How to manage the arrival of a new puppy in the home
This week we talked with Carlos, dog trainer and founder of the online course website adiestradordeperros.com, about puppies and the first days at home.
Who hasn't found themselves in this situation and experienced moments of stress at the arrival of a new baby dog?
Here you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions that many of us have asked ourselves at one of the best (and scariest) times of our lives: the arrival of a puppy in our home.
1. My puppy cries at night, what should I do?
This behaviour is quite common and in most cases it is usually to demand our attention, either to eat, to relieve himself or simply because he does not want to be alone. It is important that our puppy has a suitable place to relieve himself or, if he can go outside, that he has an established routine of walks. We must also offer our puppy a suitable resting area, especially when we are going to leave him alone, as this place can offer him peace of mind and security.
Find a small bed and leave it in a quiet place away from a busy area. Leave his favourite toys on it and treats from time to time so that he associates it with a positive place.
2. Is harness or collar better?
Both options are suitable as long as you choose the right dimensions. It is important that you have a safety lock and do not choose collars that cause damage during walking, such as choke or semi choke collars which can cause damage to the trachea, especially sensitive in puppies.
3. Is it preferable to take him to a pipican or is it better for him to walk close to us and discover the world little by little?
Ideally, the walk should be divided into 3 parts.
The first would be "toilet time" for about 5-10 minutes to find a place to relieve themselves.
The second part We can dedicate this time to activities,, such as going to the pipican to meet other dogs, playing in the park, carrying out short training sessions, working on his sense of smell...
Finally, the last part is the relaxation part,, which consists of walking slowly with our puppy to reach a state of relaxation and calm before returning home.
4. I work away from home and my puppy is left alone, what can I do to avoid stressful situations?
We must get our puppy used to being left alone from day one and never leave him alone for many hours at a time golpe.
We recommend training him daily, leaving him alone for a few minutes at first and gradually increasing the time as the days go by.
A suitable resting area with a bed and toys to entertain him (especially the Kong filled with his favourite food) will help him to cope better with the absences.
5. Any quick tricks to stop my puppy from pulling on the lead?
From the first day, it is recommended to get the puppy used to not pulling on the lead during the walk. The training is simple but requires patience and a lot of perseverance, as we must always do it during the walk.
The training consists of the following: every time your dog pulls on the lead, stop and do not walk until the lead loosens. At that moment, take the opportunity to congratulate your dog with a caress, a few kind words and a reward and continue walking.
With this gesture you will teach your puppy that every time he pulls the walk stops, while if he walks normally the walk will continue.
6. How can we teach him that wee-wee is not done at home?
In the first few days, when it is not advisable for our puppy to leave the house, we should provide him with a suitable place where he can relieve himself (such as a training mat, a litter box or even newspaper). We should then take our puppy to this area at times when he is likely to relieve himself, preferably at specific times of the day, such as before going to sleep, after eating or after playing.
Above all give him time, after all he is still a baby :) and reward him whenever he does it.
In time, your dog will get used to doing his business in the same place and once he is able to discover the outside world, do the same in the street.
About adiestradordeperros.com
It was created in 2015 by Carlos Martínez, a dog trainer accredited by the Royal Canine Society of Catalonia. He lives in Barcelona (Spain) and is passionate about dogs.
Together with his three collaborators, Carlos offers online courses on education and dog training with the aim of providing tools to those who want to improve their relationship with their dog in a fair, fun and methodical way.