PUPPY / NEW DOG ORIENTATION
Bringing a puppy or any new dog home should be a joyous occasion for the whole family. Though your breeder or rescue group gave you some tips on what to do, they will not be there when reality sets in!
Every one wants to enjoy the new puppy. Dad and the boys think it’s cute when the puppy plays rough. The girls want to dress him up and carry him around. Mom thinks the puppy likes her best because he follows her everywhere and jumps in her lap whenever she sits on the couch. No one wants to put him in a crate because that would be mean.
Then it happens…………………..
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The puppy starts to play bite everyone.
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He chews off Barbie’s head and makes the girls cry.
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Barking at Mom has become his preferred way to get attention.
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The boys don’t like him anymore because he jumps on them and tears their clothes.
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You start to find potty spots around the house and it’s all that darn puppies fault.
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The puppy starts bouncing off the walls, where does he get the energy?
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You can’t put him out in the yard because he barks.
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You can't sleep at night because he howls and crys.
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He has dug holes in the yard and ruined the lawn.
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The cat ran away because she can’t stand the chaos.
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Dad has had it and tells Mom "do something or get rid of the dog".
This is not a fairy tale, it happens all the time. No one gets a new puppy thinking that they will teach him bad habits and have to re-home or surrender him by the time he is six months old. And what did it cost you?
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Carpet replacement (can’t get the smell out)
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New couch (the puppy ate all the corners)
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A couple of remote controls (puppy ate those too)
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New landscaping in the back yard (he ruined the lawn and pulled up all the plants)
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New hose, lawn furniture and sprinkler heads (yep, he ate those too)
The list goes on and on; dogs can easily do thousands and thousands of dollars worth of damage to your home. This applies to all rescue dogs, not just puppies. At this point (if you decide to keep him) you will also have to pay a good dog trainer to undo the bad behaviors he has learned. If you do not keep him his chances of getting a good home are slim. This is the reason our shelters are full of homeless adolescent dogs. It would have been cheaper for you and better for your puppy to pay a professional dog trainer to teach you how to avoid these common dog problems.
So was getting the puppy a bad idea? No it was a wonderful idea. You just went about it the wrong way. This is how the story should go:
You bring a new puppy home and call The Dog Lady. She comes to your home for 2 to 4 hours of personal in-home puppy training. She teaches you:
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How to puppy proof your yard and house.
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How to properly potty train.
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How and why you can humanely use dog crates and pens.
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You get help with proper dog grooming, nutrition and health requirements.
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You learn dog leadership skills and how to be a good pack leader.
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How to handle puppy biting, chewing, digging and barking.
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How to socialize your dog.
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Proper puppy play and important dos and don’ts for future dog training.
Now having a puppy or any new dog really is a joyous occasion!
Schedule your appointment with The Dog Lady TODAY
(916) 205-2336
