Top 5 Puppy Tips from a Canine Coach
- Genna Rittenhouse
- Aug 5
- 6 min read
Puppies!! They’re cute, they’re funny and they bring such a light to our lives… but they can certainly be little gremlins. Being prepared to tackle all that puppyhood has to throw your way is your first big step to one day having the Best Good Friend you get to do it all with. So beginning to train early on is important to address behavior issues before they start, teach early manners and expectations, and be able to tackle the inevitable nuisance behaviors once your pup becomes a preteen.
It can feel very overwhelming when you first bring a new puppy home. Overwhelmingly exciting fun puppy firsts can quickly turn into overwhelm by confusion or frustration. When the world has a lot of advice, it can be hard to decipher what works best for you as an owner. The most important thing to remember is that you need to take it one day at a time. Your pup is so young and has a lot to learn, so don't feel like you or your pup are going to make any huge strides in a single day. The true key to success is to remain patient, consistent, and positive. But the sooner you start to instill boundaries and expectations into your every day, the quicker your pup will "get with the program" so to speak.
Puppy training is training the dog you will be sharing experiences with. Need a dog who can be neutral on walks? Won't jump on guests, or comes when called so you can take them hiking? The small decisions and training choices you make when your dog is young and impressionable sets them up for success down the road. It might feel daunting, but with clear guidance from me, your Canine Coach, you'll feel like training is a breeze, and feel confident in training your puppy.
Tip #1: Always Stick to a Predictable Routine
Puppies, just like children, thrive on a routine. This not only sets your future dog up for confidence in their daily schedule, but it also trains your puppy to be on your schedule from the jump. Focusing on a schedule of feeding, potty, playing/training, and rest keeps your puppy in a happy and balanced mood! This rotation ensures your puppy is always under supervision (you wouldn’t leave a two year old toddler to their own devices, so definitely don’t do so with your pup!). This reduces the need to become destructive out of unsupervised boredom and creates a positive relationship with the crate by having structured time to nap and get good rest. (See Tip #3)
A predictable routine also means tackling potty training becomes significantly easier! Now who doesn’t love that? It creates confidence and it reduces accidents inside the house, all while instructing your puppy how to be on your schedule.
Now here is where I want to discuss Bell Training. Personally, I am not a fan. Although it can be very helpful for apartment dogs, I have unfortunately seen it be abused by the puppy or adolescent dog as they begin to realize the true association: “if I hit these bells, I get to go outside where it’s definitely more fun than in here.” This in turn can create a pushy preteen pup, who’s on their schedule, not yours.
Tip #2: Reward Behaviors You Want to See… Early!
Puppy training isn’t always about the formal sessions you have during the day. Fun fact: your pup can actually only tolerate anywhere from 5-10 minutes of structured training at a time! But when you notice that your puppy is doing something you like to see, like laying calmly on their bed chewing on an appropriate toy, you can gently praise and toss some kibble their way. This is called Capturing. Capturing is when you passively observe a dog naturally offering a desirable behavior and then mark and reward it–without prompting or luring.
This sort of reward system allows you to catch good decisions in the act, so your puppy will begin to more likely offer those behaviors knowing that something good might come their way! This helps really understand the importance of our interactions while we Lifestyle Train.
Tip #3: Crate Training is Crucial!
The crate is the topic of some hot debates among owners and trainers alike… and to be perfectly honest, you guys, I’m not really sure why. The crate is one of the most important and useful tools you can have in your Training Toolbox. Puppies need to be supervised – no if’s, and’s or but’s about it. Without eyes on your puppy, potty accidents become more frequent, destructive habits can form from boredom, and anxiety can overtake their confidence.
Nine times out of ten, a puppy is not getting enough thorough rest. This is something I saw a lot of during COVID… when the world shut down, we were all home with our dogs with little to no separation from our dogs. This is where Separation Anxiety begins. By being consistent, positive, and routine oriented in Crate Training of your puppy, it won’t ever be considered a “punishment” like some owners are afraid of.
A great habit to create a positive relationship with the crate is to feed your puppy their meals in there. This is doing several things: firstly, yay! Meals! And secondly – you’re continuing to master potty training by knowing exactly when your pup is going to have to go outside and relieve themselves. You know exactly when they ate, how much, and you were able to time it successfully. Win, win!
Tip #4: Handling Vs. Petting
Petting our puppies is one thing – thats super easy and obviously one of the best parts of puppy parenthood. But petting feels good to a dog, while handling your pup is a different story. Handling your puppy includes gently touching feet, ears, underside, and mouth. This mimics what your puppy will inevitably go through when they go to the vet, the groomer, or you as their guardian. Being able to confidently handle your puppy in case of an emergency is a very important thing to have trained your puppy to comply with.
To start these exercises, it’s best to start when your puppy is tired, but not past their limit. You will sit on the floor, legs outstretched and gently lay your puppy onto their backs and wait for them to relax. Once they do, you loosen your grip and relax with them. Now, you’ll gently go one by one to each of their feet, taking time to inspect slowly their toes, nails, and paw-pads. You’ll eventually include the insides of their ears, look into their mouths and practice picking up your puppy. Keep these exercises short and positive. Always end on a good note! Remember, you’re training your puppy to become desensitized to being touched in a way that is not always a way that feels great, but acceptance of this kind of handling makes for less stressful vet visits or grooming appointments.
Tip #5: Focus on Positive Socialization
Here is where a lot of first time puppy owners make some mistakes. Not permanent ones! But socialization among dogs is all about quality not quantity. You want to expose your puppy to new sights, sounds, experiences, and the occasional dog in a controlled and positive way. Focus on short bouts of things at a time for your puppy, and prepare yourself for a big crate nap afterward! Your puppy is taking in all this new information, and truly wears them out. Short excursions in a controlled environment. Avoid dog parks at all costs. These environments can be overwhelming and unsanitary for new puppy nervous and immune systems. Please note: your puppy is allowed to experience the world before 16 weeks of age which is when they usually receive their final rounds of vaccinations in order to be socialized but puppies need gradual exposure to daily life to help build trust and boost confidence in themselves and your leadership as an owner and their coach.
Final Bits of Advice From Your Canine Coach:
Building a relationship with your puppy is a beautiful thing; one of the many things I love so much about training dogs and coaching owners. But just like anything, your dog training journey will not always be linear. Some days will most certainly be better than others. You will have regression. And all of it is normal.
The most important things to keep in mind are:
Every day is an opportunity for another approach if something isn’t working.
Patience is truly a virtue. Especially with puppies… Big deep breaths!
Stick to your routine; when in doubt, your puppy will almost 100% of the time benefit from a nap.
Use your pup’s kibble as your reward system! Half of their meals through the day can be used during your Best Good Friend Come & Sit games, or to Capture new skills.
Your consistent and clear daily interactions with your puppy no matter how small build the foundation for the well-adjusted dog in the future.
Comments