Puppy Training: Everything you need to know to survive the First Week
There can be priorities that are more exciting in life than bringing home a new puppy. But, as soon as he arrives, each member will be enthusiastic to hug him, hold him etc. as soon as is possible and for as long as possible, particularly in the initial days. These levels of excitement can b e a little taxing to the little canine to the extent of wearing him out soon. If there is a lack of structure and boundaries inside the house, the problem can be compounded further. The little canine can also feel insecure. Hence, it becomes important to get your household ready and organized for your puppy’s home coming. You can pre-decide the routine and set the house rules. Once this is done, every member of the household should stick to it.
The Importance of Routine
The short space of time prior to your bringing in the new puppy home, he has lived in the secure company of his mother and other littermates. With no notice, he is estranged from the familiar surroundings and is to go it alone in your house. It is necessary that the little canine feels safe and secure again. How can we do that? Lots of love and care is necessary to make your puppy feel at home again. To make things more comfortable for your puppy, you can lay down a routine for the puppy and he will respond to it well. Consistency in the approach is very important, whether it is his meal timing, housebreaking or play time or whatever. You can also decide individual responsibilities like feeding the puppy, training etc. well before you actually bring the puppy in. Once the responsibilities are fixed, the individual concerned should also be available at home at the appointed time to discharge the responsibility. A vet’s advice on the best ways to feed the puppy and the frequency to do that, can only be handy. If your pet has a routine that he can rely on, the initial phase of the training can be completed smoothly.
The Importance of Rules
You can also set certain house rules for training the puppy even before bringing him in .For instance, if you have decided that your puppy will sleep in his crate, it is essential that the decision is fully implemented. Even if your puppy is grumbling all through, the first night at home with you never let him sleep in the bed with you or your children. Not even once, should the house rules be broken.
A co-sleeping arrangement can only be an alternate plan and if that is chosen, it should be regular. Just like our infants, dogs too need firm boundaries to live in and to feel secure and consistent. By sticking to the rules, soon your puppy will learn that he should deliver and would generally be glad to oblige. Consistency is an important part of puppy training.
Establish firm house rules and compliment them with a routine each member will stick to and then adding a new puppy will not only be a welcome move but one which your family can thoroughly enjoy. |
