang- ers. Dogs that are not socialized can Like Babies Everywhere, be fearful and reactive to new people, Puppies Need Regular dogs and objects. Puppies should be socialized at his or her own pace and Naps to Be On Their should not be forced into any situation. Best Behavior When you first bring your puppy home your vet may not what you bringing him to public places. Make sure that easier for the dog to ask to go outside. you invite over as many friends as you adjust to new situations without fear. Don’t bring your puppy immediately can drum up until he is adequately Ask your dog to sit when meeting back inside after he eliminates. He vaccinated. You can also bring your children and adults. When meeting may learn to hold it so that he does dog to friends’ houses or invite over other dogs, your dog will learn how to not have to go back inside. Praise friendly healthy dogs. Bring treats talk dog. This is important in prevent- your puppy like crazy when he goes in on your outings so that strangers can ing aggression. There is no time to the right spot. give treats. You can also make noises when it comes to socializing a puppy. and objects more pleasant by pair- Puppies go thru many critical devel- Don’t make a big deal about mistakes. ing them with treats. Make sure to opmental stages early in their lives. If Don’t rub his nose in the mistake and introduce your pup to new things daily. you miss this opportunity you may not do not frighten the dog during the He should experience new places, get it back. Anything a puppy does not mistake. Some dogs may become people, surfaces, sounds, dogs of see in its first four months, it may first frightened and try to hide or become all ages and sizes and friendly pups. react to in fear. The behavior expert, afraid to eliminate near you. When Make sure your puppy sees everything Dr Ian Dunbar, recommends 100 new your dog is doing its duty in the house that it will be exposed to as an adult. experiences in 100 days. There are stop the dog and bring them to the Some examples are umbrellas, boxes, great puppy socialization checklists on desired spot. Clean the soiled spot bags in the wind, people of all sizes, line. with vinegar and water or a neutral- colors, and excitement levels, and izer found at a pet store. Barricade friendly vaccinated dogs. Basically, the area so that habits do not form. your puppy needs to see and hear Enjoy the Training Remember, if you paper train, you may everything. This will help your dog have to untrain the puppy by moving Process and Have Fun the papers outdoors. Paper training with Your Puppy and puppy pad training can slow the housebreaking process but can be helpful if you cannot be home to let Housetraining, bite inhibition and your dog out. Make this decision with socialization are the ingredients to a much consideration. Once you puppy well adjusted adult dog. Have fun with pad train you will have to live with your the process and enjoy your puppy. dog eliminating in your house through- There are many other great things that out his life. puppies can learn so consider training with a positive reinforcement trainer. Be sure to confine the puppy appro- Again, congratulations on your new priately when you are not present or friend and family member. cannot watch the puppy. You can put the puppy in a crate or a pen. If you Jen Ticsay Dances with Woofs Dog Training want to learn to crate train, ask your www.danceswithwoofsdogtraining.com vet for my crate training article. When [email protected]