You might not be aware, but there are some golden rules that you must follow in order for your cute yet mischievous pup to turn into a wonderful house doggo.

CHOOSE A STRONG NAME

Would you like to yell out “Mr Woofles!” down the street? I thought not. Think about a strong name that is one or two syllables, think Jack, Charlie, Wilby, Max, Oscar etc. These types of names are easier for your dog to hear and obey. Also, don’t ever call your dog to a punishment or something not fun, like going inside after playing a game or leaving the dog park or they will come to associate their name with un-fun things and will never come when called!

STICK TO THE RULES

Before you bring a puppy home, the family should sit and consider what the rules are, and everyone needs to stick to these rules. If Mum and Dad say ‘no dog on the lounge’ but then one of the kids allows the dog on the lounge, the dog quickly becomes confused and this will throw all other training into chaos. Rules, boundaries and limitations are required for your pup to have a happy and stable life.

JUMPING ISN’T CUTE

I think every single puppy has done this; they’re actually trying to jump so they can smell the part of you that smell the best – your face! This is one of the most important things that you teach a puppy and it’s imperative that everyone in the house follows the same set of rules or it becomes a problem that is harder to fix as the puppy grows up. When you walk in the door and your puppy is going crazy, you should completely ignore them. No touch, no talk and no eye contact. Try and turn your back on them when you can, have your arms crossed and look to the sky. The first few times you do this, it could last up to 15 minutes, but your puppy will learn quickly. Only when your puppy is quiet should you pay them attention. The same procedure should be applied when visitors come to the house.

 A SAFE SPACE

Every pup needs a safe place to call their own, that’s why a crate is a good idea. Choose a place for the crate and don’t move this around. For the first few weeks the whole family should sit near the crate (as close as possible), eat dinner near here, read books, hang out. Your pup will quickly associate “this is where we hang out, this is my safe place”. As you’re chilling by their ‘house’ occasionally throw a tasty treat inside, so they associate this house with goodness. Cover the crate with a blanket on 3 sides and on the top so only the front is uncovered. This makes it more den-like and will encourage this to be his go to place!

QUICK CORRECTION

When you see your pup doing the wrong thing, it’s important that you correct them immediately. A quick ”AAHHH!” Or a quick loud clap and redirect their attention. Puppies are especially quick learners so these should work well. Remember that hitting a puppy doesn’t achieve what you think it will. Dogs see ‘hitting’ as a threat, so your best bet is a sharp loud noise to snap them out of what they’re doing.