Tip Yourself – Puppy Training 101

If you have been following me on Instagram, @sweetandmasala, you have probably seen me blowing up my Instagram Story Feed with all the videos and pictures of my new baby pup, Khush.

Now before start thinking, she named her dog after a weed delight, think again!

Khush means “happy” in Hindi and is also the name of Lord Rama’s son; a very well-known Lord, mainly known in the epic Indian tale, The Ramayna.

All of you who have ever owned a puppy know that it is like having a fucking kid.

Like, for real.

This little guy has promptly woke us up in the middle of the night for potty breaks, peed in the house, took the occasional shit, loves to chew up shoes, but then has such sweet, puppy dog eyes that you forget all the terrible things that they did.

Yeah.

Welcome to being a parent. (even if it is a dog parent)

Ok, so to be fair, Khush hasn’t been that bad.

He hasn’t relieved himself in his crate, and has been pretty good, for the most part, about doing his business outside, with the occasional hiccup here and there.

I mean, he’s only 3 months old, and we have only had him for about 2 1/2 – 3 weeks.

He is a major cuddle monster and I love him SO much. I have already come up with a million, unrelated nicknames for him, like Bubba.

(No idea where that came from and why I keep calling him that. It just stuck.)

Personal space is nonexistent for him, since I am always right be his side trying to get my hug and kisses on with him.

God help my future kids. I swear I’m not as clingy as I seem. Well, that’s not true.

Anyways. I wanted to share a few tips with you on how to become a new fur parent.

Now, I am not a vet, or a professional puppy trainer, or have any type of certification when it comes to animals, so I can only tell you what has been working for J and I.

First, after you have done your research on where to purchase the puppy from, whether it be form a shelter, pound, breeder whatever…

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Puppy Proof Your Home

Khush is one curious ass puppy! He has is nose to ground ALL THE TIME, and, like any baby who is teething, wants to put everything in his mouth. Make sure you put anything that is within their reach away. That includes cell phone and laptop chargers, shoes, and anything else they can get their paws on.

Pick Up the Essentials and Fun Stuff

Before we picked up Khush we went straight to Pets Mart to get a name tag, food, regular treats and training treats. We got his water bowl, food bowl, and a few toys for him to play with, however we waited until we actually picked him to get the collar, leash and harness, so that we could fit it to his body. Justin and I even let Khush pick his own bed out. It was the cutest thing I have ever seen to watch him go back and forth between two beds and then finally plopping into one.

Find Them a PCP- Otherwise known as a Vet

Make an appointment as soon as possible to get them squared away with shots, vaccines, registration, microchips, etc. You can schedule everything out with the vet so you are always on top of your pups health. Oh and don’t forget insurance! Out of pocket expenses can be BAD for animals. Don’t get yourself stuck!

Enroll In a Training Class – Or Get To Reading

Even if your dog was potty trained before you got him/her, you should still think about enrolling them in a training class to get them used to you, your rules, your house, etc. We decided to train Khush ourselves, but referenced many online manuals to help with our in house training. The dog has to learn how to socialize and be handled how you like.

Set Rules and Stick to Them

This one is easier said than done. Don’t let bad habits stick. If you don’t want your puppy on the couch, never let them get up there to begin with. You want them to potty outside? Use the same work to indicate such each time. Dogs are like children; they need structure and a schedule to stick by to stay on the right track.

Expect the Rules to be Broken

Like I said, dogs/puppies are like kids. They are still learning, so don’t expect perfection from the jump, but most of all don’t get frustrated! The pups will get there.

Show Them Love

If I haven’t made it apparent as to who psycho I am about being all over your dog…I’ll emphasize it some more. Make your voice happy with loads of inflection. Animals love that!

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Now I know this list isn’t perfect, but it’s something to work off.

How did you train your puppy?

Xx

K

Sweet and Masala