Added a new pup to your family over the holiday? Here are some tips to train your new friend

Original article on floridatoday.com

The holidays are a popular time to add a new dog to the family.

But many new dog owners encounter trouble soon after adding a pup to their family, said Leslie Bottesch, owner of Hounds Town Space Coast, a doggie daycare, overnight boarding grooming facility in Rockledge. After the excitement fades families find responsible dog ownership takes a lot of hard work.

“A lot of people have this image of this lovely, incredible Christmas gift and a puppy coming out of the box, and sometimes they're not quite prepared for the steps to take to try to make it the most successful relationship as possible,” Bottesch said.

Bottesch said the biggest mistake people make with a new canine family member is failing to establish a schedule for their pet. Like children, dogs do best when they eat, exercise and sleep at consistent times each day.

“Sometimes we try to fit a dog in into our life and feed them when we can and walk them when we can and do what we can and thinking that dogs can respond consistently,” Bottesch said. “But the dog can only respond consistently when they feel safe and secure. And the way to do that is the same as a human being. They thrive on routine.

The holidays can be a difficult time, with people coming and going and family schedules disrupted. Bottesch said it’s important to introduce dogs to visitors carefully, keeping the dog leashed if need be, and to offer positive reinforcement. Dogs should be removed to a safe, quiet place if overwhelmed.

“Make sure it's a priority on how you introduce the dog,” Bottesch said. “Have each person come into the home and then be able to kind of get on their level and bond a little bit with the dog.”

Another holiday hazard is fireworks, which can stress out dogs. Bottesch said white noise machines can help drown out the sound of fireworks, and pet owners should take precautions in case dogs panic and escape.

“Definitely check for your dog’s microchip because they can migrate to other parts of their body,” Bottesch said. “Make sure it's working, make sure it's registered. And we also recommend keeping them indoors as much as possible with you during firework time.”

The transition from life with owners at home during holiday breaks to owners’ return to work can also be stressful for dogs, Bottesch said.

“If you've had time off from work, it's wonderful, Bottesch said. “You get that bonding time with the puppy. But try to make feeding time, walking time and playtime and also a bedtime routine similar to the routine that you will have when you go to work.”

Some dog behaviors can catch new owners off guard. Bottesch said owners often expect new puppies to chew, but are unaware of the extent of the damage they can do. Puppies should be well-supervised, and the house should be proofed of choking hazards. Other new owners are surprised by their dogs’ energy levels.

For dogs with high energy whose owners struggle to meet their needs, Bottesch said doggie daycare services, like those her business provides, can help dogs socialize in a controlled environment and let out excess energy a few times a week.

“What the dogs do with daycare is they self-regulate, so they rest and then they get up and play for a couple hours, Bottesch said. “Then they rest and they play again. So they're running around and doing more exercise than any amount of walks per day. And so they usually go home and they're very receptive to training because they've already exercised all their natural behaviors.”

But when new pet owners truly struggle with adapting their new dog to their household, Bottesch said it’s best they receive professional help. They should look for a trainer who uses positive training methods over simply punishing the dog, and they should expect to continue to have to implement the training techniques themselves over the course of the dog’s life.

“Good trainers are really training the human, they're not really training the dog,” Bottesch said. “So if you're looking for a quick fix, and (think you’re) sending your dog to a trainer and will take your dog home and trained and well behaved, that's kind of a myth.”