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

Both a dog park and a dog daycare are a place for your dog to get lots of exercise while playing with his friends.  Beyond that the experience is quite different.Where a dog park is free, daycares cost money.  You get to stay and interact and play with the other dogs and people at a dog park but a daycare allows you to take a break while your dog is having fun.The biggest difference is the socialization and safety of your dog.  Like anything that is free, a dog park involves more caution and risk.  Daycares carefully monitor the dog's health and behavior that participate in the play.If you take anything away from this episode it's this:  If your goal is to socialize your dog then a daycare is a place to go.  If you have a dog that is already well socialized, then a daycare still works.  A dog park can too, as long as you use common sense and caution.In this episode, I go through the pros and cons of each so you can decide what is best for you and your dog.

You don’t have to be a dog person to know about basic obedience. It’s usually the first thing you think of when someone says “training a dog”.It is popular for very good reasons. I could list a hundred reasons for you and your dog to go through some kind of obedience training.In this episode, I name a few but I mostly talk about what, in my opinion, is the most important part of your basic obedience education.YOU are the most important part of your dog's obedience training.Learning the commands is only half the story. Developing the relationship and bond is the other. You can’t have one without the other.If you have ever had a dog or have known a dog that only listens to one person in the family or if you have ever known a dog that knew all his commands but still didn’t behave properly then you know what I’m talking aboutI feel that if you approach your training as a relationship building exercise then you are going to get the most out of it.Obedience training isn’t a cure-all but it can create the foundation of your relationship and all training to come.Have you taken an obedience class? Tell us your experience. What was the best thing you got out of it? What do you wish was different? Leave a comment below and let us know.

You don’t have to be a dog person to know about basic obedience.  It’s usually the first thing you think of when someone says “training a dog”.   It is popular for very good reasons.  I could list a hundred good reasons for you and your dog to go through some kind of obedience training.   In this episode, I name a few but I mostly talk about what, in my opinion, is the most important part of your basic obedience education.   Highlights: Learning the commands is half the story.  Developing the relationship and bond is the other.  You really can’t have one without the other. If you have ever had a dog or have known a dog that only listens to one person in the family or if you have ever known a dog that knew all his commands but still didn’t behave properly then you know what I’m talking about I feel that if you approach your training as a relationship building exercise then you are going to get the most out of it.   Obedience training isn’t a cure-all but it can create the foundation of your relationship and all training to come. Have you taken an obedience class?  Tell us your experience.  What was the best thing you got out of it?  What do you wish was different?  Leave a comment below and let us know.

I find so many dog owners go right for their retractable leash.  And I get it! I did the same thing when I got my first dog. Retractable leashes make so much sense in theory; make it short when I want to, give them freedom when I want to. It’s like 10 leashes in one!” Except they are anything but convenient for the safety and training for your dog.If you don’t already have a retractable leash you have most likely thought about buying one. You might even think that it's the type of leash you're "supposed" to get.  EVERYONE has one.  I'm here to tell you to resist the peer pressure!!This episode is short and sweet. I go through many different reasons why you should grab your regular ol’ leash and leave the retractable leash at home next time you head out the door with your dog. Once you make the switch, I promise you will understand.The main reasons you should leave your retractable leash at home:* Control* Safety* Bonding* Resource controlEnjoy!!

If you don’t already have a retractable leash you have most likely thought about buying one.  I have one, I admit it, but now it is collecting dust at the bottom of the dog’s supply bin. Whenever I talk to people about what type of leash to use, I find so many people just automatically buy a retractable because they assume that’s the type of leash they should get.  I mean EVERYONE seems to have one.  I guess peer pressure never really goes away.    And I get it!  I did the same thing when I got my first dog. Retractable leashes make so much sense in theory; make it short when I want to, give them freedom when I want to.  It’s like 10 leashes in one!”  Except they are anything but convenient for the safety and training for your dog. This episode is short and sweet.  I go through many different reasons why you should grab your regular ol’ leash and leave the retractable leash at home next time you head out the door with your dog.   The main reasons I talk about: * Control * Safty * Bonding * Resource control Enjoy!!

Potty training is a rite of passage for all puppy owners.  It’s not the pretty part of owning a new puppy but it’s the one training none of us can ignore.Sometimes we forget that our dogs don’t come pre-programmed to go to the bathroom outside. This is a habit we have to teach them.The concept of potty training and what you need to do isn't hard.  The time, the effort, and the emotional roller coaster, that’s what’s hard. And even if you do EVERYTHING right there's still going to be accidents and speed bumps along the way.  There are going to be times where you are going to wonder if you're ever going to get your life back.  When are you going to be able to sit on your couch and snuggle with your puppy without constantly worrying if he has to go outside?I promise you, that time will come. First, we have to get through the potty training process. There's no skipping it.  Yeah just have to do it.Though we can’t avoid it there are some ways to make it quicker and easier.  Here I have broken down my Complete Process to Potty Training Your Puppy.  By the end you will know exactly what to do when. You can read on or... You can press play below to listen to Episode 10 of Your New Puppy's Podcast here:(A podcast is a radio show or an audio blog where you can listen to me talk instead of reading about it)  I’ve also put together a 2 page cheat sheet for you with all the information and tips summarized. You can print it out and have it handy throughout the process.  It also includes a potty training schedule to help you keep track of everything.  The Potty Training Cheat Sheet and Schedule is free and yours to download and keep. Potty Training Cheat Sheet and ScheduleI’ve created a cheat sheet for you that summarize the steps and tips I talk about in the episode. I’ve also created a one-page Puppy Potty Schedule for you to use to keep track of your dog’s schedule, any accidents that happen and your successes.Keeping track of these things will be extremely helpful if coordinating with multiple people in the household. It is also a great way to find patterns if things aren’t going smoothly. Request it! In the simplest terms, we are teaching our dog, the proper place to go to the bathroom is outside.  Potty training is such a common thing for us; we forget that it's not natural for our dogs.What IS natural for our dogs is to not go in their sleeping area. That's why using a crate during potty training makes the whole process faster and more efficient. When used correctly, the crate will give him a safe and secure place when we can’t supervise which will greatly reduce accidents.I talk more about crate training in Your New Puppy’s Podcast Episode 05.I also do NOT use indoor potty pads at all.  You don’t want your puppy to have any idea that he might be allowed to go to the bathroom inside.I talk about why I don’t use potty pads in Your New Puppy’s Podcast Episode 09.How long it takes will depend on your dog, on you, and your family. Some dogs just pick it up right away, some struggle.  It will depend on how closely you will be able to stick to the process.  It takes time and energy and sometimes we are going to drop the ball.  What I can promise, is if you stick to this process you will see progress within a week.  Let’s go over exactly what to do, when.When should you take your dog out?

  Potty training is a rite of passage for all puppy owners.  It’s a time consuming, energy draining, and often a frustrating, overwhelming process.  It’s definitely not the pretty part of owning a new puppy but it’s the one training ritual none of us can ignore. Sometimes we forget that our dogs don’t come pre-programmed knowing they are supposed to go to the bathroom outside.  We have to teach them. Though we can’t avoid it there are some ways to make it easier and hopefully quicker.  In this episode, I’ve laid out my step by step process.   I cover the following: When do I take him outside? What do I do when we are outside? What do I do when we come back in? What happens when there is an accident? What to do overnight I’ve also included lots tips along the way.   PLUS as an extra bonus, I’ve created a cheat sheet for you that summarizes the steps and tips I talk about in the episode.  I’ve also created a one-page Puppy Potty Schedule for you to use to keep track of your dog’s schedule, any accidents that happen and your successes.   Keeping track of these things will be extremely helpful if coordinating with multiple people in the household.  It is also a great way to find patterns if things aren’t going smoothly. Episode #010 Free Tool:  Potty Training Cheat Sheet and Schedule Request it! Other resources mentioned in this episode: YNP #005: Crate Training: How (and Why) to Make Their Crate Your Dog’s Best Friend YNP #009: Why Indoor Pads Should NOT be Used When House Training Your Puppy Don't forget to share or comment below!

Indoor pads (also called wee-wee pads or potty pads) have a purpose but house training should not be one of them.If you want to teach your puppy to go to the bathroom outside only, these pads can be detrimental to this training.Indoor pads are one of those products that seem like a great tool (and are even advertised to us) but are anything but.  In the long run they create more work. It's also possible your pup may never be fully house trained.In this episode, I talk about why I strongly discourage the use of indoor pads for house training.If you plan to use indoor pads regularly, I give you a few reasons why that may not be a great idea either.For some indoor pads are a great option, but for most, they are not.Potty training is a right of passage for any puppy owner.  It’s a time-consuming process that can be frustrating at times so it’s only natural for us to grab something that might make it easier.  However, I promise you if you put in the work now, it will be worth it in the end.Talk to you inside!Related Episodes:YNP #010: Complete Guide to Potty Training Your Puppy

Indoor pads (or wee-wee pads) have a purpose but house training should not be one of them. Indoor pads are one of those products that seem like a good idea and great tool to make house training easier but in the long run it does anything but. Not only does it add more work in the long run but it is possible your pup may never get fully housetrained.   In this episode, I talk about why I strongly discourage the use of indoor pads while housetraining. If your intention is to eventually teach your puppy to only go outside these pads can be detrimental to this training. If you plan to use indoor pads indefinitely, I give you a few reasons why that may not be a great idea either. For some indoor pads are a great option but for most, they are not. Potty training is a right of passage for any puppy owner.  It’s a time-consuming process that can be frustrating at times so it’s only natural for us to grab something that might make it easier.  However, I promise you if you put in the work now, it will be worth it in the end.

When your dog jumps on you, your family and your friends it can quickly turn into an annoying habit.Luckily there are a few things we can do to prevent or correct this behavior.Most of the time our dog jumps on us it is to get our attention. And if we are honest most of the time, that is exactly what we give them. Remember attention is attention, good or bad. So even if you are telling your dog no and pushing him off you, to your dog, that’s attention.Why does your dog jump?It usually starts when they are puppies because they are so darn cute and it seems harmless. Who can resist those big eyes, right?? Only, when our dogs grow up it may not be as cute and they don’t know the difference. If our pup has always jumped up on us for attention and if it works for them that is what they will always do, muddy paws or not.In this episode, I talk about preventing, ignoring and redirecting your dog’s jumping. I use coming home as the main example but these tips can be used in whichever scenario your dog is jumping on you.Links in this episode:Episode 4: How to Get a Strong Recall: Three Things You Can Do Now to Teach Your Dog to Come Every Time You Call.(I also want to mention I am very surprised I have gotten to episode 8 without my back up singers making an appearance.)

When your dog jumps on you, your family and your friends it can quickly turn into an annoying habit. Luckily there are a few things we can do to prevent or correct this behavior. Most of the time our dog jumps on us it is to get our attention. And if we are honest most of the time, that is exactly what we give them. Remember attention is attention, good or bad. So even if you are telling your dog no and pushing him off you, to your dog, that’s attention. Why does your dog jump? It usually starts when they are puppies because they are so darn cute and it seems harmless. Who can resist those big eyes, right?? Only, when our dogs grow up it may not be as cute and they don’t know the difference. If our pup has always jumped up on us for attention and if it works for them that is what they will always do, muddy paws or not. In this episode, I talk about preventing, ignoring and redirecting your dog’s jumping. I use coming home as the main example but these tips can be used in whichever scenario your dog is jumping on you. Links in this episode: Episode 4: How to Get a Strong Recall: Three Things You Can Do Now to Teach Your Dog to Come Every Time You Call. (I also want to mention I am very surprised I have gotten to episode 8 without my back up singers making an appearance.)

I had a lot of fun recording our first Q&A episode! You asked some great questions that have influenced the topics of many episodes and now I want to answer some specific questions.In this episode, I answer three great questions sent in by listeners.Topics include:* Multiple dog household* Handing a new young dog with older dogs* The difference between adding a male or female dog to your pack.If you have your own questions to ask we want to hear them. You can email us directly at [yournewpuppy (@) playtimepaws.com] or if you sign up for our weekly updates you will not only get information when new episodes are released but you can reply directly to the email that is sent to you.Links discussed in this episodeEpisode #002: Which Type of Dog is Right for YouEpisode #005: How (and Why) to Make Their Crate Your Dog’s Best FriendEpisode #006: My Dog Steals my Stuff!! How to Protect your Dog and your ThingsEpisode #007: Why Dogs Dig and What You Can Do About ItPsychology Today - Aggression Between Dogs in the Same HouseholdIf you are enjoying this Podcast head over to iTunes and leave us a rating and review! This will help others find us!

I had a lot of fun recording our first Q&A episode!  You asked some great questions that have influenced the topics of many episodes and now I want to answer some specific questions. In this episode, I answer three great questions sent in by listeners. Topics include: * Multiple dog household * Handing a new young dog with older dogs * The difference between adding a male or female dog to your pack.   If you have your own questions to ask we want to hear them.  You can email us directly at [yournewpuppy (@) playtimepaws.com] or if you sign up for our weekly updates you will not only get information when new episodes are released but you can reply directly to the email that is sent to you. Links discussed in this episode Episode #002:  Which Type of Dog is Right for You Episode #005:  How (and Why) to Make Their Crate Your Dog’s Best Friend Episode #006:  My Dog Steals my Stuff!! How to Protect your Dog and your Things Episode #007: Why Dogs Dig and What You Can Do About It Psychology Today – Aggression Between Dogs in the Same Household If you are enjoying this Podcast head over to iTunes and leave us a rating and review!  This will help others find us!

Does your backyard look like someone has been digging for gold?  Having a crater filled back yard is frustrating, not pretty and can even be dangerous.  Why do dogs dig?  Digging is one of those things that dogs just love to do.  It’s right up there with barking and chewing and being with us.The most common reasons why is boredom or has too much energy and he is looking to entertain himself.  Other reasons could be to cool dog, chase an animal or even escape.Because this is such a natural behavior your best bet is to redirect or distract from the digging instead of trying to just stop it.In this episode, I talk about the reasons dogs dig and some ways to help save your yard.I talk a little about using a “sandbox” which is a designated place in the yard where your dog is allowed to dig.  This is what I do and it works well.  In fact, here is Lucy sitting in one of her holes.  It’s her favorite because it’s nice and cool and she can watch the street.

Does your backyard look like someone has been digging for gold?  Having a crater filled back yard is frustrating, not pretty and can even be dangerous.   Digging is one of those things that dogs just love to do.  It’s right up there with barking and chewing and being with us. The most common reasons why a dog digs is boredom or has too much energy and he is looking to entertain himself.  Other reasons could be to cool dog, chase an animal or even escape. Because this is such a natural behavior your best bet is to redirect or distract from the digging instead of trying to just stop it. In this episode, I talk about the reasons dogs dig and some ways to help save your yard. I talk a little about using a “sandbox” which is a designated place in the yard where your dog is allowed to dig.  This is what I do and it works well.   In fact, here is Lucy sitting in one of her holes.  It’s her favorite because it’s nice and cool and she can watch the street.