Luv For Pets

Did you just get a new member to your family?  Whether the pet is a rescue animal or one you purchased from a reputable breeder you need to decide, as a family, what your newest family member is allowed to do, and what methods you will use to teach them everyday manners.  In order for the pet to know what to do and when to do it, everyone in the family has be consistent. 

So what type of training do you get for the dog?  There are two thoughts on the training.  First thought is to use training aids at home and everyone pitch in with the training on a daily basis.  The second thought is to use a professional trainer with the main handler of the animal going to school with them.  In between the classes the family needs to work with the dog, at least daily, to reinforce the lessons that have been taught.    

Make sure that everyone uses the same commands for correcting and praising your animal.  There are a lot of areas that need to be explained to the entire family such as where the pet will sleep, where the puppy will eat  and who will  be responsible for feeding, cleaning up after them, and who will exercise the puppy.  Do not let the dog have free range of the house.  When someone in the family is with your dog, let them roam to different rooms.  Make sure you give them feedback on how they are acting both positive and negative.

Taking your new puppy to Obedience School is a great way for the dog to get proper training.  They also get to socialize with other dogs, which is great additional training for them.

Make sure that when house breaking your dog, you do it every several hours, making sure that after they do their “job”,  that they get rewarded with either praise (good boy/girl) and/or a small treat. This can be done by going outside or using training pads, inside, at a predetermined location.

Did you know the biggest problem with the puppy’s behavior is the owner?  They usually think the puppy should know right from wrong from day one.  The new pet will get everything wrong until they are trained with the house rules of living with you and your family.  Remember that it is only normal for a puppy to get into trouble.

The first day you bring your pet home you need to start the training even before you decide which method of training you are going to go to use.  Never use force with your pet either by yelling and using a newspaper to swatch them for doing something wrong.  Remember kindness will work much better then with brute force.