Teach your pup the less obvious actions too.

What do you teach a puppy besides the standard upbringing?

That a puppy has to learn to come to you when you call him, that he has to sit when you say sit or that they have to pee outside those are things that every new dog owner does think about. However, there are also other less obvious things that are better practised when the dog is still young. With everything you teach a pup, it is necessary to always look at your pup to see if he likes it and can handle it. In addition, it is very important that you reward the dog well for the right behaviour with a food pellet, dog biscuit and a stroke or reward with the voice. The biscuit really doesn't have to be big because every crumb is already a reward for your little puppy.

Rain, rain and more rain.... well and then you have a wet dog.

When it's nice sunny dry weather, you won't think about it as much, but teach your pup that drying off is normal. When you go for a walk with your dog during the rain or when everything outside is nice and wet and muddy, you don't want him to come home dirty and wet and wading all over your house. You can teach your pup to always sit on the towel or mat when you put it down. Then he will not run through the house immediately and you will have time to dry him off. This drying off will also take some getting used to in the beginning. Pups find it a bit strange when you suddenly sit on their paws and rub the towel over them. Practising and rewarding will make it easier and easier.

Learn your pup already, that you want to look at him in the mouth.

When your pup is still small, you can already start teaching the opening of the mouth without risking your own finger. This is super handy when you want to check whether he is already molting, to start dental care later on, but also when you have to give him medication later on. If your pup finds it all very exciting, start by grabbing the head and then carefully lift a lip from the side. This is already a start. It is not advisable to lift the lip directly under the nose as this is very sensitive, but the slightly wider side should not be a problem. After that, you can expand it to eventually open the mouth completely. Successful? Reward every time and make it fun for your pup, he really needs to start seeing it as something fun to allow it more and more easily.

Brush or go to the groomer?

Every dog has a different coat, but grooming is necessary for all dogs. Some dogs can brush or comb yourself but others need to be plucked or shaved at a groomer. Making grooming a routine for your pup requires practice. The pup needs to learn that touching with a brush (start with a soft one) is quite normal. There are dogs that love this from minute one, but this obviously does not apply to all puppies. Again, start with short moments and reward a few times in between, make it really fun. Does the dog have a plush coat or do you suspect it will soon need a haircut? This too can be practised by, for example, putting the dog on a high table and rewarding him nicely. That is all it takes the first time, and then take it a step further until he is at ease and can be brushed nicely on the table. In time, the sound of the scissors can be added, sit on his paws and tail until the pup is nice and relaxed on the table. Does the dog go elsewhere to the hairdresser? Ask if you can visit once to get used to it, then it will be less stressful when the dog really needs to be cut or plucked.

Relaxing in the car, quite nice if you want to go out for a trip

. Pups really don't all like driving. Dislike often starts when they leave the litter. The puppy is picked up from its own familiar surroundings and embarks on its (often) first really long journey. In addition, dogs sometimes get nauseous during the first drive and are afraid of everything new that comes at them. In short, the first encounter with the car is often a bit traumatic. It is therefore important to introduce the pup to the car in a fun way. It is advisable to start with shorter bits and again make them happy with a reward. Unfortunately, a pup can also get nauseous in the car, in which case it can help not to leave immediately after eating. It is so, however, that here too, practice makes perfect both on being less stressed in the car and vomiting. If the dog remains uncomfortable and nauseous every time, you may need to ask your vet for travel sickness pills.

Fireworks and thunderstorms; you can already prepare a puppy for that too.

If you get a puppy in November or December, then fireworks are definitely something you already think about, all the more so because sometimes it already pops nicely in the neighbourhood. However, if you got a pup in the middle of summer, you can easily forget about this, but preparing for popping is quite pleasant for your pup. You prepare your pup for violent noise by playing it louder and louder in a safe space known to the pup. It is very important to start with a volume at which the pup does not react to the bangs, so very soft. Meanwhile, you can play with the dog or let him play with his toys. If you feel that the dog is reacting to the bangs, the volume is too loud. When you turn up the volume a little each session, the dog can get used to it quietly, if it makes your pup restless, turn down the volume again. Since many people do not have a CD player these days, you can find sound clips on YouTube. If possible, set up the music boxes so that it seems like the sound is really coming from outside.

Learned young is done old!

These are just a few examples you can teach a puppy that will really benefit you later on. Of course, there are many more such activities that you can teach a puppy more easily than an older dog. Therefore, I hope that reading this blog will encourage you to think about more ideas that are important in your own household and use them together with your pup. However, always keep in mind what a pup should or should not already be able to do in terms of age and development. The pup must be able to remain comfortable while learning and performing.

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