Despite the advice that dogs ‘aren’t for Christmas’, there is typically a rise in new puppy-owners seen over the festive season.
On Lunchtime Live, professional dog trainer Dawn Greer gave advice on how to best train and care for these new family members.
“I suppose the first bit of advice I would have for everyone is spend time just really getting to know and bonding with your puppy,” she said.
“It’s the most important part of your future relationship – so playing with them [and] doing little short training sessions that are fun with them are really the most important things to do with your puppy right now.”
Boy, 8 years, training an Old English Sheepdog puppy, 4 months. Image: imageBROKER.com GmbH & Co. KG / Alamy. 9 December 2014Ms Greer said that while it may seem counterintuitive, you shouldn’t give out to a puppy for going to the toilet in the house.
“All that will do is then make your puppy not want to go to the toilet in front of you rather than teach them they’re not supposed to be going to the toilet in the house,” she said.
“So, it’s important, for toilet training for example, that you [keep to] regular schedules.
“Usually, as soon as they’ve woken up, after they’ve eaten, after they’ve had a play session, make sure that you take them outside - and wait with them until they go to the toilet, because puppies often get really distracted by things and then forget why they’re out in the garden. "
Fun fun fun!
According to Ms Greer, the best way to keep children engaged and actively involved with new pets is to make it fun for both parties.
“Initially I think make it fun, more so that then they really want to spend time with a puppy and want to do the fun things,” she said.
“So, a really engaged play session, for example, with the puppy and your child – running around the garden, getting your puppy to chase a toy running around the garden - is really fun for the child and the puppy”.
“Things like that - I would say try and again go for the positive, make it fun for both before you start to bring in the real stricter rules with the children.”
Rewards
When it comes to lead training, Mr Greer said to use loads of rewards rather than punishments.
“Initially for training them to walk on leads, they don’t tend to pull the same way as adult dogs do, so I would start that straight away,” she said.
“You would work on a lot of ‘focus on me’ kind of behaviours so that you can get your doggie to look at you.
“That helps with encouraging your dog to walk beside you – also using lots of rewards.
“It’s really important to remember not to tighten the leash, because you’re not trying to teach the dog to come in at your side, you want them to naturally do it.
“So, you should be rewarding them when the lead is loose and not when the lead is tight.”
Ms Greer said to keep in mind that dogs are pack animals, and many puppies may find nighttime separation from their owners very difficult.
She said there is ‘no harm’ in letting your puppy sleep upstairs in a crate for the first while, and then gradually moving them downstairs.
Featured image: A Schnauzer puppy is all decked out for the holidays, sitting on a cloud of white fluff and surrounded by holiday decor. Image: vhCreativePhoto / Alamy. 22 November 2014
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