Virginia Beach dog trainers are well equipped to handle any dog at any age. It’s safe to say they have the equipment, the techniques, the knowledge, and the skills needed to complete the training safely and effectively. When your dog reaches a certain age that’s suitable for training, you should hire a professional dog trainer. Numerous studies show that dog training can help mold a dog’s behavior. More often than not, pet owners who didn’t pay for training ended up with dogs that exhibited unwanted dog behavior. Sadly, this can be hard and quite challenging to correct. As early as now, you should consider dog training.
There are a few things you need to know and prepare before you engage your pup in training. First, there is no rule that you can’t train your puppy at home. Of course, you can! But, make sure you do your research well. Dog training consists of several techniques and strategies. Some may work on your pup, while others don’t. We suggest that you experiment with these techniques and see what methods complement your pup’s learning capacity.
Bringing a new pup home can be exciting, but if you don’t plan and prepare for its arrival, your pup will have a hard time adjusting to the new place. Imagine being taken away from your siblings and your mother right after birth and being in a place with strangers. Your pup will feel scared and nervous with its new family. During the first week, make your home a welcoming and safe place for your puppy. Develop a routine and make its first week fun and loving one so that you can kick off with your training once your pup has fully adjusted.
We also suggest, if possible, visit your pup before the big pick up day. Ask the previous owner or breeder questions about your puppy, such as the best times to feed and what to feed your pup. You should also obtain a copy of its vaccinations and other documents.
Here’s What to Expect During the First Week of Pup Training
Puppy Proof Your Home
You can’t expect your pup to know the rules, so it’s your responsibility to keep essential possessions away from your dogs like sandals, floor plants, toys, and the like. To do that, you should puppy-proof your home. Anything that your pup can access, take them away and hide them in a safe place. Dogs love to chew. If your puppy is left to roam inside your home, there’s a huge chance it will bite and chew table and chair legs. You should think ahead and prepare your home by wrapping the legs with plastic or rolled boxes to keep them from getting scratched Morever, make sure you hide electric cords and wires.
Close all access to unsafe areas where your pup can go to, like ponds and pools. Check the fences if the spaces are big enough that your pup can squirm right through.
Set The Rules
To set the rules, everyone in the family has to be on board. Brief everyone in the household about the rules to avoid confusion. You have to be firm and consistent with your rules because if you cave in, your pup won’t be able to get the message. Setting the rules as early as now will help make future training easier. Some of the rules you need to address include when and where the pup should eat, where it should poop and pee and when to go to sleep. Toilet schedule is also important.
If you have kids in your homes, teach them how to hold the pup before it arrives. Let them know that ear pulling and poking are unacceptable. They can hug the puppy but not too tightly. For children younger than six years old, teach them to sit on the floor if they want to hold the pup so they won’t’ accidentally drop it.
Encourage everyone in the house to compliment and praise the pup if it does something right. This will encourage your puppy to continue behaving.
Prepare All The Essentials
Before taking your pup home, make sure you have all the essentials needed. If you don’t know what to prepare, we’ve come up with a list.
Leash and collar
Chew toys
Water bowl
Food bowl
Soft toy
Crate
Poo pick up bags
Food
Safety gate
Pet tag
Grooming tools
Dog bed
Takeaway
There are still tons of things to do during the first week, but these should cover it. Don’t be overwhelmed with information because it will all come naturally to you. However, it’s best to be prepared. As long as you have the essentials and some background knowledge on dog training, you’re good to go and don’t worry; your pup will love you!