Welcoming a new puppy into your home can be such an exciting and special time. Your new little friend will have some adjusting to do and so will you and your family, especially if you are first time dog owners. If you have never raised a puppy before you will experience some specific new challenges in training and socializing your new pup. This can be a challenging time for you, but you need to remember that it will also be a stressful transition for your puppy. New German Shepherd breeding tips can give you some valuable insight into breed specific behaviors.
Dog obedience in San Antonio, Austin, San Marco, Wimberley and New Braunfels  is not something to take lightly, but with a little planning and consideration you can help this transition to go as smoothly as possible. Here are a few great tips you can use and steps to take when bringing a new dog into your home.
Prepare Your Family In Advance
Preparing your family is just as important as preparing your home. If you have children, it is good to sit down with them regularly in the days leading up to your puppy’s arrival and discuss what the needs and requirements might look like. Socializing a new dog is a key element of dog obedience (San Antonio) and some planning with your children can help a lot. Educate your children on dog behavior and German Shepherd breeding.
If you have other pets it may be needed to separate them at the very beginning and slowly introduce them in supervised sessions a bit at a time. Get your current animals used to this segregation a bit before your new puppy arrives.
Take Things Slowly And Have Patience
Gradual exposure and supervision will be key. Expand your puppy’s environment slowly, and build his socialization with consistency and affection. Rules and routine will be powerful tools, but they only work if you have the patience to enforce them over time. Try not to do too much too quickly or you may see undesirable results and stresses in your dog.
Introduce Your Puppy To His New Home And Set Up Dedicated Spots
Show you puppy his new home but try to establish a main puppy-proof spot to build from. Letting your puppy run free in your home completely will be sensory overload for your new friend. Instead let them explore a more dedicated area to begin with and gradually expand. Let him first get used to where he will sleep, eat, and where his bathroom area will be. These spots will be important to establish for your upcoming training. If you start by sleeping them in a crate, you can normalize this as their spot, rather than feeling like a doggy jail.
Enforce Rules From The Beginning
It may seem like a lot, but household rules can be started from the beginning. Your new puppy will respond well to structure and consistency and this can be built by enforcing rules from the start. Use lots of praise and positive reinforcement. This is all new for your puppy so be understanding but consistent.
Research A Good Dog Obedience (San Antonio) Class
Group obedience classes can be a great fit for young puppies and also be a great bonding experience for you and your new friend as well. Group lessons can be a great option to start socialization training at a young age as well.
Dog obedience (San Antonio) classes are unregulated, so some research is needed to find a quality instructor. Our facilities are located in New Braunfels and San Marco but services the greater San Antonio and Austin area and we can help you find the right instructor to fit the needs of both you and your new puppy companion.
With patience, love, and planning, your furry new addition can thrive and build a strong and lasting bond with you and your family.