New puppies can be great fun but also they can be hard work as the Sophie Allport family are well aware of. With five new puppies that have joined the Sophie Allport family over the past year, there has been plenty of chaos, chewed slippers and lots of entertainment. A great friend who runs Muddy Paws Dog Training has come up with some tips and suggestions.
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Jumping Up. Arriving home from a busy day to be greeted by your puppy can be the most exciting and comforting thing, and as soon as we walk through the door, the first thing we want to do is greet our puppy, cuddle them and ask how their day has been. However, by doing this, it encourages our small furry friends to get over-excited, and before we know it, they have jumped up all over us. Remember puppies don’t stay small forever, well unless you have a breed like a Chihuahua, but by greeting them this way our puppies will learn to jump up as they are getting attention.
The best thing you can to do is ignore them by simply standing still and not looking at them or paying them any attention until all four paws are on the ground. If we do this every time, then they will learn that they only get that much-wanted attention when they aren't jumping up. Doing this method and being consistent teaches the puppy that jumping up doesn’t give them the attention they want.
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House Training. Puppies have small bladders so accidents will happen. However, there is no point telling them off, you wouldn’t tell your child off for having an accident when you’re potty training them, so why your puppy? Yes, it’s annoying, but it's also part of the package. To help with the early stages of toilet training once your puppy has woken up, had a drink, eaten or had a play, take them outside. This allows them to relieve themselves. As soon as they have, give them lots of praise and/or a treat for toileting where they are allowed too. However, when an accident does happen, this can be our fault for missing the subtle clues that our puppy gives us when they need to go to the toilet. If this does happen, just pick them up or lead your puppy gently outside to allow them to have another opportunity to go again. Some puppies take longer to house train than others so be patient.
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Chewing. This is normally due to their adult teeth coming through. Chewing can start as early as eight weeks and last until eight months of age. During this stage, ensure there are lots of toys for them to chew. Remember, puppy’s struggle to understand the difference between your Jimmy Choos and an old slipper! If it’s in their reach, they will think it’s theirs! Why not give them a large frozen carrot to chew on or a rope toy that has been put in stock flavoured water and frozen. The coldness on their gums will help relieve the pain of their teeth coming through. Providing your puppy with a good variety of toys, exercise and mental stimulation can help to develop your dog into a sociable and happy member of the family. Think, ‘nothing in life is free’ so always ask for a sit, a down or a stand before giving them a treat or throwing that ball. You can teach your puppy to go through your legs or even do a bow. Why not get a sit and wait before putting their food bowl down.
The more your puppy has to think and work something out, the more they have to use their brain which will make them tired. A tired puppy is a happy puppy! Let us know if you have any other top tips for training a puppy.
