I train my puppies from birth... first no parts of me or other people in their mouths. They are exposed to all my 6 adult dogs, 3 cats (one cat loves to play and wrestle with the puppies) and many friends and neighbors and their children and grandchildren from the day they are born. They start in my bedroom, and get handled frequently every day, weighed, nails trimmed, etc. I write down little nuances about each as they grow, who cries more, barks first, is quiet or rowdier, etc.

About 3-4 weeks when they start climbing out of the swimming pool (there is no water in pool. It is just a handy-no sharp edges-easy to clean-pen.) they move to the living room, larger pen, and start puppy food along with mom's milk. When they all mostly go potty on one side of the pen, I remove the blankets from that area and put newspaper down. When they all consistently potty in the newspaper area, usually around 4-5 weeks, I move them downstairs (my home is split-level) where they have a sleep/play area indoors and half of my 20x40 patio to potty/play. When they all consistently potty on one part of the patio, I open a gate to a 20x30 foot area of grassy yard. When they all are go potty in the yard, usually by 6 weeks, I open gates to 1/4 acre of my backyard, so they get to really do some exploring!

All the while, I am teaching them: no bite; sit to be petted; "OFF" (all four feet on the ground, no paws on me), and they learn: go outside; go potty; come "all you babies"; and they watch the big dogs play fetch, occasionally getting a tennis ball themselves! They have lots of toys to play with along with kids, cats, dogs, occasionally a parrot... and lots of trees, bushes, brush, squirrels, and birds to explore.

I try to give the puppies 2 or 3 baths by 7 weeks, so they have learned that water is good-a nice warm soaking means a loving soothing massage... oooh so good!

They may learn to go up and down stairs if they are among the last 8 or so to be here (it's impossible to teach more than that to go up and down stairs to go potty at once, although a few always figure out how to come in the cat door and come up the stairs on their own)! With few exceptions most puppies aren't big and strong enough to get up the stairs on their own until 7 weeks. The last few will get occasional free run of the house upstairs, and learn to come in and go outside on command, and "kennel". Those who are in basic training will also have one-on-one sessions to learn UP, STAND, SIT, DOWN, OFF, COME, HEEL (on leash), and go for rides in the van, visiting parks and rivers, and possibly shopping, errands, art fairs, etc., so they will be well experienced with the great big world, traffic, people and their pets, wide open spaces, and not prone to car sickness since exposed so young.

For you - the dog owner - all you need to start is a large wire kennel (approx. 42x26x30) for pup to have a place of his/her own (for lifetime), where pup can go to chew his rawhide or bone, take a nap, sleep at night, and to make training easier for the first few months. Put washable towel or blanket in bottom to start, in a week or two you can get a comfy bed for the kennel. Walmart, Menards and Farm & Fleet have good ones, prices from $65-$150.

Go to HOME PAGE

©2009 Simon*Larkin