Introduction
Puppies are delightful little bundles of joy, though they can also be almost uncontrollable little bundles of energy. Your new puppy is going to be testing boundaries at every turn, and your interactions with your new puppy will help your puppy to quickly learn appropriate and acceptable behavior. These beginning interactions may also determine whether or not you have a well behaved dog in the future. In order to ensure that you are getting off on the right foot with your new puppy, here are some do and don’t tips for interacting with your new puppy.
Thing You Should Do
Do encourage positive behavior by lavishing attention on your puppy every time it follows instructions and good behavior including: playing with the right toys, going to the bathroom in the correct spot, and interacting properly with people and other animals.
Do promote good bathroom training by picking a spot for your puppy to go the bathroom. Take your puppy to that spot frequently to give your puppy the opportunity to go. Praise and pet the puppy when the puppy uses that spot.
Do encourage good play behavior by using the appropriate toys during play time and interactions with your puppy.
Things You Should Not Do
Do not give your puppy attention when it behaves in the wrong way. Any kind of attention, even negative, will encourage your puppy to repeat that behavior. Instead you should ignore your puppy when it engages in bad behavior.
Do not encourage behavior in a puppy that you do not want in a dog. For example, if you do not want your grown dog on the furniture or in bed with you don’t take the puppy to bed or let the puppy on the furniture.
Do not play with your puppy using your hands or feet. The puppy will begin to think hands and feet are appropriate play toys. This type of ‘play’ can encourage nipping and biting when the puppy grows older.