- Be consistent! Make sure that you decide early on what
the rules are for the dog, and that everyone who will be
with the dog agrees to be on the same page. Don’t allow
anything now that you won’t want him doing as an adult
dog (like jumping).
- Take your puppy to his bathroom frequently. Puppies
have to go much more frequently than adult dogs, so be
sure to take yours out (or to the litter box or pad) often.
Going to one spot of your yard and consistently using a
key phrase like “hurry up” or “go potty” can help. The best
thing you can do to help your puppy is to try to prevent
him or her from having an accident. Each time he goes
outside is a big victory so remember to reward your dog
generously for going outside!
- Make bath time a nice experience. Get your puppy used
to bathing and grooming early on by showing him how
nice it is! Encourage him or her with a happy voice and
reinforce with rewards like small treats or a simple favorite
toy. Many dogs love drying off with a towel after a bath, so
you can even use that as a reward during practice
grooming time. Gradually introduce your dog to being
touched around the ears, lips, the rear end, and the
toenails until it becomes just another part of his routine.
You’ll make grooming a lot easier for you or your groomer
and vet later!
- Bring your puppy on field trips to the vet, and to the
groomer if you will use one. If you pop in just to say hello
every so often, your dog will have a chance to get used to
the sights and smells of the place…so he or she won’t be
overwhelmed or frightened when he goes in for a regular
appointment. If your pup is afraid of riding in the car,
begin by taking short field trips to the car.
- Picking up your puppy’s poop promptly is a valuable
opportunity to check for signs of parasites or anything
else that should not be in there (like pieces of chewed up
items). Catching problems while they’re still small helps
keep them from becoming more serious problems!
| Tips for New Puppy Parents |
| Copyright 2008 www.dogsuccess.com |
Kerri Kershaw
(401) 206-1484
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