The most common words spoken in puppy class! I hear this in every puppy preschool class as I gaze into the exhausted eyes of new puppy parents. “It’s like having a baby all over again!”

I have prepared the following lists of helpful hints to hopefully lessen the work load on weary puppy parents….

1. Research Before Deciding
   Research the dog’s breed to see what his DNA consists of. What qualities will you be forever fighting and what qualities will you be enjoying. Sometimes we don’t realize that terriers have a high prey drive and may not be the best fit in a home with babies or small children. Perhaps the energy of a pit bull or a hunting dog does not match your available time and energy. A herding breed may not be the best fit for most households due to the amount of time, exercise and challenge that may be involved. A large, energetic dog such as a labradoodle, may not be a good fit for an elderly person. If you are obtaining your puppy from a breeder, research their lines, their product, genetics, temperament and the environment that these pups were brought into. What did the breeder do for the pups’ mom while she was pregnant to decrease any intrauterine stress? What did the breeder do for the puppies to enhance their social and emotional development while the pups were in their care? Were there many opportunities for the puppy to develop confidence in the first weeks that the breeder had the pup?
2. Prepare
   Prepare for a new puppy. Take time off of work in the first couple of weeks to start a routine for your new puppy. Set a schedule that consists of potty breaks, feeding, exercise, play, training, naps and independence training (crate puppy at times when you are home to allow the puppy and you a break as well as encourage your puppy to be “OK without needing to be with you).
3. Manage
   The bottom line of management is PREVENTION. Preventing problems from arising is much easier than trying to “break” a naughty behavior that has developed.
   Chewing: Puppy proof your house so there are no opportunities for your pup to get into trouble or chew things. I often tell my clients that if your dog is 2 years or younger, you must consider confining the dog when not supervised. Confinement can come in the form of gates, crates or tethering dog to you or a piece of furniture nearby. Of course, you do not want to confine your energetic dog if you have not done things like exercise, train, play and potty. Confinement can prevent house training accidents, chewing, counter surfing, etc.
   Jumping: Prevent jumping on guests by having guests text you prior to coming in. This will give you a chance to secure your dog and then give guests your instructions to “ignore” the dog (or withdraw the “Fatal 4 – eye, voice, touch, direct body language) until the dog quiets down.
   Barking at everything that goes by outside: Visual barrier to block the dog’s view
   Digging: Bring dog in so he doesn’t have a chance to start digging or tether him to you when you are outside with him.
   Counter surfing: Keep dog out of the kitchen by gating, crating or tethering him. Don’t have anything on the counter to reinforce the dog. Ever.
   
   Planning ahead can go a long way in reducing the work involved in raising a puppy. It can also help in preventing problem behaviors from developing, thus creating a well behaved puppy.
   
   Hang in there puppy parents, they will be adolescents in no time!