3 Things You Should NOT be Doing with Your Puppy
Getting a new puppy is always exciting. The first few days are usually smooth and manageable, most likely because you still have that new puppy high. Everything they do is still cute. It’s only after a few weeks that you’ll start seeing all the unexpected changes in your house.
You suddenly notice your pup roaming all over the house, pulling everything they see, munching on chairs and table legs. They’ll go up to the dining table, stand watch as you shower and pee, or wake up in the middle of the night wanting to play. Worst of all, they’ll be pooping and peeing everywhere.
Now you realize it’s not all roses and rainbows and puppy kisses. Being a pet owner is hard work.
It is this first stage that is crucial, however. You are introducing your dog to a new environment. Your relationship is being built. This is a learning stage for your pup and is essential to hone their character.
Are you giving them the proper attention? You may not realize it, but you may be making costly mistakes that would make training your dog harder in the future.
Dog behaviorist, Angelo Presta (@theartofk9training), talks about three things you should not be doing with your puppy.
1. Give free access to your bed, couch, and elevated surfaces right off the bat.
Given the joy your new puppy gives, it’s not uncommon to want to be with them day and night. You want them with you, whether you’re simply lounging on the couch or lying in bed.
But is this sharing of spaces good for your pet? Beds, for example, are considered “private spaces.” So should you be conditioning your fur baby that it’s okay and it’s their space too?
Presta says no, at least not without having built the appropriate relationship.
Puppies start building emotional bonds and attachments to their humans beginning at 6-8 weeks of age. This stage is a vital developmental stage for them. At the same time, they need to understand that they are not the boss of the house. While experts say allowing your puppy on the bed isn’t bad, it also puts them at the same level as you. This may result in them exhibiting aggressive behavior.
So let your puppy be on the bed or couch. But make sure you have already established the proper relationship between pet and pet owner before doing so.
Another thing to consider is your health. Do you have allergies? Dogs usually walk barefoot, and they can acquire germs and bacteria that they can share when they get to your personal spaces. Direct contact with dust, bacteria, and germs may trigger allergies or even cause you to develop allergies that you do not have initially. Cleanliness is the key to countering this. Groom your dog often if you are already allowing them to share these spaces with you. It would help if you also considered other people who share the area with you.
You are also compromising your dog’s independence if you keep them beside you all the time. They also need to learn that everything should not depend on you. Their mental health is important. Some dogs develop separation anxiety if they are with their owners more often. Researching their personality will give you more understanding of how you can manage your relationships with your puppy.
2. Not correcting inappropriate behaviors.
Like humans, dogs have their characteristics and behaviors. They can have mood swings. Inappropriate behaviors must be attended to immediately. Address bad behavior as soon as possible before they develop uncontrollable habits.
Dog training is best done while the dog is still young. You can enroll your pet in behavioral or skills training classes, or you can train them yourself with the help of training guides and a remote training collar.
What is the best age for dogs to use an e collar?
You can start training your puppy with a remote training e collar from 6 months onwards. While some say, it’s alright to begin at 10 weeks, bear in mind that just like human babies, puppies have learning curves. They need to learn basic commands first. In this case, the e collar is primarily used to reinforce learned behavior or teach more complex commands.
Some of the best remote dog training collars or e-collars in the market that can help you manage dog behaviors are:
a. The ET-300 Mini Educator Black Remote Training E-collar
Educator collars are some of the best remote training collars in the market. It’s a favorite among trainers and pet owners. The Mini Educator ET-300 is feature-packed. Finding the right combo to train your dog will be a breeze. It also comes in a Zen design as well as a yellow version.
The ET-300 Mini Educator by E-Collar Technologies has a ½-mile range, 1-100 user-selectable levels of wide pulse stimulation, and up to 60 levels additional boost. The small receiver is waterproof, and the collar has a LED light feature for night visibility. Suitable for dogs 8 pounds and up.
b. The ME-300 Micro Educator E-collar
The Micro Educator ME-300, also by E-Collar Technologies, is best for small dogs. It comes with a small ergonomic remote control that is good for small hands, making one-handed operation easy. It has a range of up to 1/3-mile, has 100 levels of adjustable static stimulation with a lock and set feature, a tone option, 60 levels of boost, and a waterproof transmitter and collar.
c. Dogtra 200NCPT Remote Training Collar PetsTEK Edition
You can never go wrong with a Dogtra collar. The Dogtra 200NCPT remote trainer is best for basic obedience training, going off-leash in small parks, and beginner field training. This is fully waterproof, has a ½-mile range, 100 levels of static stimulation, safety correction level lock, and is suitable for small to medium dogs.
3. Not using your crate.
Crates are not cages. They are not there to punish your dogs. Instead, they are supposed to be a haven and place for your pup to relax. Crate training is helpful during emergencies and evacuations. Your puppies should learn to go to their crates immediately if they feel unsafe or in danger. Some dogs who are not crate-trained think that this is the scariest place for them, but it should not be. Their crates should be their headquarters if they need to rest, recuperate, and de-stress.
Do you agree with the above? Tell us about your thoughts in the comments!
