I am thirty seven years old and have owned dogs all of my life. I thought I would share some tips from choosing a puppy, to training it, so you can live together happily for years to come. Dogs are great companions. They love you and protect you. They don't judge you, and are always on hand to go for a walk. You can take them for a drive, watch television with them or just play with them. They are great when you're sad to give a pat or a hug. A lick on the face will remind you that you are loved. Studies have shown that owning a dog can help reduce your stress levels! This is an added bonus in our fast pace, high stress society. Dogs are also great for security and for "early warning" if someone is hanging around your property. They can also act as a deterrent for would be thieves (cheaper and more affective than a monitored security system by far!).
Choosing your puppy
You usually meet your pup for the first time at around six weeks of age, but if possible, try to closer to three to four weeks as you can. The puppy should be playful, outgoing, up to mischief and interested in their environment. Avoid puppies that are nervous, withdrawn or overly excitable, as they are likely to need more training and socialization.
Timing is everything
Resist the temptation to take your new dog home too soon. The time puppies spend with their mothers, brothers and sisters is crucial to their development - it's how they learn how to communicate and learn the dos and don'ts. Generally, you should pick up your pup at seven to eight weeks old (a little later with certain breeds), but if you have to wait until 12 weeks, it's best to choose a puppy from a busy household.
Handy Tips
When you first get your puppy home he/she will cry as it is the first night away from its mother, brothers and sisters. I get a small cardboard box from the Supermarket and put a blanket in it. If you have a small clock that ticks this can be good to put underneath the blanket or nearby. The puppy will think the sound is its mothers' heart and it will help the puppy sleep. A small fluffy toy is also handy (something resembling a small puppy if possible or teddy bear). The puppy will snuggle up to it and feel safe. This does not always work though. Be prepared for a few sleepless nights due to it crying and small accidents (with food and going to the toilet on the floor). Newspaper on the ground is usually a good idea (easy to clean up). Realize that your puppy will have accidents. Don't overreact.
Be consistent in your training. It's a good idea if everybody in your household learns how to train your dog. This ensures consistency in your training methods and that everybody understands what is required from the dog. For example if you want your dog to sit, ensure the word chosen is consistent. If it is "sit", everyone uses "sit", not "Sit Down", "Fido Sit", "Please Sit" etc. These variations will confuse the dog and it will take them a lot longer to figure out, if ever! Gradually make your training sessions harder. Introduce new elements such as adding duration, distractions and distance to the training exercises. Praise the dog when they do something right. Don't train for longer than 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Puppies have very small attention spans and will frustrate you quickly when they continually divert their attention.
Get yourself an informative dog training resource such as a mentor, e-book or website such as: "Dog Training Reviews" you can find a link to this site on my blog here:
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