We are so excited about the new puppy you added to your family! Puppies can be so much fun, but they are also a lot of work! One of the most important things to remember is that puppies know absolutely nothing, and it is our job to teach them everything they will know. This requires a lot of patience, kindness, and a whole bucket full of treats along with a good attitude!
We’ve curated some of our favorite puppy tips and resources so that you can live a full and happy life together with your new pup, which you’ll find below. When we commit to a new puppy, what we are really committing is our Time, our Focus, being a Proactive Teacher, giving them a Full Life (permission to be a dog!), and to being their Advocate.
what your puppy needs from you:
TIME
Time and patience are your most important tools when living with and training puppies. There is no such thing as instant gratification with training puppies. Dogs are most often returned or relinquished between the ages of 6 months and 18 months old. Why? Because the super cute puppy is now a teenager who is exploring every boundary and pushing every button!
FOCUS
Puppies are mischievous little things! They can go from napping adorably to tearing up your couch in about 10 seconds flat. We recommend crate and/or pen training your new puppy. This will not only keep them safe while you are occupied with other activities, but it will help them learn to relax and give any other pets in your home a break from their puppy shenanigans. Puppies ideally get 30 minutes of awake to every 2 or so hours of sleep when they are 8 weeks old. This is a lot of sleeping time, but puppies often have a Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) and have a hard time taking a break from the fun to get a good nap. A pen or crate can be very beneficial for this!
PROACTIVE TEACHING
When it comes to training, all members of your home and those that visit need to be on the same page with your expectations, the cues you are offering, and what is realistic to ask of a puppy. Ideally, positive training is always happening. Whether we like it or not, puppies are always learning. Every interaction with us is an opportunity to learn something we do or do not want them to remember later! By being proactive you can try to remain a step ahead and set your puppy up for lots of success. Really yummy treats stashed in strategic locations around your house, frequent trips outside for potty breaks (set a timer for every 20 minutes!), and managing their interactions with unsafe or undesired situations will go far!
PERMISSION TO BE A DOG
It is important to remember that puppies are living, breathing creatures with their own needs and feelings. They deserve to have some agency and control over their lives, but they also need us to set boundaries to help keep them safe. We want them to have fun and romp and play! As their Advocates for a Full Life, we want them to engage in breed specific behaviors and in a controlled way.
Do you have a digger? Teach them to dig in a sandbox!
Does your puppy like to chase? Teach them how to play with a flirt pole!
Are they getting into everything? Play fun games with them!
Chewing on your furniture? Provide awesome chew toys of different textures!
Destroying everything? Give them things they can destroy!
It is important to remember that our dogs are dogs, which means that they have natural, instinctual behaviors that make them a dog. These include normal canine behaviors like foraging, digging, biting, chewing, sniffing, playing and running. The more we can give them instinctual games, the more well-rounded and happier their life will be.
downloads and resources:
LUCKY PUP EBOOKS
We have created two great resources for you! Our first is all about Puppy Socialization. We dive into what it is, what it isn’t, and how to go about socializing your puppy for maximum success! Our second free download is the companion book we created to go along with our Puppy Life Skills class. We don’t host the class often, but you can still access the workbook!
LUCKY PUP BLOGS
Life with puppies can be hard! We have a few blog posts that might help you on your new journey together. We like to remind folks that the first 2 years with your puppy are likely to be the hardest. If you can teach them what they need to know in those first few years, you will likely enjoy a great companion for years to come!
When Bad Puppies grow into Great Dogs
Anyone who has had a Bad Puppy knows how frustrating they can be. The good news? Those Bad Puppies often grow into a Great Dog.
Don’t Skip, Must-Have Skills
Good training isn’t just about teaching a dog to sit. It is about giving them the skills to thrive while living with us humans.
Secrets for Full, Happy Life with your Dog
There is so much more to becoming a great dog owner than a bowl of food, a warm bed, and a belly rub. Although those are nice for your pup, there is so much more you can do with your pet to get the most out of the life you lead together.
Important Puppy Raising Tips
Everyone loves bringing a puppy home and all the excitement that goes with the waggly tails and puppy kisses! But as the excitement settles down and it is time to start focusing on setting your pup up for their best life, there are some things that can help set you up for success on your journey.
Preparing for Your New Pet
When you are thinking of bringing home a new pet you have so many decisions to make! From breed, place, and even time of year it can be easy to feel overwhelmed.
Boredom Busters for Pets
Enjoying more time with our pets in the summer months can be easy as the temperatures rise- there are many businesses now allowing dogs to enjoy time with their owners on the businesses patios.
FAVORITE LINKS
Life Lessons For My Puppy is one of my favorite places to start! It is a free ebook and is one of my favorite resources ever about puppies. After that, here are a few categories you might be looking for information on for your new puppy!
