The Wagadilly Times Puppy Page

Wagadilly Times Puppy Page Editor
pictured with her son, Pesto Photo courtesy of Ronnie Gregorio http://gregoriophotography.com/
PUPPY CLASS 101
by Emily
Adopting a Dog is one thing – Adopting a Puppy is a whole different thing… but a precious one! Lots of people planning to adopt a dog decide early on that what really want is a puppy. And who can blame them? Puppies make wonderful additions to both first time dog owning households, and homes that already have dogs.
Do be aware! puppies can be a challenge! Starting early with basic training is a must, not only because it will help your puppy to grow up to be a well behaved dog, but also because it helps immensely with the dog-owner bonding process. There are simple steps anyone can take to reinforce good behavior without spending a lot on treats or trainers.
BRIBE THE PUPPY! One of the first things I worked on with my puppy Pesto was learning his name and learning to come when called. I started by taking a clean, empty dog food can and filled it with a small handful of dry kibble. Then I covered the can with a washable, re-usable plastic lid like these : PET FOOD CAN LID. They are also available in most grocery stores, dollar stores and online. Voila! I had a rattling can of treats that no puppy could resist. I’d let Pesto wander the yard and every few minutes I’d shake the can, call his name and ask him to come – and reward him with a bit of kibble from the can every time he did. Pesto quickly learned his name, to come when called and most importantly to associate the sound of the kibble in the can with rewards. It was no time at all before he’d graduated basic training and moved on to advanced tricks.


So – do you need to spend a whole lot of money on puppy classes or doggie day care to get your new little friend well adjusted? No! Socialization can be done for absolutely zero dollars!

Now that you own a puppy, many of the errands you’ll be running will be to places that are pet-centric. Petco, Pet Smart, Tractor Supply and many other stores you’ll need to visit for necessities encourage dogs in the store. Bring them in with you! These are perfect places for puppies to learn how to interact with other animals and people.
My puppy Pesto and I especially liked to go to PetCo and Pet Smart on days that they were hosting adoption events because there were so many new friends to meet.
Once you’ve covered these basics, graduate to bigger things – find a local dog park where your puppy can interact with other dogs off leash,





Potty Training Success
By Emily Ridder-Beardsley
Puppy Page Editor

Photo courtesy of Rhonda Gregorio
gregoriophotography.com
This is my new baby, the to-die-for-adorable, Chalupa, who I Adopted two weeks ago. When they are this precious, it’s not too hard to have patience… and patience IS needed!
One of the most difficult parts of puppydom – especially for first time dog owners – is potty training! Yes, it’s messy. No, it doesn’t always go as planned. YES, you can conquer it!
Don’t get bogged down by pet stores trying to sell you expensive solutions, there are DIY ways to take on the problem without spending a lot of cash.
The first step, and in many cases the most difficult, is time commitment. Make sure your puppy gets lots of outside time (when I adopted my first puppy, Pesto, I actually trained him to learn the words “Outside Time” and “Inside Time” – which was very helpful to me because he knew exactly what I was asking!).
The second, and perhaps most important is to remember to be patient! Getting angry with your puppy for having accidents will never help in the training process.
So, the first question is: when does my puppy need outside time? A puppy should be taken out during potty training every time he or she wakes up from a nap, after meals and before bed time or crate time (if you’re using a crate). Beyond that, it is really helpful to find a schedule that works for you and for your family. The smaller the dog, the more frequently it will need to go out. If you have the time or help from your family, plan to take your puppy outside every 30 minutes to an hour for the first couple weeks. That way, you can preempt the possibility of accidents in the house.
Be sure to congratulate your puppy when they do their business outside! It is much easier to teach a dog good behavior with positive reinforcement! You can even bring small treats with you as a reward for doing the right thing.
Then, expect that there will be accidents. Instead of buying expensive potty pads from the pet store, line crates, kitchen floors or other areas where you leave your puppy unattended with old sheets and towels. The great thing about these is that they can be used, washed and re-used! Be sure to change out the sheets or towels after each accident and clean them before you re-use them. A puppy can smell where it has used the bathroom before and will continue to return to that spot if it is not properly cleaned. When accidents happen, take your puppy for outside time right away! That way they learn to associate potty time with outside time.
If you’re diligent, you’ll be through potty training in a few short weeks and the lessons will last a lifetime!
PUPPY CLASS: FOUR
Puppyhood can Make You Crazy



Okay, so here are a few solutions to these problems….



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