Advice we get every year from the “experts:”
NO PUPPIES FOR CHRISTMAS!
I’d like to know who took the jam out of your donutswith that kind of advice.
Kind of Grinchy advice if you ask me.
Why do we hear this advice every year? It always rubbed me the wrong way. I know why everyone thinks new puppy owners are an incompetent boobs incapable of handling a puppy around the holidays?
As long as I can remember I have always had a contrary way of thinking.
I guess it goes back to the advice I heard from the late great Earl Nightingale. Ole Earl said, “Watch what everyone else does – do the opposite. The majority is always wrong.”
He wanted you to question the herd mentality. Over the years when I see the herd doing one thing, I think maybe I should do the opposite. Earl’s advice has always been solid IMHO. (That means “in my humble opinion” for you older readers. I had to look it up a dozen times before it stuck).
Anyway, every year we get the never ending reminders that getting a puppy on Christmas is a terrible idea.
Is it a terrible idea?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
If you get a puppy on impulse it is a terrible idea. Walking through a mall or past a pet store and buying the puppy with zero thought could lead to some problems. But if you have done some research, have experience with dogs, why would getting a puppy on Christmas be a terrible idea?
Years ago my sister got a puppy for her kids on Christmas. At the time I had a Shetland sheepdog and my sister loved the breed. She found a reputable breeder and got her kids a sheltie puppy for Christmas. The puppy stayed with me overnight so we could deliver her on Christmas morning.
If you were to ask my niece and nephew I would bet it was one of their top ten Christmas morning memories.
My sister was familiar with the breed. She was an experienced dog owner. Had a skilled professional dog trainer for a brother. What could be better than having a puppy for her kids on Christmas morning?
If anything, it might be a great time to get a puppy. A lot of people have a few days off around the holidays to spend with the new puppy.
Humbug to the haters. And to help spread some Christmas cheer I have put together some tips for new puppy owners. BTW (That means “By the way”) EVERY dog owner should read #4.
Here are my top five tips for new puppy owners:
- Learn as much as you can about management. Invest in a crate, playpens, baby gates, and cheap leashes. The first few months are management. Put the puppy in the crate when unsupervised. Use a playpen when you want the puppy in the room with you but you are busy. Put up baby gates to keep the puppy in the room with you. Attach a cheap leash and let your puppy drag it around for better control.
- Exercise- puppies need exercise! 8 to 12 weeks can be easy because the little guys sleep a lot. Right around 12 weeks they develop enough to become little machines. This is where you have to have a plan to exercise your pup like a walking schedule or puppy daycare. Dog walkers are some options you have.
- Toys – get some puppy toys to have on hand. A puppy’s teeth and jaws are incredible. They have a real need to chew and explore with their mouths. Give them outlets for this by getting some good chew toys.
- Food- Some dog owners don’t give much thought to what they feed their dogs. For years one of the top selling brands of dog food was Ol Roy. Ol Roy at one point was outselling the competition by 20%. This was a brand sold by Wal-Mart. One look at the label would tell you what a terrible food this is. The ingredients included soy grits, high fructose corn syrup, corn, wheat, soybean oil, and more. Awful ingredients for dog food. And by the way it also contained sodium phenobarbital. Yes, the very drug used to euthanize dogs. Don’t believe me? You can read the article here:
- Training – and of course every puppy needs TRAINING! The #1 reason for dogs getting rehomed, brought to shelters, and put to sleep is behavior problems. The problem with the dog training industry is it is loaded with HACKS! There is so much bad advice out there. Let me share the secret of dog training with you. I can share it with one word.
Want to know what that word is?
Good.
Lean in close and I’ll share it with you.
Ready:
CONSEQUENCES!!!
Behavior does not change without consequences. If you want your dog to do a command you need to reinforce the behavior. The consequence would be food, toys, attention, praise, etc.
If you want to stop a behavior you need to correct the dog. If your dog is jumping, biting, chewing, counter surfing you need to correct the dog.
As a trainer who is always ready and willing to help you, I have an online puppy course. Here’s the best part. I’m giving it to you.
There is no charge. Nothing to buy. You get complete and full access to this bad boy by clicking on the link below.
Also you can pass it along to any of your dog loving friends or family. Know someone getting a new puppy for Christmas. Send them this email.
What gives? Why am I giving it away?
It’s Christmas and I am no Grinch. I love sharing what I know about dog training and who knows, maybe you will hire me as a dog trainer someday. Or not, either way it is still yours.
Get access here:
Merry Christmas!!!
Your friend,
Eric