Top tips for new dog/puppy owners.

 

Be patient 

New surroundings, new rules to follow and new people to live with is all very daunting for a puppy, but usually even more so for an older dog who will have spent more time with other people and different rules.

 

Remember it’s a dog

Learning exactly what it is you want him/her to do can be confusing for a dog, especially if you’re trying to use human methods to get your point across (i.e. verbal explanations). Use calm and precise body language, perhaps a little physical persuasion in the form of a nudge or carrying him/her to where you want them to be. Remember tip one and that in time your new dog/pup will eventually learn how to do it on their own.

 

Which rules and when?

All puppies are given a “puppy licence” by older dogs in a natural pack environment, which allows them to temporarily get away with certain behaviours such as climbing all over everyone and wanting to play at 3am. These are things that your puppy will naturally grow out of, but there are a number of rules and boundaries that MUST be put into place and enforced from DAY ONE. The specifics of these rules are up to you; for example, being allowed on the furniture and where the dog sleeps. The reason for this is that these are the rules and boundaries that will cause you problems later, for example should you decide that the dog is now too big to sleep on the bed with you. It’s actually best to feel a bit cruel early on and make your dog/puppy sleep alone than put up with the rebellious behaviour later because you’ve decided to change the rules.

 

Don’t be afraid to be the boss

There is a lot of controversy over the whole “pack structure” mentality of raising a dog and making yourself the “pack leader”. What I feel must be explained here is that a true “pack leader” is not a tyrant who rules with an iron fist and must be obeyed at all times. A true “pack leader” is simply the member of the group or “pack” who has stepped up and taken control of the important things like providing food, protecting everyone and maintaining harmony within the pack, which does include enforcing the rules from time to time. Making sure your new dog/puppy knows that “no” means “no” is far from being cruel, in fact it’s essential. Basic obedience training is a great way to establish this and maintain the position of the one in charge.

 

Give your dog/pup what they really need

A puppy will begin cutting adult teeth at around 3/4 months and this process can still be ongoing past the age of 8 months. This is the period when people discover their designer shoes are now nothing more than slobbery rags. Give your pup something to chew on that will last through the teething process, something tough and with various textures have proven to be most effective. Should you catch your pup chewing something it shouldn’t, remember tip one and simply replace what they’ve got with their permitted chew-toy. It doesn’t have to be an expensive specifically designed toy, at present we have a teething pup who loves to sit chewing an old baseball cap.

Chewing can be a naturally enjoyable and relaxing activity for dogs of any age, so making sure there’s always something chewable within reach is a great way to keep your dog from destroying the things you hold dear.

 

A tired dog is a happy dog 

This is something that I tell everyone who asks me for advice on their dog’s behaviour. It’s pretty self-explanatory; if your dog is worn out on a daily basis, then they’ll be far more likely to sleep away the rest of the day in preparation to do it all again tomorrow. With puppies, it can be difficult, but is even more important to them than older dogs. Puppies are growing, and fast, and will therefore have bursts of unbelievable energy with frequent naps in between. However, you can’t take a 4 month old pup on a 3 hour walk, so you have to be ready to match their energetic requirements in a short period. I’ve said on many occasion that no human can wear out a dog quite like another dog, so if you know someone with a socialised and balanced dog, then a daily play-date will work wonders for everyone; dogs also teach better than humans too, so any time spent with other dogs will be invaluable to your pup’s growth and building the necessary social skills. Games with balls and any mental activities such as puzzle-based treat dispensers are a fantastic way to quickly tire a hyperactive dog or puppy if you can’t get out for a walk.

 

Remember to cater to your dog’s breed

While all dogs share common traits across the entire species, there are certain breeds that have been bred for specific tasks for so long, that these tasks are now part of the dog’s genes, and they MUST be taken into consideration when planning your dog’s activities. For example, a whippet or greyhound who never runs will very quickly become boisterous and difficult to manage. A Beagle who is never encouraged and given the opportunity to use their nose will undoubtedly start getting into trouble before long. For most breeds these activities are very simple to incorporate into daily life; throw a ball in a field for a greyhound, hide treats around the house for a beagle, give a terrier an area of the garden in which to dig. The only breeds that may have difficulty in fulfilling their intended purpose are the herding breeds, as there are very few herding schools in the UK. For these breeds I would suggest agility training, or perhaps dancing, where your dog must work hard to learn a routine, thus giving him/her a mentally challenging task every day rather than a physical one, although walks and physical exercise must never be forgotten.

 

When in doubt, ask a pro.

Should you have any problems or questions regarding your dog’s behaviour, get in touch through our contact page.