Bringing a new fur baby into your home is an exciting adventure filled with cuddles, playtime, and endless moments of joy. However, a new puppy also comes with quite a few responsibilities! The first year of your pup's life is crucial – it's when they most effectively learn how to behave and interact with the world around them. Whether you're gearing up for those first adorable months or you're already knee-deep in puppy antics, there are a few key tips to make this journey smoother for both you and your little one.
Focus on Training and Routines
No matter how old they are, dogs thrive with routines. The best way to set them up for success is developing a routine that can be followed as consistently as possible, for both training and day-to-day life! Since puppyhood is the time when your furry friend is most receptive to new information, starting training and socialization early not only helps with basic skills, but it also helps with social skills and sets behavioral expectations.
When training your pup, it's important to start with the basics, such as sit, stay, and recall, before moving on to more advanced commands, such as leash training. A great way to help your pup learn the basics quickly and effectively is by enrolling them in obedience classes. Obedience classes provide a structured environment for your pup to learn appropriate social behavior and basic training, and they help your pup learn more efficiently. Dogs thrive with social learning, and with obedience classes, they can learn through modeling the behavior of other dogs, which has been shown to increase their learning speed!
Start Grooming Early
It isn't uncommon for dogs to have some level of anxiety around grooming. The best way to mitigate (or entirely avoid) this anxiety is by starting grooming early at a reputable grooming salon. It’s important that the grooming salon you pick is patient and not only understands, but accommodates puppies' needs, such as allowing frequent potty breaks, gentle brushing, and hand drying.
By starting grooming early and going consistently (even if it's just a simple bath!), puppies can be taught to see grooming as a regular, enjoyable part of their routine. A positive grooming experience early on sets the stage for a lifetime of stress-free trims and baths.
Begin Socialization (With Pups and Humans!)
If there's one thing to know, it's that socialization is crucial. More and more studies are confirming that puppies need to start socializing before they are six months old. Exposing them to various environments, sights, sounds, textures, people, and other animals helps them grow into well-rounded, confident dogs.
Another great way to encourage socialization is by integrating your puppy into different social settings early on, such as daycare or boarding. Doing so is a great way to help ease your pup into adulthood and give you peace of mind. By incorporating daycare into your puppy's routine, your pup will be provided with regular social interactions and sensory enrichment throughout the day. Instead of staying home alone, they get to play, learn, and nap in a structured environment, which is key for their development and happiness. Again, choose their environment wisely. Ask yourself questions such as:
- Do they test all pup’s behavior before they are accepted into the appropriate playgroup?
- How many pups and pet care technicians are in a playgroup?
- Are there opportunities for private rest periods?
Sign Up for Our Puppy-Friendly Socialization Daycare
We know you want the best for your puppy, and so do we. That's why, at Room for Paws Pet Resort, we provide an environment where your pup can truly thrive. In addition to daycare and all-suite boarding in our top-of-the-line facility, we also offer training (for all ages!), professional grooming, and curated activities, such as our Hike for Paws program, among other amenities.
We’ve tailored each of our services to ensure every dog receives the benefits of group socialization while still receiving individualized attention from our loving staff. Our puppy boarding and daycare programs entail plenty of human interaction, same-species playtime, and solo rest time. We have the highest human-to-canine ratio playgroups in Fairfield County, CT, and we offer several different specialized group options, include a solo program for unneutered friendly pups over 8 months old.
Additionally, our training classes are kept to 6 pups per class for optimum learning and hands-on assistance by the trainer. We also offer 50-minute mommy/daddy-and-me solo training classes, and have the option to add a training session to your pup’s daycare or boarding stay.
At Room for Paws Pet Resort, your pup will be met with friendly, familiar faces, making their stay fun and comfortable. Getting your dog signed up for their stay is easy – fill out a contact form, call us, email us, or use the chat box on any page of our website. We’ll do the rest!
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