Pampered Dog Blog

Dog ownership, or more accurately guardianship, is one of life’s great joys, and as you begin your life with your new friend I wish you many years of joy, love and companionship.

But in between all the fun and excitement, there is work to do. There’s puppy shopping, setting up sleeping arrangements, puppy training, and the less desirable jobs, like picking up puppy poop.

This article covers the 5 things every dog owner has to do in order to raise a happy, well-adjusted dog.

1. Crate Training

Hopefully you’ve done some forward planning and have already bought a crate before you bring your dog home. A dog crate is just about the most useful dog accessory you can buy. It can be used as a kennel, a carrier and a house training device.

Training your pup to remain calmly in the crate should be your first priority. It will keep him calm while he settles into his new home, and later you will use the crate as an important part of house training.

2. Puppy Vaccinations

All puppies need to be vaccinated. Generally this will be in the form of a 5-in-1 vaccine protecting against common canine diseases. Follow your vet’s instructions strictly on this, as most of these diseases are fatal to a puppy.

3. Puppy House Training

Common knowledge has it that you must start house training the minute you get your pup home. This will almost always be doomed to failure. The puppy will be disorientated and afraid and will hardly be in the right frame of mind to be taught anything.

For the first two weeks it will be much more effective for you to focus on crate training. As this relies on natural dog behavior it is much easier to achieve.

Within two weeks, the pup will have settled in nicely, and you can now begin house training him. The good news is, that if he is used to the crate, he’ll practically be house trained already.

4. Socializing Your Pup

Socialization serves two purposes, it introduces the puppy to a wide array of people and animals, and it teaches him how to behave towards others. Introduce your pup to as many people as you can, both inside and outside the family. Also introduce him to other animals in the household, but always supervise these introductions, and keep the puppy on a leash.

5. Bonding With Your Dog

If all of this sounds like hard work, it shouldn’t be, raising a puppy is fun. Take time to play with your puppy, as this is important to building a bond. As you play, gently correct any bad behavior, like biting.

Yes, puppies can be a lot of work. They can be time consuming and at times they can try your patience. But they’re also an absolute joy to have around. Their puppyhood passes so fast and before you know it that little bundle of fur will be a strapping adult dog. If you followed the advice in this article he will also be a happy, healthy and well-mannered dog.

Find out more about dog training, dog anatomy, dog health and other interesting dog advice at http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com.