Mouthing, Housetraining & Backyard Breeders

Tip 1: Puppy Mouthing

Puppy Mouthing? You're not alone! Invest in some solid chew-toys (a classic rubber Kong filled with kibble and peanut butter is our personal fave). When your puppy is using your hands/feet as munching tools, redirect it to its chew-toy consistently.

Chewing is a calming behaviour for dogs, so encouraging a healthy chew-toy habit saves your hands and your late-night puppy zoomie parties!

Need help training your pup? Talk to a professional and qualified trainer here.

Tip 2: Potty Training

Potty Training? Try the Confinement-Opportunity method. Keep your pup in their crate at all times and then let them out regularly to go potty outside. If they go, treat, praise and then pop them back in the crate! As your pup's potty routine becomes more regular, you can start to increase freedom around the house. The trick is not the give them the opportunity to make a mistake and to reward big for pottying outside. Be consistent, and potty training will be a piece of cake!

PS. Please don't rub your pup's nose in his poop if he makes a mistake... it's pointless.

Thought of the Week

Craigslist time! Whilst I have a few clients who have bought well-socialized, lovely dogs from Craigslist or Kijiji or some other online marketplace, I can't tell you how many behavioural issues I have dealt with when it comes to a dog bought from an unlicensed, uneducated, or ''backyard breeder''. The first 12 weeks of a puppy's life are crucial to its long-term development and associations with humans, other dogs, food, and so many other things. If a newborn puppy is not in the hands of a person that has educated themselves in raising dogs, it can have detrimental and life-long effects. Please be cautious about where you get your puppies. You'll thank us later!