Positive Dog Training Blog

Well, our first full week is over, and I have a 9.5 week old puppy. He is very cuddly and really likes to watch me at all times. I am hopeful for his little obedience career. I am reminded at how many things I have told clients over the years and just how many times I have violated my very sayings, its just hard work to be effective 100% of the time. Here are some key points I a walking away with.

• Socialization is an all day every day thing. Each day I try to find something new that little Blaze hasn’t seen before and I work hard to make it a positive experience. Its very easy to create fear in a puppy or to make something unpleasant.
• House training a puppy takes time and patience. Unfortunately Blaze isn’t an out of the box, know how to potty outside puppy – dare i say he is normal? I watch when he drinks and eats, and watch for sniffing. I reward him with food when he potties outside and if he goes inside, I pick him up and carry him out, still rewarding if he goes outside. I crate him when he can’t be watched.
• Puppies are like kids, the more tired they are, the more hyper they get. He needs to be put to bed when he is wild so he can settle down.
• Ignore the night time crying. He can hold it.
• Rotate out the toys, they can become bored of the same thing
• Invest in deer antlers, they work well with puppies! As do ice cubes.

Next week we will start some real training and puppy kindergarten. I will continue to introduce him to new sights, sounds, smells, textures, things to walk on, things to play with and of course dogs and kids.

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