Training your new puppy

Bringing a new puppy into the household is always an exciting
and fun time. Everyone wants to play with, cuddle and hold the
little ball of fur. The last thing on the minds of most new
puppy owners is training the new addition, but it is important
that puppy training and socialization begin as early as possible.

Socializing a new puppy is a vital part of any training program,
and it is important for socialization to begin early. The window
for socialization is very short, and a puppy that is not
properly socialized to people, dogs and other animals by the
time he or she is four months old often never develops the
socialization he or she needs to become a good canine citizen.

Learning how to interact with other dogs is something that
normally would occur between littermates. However, since most
dogs are removed from their mothers so soon, this littermate
socialization often does not finish properly.

One vital lesson puppies learn from their littermates and from
the mother dog is how to bite, and how not to bite. Puppies
naturally roughhouse with each other, and their thick skin
protects them from most bites. However, when one puppy bites to
hard, the other puppies, or the mother dog, quickly reprimand
him, often by holding him by the scruff of his neck until he
submits.

The best way to socialize your puppy is to have it play with
lots of other puppies. It is also fine for the puppy to play
with a few adult dogs, as long as they are friendly and well
socialized. Many communities have puppy playschool and puppy
kindergarten classes. These classes can be a great way to
socialize any puppy, and for handler and puppy alike to learn
some basic obedience skills.

When socializing puppies, it is best to let them play on their
own and work out their own issues when it comes to appropriate
roughness of play. The only time the owners should step in is if
one puppy is hurting another, or if a serious fight breaks out.
Other than that the owners should simply stand back and watch
their puppies interact.

While this socialization is taking place, the pack hierarchy
should quickly become apparent. There will be some puppies who
are ultra submissive, rolling on their backs and baring their
throats at the slightest provocation. Other puppies in the class
will be dominant, ordering the other puppies around and telling
them what to do. Watching the puppies play, and determining what
type of personality traits your puppy has, will be very valuable
in determining the best way to proceed with more advanced
training.

As the socialization process proceeds, of course, it will be
necessary to introduce the puppy to all sorts of humans as well
as all sorts of puppies. Fortunately, the puppy kindergarten
class makes this process quite easy, since every puppy gets to
interact with every human. It is important that the puppy be
exposed to men, and women, old people and children, black people
and white people. Dogs do not see every human as the same. To a
dog, a man and a woman are completely different animals.

It is also important to introduce the puppy to a variety of
other animals, especially in a multi pet household. Introducing
the puppy to friendly cats is important, as are introductions to
other animals the puppy may encounter, such as rabbits, guinea
pigs and the like. If your household contains a more exotic
creature, it is important to introduce the puppy to it as early
as possible, but to do it in a way that is safe for both animals.

It is often best to start by introducing the puppy to the smell
of the other animal. This can be easily accomplished by placing
a piece of the animals bedding, like a towel or bed liner, near
where the puppy sleeps. Once the puppy is accustomed to the
smell of the other creature, he or she is much more likely to
accept the animal as just another member o the family.