What To Do During Your Puppys First Month Home
In order to properly train your puppy, you need to know what to do and the right time to do it. Below is a list of curriculum to guide you during the first month of acquiring your pet.
Week One: During your puppys first week home (he should be around 8 weeks old), it is important to take him for a vet check up. Sample of his stool is checked for worms and preventive inoculations are given. Begin teaching your puppy his name from day one. Set up his eating area as well as his crate or sleeping quarters. Begin the process of housebreaking as well as collar and leash training. Watch him while he plays by himself and observe his style and personality. Play gently and enthusiastically but avoid roughhousing. Say Ok whenever you feed him, hand him a toy or a treat, and as you walk out the door with him.
Week Two: As you play with your puppy, gradually add simple phrases and words into the games. If he is retrieving, say Take it as you throw the object. Praise him when he brings the object back to you. Say Out as he drops it and praise him again. Continue with Ok during meal, for going out, with playing, housebreaking, leash training, and observing.
Week Three: During your puppys third week home, begin to correct him gently for nipping and for chewing on shoes, cords, and furniture. Provide a toy for him to chew instead. Even if he stays inside the house, be sure to walk him around on his leash everyday. Always use eye contact. Say Watch me to draw his attention to your eyes. Praise him for looking at you. This method teaches him to look to you for direction. Begin to tie his leash to your belt and have him trail around wherever you go; starting for a few minutes at a time, working up to an hour as it becomes easier. This will help him bond to you and will also help with his training.
Start teaching table manners, beginning with No and Ok for food. Initiate the Sit and Stay, working for no more than five minutes at a time this week. If you are at home most of the time, make sure that you leave him alone for short periods of time during the day to get him used to being alone. Begin to correct the stealing of food and found objects - keeping in mind that prevention is your best correction. Correct excessive barking, noise, and whining.
Week Four: Carry on with all of the above training, adding more time that he walks properly on leash. Continue practicing No and Ok with food no more than twice per week. Continue to let him explore the house under supervision, both on and off the leash. Initiate the Come and Down stay to the training program. Work with your puppy no more than fifteen minutes at a time. If he is going out, you may start teaching him to Heel but do it very gently. Get him used to grooming procedures such as brushing, nail clipping, and occasional baths.