Puppy Parenting

Puppy Parenting: 10 Tips for Raising Your New Pet




1. Get some basic information from the breeder: The breeds of the parents and their weights, vaccine status (if the puppy has had any), the puppy’s birthday, and, of course, the breeder’s contact information. It’s always good to have some paperwork just in case, especially for medical purposes.

2. Try to bring your puppy to the vet as soon as you can. If the puppy hasn’t had any vaccinations, the vet can give you an idea of what is required and when to get them. Also, start logging your puppy’s health and behavior. If he’s acting a little unusual, write it down and see if it’s a recurring thing.

3. Designate an area that your puppy knows as his “room.” A place where he does most of his activities, including resting, eating, playing, and hiding. Dogs are den animals, so get him a crate that he feels safe in and can call his own. You want to create a comfortable space for him because it will help with his separation anxiety (yes, like babies, dogs have separation anxiety!).

4. Be prepared with all things your puppy will need and save money in your budget for “extras.” Do some homework on what kind of water bowl is best for his size, what kind of play pen works within your space and fits your budget, etc. (And soon you’ll find yourself reading product reviews past midnight.)

5. Put your puppy on a schedule. Keeping a structured daily routine for your pup is important because it will make him feel more secure and behave properly. When there isn’t a schedule, he won’t know when to expect a meal or what comes before and after that. This may also mean adjustments to your own schedule, like going to bed half an hour earlier so you can wake up earlier to walk him in the morning, spending time to train and play with him, and so on. Sticking to a new schedule is a big commitment, but hey, that’s all part of the package!

6. Keep him busy while you’re gone. Every time you leave your puppy for long periods of time (heading out to dinner, leaving for work, going to the store), give him something that he can spend time on while you’re gone, like a Kong toy. I like to stuff it and freeze it with plain yogurt, peanut butter, or even baby food. Also, have a few toys that you can rotate each day so he doesn’t get bored with playing with the same one. What does a puppy do when he gets bored? All kinds of bad things we won’t want to come home to. (Hint: keep your shoes out of reach!) More importantly, whether or not you are already allowed to walk him outside, tire him out enough so he doesn’t have extra energy to cause trouble in your absence.

7. Do your research! Read, read, and read some more on how to train your puppy and do it right from the start. Teach him simple commands, like “sit,” “come,” “leave it,” and “off.” Training takes knowledge, patience, and time (and also depends on how good of a teacher you are …). Get into the habit of leading training sessions before playtime (make it part of the routine). Just like trying to decide which crate to buy, you’ll find training research endless but interesting.

8. Dogs are highly sociable animals. A healthy dog needs to socialize as much as we do (minus the booze, for, ahem, some of us). I learned from my trainer Renee of Walk This Way that when there are guests in your home, pass the puppy around person to person. We want to “force the love on him” and get him to be social. If someone is entering the room, pick him up and pass him to that person (this will also prevent him from barking at strangers). If your puppy, like Chip, isn’t yet allowed to be walked outside because he hasn’t gotten all his shots, then hold him in your arms and walk down the block together. He’ll be very curious about everything: new objects, new smells, new environments. When he’s ready, bring him to puppy parties and gatherings so he can play freely with “his kind.”

9. Take pictures! Your newest addition to the family only gets to be a puppy once. And, also like babies, they grow up fast! Even my boyfriend, who usually dislikes taking pictures, has been asking, “Did you take a picture of him doing this/that?” And he’s always talking about posting the photos on our personal blog.

10. Don’t get discouraged when things aren’t going the way you imagined. It’s OKAY. You’ll be OKAY. The puppy will be OKAY. After all, as I’m sure you’ve realized, a puppy is no different than a baby. He’s learning how to deal with life as much as you’re learning how to deal with him. Stick to some basic ground rules and just go with the flow! And if you earn his trust and respect by acting as an alpha dog or pack leader, he’ll be well on his way to becoming a true “(wo)man’s best friend”!



Posted by: Georgie


Credit: Babble.com