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Puppy Socialization Tips
In order to have a well rounded non-aggressive, non-phobic puppy you must focus on socialization with your puppy between the ages of eight weeks to sixteen weeks. This is the socialization window. If missed, your puppy will produce certain behavior patterns due to the lack of socialization for the puppy's entire life. Between the ages of eight to sixteen weeks, the puppy needs to meet dogs and new people almost on a daily basis. The more the puppy is out in the real world, the more comfortable and confident it will be in it's everyday life. On a weekly basis Kind To Canines has puppy socialization, where puppies are introduced to other dogs in a controlled environment at our kennel.

Puppy House Training Tips
When bringing a puppy home the goals are to help your puppy to quickly bond to its new family, and to minimize the stress associated with leaving it's mother, littermates and former home.

HOW DO I PREVENT MY PUPPY FROM DOING DAMAGE OR GETTING INTO MISCHIEF?

Kind To Canines rule of thumb for puppy training is set the puppy up for success. A puppy should be supervised at all times until it has learned what it is allowed to chew and where it is supposed to eliminate. Keeping your puppy on a leash in the house is an excellent way to keep it in sight and to teach it not to wander off out of sight.

WHAT DO I DO IF I CANNOT SUPERVISE MY PUPPY?

At any time that you cannot supervise the puppy, you must secure your puppy in a safe puppy-proofed area in the house. An escape-proof crate, dog run, or collapsible pen are simple, highly effective and most important, safe. When selecting your dog's confinement area, there are a number of factors to consider. This area must be very positive. You should give chew toys, food, water, and hands on contact with the puppy in this area. This area should never be an isolated area away from human contact and the human voice.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PUNISH MY PUPPY?

Kind To Canines believes that every effort should be made to avoid punishment for new puppies as it is generally unnecessary and can lead to avoidance of family members at a time when bonding is most critical. By preventing problems through confinement or supervision, providing for all the puppy's needs, and setting up the environment for success, little or no punishment should ever be required. If a reprimand is needed, a verbal loud "NOPE" followed up by a distraction with a chew toy to divert the bad habit will always work.

WHEN CAN I TRUST MY PUPPY TO WANDER LOOSE THROUGHOUT THE HOME?

The best rule of thumb is to make sure that your puppy has been error free in it's confined area and while supervised on a leash for at least two months. The first time you leave the puppy unsupervised should be just after taking the dog outdoors for elimination. Gradually increase the time in which your dog is allowed to roam through the home without supervision.

Basic Dog Training Tips
The main ingredients to dog training is being consistent, patient and kind to your canine friend.

Always set yourself up for success not failure.

Always choose an area to start training your dog that is isolated and quiet. Until your dog can perform all basic obedience commands on leash the first time you ask the dog to perform them, do not start training the dog in more distracted areas.

Always start training your dog on a standard six foot leather lead with a normal flat buckle collar.

No matter what type of commands you use to position your dog, be consistent in using the same commands during every training session.

Kind to Canines rule of thumb for the length of a training session for a dog up to a year old is you multiply the number of months the dog is old by two. Example a 12 month old dog should be trained for 24 minutes at one time.

In no event will kindtocanines.com be liable for any consequences, incidental or special damages whatsoever arising out of the use or inability to use the obedience training information provided on this site. For a formal consultation, please contact Kind to Canines.