Puppy Awareness Week (PAW) - Part 5

Did you take that deep breath we mentioned last time? If not don't worry, puppy training really isn't all that bad... The time and patience you put in will be rewarded ten fold the first time you really need your dog to do something and lo and behold she/he does it! Plus the sense of pride you'll get when you puppy learns something new is always nice ;)

To begin with your puppy really only needs the basics - house training and simple commands like 'sit', 'stay', 'down', 'heel' and 'come' - commands like these are not only impressive and stimulating, but essential in keeping your puppy safe, especially later on when you take them out and about. We started teaching Lola 'sit' and 'down' a while ago, to get an idea of what to expect you can check out this video! :)

'Drop'/'leave' is also a worthwhile command for puppies, as many tiny mouths like to chew and they often like to chew things they really shouldn't. There's a long list of unsafe foods/plants that they'll love having a go at, so prevention is better than a cure! Another thing to consider is loose wires, if your puppy chews them sure your appliance will need repairs or to be be replaced, but your puppy may come off needing to be 'repaired' too... and I'm sure you don't even want to think of having to 'replace' them! So take extra care to make sure all wires and cables are firmly out of the reach of tiny teeth. Don't forget appliances that come and go, things like hoovers need to be turned off at the socket or unplugged when not in use, even turning your back on them for 30 seconds to answer the phone could result in a burnt tongue, or a lot worse...

Now puppy is home you'll want to make an appointment for their vaccinations, worming and micro chipping, plus a general health check to make sure everything is as it should be. It's a great time to ask for any advice from your vet and start building a good relationship with them, so don't be afraid to ask questions, they should be happy to help you. It's also time to get puppy settled, keeping the first few days calm and quiet is helpful. it might be hard to say 'no' to say excited relatives/friends, but your pup needs his/her time to settle, the move is a big change and can be a little daunting for even the most confident puppy.

Tomorrow - is your pup a star? Find out with Pup Idol, part of PAW thanks to the Kennel Club!

Love & licks,
Rio, Jonny, Buffy, Rafferty, Monroe, Lily and Lola.
xo