Wendy is the head trainer and co-owner of Namaste Dog Training here in Cullman. She provides classes for dogs of all breeds and ages, training with positive reinforcement methods. Here are some tips and tricks from Wendy when it comes to bringing home a new pet!
“When bringing a new puppy home, families need to first remember that this is a whole new world for them. Those first few days in the home are exciting, overwhelming, and sometimes a bit scary for a new puppy. Whether from a rescue, shelter, or breeder, the new pet parents should remember the ‘Rule of Threes’:
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In the first three days of bringing your pet home, your new pup is trying to learn the new rules and spaces, and workings of their new environment. They may sleep a lot or be overexcited. Be patient and give them time to adjust.
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After the first three weeks, your pup is getting used to the routines, understanding rules, when to expect their next meal, and so on. They are getting in the flow of things.
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After 3 months, your pup truly knows they are "home." This is when you get to see their true personalities come out.
Training should be a family event with one "teacher" to help build consistency, lessen mixed signals, and maybe add a little more fun to training. The teacher would be in charge of doing the beginning training of each cue with the pup. When the pup is responding well to the cue, they get to teach the rest of the family how to use the cue. The teacher can change too! If one person wants to be in charge of one cue while another is in charge of another then that works too. This helps consistency and keeps the dog from getting mixed information with inconsistent hand signals or cues.”
The course focuses on helping owners create and maintain a healthy routine that can turn kennels into safe places, help puppies feel at home enough to let their personalities shine, and can make potty-training one million times easier! To schedule your pup for a class, contact her through email, through her Facebook page, or on her website at namastedogtraining.com!