Being a responsible puppy owner

When people bring home a puppy it is a time of great excitement and fun for all the family. In previous articles, we have talked about the importance of training your puppy in a fun, gentle and consistent way from the very first day you bring them home. This involves the basics of toilet training, sleeping alone through the night, sit, stay, come when called etc.

In addition to these basics, it is also a good idea to bear in mind some other important factors that will help your puppy grow into a well-adjusted dog, living happily within your family, and being comfortable with meeting new dogs, people and experiences.

Separation

Many people choose to get their puppy at a time when they are going to be at home for a few weeks to allow the puppy time to settle in. This is a great idea as it allows you the chance to bond with your puppy, and for you both to learn about each other. It also means that you have time to start putting your toilet training plans into action, and you can be much more tolerant of the odd sleepless night if you don't have to get up for work the next day!

During this period, it is very important that you separate from your puppy for short periods of time when they are awake. By doing this from an early age, starting with very short periods of a few minutes, and building up the time, your puppy will learn that you can be separated without anything bad happening to either of you. If you are using a crate, you could pop the puppy into their crate with a toy that they can chew to entertain themself for a few minutes whilst you disappear out of sight. Try not to rush back if you hear them crying, unless you are worried that they may genuinely harm themself. If you are not using a crate, create a safe, enclosed space for your puppy where they will have their bed, some water and a toy, and from where they can't escape to follow you. By doing this regularly, and extending the time, you will be preparing your puppy for times when they will be alone in the house.

The next step is to leave the house. You can stay close and listen to how your puppy copes with this but, again, try to stick to your plan and don't be tempted to rush back indoors as soon as you hear a whimper as this will teach your puppy that they can summon you back by crying. Clearly, the last thing we would want is a distressed puppy, but this should not be the case as you are not expecting anything unreasonable from your puppy, and they should calm down after a short time.

Keep extending the time, and extend your separation by going to the shops and returning home, or walk around the block...just enough that you are away from the house but not too far away. Listen out for sounds of crying before you open the door to re-enter the house. If your puppy is quiet, or even asleep, then you are making progress.

Unless you take some steps to teach your puppy to separate from you, you may be inadvertently causing the behaviour of separation anxiety and struggle to ever leave the house without them. A dog who can't bear to be separated from their owners can become very stressed, create a nuisance for neighbours if they bark and whine throughout the day. This can lead to issues that may make your life miserable.

Rest and Sleep

It is vital that your puppy is allowed to rest and sleep whenever they need to. The immediate area around your puppy's bed or crate should be for their use only. This will become their safe area. It is particularly important that children are taught the importance of allowing a puppy to sleep. If the puppy is resting in their bed or their crate, nobody should approach and disturb them. Puppies need lots of sleep. Bursts of high-energy play will usually be followed by a need to toilet, or to sleep, or both. You will find that a tired puppy will be much more difficult to control than a well-rested one. Excessive mouthing and other challenging behaviour can often be caused by a lack of sleep. Owners often call us out to "aggressive" puppies when they simply have an overtired, over stimulated puppy.

Socialisation and Desensitisation

Very early on, start to introduce your puppy to sounds and items that they will encounter on a regular basis. Introduce them to the vacuum cleaner, the hairdryer, the brush and the bath tub as soon as you can and as gently as you can. Handle thieir paws and toes on a regular basis to get them used to grooming and nail clipping. Make the experiences as pleasant and nonthreatening as possible, so that you don't create tension and cause your dog to fear these things. Before their vaccinations and before they are allowed out you can accustom them to sights and sounds in different parts of the home. Guide them to the places where you want them to explore and don't be tempted to pick them up too often as this can encourage unwanted behaviour. Even before they are allowed out on lead, you can start to accustom them to it. Encouraging them to walk inside the home will prepare them well before their big day out.

Once your puppy is allowed out into the World, don't overwhelm them or rush to socialise them with loud noises. The same goes for other adult dogs on the park. It only takes one bad episode to imprint into a dog's mind and this one episode could stick with them for many years to come. Speak to your veterinary practice to find out about puppy socialisation classes where your pup can meet and play with other puppies. Using group classes for puppies can also be a good idea for socialising.

Keep your puppy on a lead for the first 12 months of their life, whether you are out in the street or at the park, so that they can't rush up to unknown adult dogs. The reason for this is that puppies haven't learnt the rules of dog socialisation etiquette and can easily overstep the boundaries of good manners if they bound up to and leap all over an adult dog. This can result in them receiving a strong correction from the older dog, and may make them frightened of other dogs' something that will make your life more difficult than in needs to be! Do allow them to socialise with friends dogs, or dogs that you know to be friendly, but you should still keep them on the lead so that you can remove them from the situation should one of the dogs become overly assertive.

Please do enjoy your beautiful new puppy, but keep in mind that the foundations you build in the early months of their life will create the temperament and behaviour of the adult dog who will be with you for many years. Creating positive associations and teaching them kindly and consistently will create trust and respect from your dog that will stand you both in good stead for the years to come.

Bark Busters trainers have trained more than 1 Million dogs worldwide and are renowned authorities in addressing dog behaviour with all-natural, dog-friendly methods. Bark Busters training is the only service of its kind that offers International guaranteed lifetime support. With hundreds of trainers around the world, Bark Busters continues its mission to enhance the human/canine relationship and to reduce the possibility of maltreatment, abandonment and euthanasia. Contact your local Bark Busters dog trainer to see how they can help.

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