L&B Puppies

Bringing your puppy home is an exciting time and we want to be as prepared as possible so we cut down on frustration and increase the time you get to enjoy your new family member. 

 

The first couple days will be a big adjustment period for you and your new puppy.  You will want to set up your puppy for success by giving him the right tools and teaching him new skills. 

 

We do everything we can to make his transition easier for you but you will still need to put in lots of work to train your puppy. 

 

I have raised and trained lots of puppies and I have come up with a method that works very well and can make the transition period much easier for you and the puppy. 

 

Here's How!! 

 

 

What you will need:

• A medium sized wire crate

• A soft bed on one side of the crate

• Food and water bowls

• Toys, bones, chews

• A blanket to cover the crate

 

 

You will want to set this crate up in a quiet place in your house. Anytime you cannot be with your puppy or at night. Put your puppy in the pen so he has access to his bed, food, and water. Continue to take your puppy outside to potty as often as possible so he learns to go outside.  I recommend only putting your puppy in the crate for feeding, sleeping and when you are not home.  

 

Getting through the crying stage can be tough at first but you must pull through it. If you are consistent and don't give in to your puppy when he whines, he will figure out that the crate is a quiet place and he doesn't need to panic. 

 

Puppy Pen Method:  I recommend this method for people who live in apartments or condos in the city. Or, if you have to leave your puppy for a longer time than the puppy can reasonably hold it.  This gives the puppy more space to stretch its legs, free access to food and water and a place that he/she can go potty without soiling their bedding. The potty box is filled with pine pellets that absorb odor and moisture like a sponge. It can be found at PetSmart: https://www.petsmart.com/cat/litter-and-waste-disposal/litter/exquisicat-naturals-pine-cat-litter-18347.html

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You can find a small plastic litter tray that is made for rabbits at PetSmart as well:  https://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/little-giant-24-in-x-24-in-plastic-dropping-pan/0000000032654?bc=11232|11298|11302   I recommend this one because it has short sides all around and puppies can easily step in it from all sides. 

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For the Puppy Pen I recommend getting one that has vertical bars. Aussaliers are very smart and can easily figure out how to climb a puppy pen with horizontal bars.  (Trust me on this one) Here's the link: https://www.chewy.com/VerticalPuppyPen

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Tips and Tricks: 

• Use a blanket to cover the puppies crate on all but one side. This creates a den-like experience and it also prevents the puppy from being able to see what is going on outside the crate.  The puppy is always going to whine if he/she can see you going about your life in the house while he's locked in a cage. 

• Freeze a water/chicken broth mixture in his water bowl.  When you leave for an extended period of time put the ice bowl in his crate so he has something to lick/keep him occupied when your away. 

• Yummy, Meaty dog bones. Your local butcher should have some meaty raw bones that they would love to give away.  When you leave the house put a high value, chew/bone in with your puppy to help ease his time while your away. Only give these bones when you are gone as a reward for being in his crate. 

• Be Consistent.  Place your puppy in the crate with a yummy treat, pat him on the head, and walk away. It isn't fun to listen to a puppy cry but it is best for him to understand that the crate is a quiet place and you will come back when he has calmed down.  Don't take a puppy out of the crate while he is crying.

• Excercise your puppy intensely and take him potty before you put him in the crate and especially before bed. 

 

 

 

Potty training your new puppy can be stressful but we have to understand that it is up to us to set up our new puppy for success! 

Here are a couple pointers to make it go smoothly:

• Bring your puppy outside as often as possible. If your puppy never has the opportunity to have an accident in the house than he will just get used to only going to the bathroom when he is brought outside. This means when you first bring your puppy home, take him out every hour, especially after naps, eating or drinking, or playing. 

• Praise him for getting it right! Every time your puppy goes potty outside praise him like he just won the lotto. He will associate good things with going potty outside.  (I don't recommend giving treats for going potty outside) 

• Never scold your puppy for having an accident in the house.  Take him outside more often. If you scold your puppy for having an accident he will not know that its because he pottied in the wrong place. He will associate being scolded with just going potty and he will try to sneak off to potty next time. 

 

Training Tips! 

• Biting: Puppies are rambunctious little creatures and they love to bite. That is how they play with their littermates.  For the first few weeks avoid playing with your puppy with your hands. Always have a toy or rope in your hand to play with your puppy so he grabs the rope instead. If he is biting your hands take your hands away and replace it with something else. 

• Resource Guarding:  I encourage you to give your puppy high-value bones and chews to keep him busy and satisfy his chewing instinct. To prevent your puppy from growling at you and guarding his food, be sure to trade him for something yummy every time you take a bone or food from him. If your puppy doesn't perceive you as a threat to his valuable food than he will not care if you take it away from him.  This practice is explained more in depth in the Puppy Culture videos. 

  • When your puppy is chewing on a bone and you need to take it away from him or pick him up. Present him with a high-value treat. When the puppy takes the treat. Reach down and grab the bone.

 

Clicker Training! 

 

Clicker training is a tool that helps to "mark" a wanted behavior with a click sound so that your puppy knows what he just did was what you wanted.  You can train your puppy to do just about anything with short fun clicker training sessions! 

 

 

This page is still under construction so there is more tips and tricks to come!