Teaching A Young Pup New Tricks
You and your new pup have had a wonderful day, and as far as you’re concerned everything is perfect – then bed time hits.
The first few nights you have your new puppy can be an experience like nothing you’ve encountered before. Here’s some general tips that may help smooth the transition from sleeping with its littermates to sleeping on its own.
* Pups should have a warm place to sleep. Some place like the laundry, outside kennel or garden shed. Pups shouldn't be left outside to sleep until they are older.
* Cover the floor with newspaper - it'll help when it comes to cleaning up any night time accidents.
* Place some water, a few puppy biscuits and some chew toys in with them.
* If possible, during the day when they have naps try to get them used to sleeping on a certain blanket, this can then be placed in the laundry at night time. Try saying bed when they do go to sleep on the blanket it'll help down the track when it comes to training.
* If you have an old jumper or other piece of clothing that carries your scent, place that on the blanket as well.
* Sometimes having a radio playing in the background can help the pup settle in the first few nights.
* Never go in and smack your puppy because he is crying, he's lonely. Not only is he missing his littermates, but now he's also missing you.
* If you do need to go in and try and settle him down, don't make it a play time - it can encourage bad habits. Go in and settle him then leave him alone again.
* When morning eventually comes (and sometimes it can seem like an extraordinarily long night) go in and praise him and take him outside to do his business.
These are just some general tips that may prove helpful. Just remember that puppies will learn what's right and wrong fairly quickly so always praise them when they do the right thing. It won't be long before you're once again having a peaceful nights sleep.
