Joan the Dog Coach
Are you planning for a new puppy or currently sharing your life with a furry bundle of canine joy? For puppy guardians-to-be and new puppy parents, I have compiled my top five puppy pro tips to help your family start out on the right paw.
Puppy Pro Tip #1: Management is key.
Think about setting up puppies’ environments so that you can monitor them and make sure they’re making good choices – chewing on the right objects and digging in the right place, for example. Smart, humane, creative management allows you to prevent active youngsters from doing what you don’t want them to do. This proactive approach is also key in house-training!
Puppy Pro Tip #2: Provide enrichment and socialization.
Safe, enriching spaces and activities will help teach puppy to be independent and enjoy “me time.” It is also important we give young pups the opportunity to have lots of wonderful experiences and form many happy associations with elements of our human world.
Puppy Pro Tip #3: Take the stress out of health and wellness routines.
Embark upon acclimating your new pup to cooperative (low-stress) care for husbandry such as nail trims and dental health. And, schedule veterinary appointments to discuss socialization safety, vaccinations, and creating a positive conditioned response to vet clinic visits.
Puppy Pro Tip #4: Make sure you have the right gear.
Look into the best force-free options for collars, leashes, and harnesses so you can safely enjoy unleashing adventures and harnessing fun with your pup!
Puppy Pro Tip #5: Teach emergency behaviors.
It’s never too early to start training puppies, as they learn in and out of the womb, taking in the world around them. In addition to shaping everyday life skills, training games that teach emergency behaviors are key. Coming when called and leaving things alone when asked are good priorities to start with as you and your new Best Fur Friend (BFF) begin your lifelong training journey together.
Here’s to many happy years of unleashing adventures and harnessing fun with your new puppy!
The Inquisitive Canine was founded by Santa Barbara certified canine behavior consultant and certified professional dog trainer Joan Hunter Mayer. Joan and her team are devoted to offering humane, pawsitive, practical solutions that work for the challenges dogs and their humans face in everyday life. Joan offers coaching both in-person and online. If you are feeling inquisitive and have dog training questions, we invite you to contact The Inquisitive Canine for A Pawsitive Approach for Positive Results ™.
