So you’ve bought or adopted a new puppy. You’re extremely happy and ready to bond with your new fur-child, but you need to teach them a few things in order to make the process easier. Cleaning up accidents, finding chewed-up clothes, and barking at neighbors can make you wonder if getting a puppy was a smart idea, but with proper training and inclusion of good habits, you can minimize the stress that can come with getting a new puppy. We’ve laid out some tips and tricks for you in this post!

First things first

There are several good habits to train your puppy to have and it’s important that you start that training immediately. Puppies require constant practice to get used to methods, so the earlier you start, the easier and better they will grow accustomed to them. It’s harder to train a puppy the older they get because they quickly establish a routine that you set for them.

First and foremost, training a puppy to have good habits takes a lot of patience on your part, so make sure you are fully committed to handle the stress before getting a new puppy.

House Training

House training is probably going to be the first habit you teach your dog. Let’s face it, your puppy is going to have a few accidents in the house at first since they are getting used to the new location, so it’s your job to teach them where to properly go. Just like babies, puppies use the bathroom on a schedule. If you want to avoid the annoying task of cleaning up after them, it’s important that you initiate this schedule immediately by working it into their routine.

When your puppy uses the bathroom in the house, quickly correct them by scolding them (not too harsh, though) and then taking them outside, even if they just used the bathroom. When you are taking them out on their schedule and they use the bathroom in the yard, reward them for it with a treat and a sweet voice saying, “Good job!” This repetition will help them to quickly catch on about where they need to go to use the bathroom.

Socializing

Right after house training, socializing is probably next on your priority list of good habits to teach your puppy. No one wants to have a puppy that scares other people from aggressive barking, and this is one of the habits that will be harder to break your puppy out of with the older they get. If you don’t spend time socializing your furbaby while they’re young, they can develop anxiety that results in barking and aggression once they’re older since they’re not used to other animals or humans.

You should socialize your puppy as often as you can when you first get them. A great way to socialize your puppy is to bring them to a relatives house or a friends house that has a calm, gentle puppy or dog so yours can become acquainted with other animals and humans. When you take your puppy out of your house regularly, they become used to other people and situations instead of being confined to their routine. If you live in an area where you can take your puppy out for a stroll, do it! This will help break them into new friends instantly.

Chewing & Biting

Be prepared to maybe have to replace a new rug, or items in your closet when you first bring a new puppy home. Unfortunately, this is a hard habit that puppies will need to learn to break out of. Puppies are curious little things. They are still getting used to their new surroundings and learning what they can and can’t do, so until they know what toys they can play with. Everything is fair game.

Some breeds of puppies will have a harder time with this than others, but you should always keep a watchful eye out for your valuables. Puppies can also have a habit of chewing electrical cords, so in order to keep them safe, you need to nip it in the bud really quickly by investing in chew spray (which sprays a taste on items your puppy will not like) or scolding them when they chew something that isn’t yours.

Correcting your puppy

If your puppy chews something in the house or needs to be scolded, there’s a proper way to do it. 1) You should never crate-punish a puppy because that will send the message that their crate is not a safe place. The right way to scold a puppy is by repeating terms like “Drop” in a harsh tone when they’re chewing something they shouldn’t, or by redirection, turning their attention to other things.

You should never yell or beat a puppy because this could make them uncomfortable and scared while they’re learning proper behavior. Remember, it’s key to have patience with your new puppy while they navigate their new surroundings. 

Where do you like to walk your dog? You may have never asked yourself this question before, but it’s an important one to think over. While dogs have a body that’s built differently than humans, they still need protection from things like heat and sharp objects that can be lying on the ground. It’s good that your dog has proper exercise by getting them out of the house, but when you take them outside you should consider the following for their safety.

Different areas present different challenges

When you take your dog outside, you may have never considered the health concerns that come with it. Depending on the type of material your puppy is walking on, they develop some uncomfortable repercussions.

Dogs have strong paws that are meant for walking on certain surfaces, but require protection. Think of your own feet. Do you have carpet at your house? If you do, your foot walks on soft, comfortable material when you are up and moving, but when you go outside, you put shoes on in order to not cut yourself or get anything stuck in your foot. Your dogs are the same way.

The bottom of our shoes have traction similar to dogs, but there’s one thing our shoes do that a dog’s paw doesn’t: protect from heat. Ground material like concrete and asphalt can be scorching for a dog to walk on during the hot months of the year and without proper protection, their little feet can burn!

Asphalt vs. Grass

Depending on where you live, you may only be around a certain type of material for your dog to walk on. If you live near a city, you might be exposed to asphalt more than someone who lives in a rural area. Both types of ground material prevent their own set of challenges, so it’s important to know the precautions you need to take.

Obviously, grass is softer than asphalt, but that doesn’t mean that your pup can walk freely through the luscious green. Sharp objects such as thorns, hidden items, and harmful bugs can be lying around in the grass waiting to strike your furbaby. While the grass is an easier and cooler substance for your dog to walk on, they still need to be careful where they step.

Asphalt provides a different challenge to your dog that should be taken into consideration when you walk your dog outside. During the summer months, asphalt has a tendency to reach 143 degrees! That is hot! These extreme temperatures can be very uncomfortable for your loved furchild to step on and it can damage their paws.

Your pup could receive a burn in under a minute is the conditions are just right for the asphalt to heat up to a certain degree, and this would be excruciatingly painful for your little buddy. Keeping an eye out for the temperature outside is important when trying to decide if it’s safe or not to walk your dog on asphalt.

Saving your dog’s paws

If you live somewhere where asphalt is the only material your dog has to walk on, note the temperature before going outside. Lucky for you, there’s ways to prevent burning on your dog’s paws.

If the air is below 76 degrees, then asphalt should not reach a temperature hot enough to damage your foot. If that is the case, then you can walk freely on the ground while giving your dog some exercise.

During the summer months is when we have to worry the most about asphalt burning your dog’s paws. Some areas are hotter than others, do if you need to take your dog outside, having a pair of dog socks or booties is a great idea to provide protection from heat and burning. Your dog can even wear these adorable booties outside in the grass!

Since grass is typically safer and cooler for your dog to walk in, you may not need to put your booties on your dog unless you really want to. If you live in a neighborhood that has both grass and asphalt, then it would be a good idea to put them on if you are going for a walk to prevent your dog from any discomfort if the weather is hot.

Consideration is key

If you have never considered the effects of where your dog walks, don’t feel bad! You can still protect them now.

If your dog has experienced cracking or cuts from walking outside, consult with your vet. They may provide moisturizing creams to help restore your dog’s paws health. For the future, consider your location and the areas your dog spends most of their time outside. When the weather is hot, walk your buddy in the grass or provide them a protectant like dog booties to prevent any damage the heat may cause to their paws.