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

What do we do when our dog steals our stuff?We all know the scene: it’s gotten a little too quiet so you go searching for the little fuzzball that was just at your feet. You turn the corner and there he is, chomping happily away on the book you were reading earlier, or maybe it’s something that clearly came out of the garbage.First, you panic because don’t know how much he actually ate. Once you know he’s ok, it’s time to clean up the mess or mourn the possession you are now tossing in the trash.Dogs love to chew. It’s just a fact. It's one of the basic things that all dogs do. But when our dog steals our things to chew on it can be dangerous and at the very least, frustrating.What do we do to protect our dog and our stuff?In this episode, I talk about a few things that you can start doing to stop your dog from stealing your stuff. I also go over how to teach him what he is allowed to chew on.To give you an example I have a case study for you to give you an idea of how I handled this in a real world situation.Links and Info in this episode:Episode 5 (Crate Training)

What do we do when our dog steals our stuff? We all know the scene: it’s gotten a little too quiet so you go searching for the little fuzzball that was just at your feet.  You turn the corner and there he is, chomping happily away on the book you were reading earlier, or maybe it’s something that clearly came out of the garbage. First, you panic because don’t know how much he actually ate.  Once you know he’s ok, it’s time to clean up the mess or mourn the possession you are now tossing in the trash. Dogs love to chew.  It’s just a fact.  It’s one of the basic things that all dogs do.  But when our dog steals our things to chew on it can be dangerous and at the very least, frustrating. What do we do to protect our dog and our stuff? In this episode, I talk about a few things that you can start doing to stop your dog from stealing your stuff.  I also go over how to teach him what he is allowed to chew on.   To give you an example I have a case study for you to give you an idea of how I handled this in a real world situation. Links and Info in this episode: Episode 5 (Crate Training)

When we think of crate training, we usually think of potty training our puppy.  It makes sense because these two things go hand and hand.  Using a crate is the best and most efficient way to potty train our dogs.  In this episode, I want to convince you that crate training goes way beyond potty training.  If done correctly a crate can be an essential training tool and a way to give you peace of mind long after potty training is over.  In this episode of Your New Puppy I will go over:* Benefits to crate training your dog (and keep them crate trained).* Pros and cons of the main types of crates.* Where in your house your crate should go.* How to make your dog LOVE his crate.* Tips if your dog doesn't love his crate right now. .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. Resistance to Crate TrainingI understand a lot of new dog owners can have resistance to using a crate altogether.A lot of people see it as a cage or think it's unfair to the dog.  Especially if you adopted them from a shelter. I hear this a lot that, “they were in a cage in the shelter. I don't want to have them in one at home…” I want you to look at it from a different perspective. We have cribs and playpens for our children to give them a place where they can play or sleep.  We have peace of mind knowing that they are safe while they're in there. A crate is for a dog is no different.That’s why I'm going to give you some tips and pointers to make this a great oasis for your dog. That way your dog's going to love it and you're going to have peace of mind. It's a win-win situation.Benefits to Crate Training Your DogThe most common reasons for crate training is to help with potty training and keep them safe (and our stuff safe) while they are still in the chewing stage. What happens is, once he's house trained and you trust him to be in the house unsupervised, then we come away from the crate and we stop using it altogether.There are a lot of reasons to keep them used to and loving their crate way beyond puppy-hood.When you have to board your dog. Especially if you go with a traditional boarding where they're going to be confined, even if it’s only at night, if your dog already has a good association with the crate with that, there's an extra peace of mind knowing that he's going to be comfortable there.When I used to board dogs in my house I didn't require a crate (with the exception of puppies not yet potty trained)  But if they were crate trained, I highly recommend bringing their crate because the dogs who slept in the crates at night made the best transition to the new environment. I very rarely had any kind of whining or anxiety.If your dog ever has to stay at the vet, either overnight or just during the day, they're going to keep them in a kennel or crate.  Knowing that they will be comfortable in the kennel can take away some of the stress that you will probably feel from having to leave them there in the first place. The few times Lucy had to stay at the vet they commented to me on how comfortable my she was while staying there.  She just curled up in the kennel and went sleep. If you have people coming in and out of your house. They could be professionals working on your house or if you have a cleaning service that comes in a few times a month. If you have visitors. Not everyone likes dogs (I don't understand it, but I respect it).  Or everyone is dressed up. Maybe it's a child that's a little scared of dogs.  It's great to have an option where you can give your dog a bully stick or a really great toy and he can chill in this crate for a little bit and be perfectly content.If there is an emergency.

YNP #005: Crate Training: How (and Why) to Make Their Crate Your Dog’s Best Friend

In today's episode, we're going to talk about your recall command; most commonly known as “come”. I'm not going to be talk about teaching your dog the actual command.What I am going to talk about is building a few everyday habits so when it comes time to teach your dog the command, it's going to be a heck of a lot easier.  In fact, if you do this right, a formal command may not be necessary.  Your dog will always want to come running when you call them.If you have a brand new puppy you are going to start these habits from day one. If you've had a dog for a while and maybe aren't doing some of these things, that's okay, because you’re just going to make today day one!In addition, I have a bonus that teaches you how to play a game with your dog that reinforces everything we are going to talk about.  It’s also a great way to tire out your dog and create some family bonding!  More on that in a minute.The three habits I'm going to go over are:* Never call your dog to you for ANYTHING your dog sees as negative.* NEVER chase your dog.* Add a collar grab.Each of these 3 habits is based on the fact that we are always training our dog, whether we realize it or not. If you have noticed that your dog knows you're leaving the house an hour before you actually do, you know what I'm talking about (sometimes I'm a little disappointed at how predictable I am).  That’s because they are ALWAYS paying attention to our body language, actions, and habits.We’re going to use this to our advantage. Let's get started. .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. NEVER call your dog to you for ANYTHING your dog sees as negative (and every time they do come to you make it a good thing).This is where you need to be aware of your own actions. Sometimes we have to change our own habits first, which we all know isn't easy.The recall command isn’t about getting your dog to listen; it’s about you being in competition with their environment.  We don’t want him to have any idea in their head that coming to you is the wrong decision.  Every single time he comes to you it's a good thing because one day it's going to be a choice between you and that squirrel across the street and you want to give yourself a fighting chance.For example, he's running around, he's playing outside, you call him to you and you bring him inside. From your dog's point of view, he was playing and having fun and when he came running over to you he had to go inside (boo!).   How about when she's playing with something she shouldn't have. You call him to you and then you take it away from her. Well, all she knows is she came running over to you and she got him new fun toy taken away.  This goes for bath time, or clipping their nails, or giving them medicine (unless it’s wrapped in peanut butter, then feel free to call them to you).   Anything that your dog is going to see as not fun, you go to your dog, do not call him to you.Before you call your dog to you, look at it from his point of view and decide can I call him to me or should I go to get him. It's gonna take a little practice to start seeing things through your dog's eyes. It's something to practice and to always, always keep in mind.  We want to be doing this every single day so it becomes a habit for us too.NEVER chase your dog (and teach games where your dog chases you). Chase is one of those fundamental games that dogs love, love, love to play. If you watch a group of dogs playing, you will almost always see a game of chase happening.Your dog has probably tried to play this with you.DO NOT CHASE THEM.  Even in play. If you play the chase game with them, you know the one,

YNP #004: How to Get a Strong Recall: Three Things You Can Do Now to Teach Your Dog to Come Every Time You Call.

Free Feeding is when your dog's bowl is always filled with food allowing them to choose when to eat.  When you have a dog that likes does to graze leaving their food out all the time can be a convenient.  On the surface it seems harmless but what we don't realize is that it can have a negative effect on our dog's behavior and training.  In this episode, I talk about how free feeding can affect your dog’s behavior, health, potty training and more.You will also get some tips on how to change the habit if it has already started.For those of us that c an't imagine our dog leaving ANY food in the bowl there is still some great information on how one habit can effect your dog's other behaviors.   

YNP #003 What is Free Feeding and Why you Shouldn’t Do It

Once you have decided that you are ready for a dog (if you haven’t check out episode 1) it’s time to figure out which dog is right for you.During this episode, I talk about 10 different traits to think about to help you decide what type of dog will best fit into your life.While I use examples of different breeds, I do this just to give you a picture of what I’m talking about. Deciding which traits and qualities are best for you isn’t about picking a specific breed. My goal for you is to just be aware that all different types of dogs exist.Remember it is possible to find a dog that you will not only love and care for but that will fit into your life so you can have the best experience possible. I believe that is essential in doing what is best for both your family and the new member you are welcoming in!The specific traits I will talk about are:SizeEnergyTrainingSheddingGroomingNoiseTerritorialGenderClimateHere are additional resources that you can use to research a little further.http://dogtime.com/matchuphttp://www.petmd.com/dog/breedshttp://iheartdogs.com/the-10-best-dog-breeds-for-first-time-owners/https://www.amazon.com/Original-Dog-Bible-Definitive-Source-ebook/dp/B005PYJXDQ/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1 Free Tool! Which Dog is Right for you Workbook!To help you out I’ve developed a tool to walk you through the different traits and qualities to figure out which ones are the most important to you. If you are interested you can request a copy below. It will be delivered directly to your inbox. Request it!

YNP #002: Which Type of Dog is right for You?

Want a new dog? Not sure if you are ready? Getting a new dog is a big decision and a long term commitment. Getting a dog isn’t something you can decide overnight, so we are here to help you figure it out!This episode walks you through 5 questions to ask yourself to see if you are ready for a new dog.Are You Ready for A New Dog? is the first part in a two-part series. Episode 002 will walk you through which type of dog is right for you.The five questions we will go over are:* Do I have time for a dog?* Can I afford a dog?* Does my living situation allow for a dog?* How will I care for my dog when I travel?* Does a dog fit into my life now and in the future?We will talk about the different things you need to think about when answering these questions. Free Tool: Are you Ready for a New Dog Workbook.To help you answer these questions honestly, below is a workbook where you can write down your answers. This tool is designed to help you work through any challenges and solutions to the above questions. There is also room to add your own questions, depending on your specific situation. Request it!

YNP #001: Are You Ready for a New Dog? Five Questions to Help you Decide.

Welcome to Your New Puppy’s Podcast!! Getting a new puppy (or dog) is exciting and fun but it can also be very overwhelming.  No one gets a good dog by accident.  It takes time and energy to get the well-behaved dog we all dream of when we decided to bring home our new four-legged family member. My goal is to guide you through all the information you need to guide you through the first months to a year and beyond, so you can get back to the fun! In this episode, I tell you a little about me, who I am as a trainer and what you can expect from Your New Puppy’s Podcast.   Resources: yournewpuppy@playtimepaws.com:  Use this email to let us know what you want to hear about.   I look forward to talking with you!!          

YNP #000: Who I Am and What Your New Puppy Podcast is About