Your New Puppy: Dog Training and Dog Behavior Lessons to Help You Turn Your New Puppy into a Well-Behaved Dog

Potty accidents are part of having a puppy.  You can do everything right and you are still going to have an accident.  And let’s face it, we probably aren’t going to do everything right.  In all of my years helping puppy owners with potty training there are a few types of accidents that I see over and over.  Knowing what they are can not only help you avoid them but sometimes it’s nice to know what may seem like weird place to have an accident, it actually quite normal.  In this episode, I go over the most common types of potty accidents I see.  First I go over common places and then common situations that will occur.  Of course, I give you tips throughout on how to avoid them altogether. Press play to hear the full episode.

Every Tuesday in October I will be answering your training questions.  These are just a few of the great questions I received and I thought would be beneficial to all my listeners.I got the idea for Q&A Tuesday because this is very similar to what I do inside YOUR Perfect Puppy my online course for new puppy owners. You can find me on Instagram or Facebook next Tuesday to get a preview of the kind of access you get to me inside the course or just get your training questions answered.  I'll be hanging out in my messages all day. More info on YOUR Perfect Puppy.For this special edition I chose a theme of all crate training questions.   Press play to listen to the full episode with more details and examples.  Enjoy!

Every Tuesday in October I will be answering your training questions.  These are just a few of the great questions I received and I thought would be beneficial to all my listeners.I got the idea for Q&A Tuesday because this is very similar to what I do inside YOUR Perfect Puppy my online course for new puppy owners. You can find me on Instagram or Facebook next Tuesday to get a preview of the kind of access you get to me inside the course or just get your training questions answered.  I'll be hanging out in my messages all day. More info on YOUR Perfect Puppy.The questions I answer in this special edition of the podcast include potty training, how to handle working households with a puppy, counter surfing, and puppy nipping.  Press play to listen to the full episode with more details and examples.  Enjoy!

There is only one thing that you need to know about dog behavior to teach or stop any behavior!  Yup, when it comes down to it, our dogs are very simple creatures.  In this episode, I am revealing my secret.  This is what I use to solve 90% of my client's training issues.  I have centered my life around dog behavior.  And everything I have learned and observed comes down to this one thing.  SPOILER ALERT... The one thing you need to know about dog behavior***Dogs do what works for them...always; and they don’t feel guilty about it.*** That's it.  If your dog is exhibiting some behavior then it is working for them.  Otherwise, they wouldn't be doing it.  The trick is to understand what's working.  We can use it to our advantage to teach a behavior.  For example, you want to teach your dog to sit, you give them a treat every time their butt hits the floor when you say "sit". Now, that behavior works for them so they are going to repeat it.  Or we want to stop a behavior.  For example, your dog barks at you and you give them attention by looking at them or even telling them "no." That behavior now works for them and they will repeat it.  To change the behavior we have to take the attention away.    The top 4 most common things your dog is looking for isAttentionFoodRelease extra energy Relieve boredomThese are not the only things but they are the place to start.  The concept is easy, it’s applying that gets tricky.  Sometimes it's super obvious (your dog jumps on the counter and gets to the food) or not so obvious (your puppy is whining in the crate for attention, not to go potty).  This episode is chock full of examples on how to apply this. Now you know my secret.  This is the same place I always start when trying to teach or stop a behavior.  It takes practice, but if we take a hard look at our dog’s behavior (and ours) you will see the pattern.  Press play to listen to the full episode with more details and examples.  Enjoy!

There are three types of training that you need to turn your puppy into a well-rounded, well-behaved, and well-mannered dog.When we think of training our dog we usually think about teaching our dog to “listen to me”  I want him to come when I say come and stay when I say stay. Or we don’t even think about training until a bad behavior starts and we want to correct it.  In this episode, I talk about three different types of training that you need.  My goal is to get you to approach training your dog a little differently. Instead of it being something that you do when needed it’s actually something that is integrated into your everyday life with your dog.   .p16c9ff336eb{opacity:0.15;}.p16c9ff336f0{opacity:0.2;}.p16c9ff55484{opacity:0.15;}.p16c9ff55488{opacity:0.2;} Press play to listen to this podcast episode or subscribe to Your New Puppy where ever you listen to your podcasts. Here is a summary of each type I talk about. Skills trainingThis is the type of training that we think of.  It involves formally training your dog to do something on command.  The most common example is obedience training.  This is the training we gravitate to because it's really easy to see.  We tell our dog to do something and we do it.  The feedback is obvious.  Preventative trainingStop bad habits before they start.  When we put our shoes away so our puppy doesn't discover them or when we take our dogs for a walk before they use their extra energy to dig up the garden.  This is a more subtle type of training but it is just as important.  Habit trainingWhere preventative training is stopping bad habits before they start, habit training is creating everyday good habits on purpose.  Potty training is teaching our dog the habit of going to the bathroom outside only.  When we play with our dog when they pick up their own toys to chew on we are teaching them to always play with their toys.   All ThreeThere isn't one of these that is more important than the other.  In fact, they all work together and most of the time you will be using more than one.  So, you don’t have to know which one you are doing when.  The point here is that training is more than just teaching your dog to "listen to me."  Sometimes training is done in the everyday subtle things like closing the front door or putting the remote on a high shelf or consistently not allowing them on the couch or bed.It's also important to know that just about everything we do with our puppy means something.  This can help in those moments that you feel that nothing is happening and your puppy isn't learning.  Remember those little things count just as much as the big stuff.  Press play to listen to the full episode with more details and examples.  Enjoy!

Raising a puppy is something we have to learn.  It's not natural for us humans.  So just like with learning anything new we are going to make a few mistakes along the way. First we have to know what mistakes we are making in the first place.  In this episode, I talk about 4 mistakes I see new puppy owners make (and what to do instead).   .p16c9ff336eb{opacity:0.15;}.p16c9ff336f0{opacity:0.2;}.p16c9ff55484{opacity:0.15;}.p16c9ff55488{opacity:0.2;} Press play to listen to this podcast episode or subscribe to Your New Puppy where ever you listen to your podcasts. Let's take a quick look at each one. #1. Give too much freedom too soonWhen we first imagined having a dog we thought about a dog wandering around the house, sleeping on the couch or freely playing the back yard.  Then when we bring our puppy home we end up giving them too much freedom too soon. What I mean is within the first couple weeks home you give the puppy the run of the first floor of the house or let them run around in the back yard (yes, even if you have a fenced-in yard).This is too much freedom for a new puppy!  You will have that dog that freely runs around your home but right now you have a puppy and there is some work to get there.  What to do instead:Right now they are learning EVERYTHING about your world and how to live in your house.  Think of their freedom as something they earn by building trust and a bond with you, not something they automatically get when they move into your home.Until they earn that freedom, keep your puppy's world small, and closely supervised. The more freedom we give our puppy the more trouble they get into.#2. Underestimating the importance of socializationSocialization is THE most important training you can do for your puppy.  So many new puppy owners aren’t aware of just how important it is or they simply misunderstand it.  When I say socialization most think about letting their puppy play with other dogs. This is true, but interacting with other dogs is only a small part of socializing your puppy.Socializing teaches your puppy to interact properly with EVERYTHING in their environment. It goes from sounds, textures, smells, climbing stairs, being handled, as well as interacting with people and other dogs.  The other part that is greatly misunderstood is that you can’t put off socialization. Socializing has the greatest impact between the age of 3-16 weeks. This isn’t something we can change.  It’s how a puppy’s brain grows and matures.  This also happens to be the time so many dog owners are keeping their dogs inside and avoiding interaction with the outside world.  Usually at the advice of their own vet or breeder because of vaccinations.  I talk all about balancing socialization and vaccinations in Episode 21.An under-socialized dog has trouble adjusting to new people and places.  A well-socialized dog is a confident dog that can go anywhere with you. You can't over-socialize a dog but you can very easily under-socialize a dog.The Socialization lesson inside YOUR Perfect Puppy (my 4 week puppy course) is by far the biggest lesson because it's SO important. What to do instead:If you have a puppy at home get your puppy out there experiencing new people and places AT LEAST 3 times a week (every day if possible).  If you have one coming soon, be ready to hit the ground running. #3. Ignoring behaviors hoping that they grow out of themThe dangerous part about this one is that there is some truth to it. As your dog matures they will be less likely to cause trouble.  Their energy decreases, their need to chew, explore, and rebel also decrease.  BUT when they are puppies they are discovering everything and learnin...

Where should your dog sleep?  This is a simple question with multiple answers.  On one had I have a strong recommendation where your dog should be sleeping.  On the other, it really doesn't matter as long as you make the decision and then stick with it. To make this more clear split my answer into two parts:* Should your dog sleep in or out of the crate?* Where in the house should your dog sleep (including on the bed)?In this episode, I talk about when I have a recommendation, when it's up to you, and things to conciser when deciding.Here is a preview of what I will talk about.In or out of the crate?This is where I have a strong recommendation depending on your dogs age and behavior.During potty training, your puppy should be sleeping in a crate.  Even if you know they can sleep through the night without an accident while in the crate, doesn’t mean they won’t have one if they are out of the crate. Throughout adolescence (18-24 months) they should still be in their crate or, at the very least, a puppy-proofed room.  The more access they have to the house the more trouble they can get into. And when you are sleeping, I’m going to guess you aren’t supervising.Where in the house?Your dog can sleep outside your bedroom, inside your bedroom but not on the bed, or on your bed. There is no right or wrong answer but there are some things to conciser.No matter where you decide, your dog will adjust and be perfectly happy.  The key here is to decide early, and stick with it!  Once you let the dog up on the bed with you it is going to be a hard habit to break.  Listen to the whole episode to get all the details.  Enjoy!

Adding another dog to your pack is an exciting time.  It can also be a little stressful because you want to make sure that your current dog accepts your new puppy.Sometimes when you bring a new puppy home the current dog immediately accepts the puppy and it super excited to have a younger brother and sister.  And this is a possible scenario.The more likely scenario is that your current dog will be standoffish to the puppy.  This is completely normal and a common way for an adult dog to deal with a puppy (in fact, take note on how well your older dog gives the puppy boundaries by simply ignoring them.  We could take a few lessons from this).  The good news is, the vast majority of the time the dogs will figure it out.  That being said there are lots of things that you can do to make the “warm-up” time go more smoothly.The first thing to note is that this “warm-up” time could be a day or two or could take weeks!  Don’t rush it and let your current dog set the pace. How they interact in the first few weeks home is not necessarily how they will always interact.In this episode, I talk about a few things you can do to help make this initial time together go smoothly.* Walks, walks, and more walks* Tire the puppy out before you let him/her interact with your current dog* Balance allowing them to interact with giving your current dog some space from the puppy.* Manage food and toys to reduce any competition that might arise.  Listen and enjoy!

My dogs aren't perfect, and I'm ok with that?  You would think because I'm a dog trainer I would care more.  But that's exactly why I know it's OK. Training a dog is time-consuming and it’s something that most of us just simply aren’t good at.  Most likely you won't be able to teach your dog EVERYTHING.  I've quickly learned that raising a puppy is a combination between training and management. We quickly get frustrated or overwhelmed trying to create this perfect dog and I’m here to tell you to give yourself a break. It's all about YOUR priorities.  In this episode, I confess about my dog’s behavior and how I sometimes manage behaviors instead of correcting them.  I save my energy and focus on the behaviors that are the most important to me. Your dog only has to live with you.  So it's important to raise YOUR Perfect Puppy, not the one your neighbor says you should have or what Google thinks a well-behaved puppy is.Give yourself a break, the perfect puppy is one you love, is happy and healthy, and enhances your life.  Not the one your neighbor tells you you SHOULD have. Listen below and enjoy!

There are so many dog supplies out there it can be overwhelming.  Over the years I have developed a list of my go-to supplies that I use and recommend to my clients.In this episode, I talk about what my favorite dog supply is in each of these 8 categories and why they have become my go-to. All supplies can be found on Amazon.com, Chewy.com, or BarkBox.com. Disclosure: I only recommend products I have used and loved and all opinions expressed here are my own and are NEVER paid for. That being said, this post may contain affiliate links that, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.A full list of my recommended supplies.1. Training treat: Freeze dried liverI never met a dog that could resist these liver treats.  You can break them down into small training pieces or even sprinkle some on top of a picky eaters food.  There is only one ingredient and they are made in the USA. Find on Amazon.com 2. Leash pulling tool: Front clip harnessI prefer using harnesses for leash walking in general.  Especially if you have a heavy puller.  The traditional collar can put a lot of pressure on the neck.  With the leash clipped in the front (you don't need a double leash like the picture below) when they start to pull they get turned around so it's hard for them to get the leverage they need to pull hard.   Find on Amazon.com 3. Food bowl: Treat ballI may be cheating a little bit with this one.  It's not actually a food bowl, but it is my favorite way to feed your dog.  Instead of inhaling their dinner from a bowl, they knock around a ball and their food comes out.  You have to feed your dog anyway, let them occupy themselves for 20 minutes instead of 20 seconds. Find on Amazon.com 4. Chew toy: KongSimilar to the treat ball above you can stuff the Kong with your dog's dinner or some homemade healthy wholefoods (skip the store bought stuffing).  Now your puppy is occupied, chewing, and eating something healthy or their own food! Find on Chewy.com 5. Teething chew: Ice cubeSimple, free and can entertain your dog for hours (weather permitting).  Best part is,

Dogs learns through repetition and reward. The easiest and most efficient way to reward your dog is by using treats.  That is why they are the go-to for trainers and dog owners.Even though treats is the most popular way to reward your dog they are not, by far, the only way.  In fact, there are so many ways to reward our dog we do it everyday by accident. What we can do is use these non-treat rewards to our advantage.The best alternative (and easiest) is our attention.  Do not underestimate the value of your verbal praise and attention.  This is something we always carry with us so we never have to wean off our verbal praise like we do with treats.  In this episode, I go through a bunch of examples to get you started.  The key is to look at your dog’s environment and see what motivates them, what makes them happy, and then use that to reward them for good behavior .It’s time to think outside the (treat) box.Enjoy!Photo by Leio McLaren (@leiomclaren) on Unsplash

Dog obedience training is the first thing we think of when we say “training your dog.”  In fact, it might be the only thing we think of.Your dog’s training goes WAY beyond obedience but it is a very important part of your new puppy’s education.When starting from scratch it’s important to create a strong and reliable foundation.  We can do this in four easy steps.  * The Lure:  Encourage your dog into the position or action you are looking for, without saying a word.* Add the command:  Connect the action with a vocal command.* Hide the treat, add a hand signal:  This step prevents the dreaded bribing scenario.* Intermittent treats:  Come away from the treats and add other rewards.These are often the steps we skip or rush through. The most notable being, ​the command is not added until step 2.  Now I don’t expect you to be able to listen to this episode and teach your dog ANY command.  How these four steps look will vary slightly depending on the exact skill you are teaching. It's the foundation they create that is universal.  Always start with this foundation and you will be on your way to reliable dog obedience training in no time.

Bringing your puppy home is exciting and maybe a little stressful.  The ride home is the first time you are 100% responsible for them.If this is your first puppy you may be even more nervous. Your puppy might be nervous too.  It’s a short and simple topic but something I get asked all the time.  Bringing your puppy home should be exciting, not nerve-racking.  So I have some advice for you to help it go smoother.Whether it’s a 15-minute ride from your local rescue or a 10-hour ride from your breeder there are some things you can do to be ready.A few tips I discuss in the episode:* Have a towel* Bring one person but not the whole family.  You want one person taking care of the dog and one person driving but you don’t want the whole family overwhelming the puppy* Bring something that smells like other your other pets.  * Have a plan for when you get home.  Right now the ride home seems like it’s the most important thing in the world.  You are going to have so much time with your puppy, just make sure they are safe and comfortable.  Photo by Emerson Peters on Unsplash

When we think of crate training we usually think of potty training or where we put our puppy when we aren’t home.  Crate training goes way beyond that. In fact, we should be using it after potty training AND when we are home.I usually get some resistance to this.  Most dog owners have a sense of guilt using the crate even when they are home.  You might think “well, it’s not fair to my puppy, he shouldn’t have to be in his crate when I’m home” or “I should be able to supervise him when I’m home.”The only thing we are doing is making things harder on ourselves.  Your puppy’s crate is a multi-faceted training tool. In this episode, I’m going to convince you that not only CAN you use the crate when you are home but you SHOULD use your puppy’s crate when you are home.The five reasons for using the crate when you are home are:* It’s the best way to crate train your puppy* Your puppy will hate the crate if you only use it when you leave* Prevent separation anxiety* Your puppy’s safety* Your sanity!I mention two other episodes that are related and highly recommend if you are looking for information on crate training your puppy. YNP #005: Crate Training: How (and Why) to Make Their Crate Your Dog’s Best FriendYNP #022: How to Prevent and Treat Separation AnxietyPhoto by Alvan Nee on Unsplash

How to handle a shy dog is important for all of us to know.  If you are anything like me, you just want to put ALL the puppies.  But not ALL of the puppies want to be pet. Wait, what??? Crazy, right?  This is even worse when it’s our own puppy.  We are all excited and ready to share our lives with our new fur ball but he won’t come anywhere near us.  Most of us want to win our puppy over. I mean come on, look at this amazing home and all I want to do is love you!!This is not uncommon, especially with rescue dogs.  Even though we know they are safe, they don’t know that...yet.In this episode, I talk about why this can happen and what to do if it does.This is a great listen for all dog lovers because anytime you come in contact with a shy, fearful, or insecure dog you will know what to do.This is also a time where a trainer will be important.  Insecurities in a puppy, if not addressed, can grow into many different behavior problems.If you take anything away from this episode is it this:  Let the dog come to you. Do not try and win them over, they make the first (and second, and third) move.Enjoy!