By: Andrea Yan
These are the things to do when you get a puppy. I know from experience how hard it is; these 8 tips should make life more bearable.
1. Start potty-training immediately.
This is the most disgusting of behaviors, and the one you should work on right away. I remember cleaning up pee at least 6 times on the first day. It will save a bunch of cleaning and picking up poop from around the house.
2. Make a vet appointment.
This is crucial for the health of your puppy. If there are any conditions that the puppy has, it is best to treat them right away before it gets too serious.
3. Buy supplies.
Just like back-to-school, you have to be prepared with the basics. Buy things such as water and food bowls, puppy food, leash and collar, doggy bed or crate, and tasty treats.
4. Crate-train them.
Crate-training helps with potty training as well. If the puppy is in its cage, it is less likely to pee and is encouraged to hold it. Also, when you are unable to supervise your puppy, the cage is a great way to make sure your puppy doesn’t get into any mischief.
5. Interact with them.
This is one of the most obvious but the most crucial. If you ever want your puppy to be trained and obey you, establishing good communication is key. Start by playing with them or cuddling and giving lots of good pets.
6. Stay calm.
Dogs are very good at sensing emotions. If you are mad, your puppy can sense that. When they do, they get anxious.
7. Socialize them.
As puppies, they aren’t familiar with proper ways to play with other dogs. Only by allowing your puppy to play with other dogs, will they be able to learn and not be aggressive to other dogs in the future. At first, the puppy will play very aggressively, but you just have to hold them back until they are calm. Eventually, they will understand to be calm around other dogs.
8. Exercise them.
Puppies have tons of energy, and they must exercise (such as playing fetch or going on walks) to get that energy out. Otherwise, they make take the energy and use it for unwanted behaviors such as chewing or biting. Another option is to let your puppy go crazy and zoom around the house sometimes. My puppy loves running all around the house and the laying down and sleeping immediately after.