JUST GOT A NEW PUPPY

So you just got a new puppy! Now what do you do? Here is a quick guide about some important things to consider to get you started.

Step 1: house-breaking. After having decided on the kind of food you want to feed your pup, you need to setup a house-breaking plan to help with the elimination of the food. The earlier you set this plan up and the more consistent you are with it, the easier this will be for your dog and the cleaner your floors will be!

For house-breaking, you do it either thru paper training or thru crate training. The latter is recommended 95% of the time. Contact us to setup a consultation for detailed instructions on how to setup a crate training plan that will effortlessly house-break your dog in the shortest amount of time possible (plan included if you sign up for a class).

Step 2: socialization. This is by far one of the most important things you can do for your pup. Lack of proper socialization can lead to a host of behavioral problems as your puppy gets older. As soon as your puppy recieves its shots and the vet deems it safe, begin this step immediately.

Socialize your pup by bringing him/her into contact with a wide variety of people and animals: babies, toddlers, pre-teens, adolescents, adults, other puppies, small dogs, big dogs, cats, etc. Also expose him/her to different sights, sounds, buildings, smells, etc.

Always closely supervise your puppy as he/she comes into contact with other dogs (cats, etc) that aren't familiar. Be alert that no harsh incidents occur. The first few months of a pup's life are crucial and anything negative or positive will have an impact on your dog for years to come. Be patient with your pup and give him/her the time to adjust to different environments.

Step 3: training. If there is one thing that all dogs need, some more than others, it's basic obedience training. An untrained, out-of-control dog can be a real nuisance inside and outside the home, and anyone who has ever experienced this knows it. And in extreme cases some people out of desperation resort to giving their dog away either to shelters or other people!

Obedience training your dog (pups can be started as early as 3 months old) brings order and harmony to your house by allowing your dog to find its place in his/her new family. Your dog will therefore be much calmer, self-assured and happier, not to mention all the damages that an untrained, overly excited dog can do inside the home: chewed carpets, chewed sofa, damaged shoes, etc.

You can view our extensive list of training services here. We have special rates available for obedience training for puppies.

Feel free to contact us for any questions that you may have about your new pup or to get started with his/her training!

Training benefits

A trained dog has more freedom and is generally happier because her owner trusts her more and restricts her less.

A trained dog better understands his roles and responsibilities in the "pack" and is therefore more confident.

Generally, a trained dog has a better chance of staying with its owners because dogs that are unfortunately given away to shelters are usually dogs that have developed various forms of behavioral problems due to lack of training.

A trained dog is always more welcome in all social settings because he is better behaved and under control.

A trained dog can serve many purposes inside and outside the home such as family protection, searching and tracking, etc.

Click here to see our services.