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Pet Health Library

Behavior & Training

  • Although often thought to be a teething behaviour, nipping, mouthing and biting in young dogs is often a form of social play. Teething on the other hand, is more likely to involve gnawing or chewing on household objects.

  • Owning a dog can be an extremely rewarding experience, but it also carries with it some responsibility. We hope these notes will give you some help.

  • Most puppies love to explore and chew, so it is not surprising when a young puppy steals household objects, particularly if they are inherently rewarding.

  • When you bring your new puppy into your home a good rule of thumb is to "set the dog up for success". Learning how to house-train your new puppy and manage puppy behaviours will set you both up for success.

  • In order to teach any command it is important to start by using the word as a label for the required action and to reward the action with something that the puppy finds worthwhile, such as food.

  • Teaching your puppy to "come" reliably on command can take a little time but it is an essential task, since a dog that comes when it is called is much safer and poses far fewer problems for its owner and for society.

  • When puppies enter our homes the family becomes the puppy's social group and therefore all puppies need clear, consistent signals as to the group's rules so that they can establish realistic expectations and learn to live within the family without tension.

  • You will be training your puppy from the moment you pick him up since puppies start learning as soon as they are born and are learning even when we do not realise it! It is therefore important for you to ensure that your puppy is learning appropriate lessons.

  • A pet may be a part of your life for many years and many behaviour and health problems can be prevented by seeking guidance before obtaining a new pet.

  • Socialisation is the name given to the process whereby the puppy learns about herself, her own species and the other species with which she will live. The puppy learns to accept others in close proximity.