I am a trainer and I specialize in puppy development, so I wanted to share some info and techniques that I have found to work wonders in puppy raising.Chewing
Puppies naturally have to chew, but what they chew very much depends on what you do.
Here are some tips:
Rawhide: Absolutely, under no circumstances give your puppy/dog rawhide. Not only is it a very potentially dangerous object, but it encourages chewing. To you, there is a huge difference between your leather couch and your puppy's rawhide. To the puppy, rawhide and leather are the same thing. If your puppy chews your leather shoes and you give him rawhide it is your fault not the puppy's.
Stuffed toys: Giving your puppy stuffed toys may also encourage chewing. Your soft slipper is just like their toy. They can't be blamed for not understanding.
Of course, you can give your puppy a stuffed toy in time, if you put the effort into training the puppy. During those teething months, I highly don't recommend it.
The safest toys to give your dog are usually Kong and Nylabone. Some heavy chewers can break up Nylabones very quickly. Kongs are much harder to chew through, but even they can be torn apart by a very determined dog. The best way to introduce these are to give your dog one chewed by another dog. Also, think of how you give the toy to your dog... do you take it out of the package and throw it on the ground for them... Well, you've just told them that the toy means nothing to you. Try making the toy seem special. Let them sniff it and then take it away. Repeat this a few times and keep the toy where they can see it but can't reach it. It makes the toy more exciting.
When you come home to a ruined sofa, don't punish the puppy. He no longer knows what he did, he just knows your mad. Keep your emotions out of it.
If you catch the puppy in the act, spray him with a squirt bottle, throw a pop can filled with coins at him, or hit a pan with a spoon. Don't let the puppy know that YOU don't want him to do it, make it look like the house doesn't want him to do it. He will learn quickly what he can chew and what he can't chew.
Most importantly, NEVER leave your puppy unsupervised. If you can't see the puppy, he should be in his crate or x-pen.
Feeding
Puppies should eat a well balanced puppy food. Depending on your breed and size of dog when he is an adult, you will want a puppy food from anywhere from a year to two years. I recommend all natural food, but your vet or breeder may recommend something to you.
Scheduled feeding is a great way to assist in housebreaking. If you know when your puppy eats and drinks, then you can quickly learn when he needs to relive himself. A puppy generally will pee about 15 minutes after drinking water and bowel movements vary with each dog. Give water frequently throughout the day and feed 2-3 times.
If you catch the dog in the act, once again, spray, throw the can, hit the pan. Th HOUSE does not want the puppy to relieve himself inside. For awhile, take the puppy out on leash to "potty" give a command, "Go Potty" and don't move until he goes. Take him out to the same spot everytime. He will learn that he needs to go to the bathroom before he plays and then you don't have to worry about wether or not he went.
Don't let your puppy tell you when he has to go. You take him out on your schedule. That way, he won't tell you he needs to go out, and then play while you chase him down.
Once again, If you can't supervise...Keep the puppy in his crate!
Puppies naturally have to chew, but what they chew very much depends on what you do.
Here are some tips:
Rawhide: Absolutely, under no circumstances give your puppy/dog rawhide. Not only is it a very potentially dangerous object, but it encourages chewing. To you, there is a huge difference between your leather couch and your puppy's rawhide. To the puppy, rawhide and leather are the same thing. If your puppy chews your leather shoes and you give him rawhide it is your fault not the puppy's.
Stuffed toys: Giving your puppy stuffed toys may also encourage chewing. Your soft slipper is just like their toy. They can't be blamed for not understanding.
Of course, you can give your puppy a stuffed toy in time, if you put the effort into training the puppy. During those teething months, I highly don't recommend it.
The safest toys to give your dog are usually Kong and Nylabone. Some heavy chewers can break up Nylabones very quickly. Kongs are much harder to chew through, but even they can be torn apart by a very determined dog. The best way to introduce these are to give your dog one chewed by another dog. Also, think of how you give the toy to your dog... do you take it out of the package and throw it on the ground for them... Well, you've just told them that the toy means nothing to you. Try making the toy seem special. Let them sniff it and then take it away. Repeat this a few times and keep the toy where they can see it but can't reach it. It makes the toy more exciting.
When you come home to a ruined sofa, don't punish the puppy. He no longer knows what he did, he just knows your mad. Keep your emotions out of it.
If you catch the puppy in the act, spray him with a squirt bottle, throw a pop can filled with coins at him, or hit a pan with a spoon. Don't let the puppy know that YOU don't want him to do it, make it look like the house doesn't want him to do it. He will learn quickly what he can chew and what he can't chew.
Most importantly, NEVER leave your puppy unsupervised. If you can't see the puppy, he should be in his crate or x-pen.
Feeding
Puppies should eat a well balanced puppy food. Depending on your breed and size of dog when he is an adult, you will want a puppy food from anywhere from a year to two years. I recommend all natural food, but your vet or breeder may recommend something to you.
Scheduled feeding is a great way to assist in housebreaking. If you know when your puppy eats and drinks, then you can quickly learn when he needs to relive himself. A puppy generally will pee about 15 minutes after drinking water and bowel movements vary with each dog. Give water frequently throughout the day and feed 2-3 times.
If you catch the dog in the act, once again, spray, throw the can, hit the pan. Th HOUSE does not want the puppy to relieve himself inside. For awhile, take the puppy out on leash to "potty" give a command, "Go Potty" and don't move until he goes. Take him out to the same spot everytime. He will learn that he needs to go to the bathroom before he plays and then you don't have to worry about wether or not he went.
Don't let your puppy tell you when he has to go. You take him out on your schedule. That way, he won't tell you he needs to go out, and then play while you chase him down.
Once again, If you can't supervise...Keep the puppy in his crate!