Bringing Your New Puppy Home:

For the first couple of days when you first bring your new puppy home, he probably won't get into too many dangerous situations. But once familiar with the surroundings, his curiosity level will rise. Therefore, to insure safety for your puppy and your belongings, a few preventative steps are necessary. Ask your vet clinic for a list of poisonous plants and be prepared to move them out of puppy's reach. Also, place all breakable or valuable treasures out of his reach. Removing these items will eliminate the possibility of frustration or destruction.

However, if you decide to leave them within reach, you must be prepared to make the appropriate corrections when your pup investigates. This requires patience and persistence. For young pups, sound or voice corrections are very effective. When you see your pup indulging in an off limits item, stomp your foot, or clap your hands and use a very stern and growly "NO" command. The pup almost always will stop in his tracks, turn and look at you at which point you give a very enthusiastic "GOOD PUPPY". What you are actually doing is breaking his attention off the article in a clear positive method. Urgent tones in your voice are much more effective than volume. If the pup is ignoring you, you must go to him and remove him from the item. Immediately, change the puppy's focus onto an item of his own and praise.

Keep this in mind with your efforts: PERSISTENCE REMOVES RESISTANCE. An old cliche, but very effective.

Our thanks to Darr Houssen for providing "The Pet Tip of the Week"
http://www.houssennet.nb.ca/dogworld.htm
Check out the free puppy training manual on their internet site.

NetPets® Main Page

contact information Main Library Behavior and Training

The Dog Center