If you’ve recently brought home a new puppy, congratulations!
Along with all the joy and excitement that comes with a new furry friend, there are also some important considerations to keep in mind to ensure your puppy’s safety, obedience, and happiness. One of the most important aspects of puppy ownership is proper management, and that includes having the right tools and techniques to set your puppy up for success.
In this article, we’ll go over the equipment you’ll need, including a crate, x-pen, harness, and leash.
We’ll also cover techniques for safely allowing your puppy to have some freedom while still being supervised.
Basic Puppy Training Equipment
The following are the essential pieces of equipment you’ll need to properly manage your new puppy:
- Crate: A crate is an essential tool for puppy management. It should be big enough for your puppy to stand up in and turn around, but not much bigger than that. This is because a larger crate may allow your puppy to go potty in one area and stay away from the mess, making it less of a deterrent to go in the crate.
- X-Pen: An x-pen is greater for the transition to some freedoms around the house. This allows the pup to be out of the crate playing with some toys and getting some sense of freedom while still being supervised.
- Harness: While we do not recommend walking your dog on a harness once they’ve been taught the proper heel command, a harness is a great way to tether your dog to you without desensitizing them to the feeling of pressure on their neck.
- Standard Leash: A standard leash is a must-have for any puppy owner. A five or six-foot leash is ideal for keeping your puppy in close range to you. As your pup gets older and learns more commands, you may invest in a longer leash such as a 30-foot long line.
How to Use The Equipment
Crate Training
Your puppy should be crated anytime you can’t supervise him. Your pup will sleep in the crate and hang out in there when you are away or you can’t keep your eyes on him.
We also recommend putting him in the crate during meal time which will help build a positive association with the crate.
Puppies sleep on average 18 to 20 hours a day, so although this may feel like a lot of crate time, it is much needed for your pup to stay fully rested.
X-Pen Basics
The X-Pen is one great way to get the puppy out of his crate and socialize with the family a bit.
You should always start by taking the pup out for a potty break. This will help set him up for success in house training.
Once back inside, you can put the pup in the X-Pen with some toys, bones, or a Kong filled with peanut butter.
Supervise your puppy while he’s in there to ensure he’s not able to practice any bad behaviors like barking, jumping, climbing, or chewing on the carpet or other household items.
Keeping the Puppy on a Leash While at Home
Another way to safely have the pup out of the crate is to keep him tethered to me on his harness following me around the house.
By doing this, I can keep him close to me and monitor his every move, keeping him out of trouble by preventing unwanted behaviors.
Earning Their Freedom
By following these basic concepts, you will be able to have proper supervision over your puppy, setting him up for success.
Once the rules and boundaries are set and practiced, your puppy can earn their freedom and privileges as they mature.
Comprehensive Obedience Training
Having the right tools and techniques is crucial for proper puppy training and management. While the basics covered in the article can certainly help, sometimes a more comprehensive program is needed to achieve off-leash control and obedience.
That’s where our comprehensive obedience course comes in. This program is specifically designed for puppies older than 6 months old and aims to teach essential obedience and off-leash control. The ultimate goal is to prepare dogs and their owners for more freedom and activities.
During the program, puppies will learn a range of valuable skills and behaviors such as sit, down, leash manners (no jumping or pulling), heeling, recall (how to come when called), go to bed, leave it, load up, crate training, wait at doors, e-collar principles, and basic manners (no nuisance barking, jumping, or counter surfing).
The training focuses on creating a strong bond between the dog and the owner. This will result in a well-behaved, confident, and happy dog, which is the ultimate goal of any dog training program.
In conclusion, while basic puppy training techniques and tools are essential, sometimes a more comprehensive program is necessary to achieve the desired results. Our 3-week board and train program offers just that, providing puppies and their owners with the skills and knowledge they need to have a positive and fulfilling life together.
