If you are a , you’ll want to read up on the ways you can bond with your new puppy. While play time and dog treats are a great way to , there are other things you can do to help your dog learn to trust and love you. In this blog post, we will go over 7 things every dog owner should do when taking home a new purebred puppy. For more information, we recommend you get in touch with your local purebred puppy adoption center.
1. Learn Dog Body Language
Just like humans, dogs have their own way of communicating nonverbally. Part of being a purebred puppy owner is learning to recognize . For example, widened eyes are a sign that your dog is frightened or stressed. Aggression is shown by bared teeth and ears that are up and forward. Learning to read your dog’s moods will help you respect their boundaries and notice when something is wrong with their health.
2. Learn Your Dog’s Likes and Dislikes
Not all purebred puppies like the same things, even if they are the same dog breed. As all dog owners know, puppies have their own distinct personalities and sets of likes and dislikes. For example, one puppy may enjoy snuggling with you while their sibling may only want to be scratched behind the ears. Getting to know what your puppy likes and dislikes can help you to obey basic commands. It will also help them feel more loving and attentive towards you.
3. Be Consistent with Training
While it may be difficult, it’s important that you be consistent with training your puppy. Not only will you need to teach them basic commands, but you’ll also need to reinforce what they learned so they don’t lose those skills. Make sure to reward your puppy with praise, dog treats, or their favorite toy so that they look forward to training sessions.
4. Have Realistic Expectations
Your new purebred puppy isn’t going to learn how to lie down or roll over right away. At first, your goal will be to help your puppy distinguish between good and bad behavior when they reach between 2 and 3 months of age. Bad behavior should be met with a stern “no” while good behavior should be rewarded by saying “good” in a cheerful tone. Dogs are smart animals and will be able to pick up on your mood to determine whether they should continue what they’re doing.
Teaching your puppy basic commands should start between 12 and 16 weeks of age. Be patient when teaching your dog new tricks. For difficult tricks, break it down into steps and reward your dog with a treat or praise at each step. Each training session should last between 5 and 10 minutes and always end with spoken praise and/or a dog treat.
5. Use Dog Toys as a Reward
Have you ever noticed that when you leave your dog’s toys out, they begin to take them for granted? For example, your puppy may not be as excited to play with their chew toy as they were when you first brought it out. Keep most of your dog’s toys tucked away and only bring them out when it’s play time. For example, a tug rope can be a great item to only bring out when you’re ready to play with your dog.
When your dog learns that you control when toys are brought out, they’ll begin to associate you with positive experiences. Favorite toys can also be used as a reward to reinforce what they learned during a training session.
6. Spend Quality Time Together
It goes without saying that you and your dog will bond while spending time together. During the first few weeks, you’ll need to show your dog that you are someone who can be trusted to take care of them and protect them. Taking your dog for walks, brushing their fur, and setting time aside to play will show your dog that you want to be their friend.
7. Keep Your Cool
Taking care of a new puppy is a lot of work. It’s even more work to train them to obey simple commands or to house train a puppy. However, it’s important to never lose your temper. Shouting at your puppy will only frighten them and make them want to avoid you. It also teaches them that you are not a safe person and can’t be trusted to protect them. If your puppy is misbehaving, be sure to say “no” in a stern voice to show your disapproval. Likewise, make sure they receive plenty of praise when they do something right.
If you are interested in our Grand Rapids puppy adoption services, please feel free to call us at (616) 446-6766. The Barking Boutique works with reputable dog breeders to help purebred puppies get adopted into loving homes.
