Keep Up with Your Pup!

By Elizabeth Parker

Raising a dog is always a rewarding and beautiful experience. After all, who can resist that wagging tail and adorable antics that are unique to each of them. It’s safe to say, however, that raising a dog can also be a challenge. Not only do you have to make sure they are always comfortable and well taken care of, but you also have to be sure you giving them exactly what they need. Not always an easy task when they can’t speak for themselves!!

In the beginning, we worry about training them for the most part. If they are young enough (hopefully) they won’t have too many health issues, so we focus our attention on making sure they are housebroken and maintain good doggy manners.

For instance, when housebreaking a pup – do you use a crate? Paper train?

We all have an opinion on which is the better option. Some don’t like crate training, but it really depends on the dog. One of the topics of discussion that I’ve had at dog parks or just talking to other dog lovers was crate training.

I say it depends on the dog, as some dogs love their crate and as long as it stays open after the housebreaking phase, there are dogs who seek solace in their crate and voluntarily go in there just to unwind from their busy doggy day!

Two of my dogs loved their crates. For the rest of them, I didn’t use crates as I never wanted to force them to stay in there if they weren’t familiar with them. I showed them the crate, kept it in the room for about two weeks and when they never went in, I took down the crate. If you force a dog, they are going to be scared of it.

When it comes to training, it’s always good to read a little about every option and choose the best one that fits your pup’s personality.

Dogs are used to having one trainer. This is the person they listen to at all times. If you live alone, this won’t present any problems, because the dog will behave the way that you train him or her to behave.

If you have a family, it might be a good idea to discuss your plans to train your new furbaby so that you are all on the same page. This discussion is not limited to just husband and wife, or partner. If there are children involved, they should be aware of the training procedure as well.

Your new pet will listen to one alpha, but then will follow the chain of command if everyone knows their role. For example, if you are married and your husband is to be the alpha, you might be the second in command. Your ten-year-old might be third, and your eightyear-old might be fourth, etc.

Certain topics you may want to discuss are what your new pet is or is not allowed to do, what time do they eat, how many times a day will they eat, food portion size and where will their dining area be? What kind of food will they eat? Which types of treats you will give and how often?

How about commands? Dogs do listen, but if one person uses “off” to get them to stop jumping and another person uses “down,” they are going to get confused. Use one word for each action and stick to that word.

Boundaries

When you first adopt a dog, it’s a good idea to have a plan in place. Of course, our dogs will always train us in some capacity, but we can try!

First, we need to decide will there be any boundaries? Or will Fido have freedom as he or she sees fit? It seems like a minor decision, but it is going to be one that sticks for the rest of your new pet’s life.

For example, if you decide to allow them to sleep in the bedroom with you, realize that Fido will ALWAYS want to sleep in the bedroom with you. Dogs are pack animals, so to most, this is where they want to sleep. It’s a tough habit to break once you allow them in.

Will they be allowed in every room? Again, this might not be a big deal, but these days, a lot more people are working from home. If you allow your pup into your office, she might not realize she’s whining loudly when you’re on your very important business call, or that the report that she just ripped up had a deadline of noon today. (And yes, just speaking from experience)!

Just something to think about.

Most of all, congratulations and have fun. Learning to get to know each other’s personalities can be both grueling and amazing at the same time. In the long run, your pet will bring you years of loyalty and happiness.

ELIZABETH PARKER – Author of Finally Home, Final Journey, My Dog Does That!, Bark Out Loud!, Paw Prints in the Sand, Paw Prints in the Sand: Mission Accomplished, Unwanted Dreams, Phobia, Evil’s Door and Faces of Deception. Available on Amazon.com!