Articles

Training Your New Puppy For A New Home Coming (Part 1)

Now you have selected that new puppy, it faces one of the most upsetting experiences of its young life: the transition from canine to human companionship. Whether or not this occurs during the 8 to 10-week fear imprint period, and how it is handled by the new owners can shape important aspects of the pup's initial and long-term behavior.

Driving Your Puppy Home: If your new doggy is taken home in an automobile, they should ride beside the owner, or on his or her lap. Most pups whine during the ride, but the hum and sway of the ride usually put them to sleep within a few minutes. It is important to avoid any coddling in response to whining. This can teach the new puppy that whining is a way to gain sympathy, and the dog may use this throughout there life as a way to attract attention when upset. It is better to keep close physical contact during the ride, making no special responses to whining.

Do not punish or scold the puppy for whining or trying to investigate its surroundings during the ride. Just holding the pet close in the lap and petting it when it settles are more appropriate. If the pup gets sick and vomits, make no special fuss. Just clean it up and remain neutral emotionally. Otherwise, a lifetime of car sickness may be imprinted.

Your Puppy's New Home: Assuming you have named the puppy, they should now decide on a 'nick-name' to use when talking about, but not to the puppy. This will avoid "Sparky" learning to ignore the proper name.

On arrival at its new home, the puppy should be first taken to the spot that will be its permanent toilet area. After the car ride, it will need to go to the bathroom, and training to the toilet area should begin immediately. When the dog performs its duty, enthusiastic praise should be given at the site of urination or defecation. You should crouch right down, pointing at the spot and praising until the puppy shows some sign of recognition of the waste matter.  If any soiling occurs, use a pet stain and odor removal product to reduce the chances of a re-marking.

The puppy should then be taken into the house and allowed to investigate freely. A regular dog bed or some type of bedding material should be placed where the puppy can find it when sleepy. A meat-scented nylon bone, or one of the softer synthetic bones, should be given to the pup for chewing. Avoid chewables that are easily destroyed or that resemble leather or fabric, as puppies tend to generalize chewing to other inappropriate articles of the same type of texture.

Housetraining: Have the water bowl and dog feeeding station placed adjacent to the door that leads out of the house or in an apartment to the established toilet area. If possible, design the situation so that they not have to negotiate a maze to get from the feeding and watering spot to the toilet area this makes for easier housetraining.

For the rest if the first day or evening, the puppy should be watched very carefully and taken to the toilet area following all eating or drinking, excitement, waking (even from a brief nap), chewing activity and vigorous sniffing. These are the prime times for teaching the route to the toilet area and praising the animal for proper performance. If the puppy looks to be starting to urinate, clap hands once only, and take it to the toilet area. If the puppy does urinate or defecate, calmly (no scolding) pick it up and take it to the toilet area.