If you are a first time dog owner you’re aware that you’ll be training your puppy and making sure that he behaves himself. But have you thought about the need to train yourself before training your puppy? The truth of the matter is that you are going to be going through a period of adjustment, just like the new puppy, and the better you prepare yourself for it, the easier the transition is going to be! When you are thinking about what kind of training you need before you bring your puppy home, there are a few things that you should keep in mind.
The first thing that you have to be prepared for is the lifestyle adjustment. Puppies are a large responsibility and not only do you have to have the funds to take care of him, you also need to make sure that you are going to have the time to see to his needs. For instance, a new puppy that is not house trained or crate trained should be taken out at least once every one to three hours. Is there someone in your household who can see to that?
You also need to think about the level of activity that goes with getting the puppy that you are bring home. For instance, if you are bringing home a husky or a Labrador or especially a Jack Russell terrier, you should be ready for a very active lifestyle!
Another thing to consider is what adjustments have to be made in your household. Is there a place to keep the puppy when he first shows up? And how are you going to deal with the fact that he might have some accidents or that he might cry all night? Most people choose to have separate rooms set up for the new puppies in their lives, a place that is barricaded from the rest of the house to minimize any damage.
You may also find that you need to puppy-proof the house, including moving things that the cute little thing might want to chew on and taking valuables off the lower shelves.
When making sure that your puppy is going to get the training that he needs, keep in mind that this is going to be an ongoing thing. You really can’t expect a brand new puppy to pick up all the rules and restrictions in a few days, or even a few weeks. You need to allocate time in order to make sure that he is going to get the point, and then you need to work on repeating these things to make sure that they are deeply imprinted in his mind. A well-trained dog is a dog that will listen to your commands and not put himself or others in danger, so make sure that you take your time with this and are as thorough as possible.
Before you even bring your pup home, think it through. You want the best training for your new bundle of fur and you want to do things right so you don’t end up with a dog that constantly barks or chews up the leg of your couch.
