Getting a new puppy can feel wonderful and exciting. That’s because raising and owning a dog comes with many happy moments. However, to ensure you do it right, it’s important to put some thought into training a new puppy at home. If you want your puppy to thrive in its new environment, then proper training is crucial. This also helps to keep you happy because a well-trained puppy can make your life easier in many ways. The good news is that teaching your puppy all the lessons it has to learn doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are some great tips to get you started on training a new puppy at home.
Have It Trained
So, you just bought a new puppy home? Sure, it’s exciting, but maybe you’re unsure about the first thing to do when training a new puppy at home. While there’s plenty you can do to train your puppy and ensure it grows up to become an obedient and well-mannered dog, the process can admittedly be a little overwhelming. This is mainly because puppies have short attention spans, so you need to be strategic with your training schedule. The rule of thumb is to keep the training lessons short and fun, with plenty of playing activities in between. When it comes to puppy training, there are many areas to focus on, and your lessons should be tailored to the age of the puppy.
For instance, you can start with teaching your house crate and house training. You can also implement obedience training lessons so your puppy masters the basic commands, such as ‘sit.’ That said, you’ll generally get better results by having your puppy trained by professionals. This is the preferred option if you lead a somewhat busy lifestyle and don’t have the time to devote to training a new puppy at home. You can enlist the help of experienced dog trainers and have your furry friend attend puppy classes regularly. Reputable dog trainers will know all the effective tricks to get your puppy on their best behavior, such as rewarding them with treats for positive reinforcement.
Socialize It Properly
When training a new puppy at home, one of the crucial aspects you can’t afford to skip is getting your puppy socialized. When you socialize your puppy, you want them to see the world as a happy and safe place. Dogs that have not been socialized properly often view the world as threatening. This gives rise to unpleasant situations where your dog feels the need to attack, and before you know it, you’re looking for the best dog bite attorneys to deal with a claim that was filed against you. Therefore, it’s important to show your puppy that they don’t have to be afraid of new experiences, strangers, and other animals.
Puppy socialization can begin as early as three weeks, according to behavioral scientists John Paul Scott and John L. Fuller. Socializing your puppy at an early age can make a huge difference in how they behave down the line. This can be achieved by introducing your puppy to as many new sights and sounds as possible so that they become acclimated to the idea that the world has many different environments. When your puppy understands this, it will be more confident when exploring the world instead of being neurologically fearful. Overall, socialization allows your puppy to be free-spirited and adjust to the changes in their environment without being alarmed.
Spend Time Outside
Spending more time outdoors can be beneficial not only to your puppy but to you as well. If you have an energetic pup on your hands, you’ll have no option but to take them outside from time to time, so they can roam around and play under the shade of the trees. Thankfully, there are many fun outdoor activities you can do with your new puppy. For starters, if you’re a fan of the outdoors, you can take them camping or hiking. When you go hiking, your puppy will be sure to love the exercise and the wonderful new sights in the woods. The woods and nature in general have many discoveries that can keep a young puppy excited and fully engaged.
Your puppy will also enjoy camping for the same reasons. Still, there are many other outdoor activities that you can introduce to your new puppy to add more fun to your interactions. You can take your pup swimming in the open water, bike riding with them on a lazy afternoon, or visit a dog park. The right outdoor activities depend on whether your pup is ready to engage in strenuous activities. If you’re not sure, you can check with your vet, and while at it, also take care of other practical considerations such as vaccinations. While out and about, don’t forget proper etiquette – such as keeping your puppy on a leash where necessary and cleaning up after your furry friend.
Go for Plenty of Walks
One of the common questions people ask when figuring out the basics of training a new puppy at home is, ‘How often should I walk my puppy?’ To begin with, most puppies do love exercising in the fresh air, so you have to be willing to take them on regular outdoor walks. That said, you have to carefully consider the situation to determine the right walking schedule for your little dog. Top factors that you have to consider include the age and breed of your puppy, as well as where they are with their vaccination regime. Generally, it may not be safe to take pups that are too young on strenuous walks. Similarly, some dog breeds don’t fare well when it comes to heavy exercise. For instance, dog breeds like chihuahuas have a small size, so they naturally can’t handle long walks. In that case, the best thing is to consult your vet to discover how much exercise your puppy needs. When taking your dog on walks, you might also want to watch out for fire hydrant maintenance areas and steer clear in case your dog gets the urge to pee.
Keep Yourself Healthy
If you’re investing a lot of time and energy into training a new puppy at home, you might end up feeling like you don’t have enough time for self-care. It’s essential to remember that welcoming a new puppy into your life doesn’t mean you can’t look after yourself. While it’s true that you may have to give your dog plenty of time when feeding, grooming, training, socializing, playing, and exercising it, you still need to set aside time to care for yourself. Fortunately, there are quite a few tips and tricks you can take advantage of to put yourself first. To begin with, you can take advantage of your dog’s naps to pamper yourself and attend to some hobbies.
While exercising your dog and taking them for walks can also boost your fitness, you need to take it slow and consult with foot doctors should you experience any challenges. Make sure that you’re not sacrificing the many joys of life so that you can spend all your energy on your dog. Your health matters too. A healthier you is a happier you, and this can have a positive impact on the way you relate with your dog. Also, learn to eat right and exercise, and do the same for your dog. But mostly, don’t be afraid to ask for help from professionals, family, and friends when training your new puppy at home.
Keep Your Home Clean
When you have just welcomed a new dog into your life, you also need to keep in mind that behind the cuteness, dogs have plenty of capacity to make your home a mess. They drool a lot, chew on stuff, and trail mud all over your clean floors. As such, it’s imperative to master the art of keeping your home clean while there’s a puppy roaming about. For one, you may need to upgrade the rugs in your home.
The best types of rugs are designed to catch and trap dirt from your puppy’s paws, and they are also easier to wipe clean with a damp rag. In addition, you should stock up on cheap decorative throws so that your puppy has somewhere comfortable to lie on that’s also easy to clean. You also need to establish a regular cleaning schedule to keep your home clean so that you don’t end up paying for a pest control service.
Teach It to Swim
Dogs are unique, so you might end up with a dog that loves to dive into the water or a pup that abhors getting wet. In any case, swimming is a valuable skill that all dogs should have for safety reasons. It also doesn’t hurt to have a puppy that’s comfortable in the water. If you’re planning to spend more time in your above ground pool, then the more, the merrier. When you teach your new puppy to swim while staying on top of swimming pool maintenance, you’re guaranteed to have many fun moments outdoors when the weather gets too warm. Additionally, you’ll see the value of teaching your dog to swim when you need to take them to the beach or on a lake cruise in a boat.
So, how do you teach your new puppy to swim? One of the first things that you need to invest in is a dog life jacket. This will help your dog to feel more confident during the lessons. It’s usually a bad idea to just throw your puppy into the water, as this can make your dog even more fearful of the water. When you outfit your dog with a floatation device, they will be able to float effortlessly, and they can learn to paddle their feet more comfortably. If you want to teach your dog to swim the right way, you can also enlist the help of a professional that has plenty of experience teaching dogs to swim successfully.
Treat Yourself to a Road Trip
Have you ever dreamed of loading up all your stuff into an RV and traveling the country and discovering many wonderful new sights? If you have just got yourself a new friendly pup, then they will make the perfect companion because puppies are known for their curiosity and eagerness to explore the world around them. That said, planning a road trip is something that you should prepare for well in advance by investing a lot of effort into training a new puppy at home. Keep in mind that traveling with your dog might not be the same as traveling with another person. For instance, your puppy might not be comfortable spending the entire day cooped up inside the vehicle.
In that case, it’s a good idea to plan frequent stops so your little buddy can stretch its paws. Additionally, you have to consider what your puppy will need while on a trip. Generally, you have to gather basic items such as food, comfort items, and clothing in case the weather gets too cold. Your list of items to pack for your dog will likely include things like a food bowl, water bowl, snacks, chew toys, and a sweater or jacket. It also helps to provide your dog with training and preparation for the road. You can teach them skills, such as not jumping on people upon meeting and greeting, socializing with new dogs, waiting for permission before exiting the vehicle, and not roaming too far away from you.
These are some of the effective tips to keep in mind when training a new puppy at home. There are many benefits of training a new puppy at home. For one, it helps you bond with your new furry little friend. It’s a fun experience to teach your pup and show them how the world works. To keep the process smooth and fun, you must remember that your young puppy has a lot to learn. Therefore, it’s crucial to be patient with your puppy as much as possible and focus on getting as much quality time and training with them as possible. At the end of the day, you and your puppy both deserve to be happy.
