 There is no denying that a new puppy is exciting and fun — but also a lot of work. What you do now makes a big difference in your dog’s behavior later in life. So, if you are getting ready to bring a new puppy home, here is my list of what you need to be successful.
Food and Treats - This is the fuel your puppy uses to grow big and strong. Food designed specifically for puppies — This is a must. It’s ideal to get a small bag of food from the breeder and use it to transition to the food you plan to feed long-term. Feed the best food you can afford, and take time to educate yourself about nutrition. Treats for training — Training starts the moment you get home, so have treats ready to go. Keep them small and reward everything your puppy does right. Before long, they’ll be doing more right things than wrong ones. Look for treats with ingredients you can pronounce and avoid inferior treats with added colors.
0 Comments
 We have all heard the advice to “Socialize! Socialize! Socialize!” your puppy. But what exactly does that mean? When I ask this to new puppy owners, invariably the response I get is, “Expose them to lots of different things.” And they are right — at least partially. The one key component that they are missing is that it should be POSITIVE exposure to the world around them.
The socialization window is the time to say to your puppy, “Welcome to the world! It’s a great place, and you don’t need to be scared because I have your back.” The biggest and most common mistake I see new puppy guardians make is that, in an effort to socialize their puppy, they allow a multitude of inappropriate interactions to occur repeatedly, which can create behavior problems. Imagine for a moment that every time you went out in public, every single person you saw touched you. How would that make you feel? Some people would love that much attention, but the vast majority of people would hate having their space invaded every single time they go out — and puppies are the same.  Many years ago, my brother gave me a tiny, practical gift: a set of clip-on lights for my dogs’ collars. Nothing fancy. Nothing that belonged on a shopping guide or under a spotlight. But it was the first time someone gave me something that reflected who I was — a person whose life revolves, in the best way, around dogs.
That small gesture said, “I see how much they mean to you.” And that made it unforgettable. When you love a dog, gifts that acknowledge that love can feel incredibly personal. They support the bond that shapes your days — your routines, your laughter, the reason you go outside in weather that makes the mailman question your sanity. A gift for a dog is really a gift for the person who builds their world around them. Which brings me to winter break. |
AuthorI have been working with dogs for over 15 years-soon to be over 20. I have two dogs currently - Stanley and Walter and two dogs waiting for me at the rainbow bridge - Maverick & Jasper. My dogs have been profound teachers and I want to share what I have learned with you. Archives
December 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed