Four Steps to a Better Family Member

It is essential that your puppy learns it's do’s and don'ts right from the start. It may be cute to have a three month old puppy tugging at your pant leg while you are walking but it will not be cute when the dog is 110 pounds. It is easier to train the puppy when it is small. Here are some pointers that the staff at Croswell Vet hope will help you out. These tips will keep your puppy a well-behaved family member for many years to come.

1) If you want the puppy to be friendly with your children's friends or guests in your house then have your guests during their stay give the puppy a treat. A piece of cheese or a small piece of cooked unseasoned chicken does wonders. If during the first six months of the puppy's life every new person or child entering the house gives the puppy a small piece of cheese or meat treat, two or three times during their stay then the puppy will look forward to all visitors and children and will be much friendlier. When your children have friends over, they too should learn to sit still and give the puppy a piece of cheese while patting it quietly. Most behavior problems start with your guests entering the house noisily and the puppy jumping all over them. If the kids are shrieking and jumping around, the puppy gets even more excited. As your puppy grows, this may frighten your children's friends as the dog is their size. A calm dog sitting still is not nearly as frightening. Teach your puppy that guests are friends, and allow cheese to work its magic. Also, never allow strangers to hug or put their face in your puppy's face as this can feel threatening to a dog that is unsure of the stranger.

2) While the puppy is learning your household rules, have it drag a six-foot piece of rope on a buckle collar. If the puppy starts to run to the door, chase the cat, take your shoe under the table, or whatever else, you need only say "NO" and step on or grab the rope. NO is a very important word/concept to teach your puppy, just like you taught your toddler NO, (ie do not touch the hot stove.) The puppy will learn to stop at the NO, before it hits the end of the rope. If the undesired behavior occurs, it must be addressed immediately. Chasing the puppy can be frightening to the puppy, and they may be unaware of what they did wrong by the time you catch them. The rope keeps you from chasing the puppy when it is bad, and prevents a delayed interval between the behavior and catching the puppy to teach them. Also, do not allow the puppy to run and jump all over the people entering your home. Now is a good time to teach the puppy to quietly sit to wait to be patted soothingly and given a treat. If the puppy gets up from the sit, tell it NO and the attention stops until the puppy is sitting again. If the puppy does not stop it's behavior, a time out in the crate is the next step.

3) The puppy should also be taught the sit command. For the first few weeks, tell it sit then put it gently push its hind end down until it is seated. The puppy sits to be fed. The puppy sits to have it's leash on for a walk. The puppy sits for it's piece of cheese or pat on the head. A sitting puppy is a pleasure at the vet, the pet store, or talking to a neighbor on a walk.

4) Even if you have a fenced in yard, it is important to teach the dog to walk calmly on a leash. The first time you take the puppy to your vet should not be more traumatic by making it the first time on a lead. A few sessions will have the puppy feeling confident. Quick little tugs on the leash will teach it not to pull even on his buckle collar. A sit when you stop-also keeps the dog under control and makes the neighbors think you have a well-trained pet. Teaching the dog to walk at your side is safer for your pet as you know to watch for cars or loose dogs. 5) When your puppy is 6 months old, take for its’ puppy kindergarten and obedience training. We recommend asking around for the best training program in your area and thoroughly reading reviews before blindly signing up for one. It is best if the owner attends the program with the puppy, so they can learn the languages (body and verbal) and establish the relationship with the puppy as its leader rather than sending the puppy off to some obedience camp