Training your new dog will produce joy, anger, and maybe even a tear or two. One thing we know, it will not be easy. Have
you ever seen a commercial with a puppy? Yes a clean, obedient, cute little thing right? For some reason those thoughts don’t come to my mind when I think about a new puppy. I think more like messing, disobedient little spawn of Satan. Ok that might be a little harsh, but let’s face it; having a dog is no day at the park. The first year of your dog’s life is the most
important of all. During this first year what you teach the dog and what you know about your dog’s behavior can make or break the relationship. Here are things to look for in the stages of that critical first year.The only thing a puppy is good for before eight weeks old is to poop and look cute. Truthfully, don’t expect much out of your dog before then. When your puppy reaches eight weeks it begins to learn how to coordinate and handle himself. Remember though he is a dog, he still undergoes physical developments as a newborn baby would. You will start to notice a shift of dependence on you as the owner. He’ll be curious and will want to follow the leader. The attention span will be less than short and he’ll get easily distracted. Keep playtime short because puppies need lots of sleep. At twelve to sixteen weeks your puppy’s sense and motor skills begin to develop. He will begin to be more energetic when he’s awake, but he still needs a lot of rest. His bladder will improve and continue to develop. During this time showing love is very important to his future. The next
stage is between four to six months. Your puppy will begin to grow more rapidly with bigger spurts of energy. Research shows puppies are very stressed at this stage in their development. Don’t be alarmed if he is suddenly shy, just give him some lone time and he’ll be back to his chipper self. It is most important to socialize your dog during this stage. You need to get him in contact with other dogs so he’s not scared and shy the rest of his dog years. The six to nine month period is one of defiance. Your pup might start ignoring you all of the sudden, or try to rebel against you. Don’t be alarmed. Your dog is experiencing all sorts of hormones at this age, and just needs to learn how to balance them. Male pups seem to be very aggressive at this age. They will often have bursts of not so positive energy, so be firm with the rules of the household. Chewing will become a bigger problem during this time. Finally we have the last stage, nine to twelve months. Most breeds attain their adult size by twelve months. Stress during this stage can cause relapses in house training and many other manners. Separation anxiety is also found during this time. Get him used to the fact that you have a life that is not really all about him. Now I didn’t get much into how to train your pup as everybody has their own way. A good tip is to use treats for reward motivation. I covered the general emotional and physical changes your puppy goes through, and I hope it helps you understand your dog. Remember to have patience, and practice love. The way you show love to your dog in the first year will be very important to your future relationship. Dog’s are a lot of work, but the relationship you develop will be well worth it. Be aware of your dog’s needs you should do just fine.