We all love puppies.  They are adorable, especially when they are sleeping. One of the most common reasons people start dog training in Brisbane is because their once-adorable puppy is driving them mad.  Raising a well-adjusted and happy dog is hard work but, ironically, it’s made easier with the more thought and work you put into it. Think of the first 12 months as an investment into the dog you are going to have for the next 10-15 years. Makes sense to enrol in some good quality Brisbane dog training, doesn’t it?

There are many things that you can and should be doing but these four are the ones that we believe will make the most difference.

1. Make sure they are getting enough sleep:

   Puppies will eventually sleep on their own but it’s usually well after they are over-tired. An over-tired puppy can’t think straight so will be more destructive and troublesome. They also need the additional sleep to develop properly. This is why crate training is great as you set your alarm every hour and put your puppy in for a sleep and make sure they sleep for a minimum of 30 minutes.

2. House training:

   It’s your responsibility to prevent accidents from happening. If they have an accident, it’s not their fault, it’s yours. During the day take your puppy outside every hour and praise and reward them for going on the grass. Slowly increase the amount of time between taking them outside as they get older. Overnight, you should set your alarm to let them out every 3-4 hours, depending on their age.

3. Physical Activity:

   A tired puppy is a well-behaved puppy! Make sure they get plenty of heart-pumping activity. Also make sure it’s enriching, and you provide them with variety e.g. walks in enriching environments and playing with toys. You should only exercise them for 5 minutes per month of age at any one time. E.g. if they are 3 months old that’s 15 minutes. However you can do 15 minutes in the AM, Noon, PM and Evening.

4. Mental Activity:

   Train them and help them to know what the accepted behaviour is. Only using force free and positive reinforcement based dog training. The more you encourage them to use their brain, the more tired they will be, and they will understand what is the accepted behaviour which will build their confidence into a happy and healthy dog. The more a dog uses and exercises their brain the smarter it gets. It’s science; just look up “neural pathways”. Dog Training Classes are vital, so if you are not already enrolled you can check out our Brisbane classes here. We also offer In home dog training and can help you to develop a plan to ensure you build a strong relationship with your puppy and help them to develop into the dog you dreamt of.