Puppies are cute, and you may imagine they are simple bundles of fun and easy to raise. Most pups leave their natural families at about eight weeks old. Once separated, they can't learn from their siblings and parents. When you get a puppy, you take over the job of nurturing your new canine friend and bear much responsibility. Here are four vital things you need to know.
Puppies need regular bathroom breaks
How often your puppy needs to eliminate may surprise you. A three-month-old puppy can only hold its bladder for about three hours, and a two-month-old puppy for two hours.
Expect anything more, and you face disappointment, and it's bad form to scold your puppy if they can't wait. Take them to a toilet spot of your choosing regularly to avoid mishaps. They will learn what's expected via repetition when they are capable.
Your puppy will explore with its mouth
Puppies, much like human babies, put things in their mouths. They find out about the world and discover what is and isn't edible by tasting and chewing, so prepare. Your pup will chew reachable clutter regardless of whether it's precious or poisonous.
The solution is not to leave items you don't want your puppy to chew lying around and provide suitable toys. Visit the pet store and find plenty of puppy-safe chewable toys. The message some items are available and others are out of bounds will hit home. Until that time, though, clear belongings from reachable areas.
Puppy teeth are sharp
You may not realize puppy teeth can lacerate your clothes and skin. When your puppy's teeth contact your flesh, you might get upset. But your puppy needs to learn bite inhibition and isn't dangerous.
Ideally, puppies would stay with their siblings and parents longer. If they did, they would learn not to bite. Puppy siblings squeal when nibbled by each other, and the pup delivering the bite stops.
As you are to teach your puppy bite inhibition, you need to act like a littermate when teeth touch your skin. Let out a loud yelp. Repeat the exercise when needed until your pup understands what's happening.
Your puppy requires boundaries
Introducing your puppy to boundaries at several months old will make training hard. Your new puppy is ready to learn limitations from day one when you bring them home.
Restrict your puppy's freedom around the house to areas you want them to roam. For instance, the kitchen and bedroom may be off-limits. Your puppy will learn you are in charge, and there are rules, which bodes well for training later.
Puppies are gorgeous bundles of joy, but they are also enormous responsibilities. Persevere with potty training, keep personal items out of reach, and teach bite inhibition and boundaries, and you and your pup can enjoy a healthy relationship.
Bridget Webber wrote this article for Top Gun Dog Training.
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