Dog Blog

If you’re interested in getting a dog or puppy, the first thing to do before ever choosing breeds, names, getting name tags, anything, should be getting your house ready for the new addition to the family, according to wagntrain.com.. Bringing a puppy into a home without putting away the things you don’t want the puppy to get into can lead to your shouting at the baby, when it’s not his fault he’s nosy.

Planning for your new puppy will make his transition from his litter into your home less stressful, less stress equals a happy puppy. Don’t punish a puppy for behaviors that are key to dogs, i.e. pooping, chewing, peeing on the rug, digging and chewing. These features are innate in dogs of all breeds, according to Purina .com. The only way to curb this behavior is to limit the opportunity for him to get it wrong. Encourage him fully when he gets it right.

Housebreaking is the first step. Teaching your dog he can only do his business outside is extremely important to a happy and healthy home environment. Take him outside frequently, even if it doesn’t look like he has to go. It’s inadvisable to even let a puppy loose in the house until he’s absolutely sure about the place he needs to go pee, according to wagntrain.com.

Only give the dog items that can be chewed. Setting the toy in front of the dog won’t necessarily make that his “designated” chew toy. You need to encourage him to play with it, probably by just teasing him with it or waving it in front of his nose to get his focus on it. Things that he shouldn’t chew on should be put away out of his reach.

There’s no question that puppies, for the most part, are full of energy and love to rough house; however, rough housing should not take part in the house. Puppies need lots of room to run around and get all the craziness out of their systems (and they sleep like the dead afterward, which is always a nice time to watch a TV show or finish some homework). As long as you establish that outdoors is the place to be a raucous puppy, he’s less likely to terrorize your house and will save that energy for his romp in the yard.

Digging is something that all dogs like to do, and if yours just happens to be a digger, designate a spot in the yard that is solely for their digging pleasures. A friend of mine used to have an indoor dog that loved to dig, but rarely got outside. She would pile up old clothes and rags for her dog and let him dig through them. She would encourage this behavior, even participate in it, but would be firm when he went near her hamper or closet, and simply led him back over to his rag pile.

When things are in the reach of puppies and dogs, they are accessible. Be responsible in taking care of your things, so your dog doesn’t get into something he’s not supposed to. Also, puppies are like babies ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ everything goes in their mouths. A sock might be harmless when it’s lying on the floor, but when you have to have it surgically removed from Fido’s stomach, it’s not a pretty thing.

You should always get down on your puppy’s level and look at things from his point of view, according to Americanhumane.org. Dangling wires in the back of the TV should be secured, household cleaners should be put in cabinets, cabinets should have childproof locks installed so he can’t open the doors, and plants should be put out of reach. If it’s not safe for a child, then it’s not safe for your puppy.

By Kenna Rogers