How To Train My New Puppy?

So you have a new furry friend in the family? Congratulations! Puppies are fun, but can be a lot of work. Teaching them commands, socialization, and routines from an early age will make both of your lives easier. Here's a few tips and tricks for training your puppy from an early age.

Crate Training Your Puppy

Crate training is one of the most basic and helpful things you can do to train a puppy, if that’s something you feel would work well with you and your new friend. Crate training involves familiarizing your puppy with a crate to the degree that they find the space comforting and a place of their own. A crate trained puppy will usually go into their crate with no trouble, and will sometimes prefer spending down-time there!

How To Crate Train Your Puppy

Create The Perfect Crate For Your Puppy

Setting up a crate that is comfortable and functional for you and your puppy is the first step in crate training. You’re setting yourself and your new family member up for success! One of the easiest things you can do to make their space cozy is by investing in a cozy bed! There are so many pawsome options that could work for you and your furry friend, but here’s a few beds that might be pawfect for your setup:

• Deluxe Mattress Dog Bed - Berber & Suede Blanket Top
• Deluxe Mattress Dog Bed - Minky Faux Fur and Suede Pillow Top
• Deluxe Chaise Lounge Dog Bed - Two-Tone Faux Fur & Suede

Introduce Your Puppy To The Crate

Introducing them in a comfortable tone, while they’re lower energy (but not sleepy!) will mean they’re much more likely to be willing to participate with training. Bring them to the crate in a calm tone and provide them with high value treats or toys that they will be motivated to follow. The most important thing to remember is that you don’t want them to be uncomfortable and you want to avoid whining. Comfort and safety avoids anxiety in your little pup, and they’re less likely to cry out. If they do cry, leave them in their crate until they finish whining - otherwise they will think that crying is their way to get out!

Potty Training Your Dog

Potty training can be a difficult skill to master with your pup, but is one of the most important to start with. Last thing you want is a puppy thinking they can pee anywhere they want inside! Many puppies have lost their families because of an inability to “hold it”- people unfortunately put pups up for adoption simply because they have a hard time training them to use the restroom! Here’s some tips to consider if you’re potty training.

Controlling Your Puppy's Diet

Puppies have little self control and immature digestive systems, so making sure to monitor what they’re eating and when can be a major key in creating a potty schedule with them. Try splitting up their food into a few smaller meals, and be sure not to overfeed them!

Provide Your Puppy With Regular Exercise

Frequent walks and trips outside can be helpful, as taking walks helps your growing pup with mobility, and there’s more opportunities for them to use the restroom outside and receive your praise. Make sure to bring treats to reward them with when they use the restroom outside!

Know When To Go!

Some of the best times to take your puppy out to use the restroom include:

• When they wake up in the morning or after a nap
• Right before bed time
• After leaving their crate
• After eating or drinking anything 

Leash Training Your Puppy

Teaching your pup how to walk on a leash is an important skill if you want to be able to take walks together.

Find the Right Leash and Collar For Your Puppy

There’s no use in taking the time to train your pup to walk on a leash if they’re uncomfortable! Make sure to take the time to find a leash and collar that best suits them and your needs, and take the time for them to get used to it.

FurHaven's Soft And Comfy Harness is lightweight and breathable mesh, so it’s super comfy for the pup who is just learning to deal with walking on a leash.

Keep Them Close

Make sure to keep your puppy close enough and with a short enough leash for them to be by your side the entire time. It’s important that they’re close by to listen to you and to receive treats when they’re doing a good job!

Make It Worth It For Your Puppy

Why not treat them to something exciting when you’re on your adventures together? Take your puppy out for some socialization when they’re old enough to be trusted on a leash (and they’ve been vaccinated!).

Check out our summer activities blog post for ideas of how to spend the sunny weather with your puppy!

Hygiene

Brushing Your Dog's Teeth

• Need some tips? Make sure to read all about your pet’s dental health here.

Brushing Your Dog's Coat

• Brushing your pup's coat is an important part of the routine you should develop with your fur baby. Brushing regularly, especially after swimming or bath time, or shedding season, can prevent matting and keep your pup feeling super comfortable. Just remember not to tug too tight, and to brush in the direction of their fur growing. Look into what kinds of brushes and methods are best for the fur type of your growing pup. 

Bath Time

• Some pups love water, some hate it! The earlier you start, the earlier you will learn and can get them used to bath time.

Clipping And Grooming Your Dog 

• If this is not something you feel comfortable doing, take them to a groomer as soon as they’ve been vaccinated! You should try to get them used to being professionally groomed from an early age.

Commands

Don’t overwhelm your pup, but learning some basic commands while they’re a puppy is a skill both you and them will benefit from! Here’s the basic commands that might be worth learning, and aren’t too difficult to master from a young age!

Lie Down

Heel

Stay

Sit

• Using a treat as motivation, you can teach your pup to sit with some gentle force on their chest and rear end. Sitting is one of the best skills to teach your pup, since it teaches them impulse control.

Okay

• Teaching your puppy, when they’re a little bit older, a release command like “okay” will teach them to wait for your permission before engaging with something. This should be a relatively easy command if your puppy already knows to listen to you. Standing or sitting next to them, throw a treat in front of them and as soon as they go for it, use your release word (some people also use “free”). Keep repeating until you are able to hold the dog off consistently.

Puppy Essentials

Bringing a new puppy home? Check out these top selling new pup essentials to try out - don't forget to choose a charity to donate part of your sale total to!

Our Calming Cuddler Long Fur Donut Dog Bed is designed to embrace pets in warmth and comfort - creating a calm space that soothes anxiety and promotes a deeper and more restorative sleep for your dog or cat. The pawfect spot for a new pup who needs a safe space to hang out in!

Our Water-Repellent Reflective Active Pro-Fit Dog Coat features a reflective trim and reflective panel on the reverse side, with a stretch panel for a deluxe custom fit and sleeves to protect your dog’s legs from the elements. With insulative fiber core and water-resistant fabric your dog is sure to stay warm and comfy on all your new adventures together!