The World Is A Frightening Place When You're A Puppy

The first 14 weeks of a puppy's life is the time when you must introduce your puppyyour to as many different objects and experiences as is humanly possible Things learnt at this age are permanent making this is the ideal time to start training. Introduce the puppy to different people, places, animals, and sounds in a positive, non-threatening way.

When you're just 3 months old, just about everything that you come across is either threatening or frightening. It's such a big world and your puppy needs to be introduced to as many new experiences as possible within his first few months of life.

 D.A.P. (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) can help your dog to get through these early weeks and months. Plugging a DAP diffuser into a suitable electricity point will produce an atmosphere similar to that which the puppy has recently enjoyed when still living with its mother. You could also try spraying DAP spray onto the pup's bedding, again to bring a sense of calm to the frightened and confused young dog.

There are countless activities to try and places to visit without endangering your puppy's health. It is essential that you spend time exposing your new pup to as many new situations as possible. It is equally important that you socialise your pup even if he's your second or third dog. It is much too easy to leave the puppy in the company of the older dogs, depriving him of the chance to develop his own self-confidence without relying totally on the older dogs and their protection.

Puppies naturally use their mouths and teeth in play and you’ll have to teach them that it isn’t allowed. When he touches your skin with his teeth, “yelp” out loud, like another puppy would when play gets too rough. If this doesn’t work, just walk away from your puppy and stop the game. He’ll soon get the idea that biting will only spoil the fun.

If your puppy steals or chews your belongings, gently exchange them for one of his fun toys and encourage him to have a game with it. Leave plenty of his toys around and keep things you don’t want him to chew out of reach, so that he can’t be naughty in the first place.

Remember that the golden rule is to ignore bad behaviour and give lots of praise and attention for behaviour that you do want. Try not to ignore your puppy whenever he is being good or he’ll find all sorts of mischievous ways to get you to notice him.