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Are you planning on getting a dog for the first time? A dog can be a wonderful addition to the family, but they can also be a tremendous amount of work, and you need to take the time to make sure that it is the right decision. Puppies, although incredibly cute, are a real handful, and it will require effort from the whole family to raise a dog that is well-behaved and obedient. There are a few tips to keep in mind; these should help when raising a puppy and allow you to enjoy all of the benefits that this adorable new addition can bring for you and the family.
Do Your Research
First, it is important that you do your research so that you can make the right decision. It might be tempting to buy the first cute puppy that you set your eyes on, but you need to make sure that it is a suitable breed for your situation and that you are getting it from the right place.
Share Responsibilities
It is a good idea if the whole family shares responsibilities so that the workload (which can be high!) is shared – it can also be helpful for children to have these types of responsibilities from a young age. A few of the duties will include:
- Feeding
- Walks
- Training
- Grooming
- Tidying up
Establish The Rules Early On
It is important that you have rules in place from the very first day, as it can be hard to change these later on. You need to think about rules such as:
- Whether the dog is allowed on the sofa
- Whether the dog is allowed on the bed
- What the daily routine is
- How many treats they are allowed
Be Social
Once the puppy has had all of its vaccinations, then it is a good idea to start taking it out and being social. It is crucial for a young dog to be exposed to other people, other dogs, and new environments so that they can get used to interactions and new surroundings. This should help them to develop into a confident dog that does not panic or cause issues.
Make Training A Priority
Leading on from this, you need to make sure that training is a priority so that you can raise an obedient, well-behaved, and confident dog. It can be much harder to train a dog when it is older, so you should really start when they are a puppy. You should always find an experienced and trusted trainer, like Delders Dogs, for the best results.
Be Patient
Finally, it is important that you are patient when raising a puppy and expect some issues. Common problems include:
- Crying when left alone
- Play biting
- House training difficulties
- Fear of strangers
A puppy can be a terrific addition to the family and bring you all closer together, but it is important that everyone understands that it is a huge responsibility, and it will take a lot of work to raise a dog that is obedient and well-behaved. The above tips should help first-time dog owners and allow you to enjoy the great benefits that adding man’s best friend to the family can bring.
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