Tag Archive for: puppy

5 Tips to Train Your New Puppy!

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He is just the cutest little ball of fur you have ever seen and it was love at first sight for the both of you! In addition to being cute and lovable, he is also a ball of energy that loves to chew, scratch, bark, pee and poop. You are the proud owner of that new pup and it’s up to you to train your new puppy to become the dog you want him to be. Positive reinforcement training is the quickest method to get rid of the undesirable behavior and instill good behavior in your new four-legged companion.

1. Set Boundaries

Decide what will be acceptable behavior and what will not be tolerated before you begin training your new pup. Changing the rules during training will set the puppy back to square one on the training scale. Decide if you want your dog on the couch, chair or bed for the next 15 years and train accordingly. Good behavior patterns are easier to establish during the puppy stage than trying to break old habits when the pup reaches adulthood.

2. Be Consistent

Give the same command for each thing you want your pup to do and be consistent with rewards and consequences. If you tell your dog to ‘sit’ sometimes, while telling him ‘down boy’ at other times, the commands will be confusing and difficult to learn. Rewards for an obeyed command should always be given immediately as part of positive training and negative consequences for a disobeyed command should be very limited. A puppy/dog will learn quicker using a positive reward system and will shy away from training sessions that may end with a scolding or time out.

3. Non-Food Treats

Most dog owners feel that by giving their puppies and dogs food treats that they are showing their beloved pet how much they love them. Too many food treats can actually harm your dog by eventually leading to health issues like diabetes, joint pain and other health problems. Give your dog positive reinforcement with non-food treats for a job well done. Dogs respond very favorably to words of praise and a brisk rub behind the ear.

4. Keep Him Busy

A busy dog is a happy dog. Start regular playtime and exercise time as soon as you bring the new puppy home. It creates a time of bonding and training, plus the positive activities will keep your puppy away from the negative activities like chewing on your favorite pair of shoes. Learn about the advantages of regular dog walks and keep an eye out for our upcoming blog on how to exercise your puppy.

5. Have Fun!

That’s why you got a puppy in the first place! Have a good time and enjoy your pup. The more you interact with your pup at a young age the better he will understand how he fits into your life. Dogs specialize at adapting to their surroundings and he wants nothing more than to be with you all the time and be your best friend so enjoy!

6. Hire a Dog Walker

A good dog walker is a wonderful part of your puppy team and can help you with socialization. Learn about Benefits of Walks for Puppies!

Steps for Finding a Good Dog Breeder

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If you’re in the market for a purebred dog, you’ll need to find a good dog breeder from which to purchase the animal. This can often be as easy as opening the classified advertising section of your local newspaper, but you’ll want to be sure that the breeder you’ve chosen is reputable. There are several ways to help ensure that the breeder you’ve found knows his stuff and is reliable, professional, and trustworthy.

Ask for References

Any good breeder will be able to provide you references of clients he has worked with in the past. These will be people who have purchased a puppy or utilized stud services and will be happy to share their experiences with you. Choosing a breeder that was used by someone you know is a good choice as well.  If your friend or family member was happy with the service and treatment he or she received from the breeder, the odds are good that you will be as well.

Prepare to Answer Questions

A good dog breeder will have as many questions for you as you have for him, perhaps more.  Good breeders work to ensure that the dogs they breed are placed with the correct people.  They may ask whether you have children, what size home or yard you have, and numerous other questions to help them let you know whether the dog you’re seeking is right for you and your family.  A breeder that doesn’t ask these types of questions may be looking just for the money from the sale of the dog and is probably not the sort of breeder you want to do business with.  A good breeder always has the best interest of both the dog and the clients in mind.

Guarantees

A good dog breeder will have had the puppies checked for potential health risks before ever selling the animal.  Some problems, however, simply are not detectable until later in life. If you purchase a golden retriever pup, for example, and six months later discover that it has hip dysplasia (a genetic defect in the animals hip joints, it is often nearly undetectable until the animal is several months old), a good breeder will issue a refund to you, no questions asked. Genetic defects like this are avoided by the use of selective breeding (hip dysplasia in dogs has between a 25% and 85% chance that it is genetic in origin), but sometimes a pup will display the disorder even if there is no trace of it in either parent’s history.

Health Checks

Each breed of dog has genetic disorders that are more common that others, such as cataracts or hip dysplasia. In the case these disorders can be screened for in the parents, that should be done before the breeding happens. For this reason, dogs should not be bred before 2 years of age as that is the youngest age many health checks can be performed. Hip dysplasia is a good example of this as hip x-rays can be taken at 2 years old and sent for certification. This does not guarantee against health problems but definitely helps to encourage good breeding.

Whenever possible you should be able to meet both parents of the litter. Often the sire of the litter will belong to a different owner and will not be on site, but should you wish to meet the father the owners should be able to arrange this. If the owners are hesitant to allow this then that should raise red flags.

Sources for Finding a Good Dog Breeder

Aside from looking in the newspaper or on the internet for a dog breeder, breeders can be found through veterinarian’s offices, pet supply stores, and at dog shows.  Dog shows are a very good choice since the breeders that attend these events are often showing one of their dogs or are there to see the performance of one that they bred and sold in the past.  These days you can also join the nation breed club or join social media groups for the breed. You will get to know quite a bit about the breed as well as become familiar with breeders across the country. They often make announcements when they have a litter on the way!

The moral of the story is that you are adding a new member to your family. Don’t rush the process and do lots of research before acquiring a puppy. Then you can enjoy your new best friend knowing you made a great decision!