Have you recently added a puppy to your family? Congratulations! This is a joyous and exhausting time. Having a puppy is a full time job. Our Pandemic Pups training program is ready to create a more perfect union between you and your puppy. Here are some puppy training plans to get you get started on your puppy’s training journey.

Potty Training

Take your puppy outside to potty within 20 minutes of eating, drinking, playing, and waking up. Set a timer! Puppies should be able to “hold it” for a number of hours equal to their age in months plus 1. So a 2 month old puppy may be able to “hold it” for up to 3 hours. They can often “hold it” overnight well before they are house-trained.  Don’t forget to give your puppy a treat party of at least 5 treats in a row right after they’ve pottied outside!

Nipping/Biting

Use a toy to engage your puppy in play. This, along with plenty of exercise balanced with lots of sleep, can help decrease nipping. If your puppy does nip, as soon as you feel teeth on your skin, immediately leave the room and close the door. Leave your puppy alone for 10 seconds and resume playing. Repeat as necessary up to a 30-second time-out. Consistency is key!

Chewing

Puppies need to chew, it’s a self-soothing behavior. Put away anything tempting for the time being. Have a variety of puppy chew toys available.  Nylabones covered with a thin layer of peanut butter, canned pumpkin, or yogurt are a great way to satisfy your puppy’s need to chew. 

Tiring Your Puppy Out

Mental stimulation can tire your puppy out faster than physical exercise!  Ditch the food bowl and feed your puppy out of stuffed frozen food puzzles. Practice training games, giving your puppy a working breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Instead of going to dog parks, make puppy playdates with other healthy dogs you know. Look for puppy socials in your area. 

We hope these plans help get you started. Check out our shopping list for books, toys, and food puzzles! We highly recommend reading Life Skills for Puppies by Helen Zurich and Daniel Mills.