Puppy Training

Deciding to get a puppy can be a lot of fun, but if you don't know how to train one, both you and your new friend will suffer. No one likes wet spots on the carpet, and puppies don't like humans who swat rolled newspapers at their noses. Puppies are like babies. They have only a few needs, such as food, water, and lots of love. They also need to know what you want.

Puppies do not think or act like humans. They never "decide" to be "bad" or to "get back" at their families. They are just doing what comes naturally, and they need your love and guidance to help them understand what is acceptable in your home and what is not. This takes patience on your part because it's much easier for you than the puppy, especially if you are planning to leave your new pet alone for long periods each day.

Having Fun With Your New Friend

You can have a wonderful relationship with a puppy and a lifelong friend in an adult dog. If you take the time to learn how to train your puppy the right way, with patience and kindness, you will never regret it. That said, there are several ways you can find good information about puppy training. When you first get your puppy, you should take him to a good veterinarian for a complete check-up. Note that rescued puppies and puppies from local shelters are often healthier than those that were born in puppy mills and sold in pet stores.

Your vet can advise about positive ways to train your puppy to "go" outside and how to get started. You can also find a wealth of information about puppy training both online and in pet stores. Getting off to a good start is important. It can even be a good idea to have a puppy space and some puppy training tools in place before you bring your puppy home. A great relationship with your puppy begins with choosing the right kind of puppy for your lifestyle based on size and the breed's general temperament.

Your puppy will be very happy to give you all the loving you could want, and he will ask very little in return. Training him and playing with him every day is important, especially when you first bring him home. If you have young children, it is important to teach them early on that a puppy is not a toy, and that they should respect the puppy's need for sleep time and should never hit the puppy.

How to Train Your Puppy

Believe it or not, there are hundreds of puppy training books. Many are offered by agencies like the Humane Society, local animal shelters, and veterinarians. Most of these agencies recommend that you have your puppy neutered at a young age unless you plan to breed. It is especially important to spay a female puppy before she comes into her first heat because there is some evidence that she will be healthier later in life.

If you work well with a "how to" book, you and your puppy can get started soon after you bring your puppy home and allow him to get familiar with his new environment. Remember that he is a baby and may be very frightened, so give him a safe place, like a large box, and keep children and other pets away from him for a while. You can buy puppy training pads at most pet stores, and they are great for those first couple of days. Be sure to follow feeding guidelines, and if you have an enclosed yard, try to avoid using a leash the first few times you take him outside. If you get your puppy in the winter, remember that he shouldn't be outside for more than a few minutes at a time.

With the right tools at hand and the right attitude, you and your puppy will have a much more pleasant time getting to know each other. Remember to give your vet a call if you have any concerns; she will be happy to help you and your puppy get off on the right foot. Puppy training time is the time that establishes a great relationship between you and your pet if you respect your puppy and understand that love is better than control.