Free Puppy Training Tips: The First 24 Hours
The first 24 hours your pet will be confused, scared and lonely so I make lots of exceptions on the first day like I let them snuggle with me in bed, give them extra attention, let them jump on me etc.
After the first 24 hours I let them know the rules of the house...do NOT wait any more than 24 hours as you don't want your new pet learning bad habits.
Sleeping ArrangementsI do not let them sleep with me after the first day...even if your pet has a good temperament and is able to sleep with you without developing separation anxiety, possession or aggression issues. I will, however, allow the crate to be right beside my bed, so I can comfort them, but the crate remains on the floor! You May want to cover the crate if whining persists. This is to establish that being on the bed is a privilege, not a right.
Sleeping alone gets your pet accustomed to being on its own, while still securely at home. It would be an unfortunate educational experience to have to learn the first lesson of sleeping alone during an emergency overnight visit at the vet! People who need to take their animals to the vet (or travel on a plane) when the animal isn't used to staying on its own in a crate or enclosed area puts undue stress on the animal. Often the animal is already under stress due to the circumstances that brought them to the vet or the altitude and noises of a plane. The added stress of the unfamiliar crate can make things worse.
Crates are good as it prepares them for the future. Get a crate big enough to have a sleeping area, food area and litter box area. Continue crating them for nights until they're happy. Don't let the whining dog out until they settle. Once they learn to settle well, they don't need to be in there any longer. You may want to start this process by giving them their supper in the crate or by creating mental stimulation by serving them treats in a ball that drops the treats as they play with it. A dog with a full belly is a happy dog, and they will associate that with the crating time. After they are crate trained, they may never have to be crated again because they've been imprinted that crating is a positive experience.
Crating also teaches them a time routine. Crating will allow your pet to come in line with your family's schedule. Don't make the mistake of allowing your pet to dictate your sleeping schedule. These kinds of things will be demands on you and your family for the rest of the dog's life. Simply, by crating your dog, you can put many of these issues aside, and get to the wonderful part of having a pet; time well spent together!
Food Related Issues
After the first 24 hours I let them know the rules of the house...do NOT wait any more than 24 hours as you don't want your new pet learning bad habits.
Sleeping ArrangementsI do not let them sleep with me after the first day...even if your pet has a good temperament and is able to sleep with you without developing separation anxiety, possession or aggression issues. I will, however, allow the crate to be right beside my bed, so I can comfort them, but the crate remains on the floor! You May want to cover the crate if whining persists. This is to establish that being on the bed is a privilege, not a right.
Sleeping alone gets your pet accustomed to being on its own, while still securely at home. It would be an unfortunate educational experience to have to learn the first lesson of sleeping alone during an emergency overnight visit at the vet! People who need to take their animals to the vet (or travel on a plane) when the animal isn't used to staying on its own in a crate or enclosed area puts undue stress on the animal. Often the animal is already under stress due to the circumstances that brought them to the vet or the altitude and noises of a plane. The added stress of the unfamiliar crate can make things worse.
Crates are good as it prepares them for the future. Get a crate big enough to have a sleeping area, food area and litter box area. Continue crating them for nights until they're happy. Don't let the whining dog out until they settle. Once they learn to settle well, they don't need to be in there any longer. You may want to start this process by giving them their supper in the crate or by creating mental stimulation by serving them treats in a ball that drops the treats as they play with it. A dog with a full belly is a happy dog, and they will associate that with the crating time. After they are crate trained, they may never have to be crated again because they've been imprinted that crating is a positive experience.
Crating also teaches them a time routine. Crating will allow your pet to come in line with your family's schedule. Don't make the mistake of allowing your pet to dictate your sleeping schedule. These kinds of things will be demands on you and your family for the rest of the dog's life. Simply, by crating your dog, you can put many of these issues aside, and get to the wonderful part of having a pet; time well spent together!
Food Related Issues
- Do not free feed your pet!
I can't stress this enough! One of the leading causes of death and illness in all pets today is due to obesity!!!!
This is so easy to fix if you just ration your pet's food and change the amount as they gain or lose weight! Healthy rationing is not so easy if they are free fed! It is also easier to notice when something is off if you feed at certain times, as you will notice if your pet isn't hungry. You may not be as quick to notice it if they have ample food out all the time. Do not listen to people who say otherwise! I have heard it all before and all of those people had pets that were overweight!!!!!! I have yet to find even ONE person who free feeds and has a pet that isn't at least slightly overweight! - You miss out on mental stimulation time if you free feed.
My Labradoodles all work for their food...this is natural; food does not fall from the sky in the wild! They need to use their brain to find, hunt and capture their food...it is not right to deny any species mental activity throughout the day.
Everyone in life needs a job to do to reach their full potential. So, if you have a house pet it is your job to provide them with something to do, this is part of their well being.