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Are you ready for cute puppy picture overload?
In case you haven’t heard my kids screaming it from the rooftops, we have a new puppy! My daughter named him Rocky, and he is a fun addition to our family. My kids run him around the yard, cuddle him until he can’t take anymore, and are persistently attempting to teach him to fetch.
It has been a long time since I’ve had a puppy in the house (over 13 years, in fact), and I had forgotten exactly what it is like to have a puppy. Rocky is playful, but I’ve realized during the past few weeks exactly how much prep and training that is involved with a new pup. From chewing on anything within reach to running off with the kids’ socks, both puppies and their new owners have a lot to learn!
I feel like I’ve had a crash course on having a new puppy, and I thought that I would share a few of these puppy hacks with you today. But, first, here are a few puppy photos guaranteed to make you smile.
#1 Gate off any non-puppy proofed areas. We have elementary aged kids who love building blocks! However, building blocks and a chewing inclined puppy are not a positive pairing. We purchased a free standing gate to gate off any areas that we do not want Rocky to reach. I like the free standing gate because we can move it to different areas in the house. Rocky is not a large dog, and the free standing gate works well for him. If your puppy is larger, then you may need a gate that attaches to the wall. Of course, this limits the gate’s flexibility, but it also helps keep the puppy out of trouble.
#2 Decide Team Crate or Team Non-Crate. In my research, I have realized that there is much debate over whether a puppy should be crate trained or not. This is up to the owner, but whatever you decide, start the routine early. Puppies are quick learners, and the sooner crate training or non-crate training expectations begin, the better.
#3 Choose a dog food and wean from other food (if necessary). The dog’s breeder may or may not have been using the dog food that you prefer for your pup. If not, weaning at the puppy age is typically easy. Slowly mix a small amount of the new food in the current food, replacing 1/4th of a cup each day or every other day until the entire bowl has been replaced with the new food.
We’ve slowly switched Rocky over to Purina® Beneful® IncrediBites with Real Chicken. The dog food is healthful and flavorful with real, wholesome ingredients that allow Rocky to live his best life.
Shop Purina® Beneful® IncrediBites with Real Chicken by hovering over the image below and clicking to purchase.
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#4 Choose appropriate chew toys. Knowing what I do now, I would never have went and picked up Rocky without already purchasing an arsenal of chew toys. Puppies chew everything. The question isn’t if you’ll need a chew toy but how many you’ll need! Be sure to choose chew toys that are the appropriate age (puppy) and size (small, medium, or large breed). Never choose a toy that is small enough for the dog to swallow, and always supervise your pup when playing with a chew toy.
#5 Stick with exact words when training (this goes for everyone). When house training a new puppy, carefully select words that the dog will learn to associate with going outside. Be sure to use this word every time, and instruct all members of the household to use the same words every time, too. Puppy will learn quicker without confusion if consistency is key!
