Vincent Bronson

Raising Puppy Guide For Novice Vincent Bronson

It's impossible to provide constant supervision for your energetic, curious pup, so it's important to prepare your home before letting him loose in it. Secure electrical cords and move potentially toxic plants or substances, such as cleaning supplies and insecticides, out of reach. It's a good idea to crawl through your home to get a puppy's-eye view of his surroundings. Remove anything he might be tempted to chew or swallow, and close off vents, pet doors or any other openings that might allow him to become lost or stuck. Not only will this help keep him safe, it will also ease your anxiety that your new pup is lost. You'll need to be ready to start house training your pup as soon as you bring him home. If you plan to crate train him, have the crate ready. Make it comfortable by lining it with blankets or a dog bed, but make sure it's large enough that he'll have plenty of room to stand up, turn around, and lie down. Slowly introduce him to the crate by leaving the door open and letting him explore it on his own. You can help tempt him to go in by throwing in a toy or a couple of pieces of food. The more comfortable he is with going into the crate, the easier it will be on both of you during training. If you're forgoing a crate, prepare a small area, such as a powder room or a corner of a kitchen or laundry room, where he can be confined and kept away from other pets and small children. Be sure to provide some puppy training pads to catch any accidents, and include a dog bed, his food and water dishes and a toy or two. This area will serve as home base, a safe space from which he can slowly be introduced to the other members of your household and that provides a retreat when he becomes overwhelmed or needs a time out.