TRAINING

Your pup will be leaving its pack (mom, dad, siblings, breeder) and leaving all that is familiar to it. He/she needs to know that you love them and will not abandon them. It is not uncommon for new puppies to have a little bit of anxiety when entering their new home. In the wild, if they are left alone, the only thing they know to do is cry for help. A critical part of training your new puppy will be understanding how to comfort your pup (for example, when kennel training), and learning the difference between a distress cry and whining for attention.

We highly recommend kennel training your pup. The kennel is a great tool for helping them get housebroken quickly. They are not likely to intentionally make a mess in their kennel, and they learn to “hold it” because getting let out of the kennel means getting to go potty outside. It is also a great tool for giving your dog a safe space all to themselves. They instinctually feel secure in a “den” type setting (you’ll often find them relaxing under a table/bed/piece of furniture). The kennel is their place to retreat and not be bothered. A kennel also makes it much easier to travel with your pup, as they can stay in a familiar setting even when in a new place, and it keeps them contained if need be. There are many great resources online for kennel training!

Unless you have ample experience training dogs, it is always a wise choice to do obedience training classes. These classes essentially coach you on how to train your dog, and they are a great way to let your pup interact with other dogs and learn to socialize. The first few months of a puppy’s life are the most crucial when it comes to socializing them, introducing them to new experiences and people, and setting up the foundations for them to understand that YOU are the Alpha. It is not just enough to teach them commands, it is vitally important that you and your dog both understand your relationship and roles to one another. If you have other dogs/pets in your home, it is important to teach your dog not only how to interact with humans, but with the other animals as well. This is especially important if you have smaller dogs because any dog with a hunting instinct (poodles, etc.) can easily tap into their prey drive instinct, if not properly trained to have a good relationship with the other pets in the house.

As a supplement to obedience/training classes, I am a big fan and advocate of the show Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan.

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If you are local here in Duluth, we highly recommend doing your obedience training with Dog Dynasty.