Canines are pack animals. It is natural for them to want to be indoors with the family and to be stressed by isolation. Outdoor dogs are harder to train and have more stress-related unwanted behaviors. Teach your dog house rules and keep the family together.

Day Twelve - Sweetest Sound on Earth
The best teaching methods are “hands off” (no force) so the puppy needs to use his or her brain to figure out what behaviors you want. Hand signals and sound signals help puppies learn much faster than English vocabulary alone. Hearing one's name is often considered the sweetest sound on earth. Use Puppy's name with praise and once before giving a cue. Never use your pup's name in anger.

Day Thirteen - Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Puppies and children can be a great mix as long as you provide 100% supervision and ongoing instruction to both.  Do not allow mistakes to happen when you are NOT there. Here are common mistakes people make with children and dogs. 

Day Fourteen - Protect Your Investment

It's not fair... to give your little puppy positive attention NOW for behaviors you don't want LATER such as jumping up and licking your face. Your adult dog will not realize that size matters!

Week Three - Whoa Nelly!

Insist that Puppy wait and allow you to go through doorways first. This helps communicate that you expect respect.  Canine's consider going through a doorway first as a privilege of rank.

Week Four - Timing is Everything

The puppy lunges at the cat, and you say, "Stop!" or "No!" and the puppy stops and sits - then you proceed to tell the puppy, "Bad dog!"

Week Five - Boo!

If you want to enjoy an adult dog companion that is not easily scared or fearful, you must teach Puppy that most sights and sounds are NOT scary - this includes going to the veterinarian, to the groomer, and outside of the home.

Week Six - Time Out

Your puppy craves social interaction, therefore, your attention. If you are playing a game, and the puppy play bites your hands or clothing, simply stop playing, turn your back and give the puppy a few minutes of "time out" to calm down.

Week Seven - Give Your Dog a Paycheck

The reason to train with food is to set up your puppy for success and make both learning for Puppy and teaching for you much easier.  Pair the treat with a clicker for faster learning!

Week Eight - Mind and Body
Gentling exercises are a great way to teach your dog to trust you. Once you have earned your dog’s trust, you will be able to touch your dog anywhere, anytime you want and your dog will respond like a floppy, unconcerned rag doll. Introduce these exercises when your puppy has been exercised and is relaxed or tired.

Week Nine - Chew Training

Wrong Move: Allow the pup to chew on old shoes and socks,  leave squeaky or plush toys in the kennel with the  puppy.

Right Move:   Only allow access to approved chew toys like Kongs, Nylabones, Sterilized Bones, or Dental Ropes. It is safe for the puppy to try to destroy these while confined in a portable kennel, x-pen, bathroom, etc.  

Week Ten - Food and Praise Scales
Just as you may be more motivated by $100 than $10, you need to discover what are low, medium and high value rewards for your puppy.  For example, kibble may be low, a cheerio - medium, and freeze-dried liver - high value.

Week Eleven - On Your Mat, Matey!
It is very useful to you and your puppy if there’s a place established for your puppy to go to relax and settle. Canines understand “place” and need to know they are in a safe, acceptable place. 

Week Twelve - Canine Stress Management
Unruly canine behaviors can often be prevented or solved simply by reducing canine stress. Canines are intelligent, social creatures that get cabin fever and are stressed by benign neglect that results from many human lifestyles.

Week Thirteen - Reading Canine

Your canine is very good at reading your body postures, movements and facial expressions. How good are you at reading canine?