Puppies!  Are they bundles of joy or tons of trouble?  Both!  Let’s face it . . . who can resist a puppy?  They are so sweet and cuddly. But, the fact of the matter is that as much fun as puppies are, they’re also loads of work.  Is it worth it?  You bet!  And to help you, here are the things you need to be sure to provide your puppy with to insure that he grows up to be a well-adjusted, adult dog. 

·      Socialization

Your puppy needs to learn to enjoy the company of all kinds of people, in a variety of places, as well as have safe, positive interactions with friendly, well-mannered dogs.  Get Pup out and about and keep it fun!  It's also important to have people come visit your home so Pup knows that it's a good thing to have visitors.  Let strangers give Pup a treat while you have him sit.  Interactions with children need to be safe and appropriate.  Never leave a puppy or dog unsupervised with children.  For more information about children and dogs visit Doggone Safe and Dogs and Storks.  Private in-home training helps you learn how to work properly with Pup while preventing problems. 

·      Housetraining

Pup must either be supervised while indoors, or confined.  Confining Pup and limiting his freedom of access to the house with the help of crates, gates, and Chew-Proof Indoor Pet Tethers, is a fast and easy way to insure that Pup is housetrained effectively.  Take your puppy outside often to the same spot, stay with him while he goes, and give him a food reward and praise him right away when he does his business.  Keep a jar of doggy treats by the door so you can be sure to reward Pup every time he goes, to reinforce this behavior.  If Pup has an accident, don't scold him.  Instead, clean it up with an enzymatic cleaner and next time remind yourself to do a better job of getting Pup out in time.  If you are having difficulty with housetraining, consult a dog-trainer for further recommendations.  Also, consult your Veterinarian as it could be a medical issue.  Puppies can get urinary tract infections (UTI) or have other medical problems that can cause housetraining difficulty.

·      Exercise

A tired puppy is a good puppy!  Make sure your puppy has adequate exercise to keep him healthy and happy.  Explore various ways to play.  Play is a great way to strengthen your relationship together.  Teaching your puppy to play tug-of-war, with clear rules, is a wonderful way to play and train at the same time.  My favorite toy for puppies and energetic dogs is Chase-It

·      Bite Inhibition

It's natural for Pup to explore the world with his mouth, but Pup also needs to learn that his teeth on your skin hurts!  Bite inhibition is a developmental process where your puppy will gradually learn to have a soft-mouth.  He needs to learn to inhibit the force and pressure of his bite before he learns to stop biting and mouthing altogether.  This is a good thing, especially in the event that Pup does bite at sometime - it will be an inhibited bite.  Teach Pup to chew on appropriate toys rather than your hands. When Pup mouths you, let him know it hurts by saying"owww" and praising him when he stops.  If Pup is too excited and can't stop mouthing you, it will be necessary for you to get up and leave Pup for a couple of minutes before you go back and try again.  Most importantly, understand that teething and mouthing is part of your puppy's development.  Visit Puppy Nipping and Mouthing.

·      Errorless Chew Toys

Puppies need to chew, but preventing destructive chewing is a necessity.   At about 4 and 1/2 months Pup will start teething.  Get Pup addicted to Treat Dispensing and Chew Toys, such as Premier Busy Buddy Toys and Kongs   You can stuff them with soft food - even freeze them - and direct Pup's chewing to an appropriate place.  This will set a positive precedent for the rest of your Pup's life.  Watch this great video to learn how to use food-interactive toys for mental stimulation as well as quiet time in and out of the crate.

·      Reward-Based Training and Management

Teach Pup the rules of the game during puppyhood so he will grow up to be a safe, well-mannered dog.  Keep in mind that what may be cute as a little puppy, may not be cute or desirable as an adult dog.  It's much easier to prevent problems from developing when Pup is a puppy, rather than trying to undo behaviors that have been practiced once he becomes an adult.  Focus on what it is you want your puppy to do rather than what you don't want him to do!  Reward Pup for the behaviors you want and ignore, manage or prevent the inappropriate behaviors.  Have some private in-home lessons to learn how to manage behaviors before they become a problem.  Reward-based training is fun for you and your puppy and will help you establish a happy and healthy relationship with your canine companion!