Puppy Training

New Puppy Quick Start Guide

If the breeder did a good job the first 8-weeks of the puppy’s life the puppy should be easy to housetrain, and be confident around people, things, and differing locations. A good breeder has already taught the puppy to sit, down, wait, and to accept restraint for body handling e.g. nail clipping, brush/comb, etc.. If this does not describe your puppy, contact us today and schedule an appointment to get started on the right track.

A dog’s personality is mostly shaped in the first four-months of the puppy’s life, so we have no time to waste before you start to socialize your puppy. (Properly)  The first 12 weeks will either help prepare a puppy for the life ahead, or set us up to repair them to manage the life ahead. But repairing will never be 100%. At about 12-weeks this window of opportunity is starting to close and new learning and experiences are ingrained less easily.  The first four-months of the puppy’s life will have a pronounced impact on the puppy that will last a lifetime.  It’s important to realize dogs develop very quickly and you only have a short time to positively affect a dog’s temperament, and character for life. A lack of proper socialization in the first 16-weeks of life can create a disability or a character flaw.

This is the period of time when exposure to people, places and things can have long lasting effects on the puppy’s development and behavior, both positive and negative. This is important to understand because behavior problems often take root in the first four-months of the puppy’s life, but may not show up with a strong intensity for months.  After the first 16-weeks it not realistic to think we will change the dog’s personality. Although temperament is consistent and changes very little during the dog’s life if any, behavior can be modified to varying degrees and this is what a trainer helps accomplish.

If your goal is a dog that is well-trained and under verbal control you will need to be your dog’s playmate. If a well-trained dog (cooperation and control) is not a high priority you, you can let other dogs be their favorite playmates.

“Lacking the companionship and endless play his littermates would have provided, the puppy needs you to be his playmate. No excuses are truly satisfactory for a puppy who wants to play, play, play but has no one with whom to play. In a natural setting, a puppy wouldn’t have to pester anyone or eat the linoleum out of boredom or bark in the backyard as a way to amuse himself. His littermates would be there, just as eager to play as he, littermates with which to chase, bite, wrestle, explore, etc. Although raising puppies together is NOT a good idea if you want a companion animal who is bonded to human beings and not to his puppy pals, it is a humbling moment when you watch puppies playing and realize that this is what you are going to replace in this puppy’s life. Think of this the next time you find yourself exasperated with the puppy who won’t stop pestering your other dogs to play, or who drops a toy invitingly at your feet for the millionth time, or who dances just out of your reach, reluctant to have a game end. Think of your puppy multiplied by 4 or 6 or 8 and what fun that many puppies would be having together. Then remember – you volunteered to be the substitute for that.” It Takes a Pack to Raise a Puppy by Suzanne Clothier

“If your puppy is vomiting repeatedly or has more than two episodes of diarrhea in a row, it’s important to call your veterinarian or take your pup to an emergency animal clinic to diagnose the problem and provide medical intervention as required.”

Here are resources that will save you a lot of problems and challenges raising a puppy.

Quick Start Guide

• Housetraining Help

• Crate Training

• Chewing & Destruction

• Treat Dispensing Toys

• Frozen Treat Toys

• Dog Toys

• Dog Toys - Breed Specific

• Separation Anxiety

• Socialization

• Vaccinations

• How To Choose a Dog Trainer

Training

We are working on scheduling a puppy class for puppies 9-14 weeks. If you are interested in a puppy class please email us. help@homeskooling4dogs.com

To get started on the right track call and schedule an in-home private appointment. (951) 852-9364

We offer adolescent /adult group group class: https://www.homeskooling4dogs.com/group-dog-training-classes

When to start a formal adolescent /adult group class is dependent on what vaccination schedule you are following. 4-months + is the earliest, but with research recommending the last vaccination for parvo at 18-weeks it is advised to wait until after the last parvo vaccine. https://www.homeskooling4dogs.com/vaccinations

healthy puppy weight

Healthy weight puppies are lean, not skinny and not roly poly throughout their growth.

The Waltham Puppy Growth Charts are designed to monitor growth in puppies.  There are 10 charts comprising separate charts for male and female dogs in five size categories, valid for dogs up to a predicted adult weight of 40 kg or 88 lbs. For more information visit the Waltham site here.   

PDFs of WALTHAM™ Puppy Growth Charts