There are just three things you want to teach your puppy right away to make sure that you and he get off on the right paw. If you get these three, humans and dogs alike will be happier for it:
- Housetraining
- Walking on lead
- Socializing in a variety of situations
1. Housetraining
Dog Momma’s suggestions for housetraining—which come mostly from a book called “Way to Go! How to Housetrain a Dog of Any Age“—go double for puppies. The more consistent you are, the more quickly your puppy will learn. We’ve trained a puppy in just two weeks by following one simple rule: At all times, the puppy must be in one of three conditions:
- In his crate
- Outdoors, being monitored by his Dog Momma or Poppa
- Inside, being monitored by his Dog Momma or Poppa
Read that again: At all times, the puppy must be in one of these three conditions. No exceptions. If you can’t watch him, put him out—where he can relieve himself at will—or in his crate—where he won’t.
When you’re watching him, you’re watching for toilet preparation behavior: sniffing for a spot and getting into position (squat or leg lift).
- If you see this behavior outside, start associating a cue (we use “get busy”) when the dog squats—say it calmly, so you don’t interrupt. Once he is done, go to where he is quickly. Give a treat the moment he’s done, and let him know you are happy about him going potty outside!
- If you see him start to squat inside, immediately but gently pick your puppy up and put him out. In this scenario, act neutral—don’t yell/don’t praise. If you see this behavior inside often, you probably need to be more proactive and get him out more often.
If you are entirely consistent, you can have a trained puppy in just two weeks. If you are not so disciplined, your puppy won’t be either, and it will take longer.
2. Walking on Lead
Dog Momma’s technique for teaching a dog to walk on a leash works just as well for puppies as for adult dogs—better, because your puppy hasn’t had a chance to learn bad habits. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to start this training young, and how much happier you and your dog will be if you master it together.
Don’t try to walk other dogs while you’re teaching your puppy to walk on lead. Do exercise your puppy before you train, so he is not too nutty and can pay attention to you.
Because our technique involves redirecting when the dog pulls, you and your puppy may not go anywhere for a while. You could be changing direction every couple of steps! Stick with it. If you’re consistent, your baby dog will catch on quickly.
3. Socializing
Teach your puppy to be comfortable in many different settings with many different people and animals, and you’ll avert all kinds of anxiety-induced trouble down the road. Misbehaving children or dogs who bark too much won’t faze your dog, because he’s been used to these things since he was a baby. Of course, since you’re following Dog Momma’s kindergarten-to-college philosophy, you don’t start with difficult situations like screaming toddlers. You start with someone easy, like that well-behaved dog-loving five-year-old down the street.
A special note on socializing your puppy to the other dogs in your family: Remember that a rambunctious young ‘un can annoy any elder, human or canine. Especially if the other dog is ill or injured, she may feel threatened by the puppy. Try to keep the puppy away from any older dogs who are vulnerable in these ways. Otherwise, consult Dog Momma’s tips for introducing a new dog to your other dogs. Don’t be alarmed if your older dog sometimes disciplines the little one with “The Look,” a quick growl, a snap or a dominant stance. Who better to help you teach the puppy how to behave than the older dog who already knows the ropes? Just don’t let it escalate. You know your dog’s stress signals. If they get past about 4 on a scale of 1 to 10, remove the puppy for now. You can put the two back together in a less stressful situation another time.
