Welcome back to the Trainers Ring! This time around, we’ll be talking about puppies. With summer break coming up, many families are preparing to bring home a new puppy while the kids are out of school for a few months. Here are tips for families to best prepare for the new four-legged addition.
Before the puppy comes home:
Preparation checklist: http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/262-adults-bringing-home
Once the puppy is home:
Housetraining: https://positively.com/dog-behavior/puppy-knowledge/puppy-housetraining/
Puppy mouthing: https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/20_5/features/4-Puppy-Biting-Survival-Strategies_21640-1.html
Basic training: https://clickertraining.com/puppy-training
Socialization: https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/PuppySocializationPositionStatement
Navigating adolescence:
Surviving the teenage years: http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/what-can-i-expect-in-my-dogs-adolescence
Remember, puppies are not blank slates. Nature and nurture go hand-in-hand when it comes to who a puppy will be as an adult. Genetics are just as important as socialization, which many people do not realize when picking out a new puppy. Read more about how genetics and environment work together: https://paws4udogs.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/its-all-in-how-theyre-raised/
For those of you bringing home a new puppy, good luck! For those of you helping to train the families with new puppies, good luck as well! Puppies can be a handful, but the lifelong bond is completely worth it.
Happy training,
Juliana Willems