Having a dog in your life is like having a child that never quite grows up. Bearing this in mind, if you have decided to go ahead and share your life with mans best friend you will need to know a few things that can help make this a happy time for the both of you. Like children dogs need an abundance of love and simple, sensible rules in place so they can settle comfortably into a family environment without too much stress and fanfare. All small puppy will bring many changes and there will be a need for some adjustment as well

“Jack” that’s what you have decided to call your new dog was pretty upset on his first night home and it seemed the guy at the pet shop had forgotten to tell you this. Somehow reminded of sleepless night when your baby had arrived you managed to get through this and Jack seemed to be much happier in your bed all cuddled up on the pillow.. It has now sunk in that you have a big responsibility with the dog’s life and here we can try to help with heaps of sensible tips on how to make Jack into a well- adjusted and happy adult. Your input will totally affect the way he sees the world and how he should behave in it, as he is very vulnerable at this point to the wrong or right way he can be taught.

With love and care Jack will by now be settling happily into his new home with his new mum and dad, making it an excellent time for some basic early training. The first one that presents itself is his habit of leaving little puddles and deposits all over your designer house. Taking him out in timed intervals to your back yard if you have one is a good way to introduce him to the place where he can relieve himself. If this is not an option a dirt box or newspaper put in the same place will encourage him to go there. Take him to these places even we has an accident and history shows he will soon get the hang of it.

Please enter before we turn to the often- serious subject of biting. When a puppy bites we think its cute and funny. The problem with this is this little bundle of joy is very impressionable and as you are the one he looks to for guidance if this habit is allowed to go on life with this dog is going to be intolerable. We have all seen adult dogs with muzzles on, perhaps if the owner had taken the time earlier this could have been prevented. When Jack bites you say in a gruff voice “ouch” or “no” and keep this up whenever he crosses your boundary. It is imperative that young jack learns without hitting of course that biting is absolutely out of the question and that mum and dad are very unhappy when this is going on. Puppies like children learn from repetition, so be consistent; teach your friends to say the same words if he tries it on them. He will eventually get the message and stop.

All dogs love to chew, its when they start destroying your furniture and shoes you know that early intervention could have prevented this. Make sure little Jack has plenty of toys to play with and a place like a basket that he can call his own filled with them. If he decides your slipper is delectable gently take it from him and replace it with a toy. Puppies are generally impressionable so the rules you set in place at an early age will have a major impact on the adult dog. You can put some bad tasting substances that will bring no harm to the puppy but these will be a last resort. Like a child your new canine baby will require boundaries that he will learn he cannot step over or mum and dad will not be impressed. The effort you put in now will give not only fun puppy days but eventually an adult that could be your best friend, giving you unconditional, protection, a rare gift that no other human being can give.

Learn more about dog training. Stop by Linda Cole’s site where you can find out all about puppy training and what it can do for you.