Learning train a puppy needs you to be organized and take copious amounts of notes. That may sound very simple and basic but there's a lot more to it than you think, as it's a very useful record of what has worked, and look to teach your puppy new tricks as he gets older. Taking notes is a means of recording what has worked well for your puppy, and anything that proved harder than expected. It's just the same as "normal life" - planning and preparation are paramount to getting it right otherwise you'll just be spinning your wheels - and getting nowhere.

Making a plan is one of the first things you need to consider when you start thinking about training a puppy, because it will have a big impact to the transition for your new puppy from his established and comfortable home to the insecure and brand new home you'll be giving him. A young pup can suffer separation anxiety when parted from his family, and then is suddenly moved to strange and confusing habitat with completely alien smells and faces to get used to.

Adult dogs can also experience separation anxiety by everything new that happens to them when they get relocated. Don't forget your dog will need lots of reassurance when you take him away from his old home; he'll just notice that his friends are gone and he doesn't recognize anything.

The perfect time to bring your new dog home is when you will be available to set aside a block of time to spend with him. During the holidays is ideal - providing of course you're at home and not on vacation. He'll settle down a lot quicker if you're there with him 24-7. Being there for him in those first few days will help him settle in, and help him overcome any separation anxiety he may experience.

In the same way that we humans make preparations for a new baby, and fill the home with everything we think the baby will need for a happy and healthy start, training your puppy is just the same. As a new dog carer, you need to prepare your home in just the same way. After all, your new puppy is a new member of the family.

to train a puppy

The perfect place for your new puppy is a cordoned off area in a main living area, as your puppy house training regime will go much smoother too as accidents can easily be cleaned up off the tile floors of these rooms. Where possible, in the kitchen makes great puppy real estate because there is normally a good deal of traffic and noise, which helps prevent your new dog from getting lonely.

Don't forget that a young puppy is accustomed to the companionship of his littermates. Since they're not there any more he'll get lonely - so one of your new jobs is to make up for his loss of friends and keep him happy. But equally important - you must not let the puppy do whatever he chooses for the first few days and then lay down rules that prevent him doing those things when you start training him. Puppy house training can begin with the easy techniques, but needs to start as soon as he moves in.

Your puppy will get mixed signals if he isn't being taught the rules right away, because it only confuses the puppy. Everything you apply to training a puppy works in the just the same way when used with adult dogs too. Adult dogs can also suffer from homesickness when you move them. It's not only puppies. Your new dog will need lots of love, training and discipline as soon as he comes home with you. But the rewards are more than worth it.