Dog training helps you understand your pup better while it learns more about you, too. This interaction creates a bond between you and lets your dog let go of unnecessary behaviors and know the more acceptable ones. 

When fully trained, you’ll be able to notice when your pup is not well and quickly call a mobile vet clinic in Houston near you. Your dog will also trust you and understand when others try to help them.

The best part is that you can quickly train your furry friend without hiring professionals if you have time.

New Family 

When welcoming a dog to your home, you must conduct proper training to ensure a smooth stay. This applies to both puppies and older dogs. Here are some tips to consider when welcoming a pup to your family.

Welcoming a Puppy

Before the puppy arrives, you should ensure to prepare:

• An exercise pen
• Puzzle toys
• Chewies
• Harness and leash
• Stain and odor cleaner
• Chow and treats

Get your puppy a collar with identification that lists the pup’s name and your address and contact details. On your first visit to the vet, consider having your dog microchipped, as all of these things can help significantly in case your pet ever gets lost.

It’s also essential that your new dog has some alone time and gets appropriately socialized. So, bring your pup when you go shopping or for a simple car ride, to make them more familiar with various surroundings and noises. 

Welcoming a Grown-Up Dog

If you’re adopting an older dog, do know that all of them will react to the change differently. To make the transition easier, make sure you prepare the following:

• Puzzle toys
• Poop bags
• Harness and leash
• Treats
• A bed or sleeping mat

Since you will also need to re-train and re-teach your new dog’s rules, make sure to take things slow. Leave your new dog alone in their new surroundings, to enable them to get familiar with it at their own pace. Use play and positive reinforcement to create a bond and help them familiarize themselves with the new environment.

Also, schedule a vet visit to ensure your new pet is happy and healthy. 

Meeting Other Family Members

If you have a big family, you must introduce your new dog to everyone, including other pets. Since meeting a big family that also includes pets can be intimidating, make sure you take things slow.

Dogs

When introducing a new dog to your other dogs, ensure you do it in a neutral environment. That way, you can easily avoid negative experiences triggered by possessiveness and territoriality. So, choose a park or a neighbor’s yard.

What If I Have Cats?

The cat and dog relationship is another tricky one that can pan out disastrously if not done with care. Take it one small step at a time and increase their interactions as time goes on. Their first encounters don’t need to involve seeing each other, but can only include sounds and scents.

Make sure that their eating and toilet time don’t clash. They’ll also be aware of each other’s existence in the same house by scent. Move to introduce them to each other visually, but control the interaction through crates, carriers or leashes. 

Encourage the dog to remain calm when approaching the cat and reward them for good behavior.

The Children

Before bringing a new dog in, talk to your children, and explain the boundaries. Teach your kids how to approach, treat and pet a dog properly, to avoid uncomfortable situations.

Teach them to recognize the signs of discomfort and emphasize that the dog should be left alone while eating. Additionally, insist that your kids don’t bother the dog while sleeping or grooming, as this may cause discomfort and unexpected behavior. Never leave small children unsupervised in the same room with the dog to prevent accidents.

Once you ensure everyone follows the rules, you’ll all reap the fruitful benefits of owning a pet as a family.

Dog Training Basics Begin With New Environment Transitions

No matter how big or small your new dog is, it needs training. Basic training begins with welcoming it to your home and introducing it to the family. This way, it becomes easier for you to go on to further training in potty and other necessities, then obedience and fun tricks.

You can only jump to fun tricks by ensuring the dog is introduced to everyone in its new home and the surroundings so that it’s comfortable, safe, and ready to adapt. Once it’s settled, then you can start with the fun stuff.

Learning how to sit, high five, roll over, and play dead comes long after everyone knows their place, including acceptable behavior around each other, including the children and other pets of the family.