Friendly Puppy Training

Socialization should start as soon as the puppy is born. A responsible breeder lays a foundation for good behavior by handling the puppies every day. As they grow, the breeder allows them to go outside, to play and explore this big new world. The pups are introduced to a dog crate, house-breaking and the veterinarian. The breeder provides as many new experiences as possible to prepare them for the transition to their new homes. The breeder has merely started the socialization process. Now it’s up to you to go on from there.

To a puppy, everything in the world is brand new. He’s never seen any of this before! Try to remember his perspective as you teach him what’s expected of him. Dogs learn from positive and negative experiences. They learn fastest from positive experiences. You’ll get best results if you make it easy and rewarding for the puppy to do what you want. It’s important to have patience and a good sense of humor!

Throughout his life, your dog will need grooming and medical exams. The first thing every puppy must learn is to allow himself to be handled and touched all over his body. Several times a day, pick up your puppy and put him on his back in your lap or on the floor. Be gentle but firm. He’ll probably struggle to get away so rub his tummy and talk to him until he relaxes. Run your hands all over him — down his legs, fiddle with his toes, feel his ears, lift his lips to look at his teeth, scratch his back. He might nip your fingers in play and wriggle all around while he’s getting his “massage”. It’s important that you make these sessions enjoyable but don’t let it turn into a wrestling match or a tug o’war game. Have everyone in your household and your friends handle the puppy like this every day. Gradually increase the length of time the puppy must lie quietly until he’ll lie there to be massaged as long as you want.

Introduce a brush and the nail clipper during some of these sessions and make the brushing feel good. As your dog grows up and it’s no longer practical to hold him in your lap, encourage him to lie on his side for his massages. Grooming and nail cutting are much easier on both of you when the dog lies quietly on his side. Your dog will look forward to grooming if you’ve shown him since puppyhood how pleasurable it can be

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Also See: Photographing a new Puppy