Your New Puppy: Dog Training and Dog Behavior Lessons to Help You Turn Your New Puppy into a Well-Behaved Dog

Your puppy’s schedule will vary depending on many factors.  Including age, exercise needs, and your schedule. When I’m asked about what a typical day looks like I know that I’m actually being asked things like: “How many times should I take my puppy out?” “How much exercise should my puppy get?” “How much time is too much time in the crate?” To help answer these questions and give you a place to start, in this episode, I talk about what a typical day might look like for a 10-week old puppy and how it will change as your puppy gets older.    In this episode I talk about: What your puppy’s schedule will revolve around depending on their age. How exercise and enrichment vary depending on your puppy’s age. How your puppy’s schedule will change as they get older. Examples from clients on the daily schedules that work for them.  Bedtime and wake time. Press play and enjoy! Other resources mentioned and related to this episode: YNP #056: Potty Training for a Working Household YNP #018: Ditch the Bowl and Make Mealtime an Event  YNP #042: 10 Ways to Play With Your Dog  YNP #059: How to Teach Your Dog to Fetch Rover Round Robin: Instructions to a fun, structured, family game that also reinforces recall. 11 activities to do with your dog The flirt pole: Found under toys section of my recommended supply list.   YOUR Perfect Puppy: 4-week online training course for you and your new puppy. What’s Next? Still wondering if your puppy’s schedule is “right”? You’re not alone! You’re just like any human trying to raise a dog. That’s exactly why I created YOUR Perfect Puppy — my digital program that gives you a clear plan to follow and direct support from me every step of the way. From potty breaks and crate routines to balancing naps, training, and enrichment, I’ll help you create a schedule that works for you and your puppy. And because puppyhood doesn’t stop after four weeks, you’ll also get ongoing access to Playtime Paws Academy — my membership community with weekly live calls, a private forum, and an entire library of enrichment activities to help you to help you stay on track as your puppy grows. Click here to check out YOUR Perfect Puppy.  I’d love to help you feel confident in your day-to-day routine.

When we imagine kids and puppies we think that they go together like peanut butter and jelly (or my preference – chocolate). The reality isn’t so sweet.  Your puppy and your kids LOVE each other.  But sometimes it’s that same love and excitement that causes scratches, tears, and a disheartening relationship. When we have kids and a puppy in the same house it takes a lot more management and referring than most expect.  We can have that amazing relationship that we imagined when you got the puppy for the kids, but it does take some work to get there.   Be sure to check out all the resources below that I mention throughout the episode.  In this episode I talk about: What the kids/dog relationship looks like vs what we imagine. Why there can be more tension with the kids than with adults. My recommended house rules for families with young kids. Other tips to manage and make sure the puppy and kids stay best friends.  Press play and enjoy! Other resources mentioned and related to this episode: The Family Dog: One of the most powerful videos about the kid/dog relationship and why we need to respect it.  If your puppy is ever going to have contact with kids, watch this 2.5 minute video. Rover Round Robin: Instructions to a fun, structured, family game that also reinforces recall. 11 activities to do with your dog The flirt pole: Found under toys section of my recommended supply list.   YOUR Perfect Puppy: 4-week online training course for you and your new puppy. What’s Next? Feeling unsure how to manage the chaos of kids and a new puppy? You’re not alone AND you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re just like any human trying to raise a dog with little humans. That’s exactly why I created YOUR Perfect Puppy — my digital program that gives you a clear plan to follow and direct support from me every step of the way. You’ll learn how to create a safe, fun, and low-stress relationship between your puppy and your kids with real-life tools, boundaries, and games that everyone will love. And because puppyhood doesn’t stop after four weeks, you’ll also get ongoing access to Playtime Paws Academy — my membership community with weekly live calls, a private forum, and an entire library of family friendly enrichment activities to help you navigate real-life challenges as they come up. Click here to check out YOUR Perfect Puppy.  I’d love to help make this stage a little easier for your whole family.

Debbie here!  I just wanted to jump into your podcast feed one more time this year.  First I want to thank you, my listeners once again for being a bright spot in an otherwise stressful year.   I also thought it would be fun to take a look back at this year’s most popular episodes and also talk about what’s to come in 2021. No training advice in this one.  Just a little conversation between us humans.   Press play to listen! Resources mentioned and related to this episode: YNP #046: Puppy Biting and Why You Might Still Be Struggling YNP #050: The 3 Most Common Leash Training Questions​YNP Episode: How to Prevent Separation Anxiety During Stay-at-HomeYNP #053: Tips to Introduce Your Dog and Cat YNP #051: How to Get a Stronger Recall  Press play and enjoy! Other resources mentioned and related to this episode: The Not-So-New Puppy Workshop YOUR Perfect Puppy: 4-week online training course for you and your new puppy.

If your dog listens to you inside your house that doesn’t mean they know what you want outside on their walk.  Even if you are asking for the same thing.  Dogs are very contextual and need to be taught how to listen even when there distractions.   The good news is, if your dog listens to you in your kitchen then you already know how to teach your dog to listen with distractions!   If you want your dog to listen to you in a new environment you have to reteach them the same skill like they have never learned it before.  Then it’s about practice, practice, practice. In this episode, I talk about how to teach your dog to listen with distractions! Press Play and enjoy! In this episode I talk about: How to think about distractions. Practice, practice, practice. How to know when to increase or decrease the distractions. How to prepare for the unexpected.  Press play and enjoy! Other resources mentioned and related to this episode: YNP #054: How to Use Training Treats Properly YOUR Perfect Puppy: 4-week online training course for you and your new puppy.

When you are new at watching dogs play it can be confusing.  Dog play is actually play fighting so if you haven’t made a career out of knowing dog body language it’s easy to get concerned even when dogs are having a grand old time.  Learning dog body language is like learning any new language.  It takes study, time, and a whole lot of practice.  As a dog parent we do want to have a “conversational dog” understanding.   You aren’t going to learn everything in one podcast episode.  My goal is simply to give you more confidence when your pup is playing to know if they are having a good time and let them go it if it’s time to break it up and let it rest.   In this episode I talk about: Signals that two dogs give to let us know they are playing When it’s OK to give them a break What to do when you think one dog is not playing nice What to do if you are not sure  A word about dog parks As promised, below are a couple videos to demonstrate some of the signals and signs I talk about inside the episode.  Press play and enjoy! Other resources mentioned and related to this episode: YNP #013: Dog Park vs. Dog Daycare YNP #034: Introduce Your New Puppy to Your Current Dog YOUR Perfect Puppy: 4-week online training course for you and your new puppy.

If your dog listens to you inside your house that doesn’t mean they know what you want outside on their walk.  Even if you are asking for the same thing.  Dogs are very contextual and need to be taught how to listen even when there distractions.   The good news is, if your dog listens to you in your kitchen then you already know how to teach your dog to listen with distractions!   If you want your dog to listen to you in a new environment you have to reteach them the same skill like they have never learned it before.  Then it’s about practice, practice, practice. In this episode, I talk about how to teach your dog to listen with distractions! Press Play and enjoy! In this episode I talk about: How to think about distractions. Practice, practice, practice. How to know when to increase or decrease the distractions. How to prepare for the unexpected.  Press play and enjoy! Other resources mentioned and related to this episode: YNP #054: How to Use Training Treats Properly YOUR Perfect Puppy: 4-week online training course for you and your new puppy.

How do you handle potty training when all the adults in the housework full time?  This is a question I get asked a lot.  Mainly because my listeners know I do not like the use of potty pads (for more on that, check out Episode 009).   If you are going to be out of the house longer than your puppy can hold regularly, how do you handle that without using potty pads?   My short answer is “get help!”  I know, it’s not what you want to hear.  And you may think, “wait, SO MANY people have dogs and work, how do they do it?”  I address that too. At the very least I highly recommend working out a schedule to give your pup potty breaks – which might mean getting help from a sitter, neighbor, or friend – until at least 6 months (longer depending on your dog).  That is the minimum age a puppy can be left alone for an extending period.   I think it’s of great benefit for both you and your puppy to go beyond that and I explain why in this episode.   Press Play and enjoy! In this episode I talk about: What I mean by a working household. Why I highly recommend you get help instead of using potty pads. Why it’s about more than potty training. Remember you have a puppy not a dog (yet).  Press play and enjoy! Other resources mentioned and related to this episode: YNP #009: Why Indoor Pads Should NOT be Used When House Training Your Puppy YNP #014: How to Choose the Right Dog Care – Part One Facilities YNP #015: How to Choose the Right Dog Care – Part Two Pet Sitters YOUR Perfect Puppy: 4-week online training course for you and your new puppy. What’s Next? Feeling overwhelmed trying to raise a puppy while working full-time? You’re not alone — and you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re just like any human trying to raise a dog. That’s exactly why I created YOUR Perfect Puppy — my digital program that gives you a clear plan to follow and direct support from me every step of the way. Whether you’re navigating crate training, potty breaks, or how to keep your puppy engaged with a busy schedule, I’ve got you covered. Plus, you’ll also get ongoing access to Playtime Paws Academy — my membership community with weekly live calls, a private forum, and an entire library of enrichment ideas to help you through every stage of puppyhood, even the chaotic ones. Click here to check out YOUR Perfect Puppy.  I’d love to help make things feel a little more doable.

Does it feel like your trainer just tells you to stuff your dog’s belly full of treats and say then they’re trained?  Treats are an essential tool to raising our well-mannered dog but the lesson on HOW to use the treats properly gets lost. And we really want to avoid that place where your dog will only listen if you have a treat in your hand.   In this episode I talk about: Why we use treats. What’s the difference between high value and low value treats (and when do we use them). How to know when to come away from the treats. How to ween your dog off the treats but still have a dog that listens.  Press play and enjoy! Other resources from this episode: YNP #031: Reward Your Dog Without Treats 

Does it feel like your trainer just tells you to stuff your dog’s belly full of treats and say then they’re trained?  Treats are an essential tool to raising our well-mannered dog but the lesson on HOW to use the treats properly gets lost. And we really want to avoid that place where your dog will only listen if you have a treat in your hand.   In this episode I talk about: Why we use treats. What’s the difference between high value and low value treats (and when do we use them). How to know when to come away from the treats. How to ween your dog off the treats but still have a dog that listens.  Press play and enjoy! Other resources from this episode: YNP #031: Reward Your Dog Without Treats 

We all have a hundred (ok, ok hundreds) of photos of our dog.  But how many are keepers?  If you are anything like me you have 600 pictures and 2 end up as keepers In this episode, let’s welcome Allison Shamrell to give us all her best tips on how to get better photos of your dog, even if all you have is a cell phone! This is a fun episode and I learned so much from Allison and I know you will too! What we talk about: How to take better photos with just your cell phone What obedience commands will come in handy How to take a great action shot You can learn even more from Allison here: Allison’s Free Facebook Group: How to Take Better Photos of Your Dog  Allison’s website: Allison Shamrell Pet Photography

We all have a hundred (ok, ok hundreds) of photos of our dog.  But how many are keepers?  If you are anything like me you have 600 pictures and 2 end up as keepers In this episode, let’s welcome Allison Shamrell to give us all her best tips on how to get better photos of your dog, even if all you have is a cell phone! This is a fun episode and I learned so much from Allison and I know you will too! What we talk about: How to take better photos with just your cell phone What obedience commands will come in handy How to take a great action shot You can learn even more from Allison here: Allison’s Free Facebook Group: How to Take Better Photos of Your Dog  Allison’s website: Allison Shamrell Pet Photography

Especially with a new puppy, you’ll hear 20 times a day, play with your puppy, exercise your puppy, stimulate your puppy so they don’t get bored, bond with them to create a strong relationship… OK OK, we get it’s important but after 160 games of fetch things get a little…well, boring.  In this episode, I’m going to go through 10 ways to play with your dog. And this is just to get you started, it doesn’t stop here, not even close.  In reality, there are hundreds of ways to play with your dog. I want you and your dog to get creative and take it from here.    With the cold weather settling in here in NJ I decided to concentrate on indoor activities.  It’s easy to take things outside and get all the exercise and entertainment you need. It’s when you’re stuck inside that things get harder.   No matter what activity we do with them, we are entertaining, stimulating, and bonding with them.  It’s tiring them out that can sometimes seem impossible.    That is why I also focused on ways that will up the exercise and tiring out factor.  At the end of the day (literally) what we want is a tired and happy dog!  Your dog will probably have their favorites.  I hope you can find something you love, your dog loves AND gets everyone to sleep!  Let’s get those creative juices going!!  Press play to listen and enjoy!!

Separation anxiety is always been something dog owners need to be aware of.  How to be alone is something that we have to teach our dogs.  In a perfect world we start this when they are puppies with crate training and the natural rhythm of our lives as we need to go to work, school, family functions or just out to dinner.   But right now we aren’t doing any of those things.  As we are spending so much more time with our dogs a concern that has come up recently is how our dogs will react when we do start leaving the house again. In this episode, I address exactly that.  I have you some ideas on how to ease your dog or puppy back into being alone (or maybe being left alone for the first time).  I talk about specific considerations during this time of COVID-19. If this is something you are struggling with I also recommend you check out Episode 022: How to Prevent and Treat Separation Anxiety.

Especially with a new puppy, you’ll hear 20 times a day, play with your puppy, exercise your puppy, stimulate your puppy so they don’t get bored, bond with them to create a strong relationship… OK OK, we get it’s important but after 160 games of fetch things get a little…well, boring.  In this episode, I’m going to go through 10 ways to play with your dog. And this is just to get you started, it doesn’t stop here, not even close.  In reality, there are hundreds of ways to play with your dog. I want you and your dog to get creative and take it from here.    With the cold weather settling in here in NJ I decided to concentrate on indoor activities.  It’s easy to take things outside and get all the exercise and entertainment you need. It’s when you’re stuck inside that things get harder.   No matter what activity we do with them, we are entertaining, stimulating, and bonding with them.  It’s tiring them out that can sometimes seem impossible.    That is why I also focused on ways that will up the exercise and tiring out factor.  At the end of the day (literally) what we want is a tired and happy dog!  Your dog will probably have their favorites.  I hope you can find something you love, your dog loves AND gets everyone to sleep!  Let’s get those creative juices going!!  Press play to listen and enjoy!!

Especially with a new puppy, you’ll hear 20 times a day, play with your puppy, exercise your puppy, stimulate your puppy so they don’t get bored, bond with them to create a strong relationship… OK OK, we get it’s important but after 160 games of fetch things get a little…well, boring.  In this episode, I’m going to go through 10 ways to play with your dog. And this is just to get you started, it doesn’t stop here, not even close.  In reality, there are hundreds of ways to play with your dog. I want you and your dog to get creative and take it from here.    With the cold weather settling in here in NJ I decided to concentrate on indoor activities.  It’s easy to take things outside and get all the exercise and entertainment you need. It’s when you’re stuck inside that things get harder.   No matter what activity we do with them, we are entertaining, stimulating, and bonding with them.  It’s tiring them out that can sometimes seem impossible.    That is why I also focused on ways that will up the exercise and tiring out factor.  At the end of the day (literally) what we want is a tired and happy dog!  Your dog will probably have their favorites.  I hope you can find something you love, your dog loves AND gets everyone to sleep!  Let’s get those creative juices going!!  Press play to listen and enjoy!!

Especially with a new puppy, you’ll hear 20 times a day, play with your puppy, exercise your puppy, stimulate your puppy so they don’t get bored, bond with them to create a strong relationship… OK OK, we get it’s important but after 160 games of fetch things get a little…well, boring.  In this episode, I’m going to go through 10 ways to play with your dog. And this is just to get you started, it doesn’t stop here, not even close.  In reality, there are hundreds of ways to play with your dog. I want you and your dog to get creative and take it from here.    With the cold weather settling in here in NJ I decided to concentrate on indoor activities.  It’s easy to take things outside and get all the exercise and entertainment you need. It’s when you’re stuck inside that things get harder.   No matter what activity we do with them, we are entertaining, stimulating, and bonding with them.  It’s tiring them out that can sometimes seem impossible.    That is why I also focused on ways that will up the exercise and tiring out factor.  At the end of the day (literally) what we want is a tired and happy dog!  Your dog will probably have their favorites.  I hope you can find something you love, your dog loves AND gets everyone to sleep!  Let’s get those creative juices going!!  Press play to listen and enjoy!!

Especially with a new puppy, you’ll hear 20 times a day, play with your puppy, exercise your puppy, stimulate your puppy so they don’t get bored, bond with them to create a strong relationship… OK OK, we get it’s important but after 160 games of fetch things get a little…well, boring.  In this episode, I’m going to go through 10 ways to play with your dog. And this is just to get you started, it doesn’t stop here, not even close.  In reality, there are hundreds of ways to play with your dog. I want you and your dog to get creative and take it from here.    With the cold weather settling in here in NJ I decided to concentrate on indoor activities.  It’s easy to take things outside and get all the exercise and entertainment you need. It’s when you’re stuck inside that things get harder.   No matter what activity we do with them, we are entertaining, stimulating, and bonding with them.  It’s tiring them out that can sometimes seem impossible.    That is why I also focused on ways that will up the exercise and tiring out factor.  At the end of the day (literally) what we want is a tired and happy dog!  Your dog will probably have their favorites.  I hope you can find something you love, your dog loves AND gets everyone to sleep!  Let’s get those creative juices going!!  Press play to listen and enjoy!!

Especially with a new puppy, you’ll hear 20 times a day, play with your puppy, exercise your puppy, stimulate your puppy so they don’t get bored, bond with them to create a strong relationship… OK OK, we get it’s important but after 160 games of fetch things get a little…well, boring.  In this episode, I’m going to go through 10 ways to play with your dog. And this is just to get you started, it doesn’t stop here, not even close.  In reality, there are hundreds of ways to play with your dog. I want you and your dog to get creative and take it from here.    With the cold weather settling in here in NJ I decided to concentrate on indoor activities.  It’s easy to take things outside and get all the exercise and entertainment you need. It’s when you’re stuck inside that things get harder.   No matter what activity we do with them, we are entertaining, stimulating, and bonding with them.  It’s tiring them out that can sometimes seem impossible.    That is why I also focused on ways that will up the exercise and tiring out factor.  At the end of the day (literally) what we want is a tired and happy dog!  Your dog will probably have their favorites.  I hope you can find something you love, your dog loves AND gets everyone to sleep!  Let’s get those creative juices going!!  Press play to listen and enjoy!!

Especially with a new puppy, you’ll hear 20 times a day, play with your puppy, exercise your puppy, stimulate your puppy so they don’t get bored, bond with them to create a strong relationship… OK OK, we get it’s important but after 160 games of fetch things get a little…well, boring.  In this episode, I’m going to go through 10 ways to play with your dog. And this is just to get you started, it doesn’t stop here, not even close.  In reality, there are hundreds of ways to play with your dog. I want you and your dog to get creative and take it from here.    With the cold weather settling in here in NJ I decided to concentrate on indoor activities.  It’s easy to take things outside and get all the exercise and entertainment you need. It’s when you’re stuck inside that things get harder.   No matter what activity we do with them, we are entertaining, stimulating, and bonding with them.  It’s tiring them out that can sometimes seem impossible.    That is why I also focused on ways that will up the exercise and tiring out factor.  At the end of the day (literally) what we want is a tired and happy dog!  Your dog will probably have their favorites.  I hope you can find something you love, your dog loves AND gets everyone to sleep!  Let’s get those creative juices going!!  Press play to listen and enjoy!!

***This episode was recorded on March 22, 2020 and uses the best information available at that time.  With information is constantly changing, please keep informed and stay safe according to the most accurate, science based, up to date information available.*** In the best of times, it’s important to know how to socialize your puppy.  Even though these are not the best of times, socialization is no less important.  How are you supposed to socialize your puppy when you’re not allowed to socialize yourself?!?! Well, the situation isn’t perfect but we can make the best of it. In this episode, I talk about what you can focus on during social distancing and adjustments you can make to still get these essential life experiences in for your puppy.  In short, we are going to work with what we got!   Press play and enjoy!

Especially with a new puppy, you’ll hear 20 times a day, play with your puppy, exercise your puppy, stimulate your puppy so they don’t get bored, bond with them to create a strong relationship… OK OK, we get it’s important but after 160 games of fetch things get a little…well, boring.  In this episode, I’m going to go through 10 ways to play with your dog. And this is just to get you started, it doesn’t stop here, not even close.  In reality, there are hundreds of ways to play with your dog. I want you and your dog to get creative and take it from here.    With the cold weather settling in here in NJ I decided to concentrate on indoor activities.  It’s easy to take things outside and get all the exercise and entertainment you need. It’s when you’re stuck inside that things get harder.   No matter what activity we do with them, we are entertaining, stimulating, and bonding with them.  It’s tiring them out that can sometimes seem impossible.    That is why I also focused on ways that will up the exercise and tiring out factor.  At the end of the day (literally) what we want is a tired and happy dog!  Your dog will probably have their favorites.  I hope you can find something you love, your dog loves AND gets everyone to sleep!  Let’s get those creative juices going!!  Press play to listen and enjoy!!

Especially with a new puppy, you’ll hear 20 times a day, play with your puppy, exercise your puppy, stimulate your puppy so they don’t get bored, bond with them to create a strong relationship… OK OK, we get it’s important but after 160 games of fetch things get a little…well, boring.  In this episode, I’m going to go through 10 ways to play with your dog. And this is just to get you started, it doesn’t stop here, not even close.  In reality, there are hundreds of ways to play with your dog. I want you and your dog to get creative and take it from here.    With the cold weather settling in here in NJ I decided to concentrate on indoor activities.  It’s easy to take things outside and get all the exercise and entertainment you need. It’s when you’re stuck inside that things get harder.   No matter what activity we do with them, we are entertaining, stimulating, and bonding with them.  It’s tiring them out that can sometimes seem impossible.    That is why I also focused on ways that will up the exercise and tiring out factor.  At the end of the day (literally) what we want is a tired and happy dog!  Your dog will probably have their favorites.  I hope you can find something you love, your dog loves AND gets everyone to sleep!  Let’s get those creative juices going!!  Press play to listen and enjoy!!

Especially with a new puppy, you’ll hear 20 times a day, play with your puppy, exercise your puppy, stimulate your puppy so they don’t get bored, bond with them to create a strong relationship… OK OK, we get it’s important but after 160 games of fetch things get a little…well, boring.  In this episode, I’m going to go through 10 ways to play with your dog. And this is just to get you started, it doesn’t stop here, not even close.  In reality, there are hundreds of ways to play with your dog. I want you and your dog to get creative and take it from here.    With the cold weather settling in here in NJ I decided to concentrate on indoor activities.  It’s easy to take things outside and get all the exercise and entertainment you need. It’s when you’re stuck inside that things get harder.   No matter what activity we do with them, we are entertaining, stimulating, and bonding with them.  It’s tiring them out that can sometimes seem impossible.    That is why I also focused on ways that will up the exercise and tiring out factor.  At the end of the day (literally) what we want is a tired and happy dog!  Your dog will probably have their favorites.  I hope you can find something you love, your dog loves AND gets everyone to sleep!  Let’s get those creative juices going!!  Press play to listen and enjoy!!

Especially with a new puppy, you’ll hear 20 times a day, play with your puppy, exercise your puppy, stimulate your puppy so they don’t get bored, bond with them to create a strong relationship… OK OK, we get it’s important but after 160 games of fetch things get a little…well, boring.  In this episode, I’m going to go through 10 ways to play with your dog. And this is just to get you started, it doesn’t stop here, not even close.  In reality, there are hundreds of ways to play with your dog. I want you and your dog to get creative and take it from here.    With the cold weather settling in here in NJ I decided to concentrate on indoor activities.  It’s easy to take things outside and get all the exercise and entertainment you need. It’s when you’re stuck inside that things get harder.   No matter what activity we do with them, we are entertaining, stimulating, and bonding with them.  It’s tiring them out that can sometimes seem impossible.    That is why I also focused on ways that will up the exercise and tiring out factor.  At the end of the day (literally) what we want is a tired and happy dog!  Your dog will probably have their favorites.  I hope you can find something you love, your dog loves AND gets everyone to sleep!  Let’s get those creative juices going!!  Press play to listen and enjoy!!

Especially with a new puppy, you’ll hear 20 times a day, play with your puppy, exercise your puppy, stimulate your puppy so they don’t get bored, bond with them to create a strong relationship… OK OK, we get it’s important but after 160 games of fetch things get a little…well, boring.  In this episode, I’m going to go through 10 ways to play with your dog. And this is just to get you started, it doesn’t stop here, not even close.  In reality, there are hundreds of ways to play with your dog. I want you and your dog to get creative and take it from here.    With the cold weather settling in here in NJ I decided to concentrate on indoor activities.  It’s easy to take things outside and get all the exercise and entertainment you need. It’s when you’re stuck inside that things get harder.   No matter what activity we do with them, we are entertaining, stimulating, and bonding with them.  It’s tiring them out that can sometimes seem impossible.    That is why I also focused on ways that will up the exercise and tiring out factor.  At the end of the day (literally) what we want is a tired and happy dog!  Your dog will probably have their favorites.  I hope you can find something you love, your dog loves AND gets everyone to sleep!  Let’s get those creative juices going!!  Press play to listen and enjoy!!

Especially with a new puppy, you’ll hear 20 times a day, play with your puppy, exercise your puppy, stimulate your puppy so they don’t get bored, bond with them to create a strong relationship… OK OK, we get it’s important but after 160 games of fetch things get a little…well, boring.  In this episode, I’m going to go through 10 ways to play with your dog. And this is just to get you started, it doesn’t stop here, not even close.  In reality, there are hundreds of ways to play with your dog. I want you and your dog to get creative and take it from here.    With the cold weather settling in here in NJ I decided to concentrate on indoor activities.  It’s easy to take things outside and get all the exercise and entertainment you need. It’s when you’re stuck inside that things get harder.   No matter what activity we do with them, we are entertaining, stimulating, and bonding with them.  It’s tiring them out that can sometimes seem impossible.    That is why I also focused on ways that will up the exercise and tiring out factor.  At the end of the day (literally) what we want is a tired and happy dog!  Your dog will probably have their favorites.  I hope you can find something you love, your dog loves AND gets everyone to sleep!  Let’s get those creative juices going!!  Press play to listen and enjoy!!

Especially with a new puppy, you’ll hear 20 times a day, play with your puppy, exercise your puppy, stimulate your puppy so they don’t get bored, bond with them to create a strong relationship… OK OK, we get it’s important but after 160 games of fetch things get a little…well, boring.  In this episode, I’m going to go through 10 ways to play with your dog. And this is just to get you started, it doesn’t stop here, not even close.  In reality, there are hundreds of ways to play with your dog. I want you and your dog to get creative and take it from here.    With the cold weather settling in here in NJ I decided to concentrate on indoor activities.  It’s easy to take things outside and get all the exercise and entertainment you need. It’s when you’re stuck inside that things get harder.   No matter what activity we do with them, we are entertaining, stimulating, and bonding with them.  It’s tiring them out that can sometimes seem impossible.    That is why I also focused on ways that will up the exercise and tiring out factor.  At the end of the day (literally) what we want is a tired and happy dog!  Your dog will probably have their favorites.  I hope you can find something you love, your dog loves AND gets everyone to sleep!  Let’s get those creative juices going!!  Press play to listen and enjoy!!

There is only one thing that you need to know about dog behavior to teach or stop any behavior!  Yup, when it comes down to it, our dogs are very simple creatures.   In this episode, I am revealing my secret.  This is what I use to solve 90% of my client’s training issues.   I have centered my life around dog behavior.  And everything I have learned and observed comes down to this one thing.   SPOILER ALERT… The one thing you need to know about dog behavior ***Dogs do what works for them…always; and they don’t feel guilty about it.*** That’s it.  If your dog is exhibiting some behavior then it is working for them.  Otherwise, they wouldn’t be doing it.  The trick is to understand what’s working.   We can use it to our advantage to teach a behavior.  For example, you want to teach your dog to sit, you give them a treat every time their butt hits the floor when you say “sit”. Now, that behavior works for them so they are going to repeat it.   Or we want to stop a behavior.  For example, your dog barks at you and you give them attention by looking at them or even telling them “no.” That behavior now works for them and they will repeat it.  To change the behavior we have to take the attention away.     The top 4 most common things your dog is looking for is Attention Food Release extra energy  Relieve boredom These are not the only things but they are the place to start.   The concept is easy, it’s applying that gets tricky.  Sometimes it’s super obvious (your dog jumps on the counter and gets to the food) or not so obvious (your puppy is whining in the crate for attention, not to go potty).  This episode is chock full of examples on how to apply this.  Now you know my secret.  This is the same place I always start when trying to teach or stop a behavior.  It takes practice, but if we take a hard look at our dog’s behavior (and ours) you will see the pattern.   Press play to listen to the full episode with more details and examples.  Enjoy!

There is only one thing that you need to know about dog behavior to teach or stop any behavior!  Yup, when it comes down to it, our dogs are very simple creatures.   In this episode, I am revealing my secret.  This is what I use to solve 90% of my client’s training issues.   I have centered my life around dog behavior.  And everything I have learned and observed comes down to this one thing.   SPOILER ALERT… The one thing you need to know about dog behavior ***Dogs do what works for them…always; and they don’t feel guilty about it.*** That’s it.  If your dog is exhibiting some behavior then it is working for them.  Otherwise, they wouldn’t be doing it.  The trick is to understand what’s working.   We can use it to our advantage to teach a behavior.  For example, you want to teach your dog to sit, you give them a treat every time their butt hits the floor when you say “sit”. Now, that behavior works for them so they are going to repeat it.   Or we want to stop a behavior.  For example, your dog barks at you and you give them attention by looking at them or even telling them “no.” That behavior now works for them and they will repeat it.  To change the behavior we have to take the attention away.     The top 4 most common things your dog is looking for is Attention Food Release extra energy  Relieve boredom These are not the only things but they are the place to start.   The concept is easy, it’s applying that gets tricky.  Sometimes it’s super obvious (your dog jumps on the counter and gets to the food) or not so obvious (your puppy is whining in the crate for attention, not to go potty).  This episode is chock full of examples on how to apply this.  Now you know my secret.  This is the same place I always start when trying to teach or stop a behavior.  It takes practice, but if we take a hard look at our dog’s behavior (and ours) you will see the pattern.   Press play to listen to the full episode with more details and examples.  Enjoy!

There are three types of training that you need to turn your puppy into a well-rounded, well-behaved, and well-mannered dog. When we think of training our dog we usually think about teaching our dog to “listen to me”  I want him to come when I say come and stay when I say stay. Or we don’t even think about training until a bad behavior starts and we want to correct it.   In this episode, I talk about three different types of training that you need.  My goal is to get you to approach training your dog a little differently. Instead of it being something that you do when needed it’s actually something that you do from the day you bring your dog home and then every day for the rest of their lives.   Press play to listen to this podcast episode or subscribe to Your New Puppy where ever you listen to your podcasts. Here is a summary of each type I talk about.  Skills training This is the type of training that we think of.  It involves formally training your dog to do something on command.  The most common example is obedience training.  This is the training we gravitate to because it’s really easy to see.  We tell our dog to do something and we do it.  The feed back is obvious.  Plus, we are vocal creatures.  Preventative training Preventing bad habits before they start.  This is where the simple act of putting your shoes away is training your dog.  You are preventing them from discovering inappropriate chewing Habit training Where preventative training is stopping bad habits before they start, habit training is creating everyday good habits.   All Three There isn’t one of these that is more important than the other.  In fact they all work together and most of the time you will be using more than one.  So, you don’t have to know which one you are doing when.   The point here is that training is more than just teaching your dog to “listen to us.”  Sometimes training is done in the everyday subtle things like closing the front door or putting the remote on a high shelf or playing with our puppy when they pick up their own toys to chew on. I also want to make sure that you understand that just about everything we do with our puppy means something.  this can help in those moments that you feel that nothing is happening and your puppy isn’t learning.  Remember those little things count just as much as big stuff.   Press play to listen to the full episode with more details and examples.  Enjoy!

There is only one thing that you need to know about dog behavior to teach or stop any behavior!  Yup, when it comes down to it, our dogs are very simple creatures.   In this episode, I am revealing my secret.  This is what I use to solve 90% of my client’s training issues.   I have centered my life around dog behavior.  And everything I have learned and observed comes down to this one thing.   SPOILER ALERT… The one thing you need to know about dog behavior ***Dogs do what works for them…always; and they don’t feel guilty about it.*** That’s it.  If your dog is exhibiting some behavior then it is working for them.  Otherwise, they wouldn’t be doing it.  The trick is to understand what’s working.   We can use it to our advantage to teach a behavior.  For example, you want to teach your dog to sit, you give them a treat every time their butt hits the floor when you say “sit”. Now, that behavior works for them so they are going to repeat it.   Or we want to stop a behavior.  For example, your dog barks at you and you give them attention by looking at them or even telling them “no.” That behavior now works for them and they will repeat it.  To change the behavior we have to take the attention away.     The top 4 most common things your dog is looking for is Attention Food Release extra energy  Relieve boredom These are not the only things but they are the place to start.   The concept is easy, it’s applying that gets tricky.  Sometimes it’s super obvious (your dog jumps on the counter and gets to the food) or not so obvious (your puppy is whining in the crate for attention, not to go potty).  This episode is chock full of examples on how to apply this.  Now you know my secret.  This is the same place I always start when trying to teach or stop a behavior.  It takes practice, but if we take a hard look at our dog’s behavior (and ours) you will see the pattern.   Press play to listen to the full episode with more details and examples.  Enjoy!

There are three types of training that you need to turn your puppy into a well-rounded, well-behaved, and well-mannered dog. When we think of training our dog we usually think about teaching our dog to “listen to me”  I want him to come when I say come and stay when I say stay. Or we don’t even think about training until a bad behavior starts and we want to correct it.   In this episode, I talk about three different types of training that you need.  My goal is to get you to approach training your dog a little differently. Instead of it being something that you do when needed it’s actually something that you do from the day you bring your dog home and then every day for the rest of their lives.   Press play to listen to this podcast episode or subscribe to Your New Puppy where ever you listen to your podcasts. Here is a summary of each type I talk about.  Skills training This is the type of training that we think of.  It involves formally training your dog to do something on command.  The most common example is obedience training.  This is the training we gravitate to because it’s really easy to see.  We tell our dog to do something and we do it.  The feed back is obvious.  Plus, we are vocal creatures.  Preventative training Preventing bad habits before they start.  This is where the simple act of putting your shoes away is training your dog.  You are preventing them from discovering inappropriate chewing Habit training Where preventative training is stopping bad habits before they start, habit training is creating everyday good habits.   All Three There isn’t one of these that is more important than the other.  In fact they all work together and most of the time you will be using more than one.  So, you don’t have to know which one you are doing when.   The point here is that training is more than just teaching your dog to “listen to us.”  Sometimes training is done in the everyday subtle things like closing the front door or putting the remote on a high shelf or playing with our puppy when they pick up their own toys to chew on. I also want to make sure that you understand that just about everything we do with our puppy means something.  this can help in those moments that you feel that nothing is happening and your puppy isn’t learning.  Remember those little things count just as much as big stuff.   Press play to listen to the full episode with more details and examples.  Enjoy!

There are three types of training that you need to turn your puppy into a well-rounded, well-behaved, and well-mannered dog. When we think of training our dog we usually think about teaching our dog to “listen to me”  I want him to come when I say come and stay when I say stay. Or we don’t even think about training until a bad behavior starts and we want to correct it.   In this episode, I talk about three different types of training that you need.  My goal is to get you to approach training your dog a little differently. Instead of it being something that you do when needed it’s actually something that you do from the day you bring your dog home and then every day for the rest of their lives.   Press play to listen to this podcast episode or subscribe to Your New Puppy where ever you listen to your podcasts. Here is a summary of each type I talk about.  Skills training This is the type of training that we think of.  It involves formally training your dog to do something on command.  The most common example is obedience training.  This is the training we gravitate to because it’s really easy to see.  We tell our dog to do something and we do it.  The feed back is obvious.  Plus, we are vocal creatures.  Preventative training Preventing bad habits before they start.  This is where the simple act of putting your shoes away is training your dog.  You are preventing them from discovering inappropriate chewing Habit training Where preventative training is stopping bad habits before they start, habit training is creating everyday good habits.   All Three There isn’t one of these that is more important than the other.  In fact they all work together and most of the time you will be using more than one.  So, you don’t have to know which one you are doing when.   The point here is that training is more than just teaching your dog to “listen to us.”  Sometimes training is done in the everyday subtle things like closing the front door or putting the remote on a high shelf or playing with our puppy when they pick up their own toys to chew on. I also want to make sure that you understand that just about everything we do with our puppy means something.  this can help in those moments that you feel that nothing is happening and your puppy isn’t learning.  Remember those little things count just as much as big stuff.   Press play to listen to the full episode with more details and examples.  Enjoy!

There is only one thing that you need to know about dog behavior to teach or stop any behavior!  Yup, when it comes down to it, our dogs are very simple creatures.   In this episode, I am revealing my secret.  This is what I use to solve 90% of my client’s training issues.   I have centered my life around dog behavior.  And everything I have learned and observed comes down to this one thing.   SPOILER ALERT… The one thing you need to know about dog behavior ***Dogs do what works for them…always; and they don’t feel guilty about it.*** That’s it.  If your dog is exhibiting some behavior then it is working for them.  Otherwise, they wouldn’t be doing it.  The trick is to understand what’s working.   We can use it to our advantage to teach a behavior.  For example, you want to teach your dog to sit, you give them a treat every time their butt hits the floor when you say “sit”. Now, that behavior works for them so they are going to repeat it.   Or we want to stop a behavior.  For example, your dog barks at you and you give them attention by looking at them or even telling them “no.” That behavior now works for them and they will repeat it.  To change the behavior we have to take the attention away.     The top 4 most common things your dog is looking for is Attention Food Release extra energy  Relieve boredom These are not the only things but they are the place to start.   The concept is easy, it’s applying that gets tricky.  Sometimes it’s super obvious (your dog jumps on the counter and gets to the food) or not so obvious (your puppy is whining in the crate for attention, not to go potty).  This episode is chock full of examples on how to apply this.  Now you know my secret.  This is the same place I always start when trying to teach or stop a behavior.  It takes practice, but if we take a hard look at our dog’s behavior (and ours) you will see the pattern.   Press play to listen to the full episode with more details and examples.  Enjoy!

There are three types of training that you need to turn your puppy into a well-rounded, well-behaved, and well-mannered dog. When we think of training our dog we usually think about teaching our dog to “listen to me”  I want him to come when I say come and stay when I say stay. Or we don’t even think about training until a bad behavior starts and we want to correct it.   In this episode, I talk about three different types of training that you need.  My goal is to get you to approach training your dog a little differently. Instead of it being something that you do when needed it’s actually something that you do from the day you bring your dog home and then every day for the rest of their lives.   Press play to listen to this podcast episode or subscribe to Your New Puppy where ever you listen to your podcasts. Here is a summary of each type I talk about.  Skills training This is the type of training that we think of.  It involves formally training your dog to do something on command.  The most common example is obedience training.  This is the training we gravitate to because it’s really easy to see.  We tell our dog to do something and we do it.  The feed back is obvious.  Plus, we are vocal creatures.  Preventative training Preventing bad habits before they start.  This is where the simple act of putting your shoes away is training your dog.  You are preventing them from discovering inappropriate chewing Habit training Where preventative training is stopping bad habits before they start, habit training is creating everyday good habits.   All Three There isn’t one of these that is more important than the other.  In fact they all work together and most of the time you will be using more than one.  So, you don’t have to know which one you are doing when.   The point here is that training is more than just teaching your dog to “listen to us.”  Sometimes training is done in the everyday subtle things like closing the front door or putting the remote on a high shelf or playing with our puppy when they pick up their own toys to chew on. I also want to make sure that you understand that just about everything we do with our puppy means something.  this can help in those moments that you feel that nothing is happening and your puppy isn’t learning.  Remember those little things count just as much as big stuff.   Press play to listen to the full episode with more details and examples.  Enjoy!

Raising a puppy is something we have to learn.  It’s not natural for us humans.  So just like with learning anything new we are going to make a few mistakes along the way.  First we have to know what mistakes we are making in the first place.   In this episode, I talk about 4 mistakes I see new puppy owners make (and what to do instead).   Press play to listen to this podcast episode or subscribe to Your New Puppy where ever you listen to your podcasts. Let’s take a quick look at each one.  #1. Give too much freedom too soon When we first imagined having a dog we thought about a dog wandering around the house, sleeping on the couch or freely playing the back yard.  Then when we bring our puppy home we end up giving them too much freedom too soon.  What I mean is within the first couple weeks home you give the puppy the run of the first floor of the house or let them run around in the back yard (yes, even if you have a fenced-in yard). This is too much freedom for a new puppy!  You will have that dog that freely runs around your home but right now you have a puppy and there is some work to get there.   What to do instead: Right now they are learning EVERYTHING about your world and how to live in your house.  Think of their freedom as something they earn by building trust and a bond with you, not something they automatically get when they move into your home. Until they earn that freedom, keep your puppy’s world small, and closely supervised. The more freedom we give our puppy the more trouble they get into. #2. Underestimating the importance of socialization Socialization is THE most important training you can do for your puppy.  So many new puppy owners aren’t aware of just how important it is or they simply misunderstand it.   When I say socialization most think about letting their puppy play with other dogs. This is true, but interacting with other dogs is only a small part of socializing your puppy. Socializing teaches your puppy to interact properly with EVERYTHING in their environment. It goes from sounds, textures, smells, climbing stairs, being handled, as well as interacting with people and other dogs.   The other part that is greatly misunderstood is that you can’t put off socialization. Socializing has the greatest impact between the age of 3-16 weeks. This isn’t something we can change.  It’s how a puppy’s brain grows and matures.   This also happens to be the time so many dog owners are keeping their dogs inside and avoiding interaction with the outside world.  Usually at the advice of their own vet or breeder because of vaccinations.   I talk all about balancing socialization and vaccinations in Episode 21. An under-socialized dog has trouble adjusting to new people and places.  A well-socialized dog is a confident dog that can go anywhere with you.  You can’t over-socialize a dog but you can very easily under-socialize a dog. The Socialization lesson inside YOUR Perfect Puppy (my 4 week puppy course) is by far the biggest lesson because it’s SO important.  What to do instead: If you have a puppy at home get your puppy out there experiencing new people and places AT LEAST 3 times a week (every day if possible).  If you have one coming soon, be ready to hit the ground running.  #3. Ignoring behaviors hoping that they grow out of them The dangerous part about this one is that there is some truth to it.  As your dog matures they will be less likely to cause trouble.  Their energy decreases, their need to chew, explore, and rebel also decrease.  BUT when they are puppies they are discovering everything and learning how to live in our world.  So if we let the behavior go it can turn into a habit that will last into their adulthood.   There is so much work to do and so much energy that goes into raising a puppy it’s really tempting to let behaviors go and cross our fingers.  Unfortunately, there is a good chance we are creating more work for ourselves later.  What to do instead: Address any unwanted behavior that comes up by teaching them the proper way to act or to prevent the behavior completely.   #4. Mistake boredom or lack of exercise for bad behaviors.  When a dog is bored or has too much energy they will find ways to entertain themselves.  When it comes to puppies this can lead to a slew of bad behaviors like excessive nipping, chewing, barking for attention, etc.   When this happens we get stuck in a loop of putting band-aids on the specific behaviors when the simple solution is to help your puppy burn off their energy in constructive ways (a walk, training, a game of fetch, a few hours at daycare, etc.). What to do instead: When your puppy starts misbehaving, take a step back and think about how much exercise and stimulation they got today.  It can’t hurt to take t

Where should your dog sleep?  This is a simple question with multiple answers.  On one had I have a strong recommendation where your dog should be sleeping.  On the other, it really doesn’t matter as long as you make the decision and then stick with it.  To make this more clear I’m will split my answer into two parts: Should your dog sleep in or out of the crate? Where in the house should your dog sleep (including on the bed)? In this episode, I talk about when I have a recommendation, when it’s up to you and  things to conciser when deciding. Here is a preview of what I will talk about. Should your dog sleep in or out of the crate? This is where I have a strong recommendation depending on your dogs age and behavior. During potty training, your puppy should be sleeping in a crate.  Even if you know they can sleep through the night without an accident while in the crate, doesn’t mean they won’t have one if they are out of the crate.  Throughout adolescence (18-24 months) they should still be in their crate or at the very least a puppy-proofed room.  The more access they have to the house the more trouble they can get into. And when you are sleeping, I’m going to guess you aren’t supervising. Where in the house should your dog sleep? Beyond those two recommendations, your dog can sleep outside your bedroom, inside your bedroom but not on the bed, or on your bed. There is no right or wrong answer but there are some things to conciser. No matter where you decide your dog will adjust and be perfectly happy.  The key here is to decide early, and stick with it!  Once you let the dog up on the bed with you it is going to be a hard habit to break.   Listen to the whole episode to get all the details.  Enjoy!

The thought of raising two puppies together can create a lot of warm, fuzzy, and fun images.  They will keep each other company, entertain each other, exercise each other, and create perfect Instagram moments of snuggling together in their bed. We go into it aware that it will take more work.  Of course, it makes sense, there are two puppies instead of one.  What we don’t realize until we get them home is that it doesn’t take twice the work, it takes THREE times the work as raising one puppy. When a client asks me: “How to do I train two dogs at the same time?” My answer is: “You don’t.”  Not until you train each one separately so they understand what you are asking. Then you can bring them together and train them as a pack.  That is where three times the work comes in. AND it doesn’t stop at skills training.  There are many activities you will need to do with your puppies both separately and together. There are also many reasons for this which I talk about within the episode. Litter-mate syndrome You need to have a relationship and bond with each dog on their own and with both dogs as a pack. Prevent separation anxiety from each other by giving them time apart. Teach them to have the confidence to deal with any environment with and without their sibling there. This is A LOT of work to train and prevent behavior problems.  Enough that most dog trainers recommend that you don’t ever get two dogs from the same litter.  It can be done, if you are prepared for it. If you already have two puppies or if you are set on getting two, I give you some examples on how to tackle all of this work . If you are still thinking about getting two puppies, I give you the advice I usually give my clients who really want two dogs. Enjoy!

My dogs aren’t perfect, so what?  You would think because I’m a dog trainer I would care more.  But that’s exactly why I know that it’s OK. 

There are so many dog supplies out there it can be overwhelming.  Over the years I have developed a list of my go-to supplies that I use and recommend to my clients. In this episode, I talk about what my favorite dog supply is in each of these 8 categories and why they have become my go-to.  All supplies can be found on Amazon.com, Chewy.com, or BarkBox.com.  Disclosure: I only recommend products I have used and loved and all opinions expressed here are my own and are NEVER paid for. That being said, this post may contain affiliate links that, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. A full list of my recommended supplies. 1. Training treat: Freeze dried liver I never met a dog that could resist these liver treats.  You can break them down into small training pieces or even sprinkle some on top of a picky eaters food.  There is only one ingredient and they are made in the USA. 2. Leash pulling tool: Front clip harness I prefer using harnesses for leash walking in general.  Especially if you have a heavy puller.  The traditional collar can put a lot of pressure on the neck.  With the leash clipped in the front (you don’t need a double leash like the picture below) when they start to pull they get turned around so it’s hard for them to get the leverage they need to pull hard.   3. Food bowl: Treat ball I may be cheating a little bit with this one.  It’s not actually a food bowl, but it is my favorite way to feed your dog.  Instead of inhaling their dinner from a bowl, they knock around a ball and their food comes out.  You have to feed your dog anyway, let them occupy themselves for 20 minutes instead of 20 seconds. 4. Chew toy: Kong Similar to the treat ball above you can stuff the Kong with your dog’s dinner or some homemade healthy wholefoods (skip the store bought stuffing).  Now your puppy is occupied, chewing, and eating something healthy or their own food! 5. Teething chew: Ice cube Simple, free and can entertain your dog for hours (weather permitting).  Best part is, they are already in your freezer.  6. Bone: Deer antler Antlers can be a little pricey but they last a loooong time.  I like to use these as the special bone they only get in their crate during crate and potty training.  7. Crate: Life stages crate A crate is an essential tool for any new puppy owner. There are lots of types out there. The life stages crate comes with a divider so it can grow with your puppy.  You can also buy an oversize crate and remove the divider once your puppy is potty trained.   8. Dog supply company: BarkBox* There aren’t many companies I get excited about but this one is an exception.  BarkBox is a monthly subscription box full of treats and toys.  The toys are high quality, the treats are healthy and they take great care in making the details fun!  They are a fun, cheeky company that also does lots of work with rescue and shelter pets.  *This link uses a referral code that any current BarkBox customer can give you.  If you have a friend that already uses BarkBox, use their code and they will get a free box.  I have my free box going to a shelter pet.  Listen to the full episode below and enjoy!

The thought of raising two puppies together can create a lot of warm, fuzzy, and fun images.  They will keep each other company, entertain each other, exercise each other, and create perfect Instagram moments of snuggling together in their bed. We go into it aware that it will take more work.  Of course, it makes sense, there are two puppies instead of one.  What we don’t realize until we get them home is that it doesn’t take twice the work, it takes THREE times the work as raising one puppy. When a client asks me: “How to do I train two dogs at the same time?” My answer is: “You don’t.”  Not until you train each one separately so they understand what you are asking. Then you can bring them together and train them as a pack.  That is where three times the work comes in. AND it doesn’t stop at skills training.  There are many activities you will need to do with your puppies both separately and together. There are also many reasons for this which I talk about within the episode. Litter-mate syndrome You need to have a relationship and bond with each dog on their own and with both dogs as a pack. Prevent separation anxiety from each other by giving them time apart. Teach them to have the confidence to deal with any environment with and without their sibling there. This is A LOT of work to train and prevent behavior problems.  Enough that most dog trainers recommend that you don’t ever get two dogs from the same litter.  It can be done, if you are prepared for it. If you already have two puppies or if you are set on getting two, I give you some examples on how to tackle all of this work . If you are still thinking about getting two puppies, I give you the advice I usually give my clients who really want two dogs. Enjoy!

The thought of raising two puppies together can create a lot of warm, fuzzy, and fun images.  They will keep each other company, entertain each other, exercise each other, and create perfect Instagram moments of snuggling together in their bed. We go into it aware that it will take more work.  Of course, it makes sense, there are two puppies instead of one.  What we don’t realize until we get them home is that it doesn’t take twice the work, it takes THREE times the work as raising one puppy. When a client asks me: “How to do I train two dogs at the same time?” My answer is: “You don’t.”  Not until you train each one separately so they understand what you are asking. Then you can bring them together and train them as a pack.  That is where three times the work comes in. AND it doesn’t stop at skills training.  There are many activities you will need to do with your puppies both separately and together. There are also many reasons for this which I talk about within the episode. Litter-mate syndrome You need to have a relationship and bond with each dog on their own and with both dogs as a pack. Prevent separation anxiety from each other by giving them time apart. Teach them to have the confidence to deal with any environment with and without their sibling there. This is A LOT of work to train and prevent behavior problems.  Enough that most dog trainers recommend that you don’t ever get two dogs from the same litter.  It can be done, if you are prepared for it. If you already have two puppies or if you are set on getting two, I give you some examples on how to tackle all of this work . If you are still thinking about getting two puppies, I give you the advice I usually give my clients who really want two dogs. Enjoy!

The thought of raising two puppies together can create a lot of warm, fuzzy, and fun images.  They will keep each other company, entertain each other, exercise each other, and create perfect Instagram moments of snuggling together in their bed. We go into it aware that it will take more work.  Of course, it makes sense, there are two puppies instead of one.  What we don’t realize until we get them home is that it doesn’t take twice the work, it takes THREE times the work as raising one puppy. When a client asks me: “How to do I train two dogs at the same time?” My answer is: “You don’t.”  Not until you train each one separately so they understand what you are asking. Then you can bring them together and train them as a pack.  That is where three times the work comes in. AND it doesn’t stop at skills training.  There are many activities you will need to do with your puppies both separately and together. There are also many reasons for this which I talk about within the episode. Litter-mate syndrome You need to have a relationship and bond with each dog on their own and with both dogs as a pack. Prevent separation anxiety from each other by giving them time apart. Teach them to have the confidence to deal with any environment with and without their sibling there. This is A LOT of work to train and prevent behavior problems.  Enough that most dog trainers recommend that you don’t ever get two dogs from the same litter.  It can be done, if you are prepared for it. If you already have two puppies or if you are set on getting two, I give you some examples on how to tackle all of this work . If you are still thinking about getting two puppies, I give you the advice I usually give my clients who really want two dogs. Enjoy!

The thought of raising two puppies together can create a lot of warm, fuzzy, and fun images.  They will keep each other company, entertain each other, exercise each other, and create perfect Instagram moments of snuggling together in their bed. We go into it aware that it will take more work.  Of course, it makes sense, there are two puppies instead of one.  What we don’t realize until we get them home is that it doesn’t take twice the work, it takes THREE times the work as raising one puppy. When a client asks me: “How to do I train two dogs at the same time?” My answer is: “You don’t.”  Not until you train each one separately so they understand what you are asking. Then you can bring them together and train them as a pack.  That is where three times the work comes in. AND it doesn’t stop at skills training.  There are many activities you will need to do with your puppies both separately and together. There are also many reasons for this which I talk about within the episode. Litter-mate syndrome You need to have a relationship and bond with each dog on their own and with both dogs as a pack. Prevent separation anxiety from each other by giving them time apart. Teach them to have the confidence to deal with any environment with and without their sibling there. This is A LOT of work to train and prevent behavior problems.  Enough that most dog trainers recommend that you don’t ever get two dogs from the same litter.  It can be done, if you are prepared for it. If you already have two puppies or if you are set on getting two, I give you some examples on how to tackle all of this work . If you are still thinking about getting two puppies, I give you the advice I usually give my clients who really want two dogs. Enjoy!

The thought of raising two puppies together can create a lot of warm, fuzzy, and fun images.  They will keep each other company, entertain each other, exercise each other, and create perfect Instagram moments of snuggling together in their bed. We go into it aware that it will take more work.  Of course, it makes sense, there are two puppies instead of one.  What we don’t realize until we get them home is that it doesn’t take twice the work, it takes THREE times the work as raising one puppy. When a client asks me: “How to do I train two dogs at the same time?” My answer is: “You don’t.”  Not until you train each one separately so they understand what you are asking. Then you can bring them together and train them as a pack.  That is where three times the work comes in. AND it doesn’t stop at skills training.  There are many activities you will need to do with your puppies both separately and together. There are also many reasons for this which I talk about within the episode. Litter-mate syndrome You need to have a relationship and bond with each dog on their own and with both dogs as a pack. Prevent separation anxiety from each other by giving them time apart. Teach them to have the confidence to deal with any environment with and without their sibling there. This is A LOT of work to train and prevent behavior problems.  Enough that most dog trainers recommend that you don’t ever get two dogs from the same litter.  It can be done, if you are prepared for it. If you already have two puppies or if you are set on getting two, I give you some examples on how to tackle all of this work . If you are still thinking about getting two puppies, I give you the advice I usually give my clients who really want two dogs. Enjoy!

The thought of raising two puppies together can create a lot of warm, fuzzy, and fun images.  They will keep each other company, entertain each other, exercise each other, and create perfect Instagram moments of snuggling together in their bed. We go into it aware that it will take more work.  Of course, it makes sense, there are two puppies instead of one.  What we don’t realize until we get them home is that it doesn’t take twice the work, it takes THREE times the work as raising one puppy. When a client asks me: “How to do I train two dogs at the same time?” My answer is: “You don’t.”  Not until you train each one separately so they understand what you are asking. Then you can bring them together and train them as a pack.  That is where three times the work comes in. AND it doesn’t stop at skills training.  There are many activities you will need to do with your puppies both separately and together. There are also many reasons for this which I talk about within the episode. Litter-mate syndrome You need to have a relationship and bond with each dog on their own and with both dogs as a pack. Prevent separation anxiety from each other by giving them time apart. Teach them to have the confidence to deal with any environment with and without their sibling there. This is A LOT of work to train and prevent behavior problems.  Enough that most dog trainers recommend that you don’t ever get two dogs from the same litter.  It can be done, if you are prepared for it. If you already have two puppies or if you are set on getting two, I give you some examples on how to tackle all of this work . If you are still thinking about getting two puppies, I give you the advice I usually give my clients who really want two dogs. Enjoy!

The thought of raising two puppies together can create a lot of warm, fuzzy, and fun images. They will keep each other company, entertain each other, exercise each other, and create perfect Instagram moments of snuggling together in their bed. We go into it aware that it will take more work. Of course, it makes sense, there are two puppies instead of one. What we don’t realize until we get them home is that it doesn’t take twice the work, it takes THREE times the work as raising one puppy. When a client asks me: “How to do I train two dogs at the same time?” My answer is: “You don’t.” Not until you train each one separately so they understand what you are asking. Then you can bring them together and train them as a pack. That is where three times the work comes in. AND it doesn’t stop at skills training. There are many activities you will need to do with your puppies both separately and together. There are also many reasons for this which I talk about within the episode. Litter-mate syndrome You need to have a relationship and bond with each dog on their own and with both dogs as a pack. Prevent separation anxiety from each other by giving them time apart. Teach them to have the confidence to deal with any environment with and without their sibling there. This is A LOT of work to train and prevent behavior problems. Enough that most dog trainers recommend that you don’t ever get two dogs from the same litter. It can be done, if you are prepared for it. If you already have two puppies or if you are set on getting two, I give you some examples on how to tackle all of this work . If you are still thinking about getting two puppies, I give you the advice I usually give my clients who really want two dogs. Enjoy!

The thought of raising two puppies together can create a lot of warm, fuzzy, and fun images.  They will keep each other company, entertain each other, exercise each other, and create perfect Instagram moments of snuggling together in their bed. We go into it aware that it will take more work.  Of course, it makes sense, there are two puppies instead of one.  What we don’t realize until we get them home is that it doesn’t take twice the work, it takes THREE times the work as raising one puppy. When a client asks me: “How to do I train two dogs at the same time?” My answer is: “You don’t.”  Not until you train each one separately so they understand what you are asking. Then you can bring them together and train them as a pack.  That is where three times the work comes in. AND it doesn’t stop at skills training.  There are many activities you will need to do with your puppies both separately and together. There are also many reasons for this which I talk about within the episode.   Litter-mate syndrome You need to have a relationship and bond with each dog on their own and with both dogs as a pack. Prevent separation anxiety from each other by giving them time apart. Teach them to have the confidence to deal with any environment with and without their sibling there. This is A LOT of work to train and prevent behavior problems.  Enough that most dog trainers recommend that you don’t ever get two dogs from the same litter.  It can be done, if you are prepared for it.  If you already have two puppies or if you are set on getting two, I give you some examples on how to tackle all of this work .   If you are still thinking about getting two puppies, I give you the advice I usually give my clients who really want two dogs.   Enjoy!

  We are always told “prepare for emergencies.”  The problem is the nature of an emergency is they are unpredictable and the situations are usually not something we expect.  All we can do is do our best to prepare so when it happens we at least have a head start. The type of emergencies I talk about in this episode is any situation where you either, can’t make it back home or you have to leave your home.  Having a dog can make both of these situations even more complicated. When faced with an emergency you will have a lot of things to think about.  Planning ahead can take the stress out of the situation that you are dealing with. In this Episode I walk you through making a list of people, places, and things that you may need in these types of emergencies when it comes to taking care of your dog.  Keep this list in a safe place so it’s ready for you when you need to use it. My hope for you is that this will be the best time you ever wasted. Links mentioned in this Episode: YNP #014: How to Choose the Right Dog Care – Part One YNP #015: How to Choose the Right Dog Care – Part Two Pet Sitters Coming Soon: YOUR Perfect Puppy‘s online course Photo by Patrick Carr on Unsplash

  We are always told “prepare for emergencies.”  The problem is the nature of an emergency is they are unpredictable and the situations are usually not something we expect.  All we can do is do our best to prepare so when it happens we at least have a head start. The type of emergencies I talk about in this episode is any situation where you either, can’t make it back home or you have to leave your home.  Having a dog can make both of these situations even more complicated. When faced with an emergency you will have a lot of things to think about.  Planning ahead can take the stress out of the situation that you are dealing with. In this Episode I walk you through making a list of people, places, and things that you may need in these types of emergencies when it comes to taking care of your dog.  Keep this list in a safe place so it’s ready for you when you need to use it. My hope for you is that this will be the best time you ever wasted. Links mentioned in this Episode: YNP #014: How to Choose the Right Dog Care – Part One YNP #015: How to Choose the Right Dog Care – Part Two Pet Sitters Coming Soon: YOUR Perfect Puppy‘s online course Photo by Patrick Carr on Unsplash