When it comes to getting and raising a puppy, there are a few crucial things you need to do so your puppy grows up to be a well-behaved dog. Too many people let their puppy get away with things because it’s ‘cute’ when they’re little. But they don’t think about the fact that they’re forming habits that will stay with them even as grown dogs, and when they’re grown, it’s not cute anymore.
First of all, you should never take a puppy away from its mother and litter mates before it is 8 weeks old. Taking the puppy before 8 weeks can lead to behavioral problems down the road, because they missed that crucial developmental period with their litter mates.
Second, begin housebreaking your puppy right away. Don’t wait. Even if it’s only for a few days, your puppy can develop some bad potty habits that are hard to break. Also, avoid paper training if possible. I recommend teaching them to go potty outside right from the start (if that’s where they’ll be going potty in the long run.)
Third, don’t allow play biting. This is a very common mistake, and one that owners will regret later. You should never let your puppy bite your hands or feet, even playfully. Not even underneath a blanket or other surface. You need to always use toys when playing.
Fourth, establish yourself as the leader of the pack right from the start. This is also know as the alpha dog. Although dogs are domesticated pets now, their natural instincts are still very much a part of them.
If you don’t show them you are the pack leader from the beginning, it can cause serious problems down the road when they begin to believe ‘they’ are the pack leader. If you’re unfamiliar with what any of this means, do an online search on the topic and read up on it. It’s very important to know and practice.
And last, but for sure not least, it’s very important to gradually and carefully expose your puppy to new and unfamiliar sounds, people, things, etc. These experiences should be positive ones. Carry some delicious treats along with you and make sure to provide a lot of enthusiastic praise.
Thanks for reading and I hope this article has given you insight on how to raise a happy, healthy, well-behaved dog. Follow the tips provided here and you’ll wind up with a great companion.
Visit my website for more tips and tricks! I cover everything from paper training your dog to solving dog chewing problems at DogBehaviorExpert.com
