Before raising a puppy, you will need to purchase all the necessary equipment such as a kennel, bowl, toys, blanket, and leashes. You should also learn to train your dog and respond to his behavior. By having the right supplies and knowing how to respond to puppy behavior, you and your puppy will have a great start to this new phase.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Preparing the House
Step 1. Set up a special area for puppies in the house
When you first bring it home, it's best to keep your puppy in one or two rooms first. Common choices are kitchens, laundry rooms, or stables. This is so that the puppy can roam around and can be monitored for safety. You can also find it easier to supervise and clean the puppy.
- If allowed to roam freely in the house, puppies can be overwhelmed and confused by new smells and sounds.
- Puppies may litter this area of the house. So it's a good idea to keep an eye on your puppy so you can take him to the bathroom if he wants to.
Step 2. Make the puppy area safe
You can protect the selected area by cleaning it, removing any wires or other objects the puppy might chew on as well as any ornaments or objects that the puppy might break or hit. Also make sure to remove any objects in the area that you don't want to get soiled, bitten, or scratched at.
- Keep in mind that puppies will chew on anything including electrical wires. Make sure that the puppy can't reach it.
- Keep all dangerous objects out of reach of puppies. Items in question include hygiene products, medicine, vitamins, plants, cat litter boxes, tobacco products, litter, and other items that a puppy might eat.
Step 3. Purchase a kennel for the puppy
While not mandatory, crate training is a great method for training puppies. If you decide to give your puppy crate training, purchase a crate that is large enough for the dog to stand and lie down while spreading its legs. Also make sure that there is soft bedding in the cage.
- The goal of crate training is to teach the puppy that the crate is a safe place, like a den for stray dogs.
- Cages should not be used as punishment or confinement. The kennel should be a safe resting place for your dog when you're not watching him.
- A metal or wire cage is ideal because your dog can see everything around him. This helps make him feel more secure.
Step 4. Purchase bedding to help your dog sleep more comfortably
Choose bedding that is machine washable and can be comfortably occupied by the puppy. Purchase at least 2 bedding sets. That way, one bedding set can be washed when the other bedding set is used.
Make sure that the puppy bed is slightly higher than the ground so that the puppy is not exposed to airflow on the ground floor
Step 5. Purchase equipment for potty training
Even if you're taking him outside when he's peeing, it's a good idea to keep the puppy indoors for emergencies. For these conditions, a puppy pad (a large, flat absorbent cloth) can be useful because it can be thrown away immediately.
- You can also use newsprint. However, because newsprint is less absorbent, urine may spill onto the floor.
- It's also a good idea to buy disposable gloves, a tissue or rag, and a disinfectant spray (which is enzymatic, doesn't contain ammonia or bleach as the base) to clean the stain.
- Some dog trainers also recommend timers and set them up for every half hour. Then, every time the timer goes off, take the dog outside to pee.
Method 2 of 3: Buying Other Equipment Your Puppy Needs
Step 1. Choose and buy good quality food
Make sure that the food you choose is specially formulated for puppies and suitable for your dog's breed. Talk to your veterinarian about dog food containing the best quality ingredients for your puppy and ask for recommendations regarding the amount and how often to feed it.
- Compared to adult dogs, puppies need to be fed more often. You should feed your puppy 3 times a day until he is 18 weeks old. After that, you can give him food 2 times a day.
- Also provide treats for puppies. Use treats to train your puppy to behave properly. It will also strengthen your bond with the puppy.
- Be consistent with the type of food given to the puppy. Sudden changes in food can cause severe stomach upset. If you must change the food brand, do so gradually. Add about 1/3 of the new food to his old food and increase the amount over a week until you are only giving him the new food.
- Feeding a well-balanced home diet to a growing dog is quite difficult. The balance of calcium and phosphate must be exactly right to meet the nutritional needs of his growing bones. This is difficult for even a nutritionist to achieve. Remember that stray dogs don't live as long as pet dogs.
Step 2. Buy at least two bowls, one for water and one for food
You will need two separate bowls for dog food and water. Choose a bowl that is easy to clean and safe to wash. It's also a good idea to choose a bowl made of ceramic or stainless steel because these types of bowls won't be damaged if bitten by a dog and have a smooth surface that isn't filled with bacteria as much as plastic bowls.
Make sure that the puppy always has access to fresh and clean drinking water. Fill and change the water in the bowl every day
Step 3. Give the puppy a substitute to chew on
Puppies love to chew. So, provide suitable items for the puppy to chew. Be sure to choose these toys carefully as many toys are not safe for unsupervised puppies. Puppies can develop serious intestinal obstruction if they chew toys and swallow plastic.
- Choose foods or chews that are suitable for supervision when the dog is not being watched, such as KONG toys. The toy is filled with treats to comfort the dog and let him nibble on it.
- Make sure that the toy is large enough that it cannot be swallowed whole. When trying to buy a toy, choose a bigger toy.
Step 4. Purchase a leash (or harness and leash that is the right size for the puppy
Dog collars usually come in sizes XS, S, M, L, and XL. Choose a leash and leash that fits your dog's size and breed.
- For example, a smaller dog will need a smaller leash. On the other hand, larger dogs may need a large harness and leash.
- Purchase a retractable harness for walking and a 0.6-1.2 meter long harness for training.
Step 5. Buy a brush to clean the puppy
Purchase a soft brush to make the puppy's coat shine and a wire or pin comb to straighten out tangles. You can also buy a comb that is specifically for cleaning dog hair.
Teach your puppy to enjoy the process of cleaning the fur from the start. This will help you avoid problems when your dog is an adult
Step 6. Buy a dog-safe toothbrush and toothpaste
Due to lack of dental care, dental disease is very common in dogs. An introduction to dental care from an early age will help your dog to see brushing his teeth as a normal process. That way, you can brush your teeth every day and ensure that your dog's teeth are healthy as they grow.
- Get your dog used to putting your finger in his mouth by rubbing chicken stock or peanut butter on one finger and letting the dog lick it. Do this a few times and try to do it while rubbing the finger on his teeth and gums.
- Once you get used to your fingers, start introducing your puppy to the toothbrush. Try brushing your puppy's teeth once a day for a few minutes.
Method 3 of 3: Understanding Training Fundamentals
Step 1. Understand that dogs cannot be dominated
Trying to dominate a puppy to make him obey is considered old fashioned. The theory of dominance hierarchies was created from research on packs of wolves that were kept in zoos under artificial and stressful conditions. These conditions force wolves to be aggressive and fight each other. However, wolves in the wild don't behave like that. Wolves in the wild live as a family and work together.
Try to act as a more mature member of the family and guide the puppy (new family member) to good behavior and provide gentle correction when the puppy makes a mistake
Step 2. Puppies learn from results
Young puppies love to explore and experiment. Puppies will repeat behaviors that give them pleasure, such as playing with a ball, and will not repeat behaviors that do not elicit a response or are unpleasant (such as bugging bees and getting stung).
- Ignore if the puppy behaves badly and give lots of praise if the puppy behaves well. Give treats and praise when your puppy obeys commands or does something nice, such as going outside.
- Be sure to set firm rules and apply them consistently.
Step 3. Consider enrolling your puppy in a discipline training class
Discipline training classes will help you develop appropriate strategies for responding to your puppy's behavior. The class will also give you the opportunity to bond with the puppy and give him the opportunity to socialize with other puppies.
Ask your local pet shop, dog salon, or veterinarian for dog training classes in your area
Tips
- Wear an old t-shirt for a few days and give it to the person who takes care of your pup. When bringing the dog out to socialize, the person can let the puppy play with his t-shirt. That way, your puppy will recognize your scent when you take him home.
- For "praise training," watch "It's Me Or The Dog" on Animal Planet or "The Dog Whisperer" on National Geographic.
- Large dogs often suffer from waist dysplasia as they get older. You can look for information related to bedding that can be very helpful in relieving this problem.
- If you're leaving your puppy alone for more than 2 hours, try hiring a dog groomer or asking a neighbor or friend for help.
- Be sure to schedule your puppy for a vet check immediately. Veterinarians should check the pup's health and give him vaccines to help him live a healthy and long life.
- In fact, dominance is the key to getting a dog to be 'balanced'. Watch Dog Whisperer on NatGeoWild with Cesar Milan for more info.
Warning
- Always remove the leash or harness before letting the puppy into the crate as it may suffocate the dog if it gets caught in the cage wires or bars.
- When meeting a new dog, approach it slowly and never show that you are afraid of the dog. Dogs can sense fear and depending on their personality, will try to protect or attack you.
