What should be the first thing you teach your puppy?
Having a training plan during your puppy’s first few months is vital to giving them the best quality of life. While you may be eager to teach “sit” and “stay,” these commands can always be taught later. We recommend you focus on time-crucial commands, including socialization, name recognition, and potty training. A puppy’s key socialization window is between 3 and 12 weeks of age, which gives the average puppy owner only four weeks to give their puppy socialization opportunities. Puppies have a short attention span, and you should prioritize their limited training time by prioritizing behaviors that will lead to a happy and well-adjusted adult dog. Once a puppy is 12-14 weeks old, their attention span will have greatly improved, making them ready to learn obedience commands such as “sit” and “stay .”If you are excited to start puppy training, we recommend you check our
Puppy Training Blog and
Training Videos.
How can I socialize my puppy if they aren’t fully vaccinated?
For your puppy’s safety, we recommend that unvaccinated puppies only socialize with people and fully vaccinated dogs. A fun way for your puppy to socialize is through playdates with other dogs or taking them to dog-friendly stores, including Lowe’s, HomeGoods, and PetSmart. You can put them in a shopping cart so they don’t need to walk on the ground. If you’re taking your puppy to restaurants, we recommend bringing a towel for them to lay on. You should avoid dog parks and nature trails because parasites are commonly spread by unvaccinated dogs and wild animals. Remember to make socializing opportunities fun; bring kibble or treats for your puppy. For more tips on socializing your puppy, please check out our puppy training videos and puppy training blog.
How can I prevent my puppy from biting me and chewing on household items?
The first step to stopping play biting and chewing is to provide 8-10 differently textured toys for your puppy that are distinguishable from their toys, your skin, and household items. Hard-textured toys, including kongs, nylabones, whole deer antlers, and barebones, are suitable and offer a wide variety of options.
The next step is to prevent your puppy from freely wandering around your home. We recommend tethering your puppy to a sturdy piece of furniture or blocking off the room with puppy gates to keep them from wandering out of view and chewing on things they shouldn’t.
Do puppies need to go potty during the night?
Puppies over two months old typically don’t need to be taken out at night, as they can sleep for eight hours without needing to potty. Many owners mistakenly believe that these puppies need to be taken out every few hours like they would with a younger puppy. However, this will teach your puppy to expect to be taken out for a nighttime potty break, which can cause potty training issues as they get older.
When should I schedule my puppy’s first veterinary appointment?
Your puppy’s breeder or adoption center will inform you when the next vaccinations are due. It’s typically recommended that you schedule your puppy’s vet appointment one to two days after bringing them home. Your veterinarian will conduct a wellness check and schedule essential vaccinations.
Does my puppy need grooming?
Puppies require regular grooming and to have their nails trimmed. It’s essential that long-haired breeds like Collies and wire-haired breeds like Irish Wolfhounds need more frequent grooming than shorthaired breeds like Boxers. Puppy hair can be brushed more quickly because it’s usually less dense. It’s also essential that your puppy gets regular teeth brushing, cleaning, and occasional baths.
