Puppyhood - Things To Remember During Puppy Training

Cute puppy!

Puppyhood has got to be the best time, right?!

Bringing home a new bundle of fluff, excited to see them grow, learn and develop into an amazing companion.

Here's a few things to keep in mind when raising your new puppy:

Puppies between 8-12 weeks are experiencing their first fear period. During this time, our puppies are extremely impressionable, which is why careful socialisation is a must. Just one negative experience can influence their feelings surrounding this particular thing going forwards.

While this is the perfect time to introduce our puppy to new experience, new people, dogs, noises - we mustn't fall into the trap of trying to throw everything at our puppy and overwhelm them! Slow and steady, positive and successful socialisation creates the most well-rounded dogs.

In early puppyhood, our puppies are like sponges. Make sure you're getting started with some basic training from day 1! Training starts at home - set you and your puppy up for a great future by implementing foundations from the get go. Make sure puppy is comfortable wearing their collar or harness with their lead attached - it can be a strange feeling for them at first, so we don't want this new experience to come at the same time as their first walks, that could prove too overwhelming and make their first walks more scary and uncomfortable!

Additionally, starting with basic obedience and skills at home will not only boost your progress, but strengthen your bond and mean your puppy's brain has been worked so they'll head for a nice nap!

Remember - reinforce ALL good behaviour!

Vaccinations not yet complete? Don't worry - you can still get a head start with socialisation in the world. Carry your puppy in your arms, wrapped in your coat or a blanket, or even use a puppy sling. This can be great for introducing your puppy to the sights and sounds of traffic passing by, even if they can't walk on the ground yet.

Another number 1 tip from us is to make sure you're feeling across your pup's body - including touching their paws, lifting their ears and lips gently. This will get them ready for being handled at the vets or the groomers, and should make it easier and more comfortable for both of you if ever ear cleaning or eye drops are needed, as well as checking for ticks after walks or tending to injuries.

Puppies also need lots of rest, roughly 16-20 hours daily! They're still growing and developing, so don't push them too far with physical training. Overtired puppies are likely to become frustrated and 'wild'. Just a few minutes a day is a brilliant start.

Our puppies are forming strong bonds with us, and soon we'll see all their quirks and characteristics popping out. Be patient with your new puppy, give them time to process, and don't be afraid to ask for help from pet professionals.

Looking to get started with your puppy training?

We have group Puppy Classes, as well as 1-1 home sessions available to book!

Emma

L&F Pet Services Ltd

(BSc, MSc Animal Behaviour & Training, UK Scent Detection Instructor)