Bringing a new dog home can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it’s important to take some steps to help your new furry friend feel comfortable and settle into their new environment. 

Whether you just brought home a brand new puppy or adopted an adult dog from a local shelter, these tips will help you start right!

Before bringing the dog home, acquire a crate and ideally an exercise pen. You may “puppy-proof” a small room with a baby gate in the doorway like a laundry room or bathroom, as an alternative to the pen. However, you may find that the dog chews on whatever is available in these areas, so be sure to supervise! These confinement zones will provide a safe space for your new dog to spend time and prevent them from engaging in unwanted behavior. It also lets other pets adjust to the new dog’s presence and allows you to monitor interactions.

Establish a routine: Dogs thrive on routine, so try to establish a regular schedule for feeding, exercise, and playtime.

Give your new dog several days to decompress and settle in. It is essential for newly adopted adult dogs. Please don’t take them to the pet store or on big adventures yet. Let them spend time in your house and yard learning about their new home.

When your new dog is out of the safe space, let them drag a regular leash and supervise them at all times. The leash helps you keep track of where they are and allows you to redirect them if needed without grabbing their collar quickly. It also helps prevent accidental slips out the door! Your goal is to prevent them from engaging in bad habits like counter surfing, chewing up objects, peeing on the rug, etc.

Use the dog’s regular food or treats throughout the day to reward good behavior and BE GENEROUS! This is the fastest way to get your dog to understand what you want them to do. When you notice them lying calmly, walk by (quietly) and place a treat right before their nose. Do this A LOT, and you’ll have a dog that offers to lay calmly and quietly way more often.

Spend quality time: Spend time bonding with your new dog through playtime, walks, and cuddles.

Feed the new dog meals in the crate and/or pen, so they are separated from other pets. It also helps them associate the confinement spaces with positive experiences. It would help if you also tossed treats into the crate and pen throughout the day to reward the dog for going inside.

Consult a veterinarian: Take your new dog to the vet for a check-up and to establish a healthcare plan.

Start training: Begin training your new dog right away to establish rules and boundaries. Start with basic commands such as “sit,” “stay,” and “come.”

Most importantly, if you struggle with a new dog’s behavior, get some help from a professional! The sooner you get help, the less time your dog has to practice unwanted behavior, and the easier it is to get back on track!

Puppy Training Treasure Coast

Puppy training is an essential part of ensuring that your furry friend grows up to be a well-behaved and obedient dog.

Here are some first steps for puppy training:

1. House training: The first step is to house-train your puppy. Start by establishing a regular routine for feeding and taking your puppy outside to eliminate waste. Praise your puppy when they go outside, and be patient if they have an accident indoors. Be consistent in your training and give your puppy plenty of opportunities to go outside.

2. Socialization: Socialization is crucial for your puppy’s development. Introduce your puppy to different people, dogs, and environments to help them become comfortable with new experiences. Puppy classes can also be a great way to socialize your puppy and teach them basic obedience.

3. Basic obedience: Start teaching your puppy basic obedience commands such as “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and “heel.” Use positive reinforcement techniques, such as treats and praise, to encourage your puppy to obey your commands.

4. Crate training: Crate training can help your puppy feel safe and secure, and can also aid in house training. Introduce your puppy to the crate gradually and make it a positive experience by giving them treats and toys inside the crate.

5. Exercise: Puppies have a lot of energy and need regular exercise to stay healthy and happy. Take your puppy for walks and play games with them to help burn off excess energy.

Remember, puppy training takes time and patience, but it’s worth it to have a well-behaved and happy dog.

How to Reduce Jumping – Puppy Training Treasure Coast

One of the most common complaints from pet parents is that their dog jumps up on people. It may include jumping on the pet parents, kids in the home, or on guests that visit. This behavior is annoying, but it can also be dangerous if your dog knocks someone over or accidentally scratches Grandma with those toenails.

Now, you may not like what I’m going to write next…
You and the people around you have likely trained the behavior of jumping up on people. Yes, that’s right, you have accidentally trained your dog to perform this behavior. But don’t worry, this is a common occurrence, and you can improve things!

I often see puppy owners touch and love their cute little puppy when it jumps upon them. Then suddenly, it’s no longer pleasant when their rowdy 40-pound teenage dog puts their paws up for affection. Ouch! Those nails!!

But wait! You adopted your dog as an adult, and they came to you as a jumping bean; there’s no way you contributed to this behavior!

Okay, but how did you respond the first few times your dog jumped on you? Did you make eye contact and say “get down”? Or did you touch them and give them attention because you were so in love? Maybe you even let them put their front paws on your lap while you pet them on the couch sometimes at night?

It may surprise you to learn that any touching, eye contact, attention, or even scolding can be enough to reward this behavior. And suppose you do so intermittently, meaning sometimes you give attention when they jump and sometimes you get annoyed. In that case, the behavior will become even more persistent.

Google “intermittent reinforcement schedules” if you want to learn more about that concept.

Bear in mind that jumping up is somewhat natural for a dog because they want to get closer to your face to greet you and show affection. You can rest easy they aren’t just trying to annoy you.

How to Reduce Jumping

However, we can do a couple of things to reduce the jumping or at least reduce the intensity when it happens:

• Implement a “4-on-the-floor” rule. It means that your dog only receives attention, petting, doors opening, etc. when they have all 4 feet on the floor. Make sure your whole family is on board and tell your guests when they arrive.
• If your dog jumps up on you, immediately turn away, so they get off of you. Turn back towards them and ask for a sit once they have 4-on-the-floor. Once they sit, you may address them. Begin to anticipate when your dog is about to jump and step out of the way right before they touch you with those paws!
• When greeting a familiar friendly dog, bend at the waist and turn slightly sideways so you can pet them with both hands hanging down lower (about level with their back). Just be careful that they don’t accidentally clock you in the jaw with their head when in this position. Sometimes I will gently hold their collar with two fingers to make sure they can’t suddenly jump up and surprise me. Bonus points if you have a treat in your hand that they can nibble on while keeping 4-on-the-floor.
• Keep a leash on your dog so you can step on it if needed to reduce your dog’s ability to continue jumping up on you or others. Once they stop, ask for a sit and release the leash. If they are really worked up, you may need to take the leash and direct them to another activity or their crate for a nap.

Practice teaching your dog to relax and stay on a mat so you can use this skill when guests enter your home.

It is not an exhaustive list, but these tips should get you started to reduce this annoying behavior. Remember, this behavior didn’t just appear overnight, so it will take time to diminish.

The dog always tells! After changing your response to this behavior, you may notice over time that your dog doesn’t jump on you as often but still jumps on someone else in your household often. It can be a signal that something that person is doing is still rewarding the behavior. Put on your detective hat to figure it out.

Puppy Training Treasure Coast – Happy Dogs Start with Puppy Training

Housetraining New Puppies

Dear New Puppy Owners,

Housetraining can be frustrating. It feels like you are constantly taking your dog out, yet you still find pee on the bathroom rug. Let’s say you’re NOT alone, puppy owners of Vero Beach, FL.

I understand the struggle, and I’m here to give tips on the best ways to start getting ahead of the problem. When a puppy comes to my house for training, I first set up a “potty log” note sheet by the back door. Each time the pup goes outside, I note the time and whether it urinated (UR) or had a bowel movement (BM). If the puppy has an accident in the house, I also note it on the sheet. Pretty soon, you can see a pattern developing that tells you how often and when your pup needs to potty.

Data Is Your Friend when Housetraining Puppies!

The potty log method is beneficial when multiple people take the dog out because you know exactly how long it has been!

It’s also crucial not to let your puppy roam free in the house when you aren’t actively supervising, especially if they haven’t pottied in a while. They should be confined by a playpen, crate, or tether when you are not actively playing with or training them to avoid accidents. It helps them learn to hold it longer because they shouldn’t want to potty where they rest. Although if you wait too long, your puppy may still potty in the confinement area, so pay attention! Set the alarm on your phone for every hour if needed.

I recently kept a potty log sheet for an 11-week-old puppy that stayed at my house for two days. I took her outside fourteen times in one day in the muggy rain! But I’ll tell you; she didn’t have one accident in the house, and each time she went outside, I rewarded her for pottying in the right place with either praise, yard play, or a treat.

The point is that when your pup is young, you should expect to take them out about every hour until they develop the ability to hold it longer. And the more active your puppy is, the more frequently they will need to go, sometimes even every 30-45 minutes. And yes, it is a royal pain in the bum! But it’s normal.

Red Flags To Watch For!

If you see your puppy peeing every 15-20 minutes or going multiple times in one trip outside, those are red flags for a urine infection; you should contact your vet for a urine test.

Several puppies came to me for training with unidentified urine infections that I found by keeping my potty log! Data for the win!

Another housetraining tip is to designate a “potty zone” in the yard.

DO NOT let them walk you around the yard! When it’s time to go out, walk your puppy to the potty zone and stand in one place for up to 5 minutes, be boring. If your puppy urinates or defecates within 5 minutes, PRAISE them and then drop the leash for playtime (if you have a fenced yard) or walk them around the yard as a reward. But they must potty before the fun begins!

If your puppy does not potty within 5 minutes, bring them back inside and put them in the crate for about 20 minutes. Then try the whole thing again. Repeat if necessary. Your puppy will learn quickly that to play and have fun, they need to potty when given a chance. And don’t forget, there is HELP out there.

Please shoot us a message on how we can get your puppy on a housetraining schedule that works.  Contact Now >>

How to Choose a Dog Trainer in Vero Beach

When choosing a trainer, it’s important to ask about their training methods, experience, and credentials. Look for someone who uses positive reinforcement techniques and has a good reputation in the community. You can also ask for recommendations from other dog owners in the area. Good luck with your puppy training!

Tips to reduce barking

Maybe they bark at the neighbor’s dog or people walking down the street. Or perhaps even at random sounds they hear in the house.
I’m sure you’re tired of scolding or telling your dog to hush. Maybe you’ve even tried a bark collar (which I do NOT recommend for several reasons).

Excessive barking can get annoying fast!

Barking can be a fun pastime for the bored dog. But it’s important to understand WHY your dog is barking to make lasting change. It’s also important to remember that dogs’ barking is a natural behavior. Some breeds even more so than others. And some dogs learn that barking at you gets your attention, making it extra reinforcing! However, the barking is often rooted in feelings of insecurity.

Like in the case of the German Shepherd puppy in the video we posted on our Instagram on May 15th, 2021. She fears other dogs, and the barking dog next door is frightening.

 

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A post shared by Goldstar Puppy Academy (@goldstarpuppyacademy)

In the video, you’ll see the puppy respond to the verbal signal “leave it” even when she is in the middle of charging/barking at the fence. Pretty impressive! She turns on a dime and makes her way back to her handler for further instruction. But it didn’t start this way. She first learned the “leave it” skill indoors in various contexts before she understood it outside.

Additional tips to reduce barking

Increase mentally stimulating activities by feeding your dog with puzzles and food toys.
You can also hide food or treats in your house for your dog to find when you aren’t around.
Anticipate your dog’s needs and intervene before they bark.
Apply contact paper to your front window to prevent your dog from looking out and waiting to bark at something.
Give your dog daily exercise in the form of sniffer walks, structured walks, tug games, or swimming.
Build your dog’s confidence with various enrichment games.

Please do not give your dog attention when they bark. Instead, remove your attention from your dog immediately. When they are quiet, you may look at them again.