For most new puppy owners, training their new puppy can become a frustrating endeavor if any of the following mistakes are made. Most of these mistakes are as a result of a misunderstanding of some of the fundamental differences between humans and dogs. Although there are some similarities between humans and animals, failure to make the proper distinctions will result in unresolved obedience and behavior problems.

     Mistake #1 - If you treat your dog like a child, your dog will treat you like an animal. Little puppies are some of the most adorable creatures and it is easy to coddle a puppy the same way we would a child. However, puppies communicate significantly different from humans. Dogs have instincts that humans do not have. I suppose I could write a book on these differences; but I hope the examples that follow in this article may give you some insight into the differences which need to be made. By recognizing these differences, it will empower you to make incredible progress both in training and bonding with your new puppy.

    Mistake #2 – Failure to use a crate for training purposes. Many people are under the impression that confining a dog to a crate is cruel or inhumane. Actually, dogs have what is known as a den instinct. If a dog were out in the wild, it would seek out a safe place to dig a large hole, known as a den and crawl in to sleep as well as protect itself from the elements. The den gives the dog a sense of safety and security. It gives the pet owner the ability to control the dog’s activities when the owner is not able to watch the dog. This will help the pet owner to accelerate the housebreaking process as well as protect their personal belongings from damage as a result of chewing. Most dog owners leave their puppy in the crate during the day while they are at work. People that are at home during the day can utilize the crate in the morning or the afternoon to put the dog down for a nap or a “time out” when the puppy gets unruly.

     Mistake #3 – Giving the puppy too much freedom without restraints. How long would a mother leave an 18 month old child unattended?? Most potty accidents and damage to personal property occur when the pet owner leaves a puppy unattended for more than 60 seconds. Puppies need 100 percent supervision during the various learning phases of their development. Failure to monitor your puppy’s activites is an accident waiting to happen.

     Mistake #4 – Lack of structure. Many new puppy owners think their puppy is too young to learn some of the basic commands such as sit or stay so they wait until the puppy is older to begin a formal training program. By waiting to train your puppy, you will be inadvertently permitting inappropriate behavior (bad habits) to develop and it will make it that much more difficult to correct the problems later when the dog is set in it’s ways and much larger, making the training somewhat more difficult. Train up a puppy in the way that it should go, and when it is older, it shall not depart from it.

     Mistake #5 - Giving your dog too much love. That may sound outrageous to some pet owners. How can you give your puppy too much love? Great question, I am glad you asked. You have probably heard of the book, “The Dog That Loved too Much.” I would like to write a sequel to that book entitled, “The Dog Owner That Loved too Much.” Essentially, this is one of those issues that need to be understood in terms of making the proper distinctions between human and animals. Everyone knows that a dog will give unconditional love even to an abusive owner. We feel inclined to reciprocate with the same unconditional love. This may be one of the greatest single factors that contribute to an unruly misbehaving puppy or dog.

     I need you to understand what I am NOT saying. I am not saying that we should not give our dogs love and affection. What I am saying is, dogs learn by association. If your dog only associates you with love and no limits, restrictions or boundaries, your dog will control you and your home as well as embarrass you every time you have company visit. A little discipline and structure will go a long way in communicating what is appropriate. Praise and affection should be done in connection with your puppy complying with a request. The puppy associates affection with acts of compliance and will be more likely to follow your lead. That is not to say you can not give your puppy random acts of kindness, but it is always better to ask your dog to do something for it. If your puppy understands that nothing in life is FREE, it will never take your love for him for granted.

     Mistake # 6 - The puppy owner is afraid to discipline their puppy. Most pet owners have a pet for the purpose of companionship and the unconditional love animal’s offer. Many puppy owners feel if they discipline their dog for inappropriate behavior that their dog will not love them as much or be as playful. Just the opposite is true. Once a dog understands that there are boundaries as to what is and is not acceptable, the dog’s ability to love actually increases because it thrives on knowing what is expected of him. Discipline will vary from one dog to the next depending upon many factors, but to ignore discipline is to invite problems which will go unresolved for years if permitted. Nearly 80 percent of the dogs which are surrendered to shelters and rescue group are surrendered because of an unresolved obedience or behavior problem. Most of these problems could have been avoided if some discipline was exercised during the most impressionable period of the puppy’s development.

     Mistake # 7 – The puppy or dog is not getting enough exercise. This may be one of the single greatest reasons why some people think their dog is psychotic. The dog that runs through the house like a wild animal out of control, nipping and biting as it goes while destroying anything it can get it’s teethe into. Some breeds of dog need to be able to run for as long as 30 minutes at 6 to 7 miles per hour before they will settle down. If you have a dog like the one I have just described, you may want to consider using a treadmill to burn off that excess energy. Unless of course you are a jogger and you can run 6 to 7 miles per hour for 30 to 40 minutes at a time. You would be amazed at the change in a dog’s behavior after it gets exercise on a regular basis.

     These are the most common mistakes that new puppy owners make with a new bundle of joy known as a puppy. By employing these simple tips you will avoid many of the most vexing problems known to mankind as it relates to bringing a new puppy into your home.

Contact Information

Tom Beitz is the owner of the Academy for Puppies and Dogs and is an authorized dealer for Pet STOP Hidden Dog Fences. Tom can be reached at (716) 628-0651 to answer your questions or he can be found on the web at www.smartdogtrainer.com . E-Mail: Tom@Smartdogtrainer.com

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