Puppy Tips

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Make sure to keep electrical cords, shoes, and small items where puppy can't get them. Check under and behind furniture for anything hiding the puppy might find. If puppy gets used to chewing up shoes or kids toys, they will learn that it is acceptable. Use/teach commands "Leave It" and "Drop It". The sooner they are taught to respect your items the better. It is best to teach the pup at a young age to Leave or Drop an item then them never be introduced to daily object. Do this by practicing "leave it"/"drop it" with household items like chargers, pens, wires, paper, etc. 

Provide puppy with plenty of toys and chews to play with in his/her areas. This well keep puppy from eating or chewing at furniture or other items he/she shouldn't have. Favorites are hooves, knuckle bones, pig ears, plastic water bottles, balls, and fluffy toys, both stuffed and flat ones. Keep some with puppy wherever he/she is, crate, x-pen, or loose in house.

(Keep in mind stuffed toys will be shredded to pieces and/or destroyed sooner then later. Be ready to be picking up toy stuffing. This includes bed stuffing)

 Set up a feeding schedule that works for you. Do not worry about what it was here, the sooner you put him/her on a schedule, quicker all training goes. Pick your 2-3 times a day you plan to feed and try to stick to it. Make last meal at least 3 hours before bedtime.  Pick up water 1 Hour before bedtime. (Puppies should be sleeping at night, not filling the bladder.) 

Personal Tip: Puppies are very entertained with anything. To encourage eating, without play, at the younger stages, place food and water next to a place you can have he/she on a leash. Connect leach with little to no leeway, close to the food. Leave food out for 15-20 minutes. Encourage he/she to "Eat" if they try to walk off or whine. After the 15-20 minutes has past pick up food and do not leave out. Doing this will ensure they eat their food when given and not whenever they want (this will also help with potty training, if you are able to control when and how much they eat).

Keep puppy AWAKE and moving for at least 3 hours before YOUR bedtime. (Puppy bedtime is set same time as last person goes to bed at night). 

Do not let puppy nap during this time, if your watching Tv or reading, throw toys, or keep puppy active.
Best that puppies DO NOT sleep in your bed till over 6-8 months old. 

Is it always best to get your pup used to a crate at a young age. You may not always need to use it, but they should learn that the crate is their own personal space and their safe place.
Crate Training: He/She needs to have a small crate. (We used 24" crate with divider in the middle for up to 6-8 months. Full use after FULLY potty trained)

At first, your pup may NOT like the crate and cry.. IF puppy cries, do NOT give any positive attention (examples: "it's ok" , or taking them out while they whine), they will do it more. If they keep crying, try a few options:

1. With a Firm voice say "No Whining" (any wording is fine as long as your voice reflex you are not happy with what they are doing). 

2. Turn up the radio and ignore them

3. Cover their crate so they can't see you or to drown the sound of them whining and from them hearing you.

4. NEVER take them out if they are whining. Always make sure they have calmed down and stopped whining before any positive action is taken.

Make sure to take your pup out to potty right before bed.