Bringing home a new puppy is a wonderful, exciting, stressful whirlwind. With all the chewing, peeing and jumping, you might not know which way is up. But don’t worry, I have you covered. Along with doggy sleep specialists Ralph & Co, we have all the answers to your puppy problems. Read on for training advice and more…
Why is my puppy destroying their bed and how can I stop this?
It can be infuriating to wake up first thing in the morning to find your puppy has spent their evening shredding their brand new, luxury dog bed. Unsurprisingly, you want to stop the behaviour in its tracks. All behaviours serve a purpose to your dog, hence why they keep doing them! There are a few reasons why your puppy might have adopted this new pastime, let’s have a chat about them.
Teething
At around 3 months old, a puppy’s piranha teeth (as I like to call them) begin to fall out and be replaced with adult teeth. Check your puppy's teeth by gently pulling back their lips to expose their gums. Teething puppies will have red and swollen gums, particularly where the gum meets the tooth.
Try soothing your puppy's gums with a frozen carrot. Carrots calm gums as well as providing a low-calorie snack, rich in Vitamin A. If your dog is not a fan of carrots, try stuffing their food into a Kong toy and place it in the freezer for a similar soothing effect!
Anxiety
Your puppy has undergone a massive change. They are learning to navigate a big, scary world, as well as leaving their siblings.
Although chewing and shredding is an instinctive behaviour, it is far from ideal for us! Start by making their crate a great place to be. Provide appropriate chews and toys to help them cope with their anxiety. Then create a den-like environment with blankets and toys to help them feel comfortable.
To start training your puppy to be comfortable alone, leave the room for short periods of time, then slowly build up the duration. Over time, your puppy will feel secure spending time alone and learn to enjoy their crate.
Boredom
This is especially common in energetic breeds. Make sure your puppy has a set schedule with enough exercise and enrichment, as well as nap time. If you aren’t able to spend time 1-1 with your puppy, give them something to do - a snuffle mat, puzzle toy or chew. Giving your puppy a set schedule will not only help you keep on top of their daily routine, it will get your puppy used to going to bed at a set time every night and encourage them to relax.
Managing unwanted behaviours
It might take a few days to work out why your dog is destroying their bed. It is important to stop your dog chewing as soon as possible so it does not turn into a fun pastime activity. This is where management comes in. During the day, if you think your dog might chew when unsupervised, remove your dog's bed and replace it with an appropriate chew or toy. At bedtime, provide your dog with a lick mat, licking releases endorphins and helps your dog to relax, ready for bed.
If you have not had any success stopping the chewing or it becomes excessive, consider hiring a trainer. Getting professional help will break the chewing cycle.
How can I make sure my puppy’s collar is the correct size and how do I measure it?
An essential part of your puppy's wardrobe is its collar. Puppies grow fast, so it is important to ensure their collar fits correctly for both safety and comfort. Too tight, and the collar can cause discomfort. Too loose, and it can slip over your dog’s neck as well as snag on nearby objects.
Measuring:
Using a soft measuring tape, place it snugly around your puppy’s neck. Then, comfortably insert two fingers between the dog’s neck and the tape. Take a note of this measurement as this is your collar size. It is a good idea to purchase a collar in the middle of this measurement e.g. if your dog’s neck measured 35cm, purchase a collar which is toward the top of this range - likely 34 - 40 cm to give your puppy some growing room.
Fit tests:
1. Necklace test: Holding the D-Ring, can you easily move the dog’s collar around their neck without force or discomfort? If it moves with resistance, then it is too tight. If it moves too easily, it is too loose. The collar should move easily whilst still touching their neck.
2. Ears Test: Gently hold your puppy’s collar. Pull the collar up to his ears. If the collar can go over his ears, then it is too loose. If it pulls at the neck, then it is too tight. The collar should have some movement without causing discomfort to the dog.
How do I stop my puppy from peeing in his bed?
Creating a consistent schedule will help you keep on track. Monitor your puppy's nap times, play times as well as toileting opportunities to prevent accidents.
Set timers:
A super easy way to keep on top of toileting opportunities is to set a timer on your phone. A rough rule of thumb is 30 minutes per 1 month old. If you find your puppy can’t hold it for that long, give them more toilet opportunities.
Note - The younger your pup is, the smaller their bladder will be.
Toilet routine:
Make sure you let your dog outside after they have eaten, drunk, played and before bed and remember to praise your puppy for doing their business outside.
Cleaning:
If your dog does have an accident indoors, particularly in their bed, it is important to adequately clean and disinfect the area. Dog pee contains ammonia which has a very strong smell and can encourage your dog to toilet again in this area. Make sure to use a doggy disinfectant which breaks down the ammonia and enzymes in the pee to completely remove the scent.
My recommendation:
Keeping this in mind, my recommendation for people struggling with puppy accidents is to invest in a waterproof, washable dog bed. Such as one from the Ralph & Co Waterproof Dog Bed Collection. The waterproof lining helps to prevent accidents, spills and drools from seeping into the mattress, meaning no more stains or odours ruining your pup’s bed! They are also wipeable and machine washable, ensuring an easy and efficient cleaning process.
How do I socialise my puppy and teach them to settle in public?
Socialising your puppy can feel a little overwhelming. There are so many topics to cover and stimuli to expose your dog to in what feels like a very short period of time.
Start early:
Puppies are born with no social skills or knowledge of the outside world, therefore it is important to make the most of the socialisation period. The period starts as soon as the puppy is born and continues up to 16 weeks of age. However, this is not to say that dogs cannot continue to be socialised throughout their life.
Gradual exposure:
Progressing at your puppy's pace, gradually expose them to new sights and sounds. Keeping sessions short and positive with lots of rewards.
Teach a 'Settle' behaviour:
Teach 'Settle' at home before progressing the behaviour outside. Placing a blanket on the floor, lure your dog over and cue lay, then click and reward. Slowly build up the duration of the lay before rewarding. Once fluent, take your behaviour on the road! Start in quiet, less stimulating places before slowly increasing the difficulty. Give your puppy chews to encourage him to stay on the mat. If your puppy continues to fail, go back a step and decrease the number of distractions before continuing.
For more tips on socialisation, check out the socialisation checklist on my website.
Which lead is best for teaching a puppy 'heel'?
When choosing the right lead for your puppy, there are a few options on the market which all have their pros and cons. As you are reading this blog, it is likely you have a puppy and want to do what is best for them.
Leads typically fall into two main categories - the traditional fixed lead and the extendible lead. As I am a dog trainer, you likely know what I am about to say… Traditional leads will always be my preferred choice. But instead of just taking my word for it, here are a couple of reasons why:
1. Retractable leads require a mechanism which pulls the lead back into the holder. Because of this mechanism, there is always some factor of pull on the lead, albeit very light but for a puppy, this is going to feel more significant. Meaning, you are reinforcing your puppy for pulling.
2. As a retractable lead is held within its holder, it can be hard to gauge how much lead there is left. This can result in your puppy running toward the end of the lead and having a nasty shock when they reach it. This can cause serious neck injuries such as vertebral fractures, a collapsed trachea and muscular damage to name a few.
Things to consider when buying a fixed lead:
Materials:
The material will affect how easy it is to handle your lead. Rope leads are lightweight and strong but can be slippery. Chain leads are great for chewing puppies but can chip a tooth if left unsupervised. Choose a fabric lead which is strong and durable with a solid handle.
Length
A 6ft fixed lead is a great choice for training. It provides enough room for your puppy to comfortably walk next to you whilst ensuring you can keep them safe.
How do I get my puppy to relax in his crate at bedtime?
To encourage your puppy to relax in their crate, you need to implement a few different strategies. Creating a positive association with the crate teaches your puppy it is a great place to be!
How to establish a bedtime routine:
Create a Schedule:
You can download one here. This will provide your puppy with consistency and routine in an unfamiliar environment, aiding in the prevention of accidents and behavioural issues.
Afternoon Activities:
Keep in mind the order of your activities will impact your puppy e.g. if you played with your puppy and got them all excited, you can't then expect them to go for a 2-hour nap. Instead, put your puppy down for a nap after a walk or a training session when they will be tired.
Get your puppy used to being alone:
Give your puppy toys, chews and games in their crate and leave the room for short periods of time. Slowly increase the length of time you leave the room, helping grow your puppy's confidence.
Create a den-like environment:
Make your dog WANT to spend time in their crate. Line the crate with a fluffy, cosy bed such as the one from Ralph & Co. Next, place a blanket over your dog’s crate to help him feel less exposed and give him a toy to chew if he gets bored. You can also give them one of your t-shirts so they have your scent in their crate too.
Positive Associations
Feed your puppy their meals in the crate, and give them chews and toys to create a positive association.
Additional Tip:
Make sure to leave the crate door open during the day so your puppy can come and go as they please and they don’t feel like they are going to be locked away!
Implementing these tips will help guide you through some of the tougher parts of puppy parenting. If you feel you could use further guidance, get in touch via the 'contact' tab and book in a consultation.
Use code CLARA 10 for 10% off the entire Ralph & Co website.
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