POTTY TRAINING
Potty training is an important step for your puppy - the key is to support your puppy to correctly reinforce the desired behaviour of relieving himself in a specific place.
- Every puppy is unique, so it is important to follow an outing schedule that works for your puppy. The easiest way to keep track of key periods is to start a logbook. For example, after a play session or after waking from a nap, your puppy may need to go out. Your puppy might be able to hold it for 60-90 minutes in the afternoon, but will need to go out more frequently in the evening. The logbook can provide guidance.
- When you take your puppy outside (or to the designated area), avoid distracting him and try not to wait for more than a few minutes. Choose a cue word that will tell them it’s time to relieve themselves. For example, "potty", which you can say in a cheerful voice as soon as your puppy finishes relieving himself. Your voice alone should be enough to encourage your puppy - there’s no need to offer a treat as well.
- Accidents in the house are NORMAL! It is essential that you don’t punish your puppy, because he might choose to go and hide to relieve himself, which would make potty training more difficult. You can take your puppy to the designated area to let him finish if necessary. Otherwise, you can simply clean the soiled area with an odour-eliminating product and record the incident in your logbook to be more attentive next time.
- For potty training indoors with a training pad, you can follow the same recommendations. However, it is very important to keep the training pad out of your puppy’s reach. You should designate a room or use your puppy’s cage or pen to enclose the area. When your puppy needs to relieve himself, you should go with him as you would outside.
STAYING ALONE
No puppy likes to be left alone, and that’s perfectly normal, because he is going through an attachment period. However, you can create a soothing environment to keep him company even when you are away.
- A crate isn’t the only option; the goal is to define a smaller space to calm your puppy down. You can choose a crate, an enclosure, a gate or any other space that suits you.
- In order to create a positive association for your puppy, we suggest leaving a food toy (which contain treats or wet food) for your puppy to create the association that your departure brings a fun activity.
- You can also choose to put calming music on (such as classical music) or even “white noise” such as a running fan to create a soothing atmosphere and encourage your puppy to sleep.
- If your puppy shows signs of stress (vocalization, drooling, destruction) despite these preventive measures, you can try a natural calming supplement that is suited and recommended for puppies. Talk to your veterinarian.
- Filming your puppy in your absence during the first few days/weeks will allow you to follow his evolution and intervene if necessary.
NIPPING/CHEWING
Nipping is probably the most irritating behaviour in a puppy. However, nipping/chewing is an essential learning stage in your puppy’s emotional development, which will help him to become a well-balanced dog.
To help your puppy choose better things to chew, you need to introduce chewing as an activity. Here’s how:
What to offer?
You can give your puppy toys to play with, interactive toys that contain food, and safe chew sticks. The important point is to provide a chewing activity that is suitable for your puppy.
Three non-negotiable rules
- 1. Choose a chew toy or puppy teething stick that won’t be too HARD. You should be able to easily squeeze the toy in your hand; the stick should be flexible while still allowing you to break it in half with your hands. If you give your puppy a chew toy or teething stick that is too hard, he will become irritated and will chew on it out of frustration.
- Offer SHORT chewing activities. When a puppy does the same activity for too long, he may become agitated rather than calm. It is therefore preferable to keep the activity short and repeat it more frequently to keep the puppy satisfied.
- Create a daily ROUTINE of activities. It is important to offer the same chewing activities at the same time of day, and to repeat the daily routine. By creating this predictability, your puppy will be more relaxed when there is nothing for him to do.
THE “SIT” COMMAND
The first command your puppy needs to learn is definitely the word “sit”. This simple word should become a reflex for your puppy and thus prevent less desirable behaviour such as barking or jumping up to get something.
The goal is to ask for a “sit” for anything positive in your puppy’s eyes: like before getting pets, getting food or going outside. This will help develop a conditioned reflex in your puppy.
The ”lure” technique
This is a simple technique to guide your puppy into the right position. Simply place a treat or kibble between your first three fingers and bring them up to your puppy’s nose, raising them towards the top of his head. Naturally, the puppy will sit up when he lifts his head. As soon as the puppy is in the correct position, you can say the word “sit” so that he associates the word with the sitting position, then give him the reward.
SOCIALIZATION
Socialization is one of the most important developmental stages. However, to properly expose your puppy you must follow a few basic rules.
What is it?
The socialization period is a natural stage in puppies’ development, during which they’re naturally curious about their everyday environment. Exposure to positive, neutral or negative events during this period will affect your pet’s emotional comfort and ability to adapt as an adult.
When is it?
The socialization period takes place between the ages of 3 and 20 weeks. This period varies from one puppy to another, therefore it is recommended that you start exposure as soon as you adopt your puppy and continue to expose them to new experiences even after the 20-week mark.
How to socialize your puppy
Socialization is a simple process! It involves exposing your puppy to new and familiar situations by offering him the opportunity to explore them as he wishes, as long as the situation remains positive by encouraging him with praise and treats. The important point is to provide quality exposure that is fun for your puppy. In the context of socialization, the quality of your puppy’s experiences is more important than their quantity.
Why socialize your puppy?
If your puppy doesn’t experience the different situations he will be exposed to as he grows up, he may develop fears of the unknown; these fears could also become more pronounced in the future. However, socialization is not the only important phase of development; it is part of a whole.
