It’s one of the most exciting days of your life, the day you bring home your new puppy. For many it’s similar to the birth of a child. But sadly, like a child, some do not understand the gravity of the commitment they are making. You now have a living, breathing life that needs you to teach it how to behave properly and depends on you for its basic needs. If you do not feed your puppy, it will not eat. I have had the unfortunate experience of seeing people have to return dogs because they could not handle the responsibility and did not factor it into account before adopting/purchasing their dog. So I wanted to give people a quick starting guide for getting their new puppy on the right track to set them up for a loving relationship that’ll last forever. 

The first few days your puppy might seem nervous and skittish. Even that uber-confident alpha of the litter is bound to get a little scared once they leave their brothers, sisters, momma, and their entire life as they know it. Some dogs will adapt quicker than others, so do not be worried if your dog is taking a while to warm up. It is generally stated to allow 3 full weeks before you start to see your dog’s true personality. In order to make the transition to their new life as easy as possible, try creating a routine for them and maintain consistency with them. Keep their water bowl in the same spot, food as well. This lets them start acclimating right away and developing a sense of home quickly. Also be sure you are taking them out for plenty of potty breaks, at least once an hour. Try taking them to the same spot every time so that they quickly associate that area with relieving themselves and minimizing accidents in the house. 

Once your puppy is starting to feel at home and is comfortable with you, it is time to start establishing yourself as the master. This is especially important with bigger/hardheaded breeds. Your puppy needs to learn that you are the alpha, and that they need to respect you and behave the way you want. This does not mean using excessive force, but this does mean being firm when teaching your puppy manners and being consistent with them. Do not allow them to get away with things you told them “No” about, and as they get older and test you, do not allow direct disobedience. Many puppers will start their training as A+ learners, but at about 4 months they will begin to develop their own minds and more independence. This will lead to them testing the rules again, and I have seen many owners with great puppies become lax in their training and their puppy experiences huge regression in their manners and training. Remember, a puppy is like a child. They will disobey and misbehave, but the best way to correct is to stay consistent with their training without the use of excessive force/dominance. 

In my experience, training your new dog is an ongoing venture. I still teach my dogs new tricks, and they still have moments of disobedience, although they have become fewer and further between. Do not get discouraged if your puppy seems to be taking a long time to catch on or has a reoccurring bad habit. The best practice is to stay consistent, be firm when you catch them misbehaving, and reward them when they are being the good dogs they want to be. Most breeds of dogs are eager to please and want you to be happy with them, not upset because they aren’t acting right. Nothing can replace time and repetition, and your dog will eventually learn. Be sure to celebrate the successes more than you dwell on their failures and more than all love that puppy with your whole heart and things will turn out great.