Puppy 101
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Basic Must-Haves
Toys they can chew on like the Nylabone Puppy Chews, Bully Sticks with the Bully Buddy and the Pink or Blue Kongs and soft, plush toys for playtime
Treats, of course! We love the simple, high-quality freeze dried treats from Feed Holi. Use DOGLIFE30 to get 30% off the first order!
Accidents Happen - prepare with pee-pads, turf, or even a litter box. Nature's Miracle or a similar odor/stain remover is recommended as well.
Harnesses are critical from the start. Favorite brands: Freedom, Balance, PetSafe 3-in-1, Gooby Escape Free Sport (great for little dogs)
Snuffle Mat or Lickimat provide mental stimulation and work as a slow-feeder
Crate or Pen is critical for puppy training and can be used for months or longer
Potty Training
Supervision is required! If you are away from your dog, put him/her in a confined area like their crate or pen. Take your puppy to potty after each sleep/nap time, 10-15 minutes after drinking water, 15-20 minutes after the beginning of an active play time (aka zoomies). Reward your pup heavily if peeing/pooping in the right spot (i.e. pee pad or outside). You can train a cue by saying “go potty” right when your pup is about to squat down, praise and give a treat as soon as they are done.
Pee pads may be a necessary evil for city-living folks as outside is not always an option. If you use pads, start transitioning your puppy to go outside as soon as possible. Your dog needs to get used to doing his/her business outside with all the distractions and be comfortable doing so on a leash. Once your puppy knows how to eliminate both on a pad and outside, we would only recommend giving him/her a treat for the outside business. It will make your puppy hold it in for a bit longer in hopes of cashing it in for a yummy treat and many dogs are highly food-motivated!
Be very consistent and the potty training transition will be smooth and stress-free. Do not scold the puppy for having an accident. This won’t teach him/her not to potty in the house, but only to be afraid of doing it in front of you.
Socialization
Socialize your dog! The most important period for a proper socialization is 10-16 weeks. During this time, you need to introduce your puppy to the busy streets and sidewalks. They need to be comfortable living in an urban environment and taking walks without stressing over every little sound. There will be sirens from fire trucks, police, and ambulances. There will be kids running around and other dogs passing by. It may take some time for your puppy to get used to it. You can carry your dog if you don’t want to walk him/her just yet. You can sit on a park bench and soak up the sights and sounds. It is all about positive association with the outside world. Handling your puppy in different ways is also part of socialization. So make sure you touch their ears, all four paws, tummy, tail, etc.
Mouthy Behavior
Chewing, biting, nipping - all very typical puppy behaviors. Make sure you have plenty of chew toys for your teething pup. Distract and redirect them from chewing on your furniture, shoes, ankles, etc. Don’t just say "No!" and do nothing about it. If your dog is chewing he/she has a need to soothe their teeth and gums. Try redirecting their attention to an appropriate thing like bully sticks and rubber toys (puppy appropriate). If your dog is overtired, biting can be painful. You can gently put your pup into the crate with a chew toy like a stuffed Kong to keep them busy - which will likely turn into a nap.
Crate Training
Feed your puppy in their crate or pen. Yummy treats should be available only when he/she is inside their crate so they create the positive association. Use a cue like “go to your crate” and throw a treat inside. Once the puppy walks in, make sure you give them praise. Practice this a few times a day, 3-4 minutes each time, and soon your puppy will understand the cue. You can even hide treats inside of the crate when your puppy isn’t nearby. This way, when they walk past he/she will smell the scent and go in to investigate. The reward comes from the crate itself and not from you. The crate should always be a positive place for the dog.
Mental Stimulation
Mental enrichment for dogs is as important as physical exercise. Below are just a few ideas, but you can always Google, YouTube or Instagram search for more!
Boxes, paper bags, egg cartons, paper towel and toilet paper inserts, anything cardboard - fill it, stuff it and let them shred it!
Hide and seek. Walk around the corner and call your dog's name. When he/she finds you, reward them.
Treat in a towel. Take a washcloth or kitchen towel, place treats or kibble in the middle, and fold. Let your pup discover it. You can play with increasing the folds until you can roll it into a burrito.
Find the toy or treat. Hide a toy or treat behind your back, say “find it,” and let the dog figure out where it is. Offer praise when he/she discovers it behind your back and takes the toy or treat. You could also try tossing it on the floor by your puppy's side and say “go find it.” After he/she knows the cue, you can try throwing the toy or treat further away or even hide it in the room.
Fetch is always a great go-to game that most pups are eager to play.
Muffin pan + tennis balls: fill a muffin pan with treats or kibble and cover the individual cups with the tennis balls. Let your pup use their nose to discover the food. Increase the difficulty by randomizing which cups in the muffin tin contain food, but still place the tennis balls over every cup.
Which hand? Hide a treat in one fist and let the puppy use his/her nose to sniff it out. The second he/she touches the correct hand, give them the treat.
Stack small food containers with treats in between them and let the dog figure out how to retrieve them. Start with two containers and increase for more difficulty.
Game of cups. Place food containers upside down with treats underneath one of them. Let the dog figure out which one contains the food.
To inquire about upcoming puppy classes or private training, reach out to us today!
dogs@doglifehoboken.com
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