Training pups an intense time for dog and owner both

Everyone loves puppies, and it seems like every day someone is coming into the shelter asking if we have any available for adoption. When puppies do come into the shelter, they get scooped up very quickly. Unfortunately, they are sometimes returned just as fast, Puppies are often a lot more work than people realize. Before you add a puppy to your family, remember these common reasons puppies end up at the shelter.

Potty Training

Easily the number one reason puppies end up back at the shelter is because their adopters weren’t prepared for potty training. Potty training requires a lot of time and consistency. Puppies learn best when given a routine and, where potty training is involved, that routine needs to include bathroom breaks every couple of hours. If you’re not willing to put time and energy into potty training your puppy, consider adopting a slightly older dog.

Chewing

Puppies are mouthy and they will chew on absolutely anything, be it shoes or furniture or even your hands (seriously, watch out). Destructive chewing can happen for a number of reasons, including boredom, separation anxiety, and plain old confusion about what is and isn’t okay to chew on. Give your new puppy plenty of chew toys and make sure items you don’t want destroyed, like shoes, aren’t left out for your puppy to find. Fill Kong toys with peanut butter and treats to make chew toys even more attractive to your pet.

Hyper

Another one of the most common reasons that puppies get brought to the shelter is because their owners are not prepared for how hyper they are. A lot of these owners work all day and come home to a bored puppy looking for attention. Puppies are full of energy and, if you’re not keeping them active enough, they will find their own way to entertain themselves (refer back to the section on chewing). Simply crating your dog will not solve the problem. In fact, they’ll likely be even more hyper when you let them out of the crate. Can you blame your puppy for being excited to see you after spending the day all alone? Your puppy will only calm down with lots of physical and mental exercise. Take a walk, visit the dog park, play catch, hide treats and have your dog find them, take a hike, teach your pet a new trick, etc. Get out there and get moving – a tired dog is a happy dog.

No Time to Train

Potty training is just one of many things your new puppy will need to learn. Remember, everything is new to puppies and it’s easier to train your puppy at the start than to correct bad habits when they get older. Expect to put in a lot of time working with your puppy and helping them learn what is expected of them. Not sure what to do? Search for puppy training classes near your home. Training your dog as a puppy will make your life easier in the long run. Don’t neglect to work on leash walking. Chewing and pulling on a leash may be cute and funny when your dog is small but, when he’s older and weighs more, it won’t be so funny anymore.

Puppies are fun and cute and adorable, but they’re also excitable and mouthy and just plain exhausting. Puppyhood is brief, and over the course of just a few short months you’re expected to train and prepare your young dog for adulthood. It’s a lot of work, but you’ll be greatly rewarded with a loving (and well behaved, perhaps?) best friend!

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with three parrots, two cats, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org

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