Alta Vista Animal Hospital

Veterinary Learning Center - Basic Puppy Training

Alta Vista congratulates you on your new family member! Owning a dog is rewarding, but often takes a lot of work. If you follow these puppy behavior tips, you can expect some insight into the mind of your new furry friend.

Socializing your Puppy 

The social structure of dogs is similar to ours, but there are a few important differences.As dogs cannot speak, their behavior is the only form of communication that we have the ability to understand. Misinterpretation of these signals is surprisingly common, as the same signal may be interpreted by a dog very differently than by a human.
Between 4 to 16 weeks of age is the best time to socialize your puppy. This is the time at which your puppy’s interactions with its environment will most affect his future experience with the world. It is during this period that he learns how to act around other dogs, to show respect to the leader of the pack, and to gain trust in others, human or canine. Usually your puppy is already about 8 weeks old by the time he comes home to you, so his littermates and the breeder will have some role in socializing the puppy. It would be a good idea to visit the breeder before you take one home, to watch how the puppy acts around his siblings and you, a stranger. It is critical to match a dog’s temperament with the owner’s expectation, so as to minimize unpleasant surprises and maximize companionship. The breeder or your veterinarian might be a good source of information regarding such decisions.
So, you have brought home your adorable bundle of joy! He can do no wrong, right? Not true! He is trying his hardest to understand the world and his role in it. Our responsibility is to let him do this in safe environment with lots of things to see, hear, and smell. He can be easily overwhelmed by all of these new things, so be compassionate if he has trouble paying attention to you.

Crate Training 

Similar to a small child, your puppy can be dangerously curious. If not supervised properly, his curiosity can get him into trouble. This is why crate training is a good idea. It is like a playpen for your dog: they might hate it at first, but will learn to associate it with rest and feelings of safety. If the dog becomes noisy in his crate, do not yell at him, this will just encourage the behavior because he has accomplished his goal of getting your attention. Instead, wait until he has settled down before you let him out. This will also teach him that he does not always get what he wants.

Biting

Like a toddler, a puppy puts everything into its mouth, and for the same reason: they are teething. However, puppies do not have hands, so his mouth is also his primary tool at manipulating his environment. Light biting is natural experimentation, but when your puppy bites with pressure it can not only cause us discomfort, but he will learn bad habits. If he were still around his littermates, they would yelp to let him know he is playing to rough. You should behave the same way, and yelp and stop playing if he bites too hard.

Desensitization

Over the next month, your puppy will be exposed to all sorts of stimulation, including other dogs and people, the veterinarian, cars, the phone, and so on. His reactions can vary, depending on your dog’s natural temperament, but if he is anxious, the most important thing for you to do is to try to make it a positive experience for him. You must show him that he can trust that you will protect him.
You can accomplish this through daily desensitizing exercises. These are basically handling exercises to show the dog that he will be ok during physical restraint, and that nothing painful happens when we examine their eyes, ears, and mouth. If your dog has exposure to these experiences regularly, he will be better adjusted and gain trust in you.

Sit

The most basic part of dog obedience is the sit. When a dog is sitting he is in a submissive position, and we are in control of the situation. It acknowledges us as the pack leader. Teaching a puppy to sit is usually very easy, and your veterinarian will be happy to explain techniques to you.
Once he has learned to sit, you should get him to sit whenever you give him something. It can be likened to asking a child to say please before receiving something. He should sit before he gets fed, before he is let outside, or before he gets attention.

Dominance

The social world of the dog depends on a very important concept: dominance. Your dog wants you to be pack leader, but if you do not step up to the plate, he will take over the job. Without a clear indication of who is in the leadership role, he will naturally gravitate toward that role himself.
Strangely, many of our ways of giving our dog love (feeding, grooming, petting, letting him lead on walks) also tell him that he is top dog. These things are ok- as long as he does not expect us to do them, or worse, demand that we do. These are the times when asking him to sit will best define his role in the family. Do not reward behavior like barking, begging, or pawing with attention.

Other Dogs and Animals

Your dog must learn to interact with other dogs, as well as with people. There is some danger of him contracting an illness from other dogs as his immune system builds, but as long as you follow your veterinarian’s advice on healthcare and vaccinations, as well as make sure he is only around healthy animals, everything should be ok.
Activities like obedience training encourage positive social interactions with other dogs. They can desensitize him, while at the same time training him to behave like a prince.

Corrections

So, what if it is too late and your precious puppy is already behaving badly? Here are a few steps you can take.
1. IGNORE: Puppies love to play. If he is trying to play but is being naughty, stopping the play will quickly tell him that you don not like his behavior.
2. REPRIMAND: The word “NO” is the human form of growling. It is a severe warning that consequences will come about if he does not stop what he is doing. It has to be deep and forceful, so as to startle him without causing him to get anxious.
3. PHYSICAL: Physical correction is a last resort. It is appropriate only when he ignores the NO or challenges us. Done correctly, it will help the puppy understand the consequences of his actions, but done incorrectly, it will cause fear or panic. The best form of physical punishment is restraint. By preventing the puppy from acting freely, we are showing dominance. You can restrain him in your arms or on his side until he submits. However, please ask someone who is knowledgeable in dog training to show you the correct way to restrain your dog so as not to hurt him.

Conclusion

While this all sounds like a lot of work, every minute you spend showing your dog the correct way to behave will be rewarded with years of happy memories. Problems that you ignore will only be harder to get rid of later on.