CS Training Tips

OBEDIENCE SKILLS It's never too early to teach your puppy obedience commands to help him become a well-mannered adult. You can start the day he comes home. Using small, tasty dog treats, show your puppy the treat near his nose. Say "sit" while slowly passing the treat over his head. As he follows the treat with his nose, he will fall into a sitting position. When this happens, reward him immediately with the treat and tell him what a great job he did. Repeat this several times. After your puppy has mastered this skill, use the food treat as a reward occasionally. Enroll your puppy in a beginning obedience class. Not only will this help teach your puppy new skills, it will also give your pet the opportunity to socialize with other puppies. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations of local trainers and classes.

SOCIALIZATION Puppies have a sensitive socialization period, between three and 12 weeks of age, when they happily and readily embrace new environments, people, and situations. It is important to expose your puppy to many experiences at this age to help develop a well-adjusted and socially comfortable pet. But it is best to keep your puppy away from other animals until after his 12-week immunization.

HOUSEBREAKING Teaching your new puppy to eliminate outdoors requires time, patience, and dedication. Watch your puppy very closely, and when you can't, you should leave him in a confined area such as a crate. Plan to take your puppy outside for elimination after eating, playing, waking up from a nap, or anytime it appears he might be looking for a spot to relieve himself. When your puppy successfully eliminates outside, praise him enthusiastically. Puppies cannot physically hold urine and feces as long as adult dogs, so do not expect your puppy to be able to go longer than two hours otherwise. This will mean taking your young puppy out at least once during the middle of the night. You can gradually increase the time between outings as your puppy matures. If your puppy as an "accident", it won't help to punish him after the fact. It is often easy to overlook house soiling in young, small breed dogs because the quantity of urine is so minimal. This can be a serious mistake because they will not learn to eliminate outside and, as they mature, the quantity of urine become larger and more annoying. Do your puppy a favor and provide a consistent feeding schedule and house-breaking program and follow from the beginning.

PREVENTION OF SEPARATION ANXIETY Many new puppies come into a home and spend the first few days or weeks with the constant companionship of a human. Then, suddenly, the children return to school, the adults go back to work, and the puppy may experience anxiety at being left alone. To prevent this, leave your puppy alone in a safe area (e.g., a crate) for short periods. When you leave, give your puppy a special town or a small dog treat. When you return, keep your greetings subdued.