Have You Got Puppy Panic?
Simple steps to train your new pup
Welcoming a new member if the family can be daunting – maybe you’re a first-time owner, or a lifelong veteran, but let’s face it, puppies can be a challenge for all. Check out our top tips for training your new best friend, so that walkies become the best part of your day
Basic Commands
Learning to do a barrel-roll and to bark the national anthem? Best to stick to basics at first to get your puppy used to training before the fancy stuff (although a barrel-roll would be cool). Learning to sit, stay, and come are most important, so that you can keep your ball of energy under control when out and about - and most importantly to keep both of you working together as a paw-some team. By starting training from day one, and by using positive reinforcement, your puppy will be sitting and fetching like a pro before you know it.
Toilet Training
Maybe not the most fun part of hanging with your new bestie, but definitely one of the most important to keep your house smelling fresh and your pup healthy. Keeping consistent is key to helping your pet introduce toilet breaks to their schedule – being up early on a Sunday so your puppy can pee is all part of the fun. Although it can be a tough process, make sure to keep rewarding good behaviour and steer clear of negative reinforcement. Your pet is probably feeling just as embarrassed after an accident so be sure to give them lots of cuddles and reward them when they go successfully (oh and stock up on the training pads).
Making Furry Friends
Now that you’ve become lifelong besties, it’s time for them to make some hairier friends as well. Socialising can be more difficult for some dogs than others, so as with most training steps, it’s best to get stuck right in. Take it slowly, and let your pup meet some waggy pals straight away so they can get used it. We recommend introducing them to basic commands first if you can, and keep them on their lead, so that if things get a hairier than an Alsatian, both dogs can stay safe and chill out. Don’t forget the positive reinforcement again – social anxiety is a toughie so give them a kiss and cuddle for good behaviour (and perhaps a treat for you for making that phone call today).
Time For Walkies
Speaking of leads, it’s time for that walk. Although it seems simple, not every pet is experienced with walking on a lead, and it can seem daunting at first. Leave your lead out so that your pup can sniff and see it, so it’s less scary the next time you pop it out the cupboard. Start with getting them comfortable wearing their lead/harness around the house and garden before venturing outside for the real fun. Walkies will soon become the highlight of your pup’s day, so take your time – and enjoy the days before you have to whisper the word to avoid your dog knocking over your favourite vase with excitement.
Let Them Walk You!
We may be the owners, but we all know we belong to our furry friends really. Your puppy knows themselves better than anyone, so let them lead you (although we don’t recommend it literally). Get to know your dogs’ signs and behaviours to better understand how they like to train hard and play hard. If your dog is struggling with learning commands, maybe bring it basics and take it slowly, when they’ve got the most energy in their day: attention and tailoring your pets training to them will go a long way. At the end of the day, it’s all about keeping you and your new floof happy and healthy together.
Keep Their Tummies Happy
What helps a dog keep happy and healthy more than what’s in their bowl? At Tilly & Ted, this is something we adamantly believe, and so we pack as much superfood, protein, and flavour as we can into every bag, pack, and tray. For new puppers, we recommend our Chicken Happy Puppy Meal to keep their tummies happy, and coming back for more. With our balanced and nutritious meals, every dog can find their perfect mouth-watering meal to add some me-time to meal-time.
Puppy training can feel like a complete disaster at time, but we bet your doing better than you think. Share your training wins (and fails) below so that no new owner feels alone and can join our waggy community.
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