5 Puppy Mistakes to Avoid

   There are not many things more exciting than welcoming a new puppy into your home. They are roly-poly bundles of fun and energy. It is easy to become overwhelmed if you don’t have a game plan to begin training. Even though your new best friend is still young, an eight-week-old puppy is capable of learning the basics.

5 Puppy Mistakes to Avoid

·       Do not bring your puppy home before it is a minimum of 8 weeks old.

*The first 8 ~ 12 weeks of a puppy’s life should be spent with its mother and littermates. During this time your pup learns important social skills. If you take your puppy home too soon, it misses out on the social imprinting process which can lead to a lifetime of problems. Separating a pup from its mom and littermates too soon (before 8 weeks of age) can make it difficult to learn bite inhibition. They also don’t learn to interact normally with other dogs. This can cause puppies to become uncertain around strangers and fearful with other dogs. It is best to wait until the pup is at least 8 weeks old.

·       Puppy-proof your home

*Puppies are curious about EVERYTHING. They will not think twice about eating your best pair of shoes, socks, plants, electrical cords and cell phones. It is your responsibility to make sure there is nothing puppy level that is dangerous. That means getting down on your hands and knees to see how your home looks to them. Remember, silence is golden unless you have a puppy. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

·       Start basic training

   *At 8 weeks old, a puppy is capable of learning some basic commands. Don’t wait to begin teaching sit, stay, down and come. These are lessons that will benefit your dog throughout their lives.

·       Potty training

   *The main thing you need when potty training is patience. The best way to train them to use the bathroom where you want them to is bringing them to the spot after each meal, drinks of water, waking up and playing. A puppy does not have the ability to hold their “business” so expect some accidents. A dog sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 more acute than ours. 

   Never push your puppy’s nose in their messes. That does not teach them anything other than the person they are supposed to trust is being mean. Just don’t do it.

·       Socialization

   *Take your puppy out to meet people as well as other dogs. If you don’t have a dog park in your area, visit pet friendly stores and events.  Playdates and classes are a fun way to make sure that your puppy is getting plenty of socialization. Invite friends and family over to play and interact with your new family member.

   There are many things to consider before welcoming a new puppy into your life. Don’t have unrealistic expectations of them. Remember, they are babies and they grow up way too fast. Enjoy the puppy stage and rest assured that it does not last forever.
   *This post was originally published in 2016 but we know it is important to share puppy information for our new pet parents. Puppyhood can be daunting but adorable.

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