Perfect Puppies

I love teaching puppy classes! For the most part, puppies come to me during that 'window of learning' opportunity and I am excited to be able to help the owner help their new companion be the best she can be.

I have discovered that, as a general population, puppy owners make similar mistakes, without really considering the long-lasting ramifications. I'm not going to go thru the Don't Do list, but I will give you a list of things that you should consider in order to get your puppy off to a great start.

1) Crate train. I encourage you to sit with your puppy on the floor in front of a open crate door. Give the puppy some high value treats and then place one just inside of the crate. The first one will be close to the door...just enough for your puppy to reach her head in. The next will be a little farther back...and so on. Pretty soon, you'll be tossing treats in against the back of the crate and your pup will be racing in to eat the goodie. If you find that there is a point where your puppy won't go in, toss another one...just a bit closer to the front (i.e. make it easier). You'll likely see her go for the first, see the second, then gobble that one up as well. When she is going into the crate, give her the verbal command "crate" in a kind voice. Pretty soon, your puppy will be racing to the crate every time you grab a cookie. I always give my dogs a cookie for getting into the crate. Always. You should too.

2) Don't be a sucker. Puppies are going to cry, wail, scream, bark and be a general noise nuisance for a while. Make sure they aren't calling you for a bathroom break!! After that's addressed, you are not going to acknowledge their complaints. Doing so is giving them attention...which is what they are demanding. Remember, to a puppy any attention, be it good or bad, is attention and they'll take whichever you are handing out. Don't yell "shut up" (that means nothing to your dog and sounds ugly to others who can hear you) or go bang on the crate. If you can't stand the noise, move the crate. This lesson is more painful for you than for your dog. Stay firm and it will pass and you'll be the envy of everyone else who caved.

3) Puppy-proof your house. My motto is "it's fair game if the puppy can get to it." Pick your shoes up, close closet doors, move the antique dining room table. Remove all temptation for your new puppy to chew on the wrong thing. They don't know the difference...and that guilt you see on their face as you are yelling? It's not guilt. It's fear. Knock that off.

4) Feed quality food. The dog food I feed is a food that my dogs do well on...which may be the same or may be different than what your dog does well on. Check out (better yet, get a subscription to) The Whole Dog Journal. Considered the Consumer Reports for Dogs, they conduct an awesome dog food (dry/wet) review published every February. Beg, borrow, steal or subscribe (it's cheap!)...you will be amazed and astounded.

5) Potty train the right way. Offer to go outside 1o minutes after eating/drinking and keep an eagle on the puppy while wandering around your house. I take my puppies out every thirty minutes and make a big deal of "going outside"...we race for the door, throw the door open and dash into the grass. My neighbors think I'm nuts as I chant "good, go potty" for my dogs (Reeva and Trip appreciate the feedback) but all of my dogs have been housebroken as babies. If I don't have "eyes on" my puppies, they are resting (quietly) in their crates. If you do it the right way, it's nearly foolproof.

6) Play with your puppy. I roll around on the floor, play hide and seek, let them crawl on me, play figure 8's around my legs (as I sit on the floor), play keep away, hold them like a baby. I also let my puppies play with SAFE DOGS. You decide for yourself what safe means and what dogs are safe. I can tell you that both of my dogs are puppy safe and are often seen playing with puppies in class. Some dogs are reliable that way...others are not. It is your duty to not let anything scary happen to your puppy.

7) Don't coddle and don't hover. Let your puppy explore his new world from the safety of a 6' leash. That way, if you see trouble brewing, you can reel him back in to you with a cookie as a treat. I let my puppies do just about anything to anyone...including being a general nuisance. They are figuring out what it's all about right now...you can shape their behavior/responses a little later. For now, back of and let him work it out.

8) Don't go to dog parks. Scary dogs can be there as well as dangerous illnesses. Save that for adulthood.

9) If your puppy is carsick, pop her a pepcid 30 minutes before traveling. No more foaming and no more queasiness. Most will outgrow this but if you don't help her thru it, her distaste for traveling will last a long time.

10) Say her name, frequently and offer lots of praise and cookies when she looks at you. An immediate response to his name and his ability to maintain eye contact will put you ahead of the pack.

Enjoy the journey -
Andrea Meinhart