We recommend training classes for all puppies. These classes will help with basic obedience and also help socialize your puppy to teach them the proper way to interact with other dogs and people.
Crate training can be an essential tool to help raise a well-mannered dog. The crate should always be a “happy place”. Reward puppies for being in their crate (i.e. give a treat or a durable toy) and regularly feed meals in your pet’s crate.
Never discipline a puppy by putting them in their crate.
Be patient! Puppies may hate their crate at first, but it will eventually become their safe place.
All collars should always be removed when your puppy is placed in their crate. (If using a Seresto collar on your puppy, make sure the collar is tight enough and tape down the excess collar while your puppy is growing.)
Housebreaking
Some dogs seem to get this easily while others see to have trouble understanding the concept. This can take time and patience. The basics are:
Take you puppy outside frequently. Do not let them start playing or having fun outside until they do their business. Keep them on a leash and take them to a spot in the yard where you would like them to go. Ignore them until they do their business, and when they do, make a big deal out of it and praise them along with treats.
Do not let your puppy run unattended in the house. Puppies will dash out of the room and relieve themselves without you even knowing it. Place you puppy on a leash or use the crate when you are home and distracted by other activates. Always be alert when your puppy starts to wander off.
Use a crate when you are not home and at night to limit and help contain accidents and inappropriate chewing. Make the crate a safe place for them where they will enjoy going when they want to relax. However, you don’t want the crate to have too much extra space as they will be more likely to have accidents on the opposite side from where they lay.
Puppies generally can hold it for as many hours as months old they are (if they are 3 months old, they should be able to hold it for approximately 3 hours). Keep this in mind for how frequently you are taking them out, and take advantage of crate training.
When spending time at home with your puppy, spend time touching each of the following body parts as part of his/her training:
Ears: We see a lot of ear infections in dogs and getting them used to having their ears touched beforehand will help them tolerate treatment better in the future.
Feet: All dogs need to have their nails trimmed. If a dog is used to having his/her feet handled nail trims will be much easier. The earlier and more frequently you do this, the better. Always reward and praise them when you are doing so.
Mouth: Daily tooth brushing is recommended in order to help keep your puppy healthier. Although your puppy will lose all of their puppy teeth by the time it is about 6 months old, training him/her to tolerate having the mouth touched will make brushing, giving medications, and doing examinations in the future easier.
