A well-trained puppy with great social skills in guaranteed to have a great social life because good manners opens doors ensuring he will be welcome everywhere.

Start Training Early

It’s important to start young. Dog trainers say that the puppy stage between five weeks and twenty weeks is critical because that’s when the dog sets its attitudes towards how it reacts towards other dogs and people. Positive interactions and experiences at this impressionable age means you are giving your dog great social skills that it will be able to carry forward into adulthood.

A good book on raising puppies will offer lots of excellent tips but it’s also a great idea to enroll him in a puppy class with a professional trainer. Not only will your pooch learning the basics but it’s a great opportunity to make friends with other dogs in his class.

Stay Consistent

When it comes to training, puppy basics actually apply to the person on the other end of the leash too. So, it’s important to be consistent and re-enforce what you have learned in class in your home environment. This means that one member of the household must be the designated in-house trainer.

Re-enforcement and encouragement should be in the form of verbal praise such as phrases like “good job!”  and “well done” and further reinforced with a yummy training treat. Remember treats have calories and should be a portion of your dog’s daily diet. So be sure to manage the calorie count! You can treat with small chunks or carrots, celery and cucumber too.

Reward for a Job Well Done

Toys also make great training tools to teach young puppies basic commands and good manners. 
It’s a good idea to let your puppy “audition” a variety of different toys in order to select a favorite. Then when you bring it out, he will automatically be keen to play – and learn.

The texture of the toy is very important. So is the shape and any sounds it makes. It also needs to be lightweight and the right size so that your puppy can comfortably pick it up and carry it around. Fortunately, many toy manufacturers spell out the elements and benefits of their toys on the packaging and this will help with your final selection.

Socialize Your Puppy

Taking your puppy with you to a variety of different places is a great way to socialize him and make him feel really comfortable around both other pets and people.

Dogs are very empathic creatures so, they can read your feelings. That’s why it’s important not to be nervous when taking him out and out to test his skills. He will quickly know whether you are or aren’t in control!

Of course, there are going to be puppy accidents and he’s going to try and win you over with those big doleful puppy eyes, but it’s important to be firm, with an understanding tone in your voice and always remain positive. Puppies are no different to children, they know how to subtly manipulate you.

Your local pet boutique or pet supermarket is a great place for an outing to meet other dogs and owners. Because people come and go, it’s never too overwhelming for a young dog. Just walking around is a great way for a puppy to learn about new smells, noises and even about walking on slick store surfaces.

Some stores actually host play date afternoons, giving puppy owners the opportunity to meet and mingle – and talk about their pups and make new friends on both ends of the leash. 

A new puppy! Get ready for a rollercoaster ride of fun as your exuberant pup turns your home and yard into an exciting adventure playground seeking out fun stuff to explore — and chew. 

Puppy Proof Your Home

Just like small children and crawling babies, puppies are driven by curiosity.

Before you bring your new friend home, it’s a good idea to scan your house and garden from their view point by getting down on your hands and knees. Everything looks very different from a puppy’s ground-level perspective.

This will highlight hidden dangers within a small dog’s reach such as gaps behind furniture and appliances where an exploring puppy can easily get stuck and hurt.

• Consider a laundry basket and trash cans with lids so that the respective contents don’t get chewed, as this can be very dangerous. Now you have a real excuse to put your shoes away and not leave them lying around, especially ones with laces.
• Remove items of jewelry along with hair accessories, medication and creams and any other small objects from nightstands, as they are all potential hazards. Never empty pockets of coins and leave them lying around anywhere because the metals can be toxic if ingested. Instead load up a decorative piggy bank with small change and, when its full, spend the cash on a fun new doggie accessory or toy.
• Make sure no shopping bags are left lying around especially plastic ones. 

And, on the subjecting of shopping bags, a new puppy calls for a shopping spree in advance to ensure that you have all the right accessories, toys and food before you bring him home. 

Basic Shopping List

Crates

By nature, all dogs have a denning instinct and a crate simulates this basic need and allows your puppy to have its own personal space.

There is a large selection of crates made from wire or plastic compositions in all colors. Select a size with your full-grown dog in mind and ensure it has a divider so you can initially create a puppy space and enlarge it as he grows. Also consider a two-door design to give you better access according to where its positioned in the home. To create a proper doggie den, kit it out with  accessories including comfy mattresses, and foam bumpers similar to what you’d put in a baby’s cot.

Food and Water Bowls

There is no shortage of stylish food and water bowls that will slot in beautifully with your home décor. Stainless steel, glass or ceramic bowls are hygienic because they as dishwasher safe and thus easy to keep clean. Look for styles that have a rubber ring on the bottom so that your puppy can’t move it around the house.

Many veterinarians consider raised food bowls a good idea because the standing position for eating aids digestion. There are numerous models on the market with telescopic legs so that you can increase the height as your puppy grows.
 
A drinking fountain is an excellent idea to ensure that your puppy as a constant supply of fresh running water. This will replicate running water that dogs would drink in the wild and will ensure he stays properly hydrated.

Food and Treats

If you adopted your puppy from a shelter, the chances are you have been given a bag of the food he has been fed to date. A healthy grain-free diet will help keep your growing dog healthy and glossy. There are special puppy diets to help with growth. And, if you are planning to transition over to a new recipe, do it over a period of a week to 10 days. This way you will avoid any dietary issues such as a runny tummy that can occur if you switch over too quickly. 

Look for low calorie treats and experiment with different flavors and textures to see what your pooch enjoys. Treats are a great training tool when you get ready to work on his social skills.

Toys

Stocking a toy box is something that you can do over time as all dogs need action, distraction and comfort toys. But initially, get your puppy something plush that he can sleep. Go for something cuddly but chew-resistant with lots of squeakers to ramp up the fun with and also purchase some fun non-toxic throw toys.

Joining a family can be very overwhelming for a puppy. So, it’s a really good idea to create a space for him in one room of the home with all his new accessories.  And make it somewhere quiet too. Another good excuse to tell teenagers to turn that music down! Make sure the crate is not near a draughty door or window.

It takes time for a puppy to get acclimatized so take it slow with family introductions. Initially, do it one person at a time and supervise the meet-and-greets if small children are involved. This way everyone in the household can begin forming great friendships from the start.