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The new puppy

When dealing with the new addition of a puppy to your family, getting off on the right foot is crucial for your sanity, and that of your puppy. Picture yourself as a mother raising a newborn baby. That baby has no understanding of the English language at first and you are the one that must fend for its every need. That baby may throw tantrums and act unaccordingly, however never ever will you the loving parent hit that baby. The same approach must be taken when dealing with a new puppy.

When dealing with a new puppy, the roles are somewhat reversed. You the human owner, need to familiarize yourself with the basics of canine behavior. By doing this you will gain incite as to why your puppy acts the way he does and will learn that he is just acting on canine instinct not out of spite. Now it is common knowledge that a lot of canine behaviors do not coincide with our domesticated setting and knowing this, we the responsible dog owner are charged with showing our dogs what is acceptable and what is not.There are various ways of showing our puppies what is acceptable and what isn’t. Remember, our puppies are very young and fragile, meaning what ever method of correcting bad behavior you employ, you should remember this fact and remain calm and not caught up in pure rage upon finding an accident on your rug or a chewed up shoe. With young puppies, a stern vocalization generally will convey distain on your behalf. Correcting the act as it is being committed is the best way to ensure that that act is not likely to be repeated. Dogs have very short memory spans and puppies will do one thing and have it long forgotten a minute later.

Having the ability to keep your puppy out of situations where doing wrong is an option can only help solidify your bond. As often as you can, put the puppy in situations where they can only succeed, thus maximizing positive reinforcement, and minimizing negativity.