Oftentimes, puppy owners are unaware of their puppies' need for mental stimulation. However, once they are educated on how to introduce it into everyday life and form a more structured schedule for their puppy, owners will see results almost immediately. While there are endless ways to mentally stimulate your puppy, I am going to recommend some of my favorites in the list below, which have proven to be the most beneficial for new puppy owners and their new puppies.  5-10 Minute Training...

As a professional dog trainer, I have never been asked to help make a puppy more hyper, but almost every new puppy owner requests some training on how to make their puppy more calm.  To achieve the goal of puppy calmness, it’s mostly about trimming the fat…or eliminating things you are doing that overstimulate the puppy. In addition, most new puppy owners unconsciously create and reinforce the unwanted hyper puppy behavior.  Calming hyper behavior in your puppy is about down less, not...

The goal of raising a puppy is to prevent unwanted behaviors from developing so that you can live harmoniously with your puppy. Most new puppy owners allow most unwanted behavior to develop, even reinforcing the behaviors in the puppy.  The behaviors I get called the most to help “fix” are play biting, jumping, barking, chewing, and pulling on the leash.  Once the puppy has associated the unwanted behavior with something that’s ok for them to do, they will keep doing it.  It only takes 1-2...

Focusing on your puppy being calm in the crate lets you create a list of ways to achieve this goal. I will help you get started with this list. It is up to you to expand on this list and follow through. Help your puppy develop a positive association with the crate by feeding them their meals there. Also, playing games with your puppy, going into the crate to fetch a toy or treat, and calling them out of the crate playfully and happily will allow them to associate fun and good things with the...

This is a great question. In this podcast episode, I will discuss why so many puppies are being rehomed and how to prevent this from happening to your puppy. Why Are So Many Puppies Being Rehomed? Owners don’t have time to raise and train a puppy.Owners have unrealistic expectations for their puppies.Owners realize they have the wrong dog for their lifestyle. Puppy develops behavior problems that are hard to fix. How to prevent rehoming your puppy Choose the right puppyProvide very clear...

Here is the List of some Essential Equipment for New Puppies: Dog Bed for relaxation and teaching placePlay Toys for enrichmentKong® mental stimulation toysLickiMat® mental stimulation feedersDog Puzzles for mental stimulationBully Sticks for heavy chewersDear Antler for aggressive chewersNylabone® Puppy Starter Kit for moderate chewers6” Snap Leash for leash training and walkingCollar for use with the snap leashLong Line for enrichment and teaching recallFront Clip Harness for training...

Isolating your puppy in the house and yard during their critical socialization period of 4-16 weeks is a big mistake.  Lack of puppy socialization during the critical period of their life is the number one reason they develop serious behavior problems as adult dogs. Here is the link to a resource on the importance of puppy socialization from  Robert K Anderson, DVM  http://trainyourdogmonth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/APDT_TYDMRKLetter.pdf  Here are some great places to take your dog for...

Every puppy has different needs. Below are the ingredients, and it’s up to you as the puppies owner to determine the exact recipe. This list is presented in order of importance for creating a happy, healthy, and obedient puppy.  ExerciseMental StimulationSocializationEnrichmentPlayAt the very end is affection. Don’t substitute affection for any of the other components listed above. Use affection as a “life reward” for the puppy doing things well and following your rules, boundaries, training,...

Mental stimulation is often referred to as enrichment and covers a wide variety of activities. They often appear to be fun games or clever ways to feed snacks, but they're really so much more than that! You can read the full article here. Here are 4 reasons why your dog must have mental stimulation. EntertainmentImprove AnxietyWear Them OutProvide An Outlet For Natural BehaviorsFREE GIFT:  Download the chart below to help identify unwanted minor puppy behaviors and teach a replacement...

This is a great exercise to build the relationship between the handler and the puppy. We start this in the house with no distractions, then move it outside with distractions so she can get focused back on me when she has reactivity to other dogs or people. Here is the video teaching my puppy Dixie the Watch Me command: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4RVPIfmXPs BOGO! - Buy one course, Get one FREE.  Leash Training You Puppy & Potty Training Your Puppy.  Click here for more details....

I found this post on another dog trainer Olivia Mergl of Mannered Mutts Dog Training on Instagram. Below is her post text. The image that goes with the post will be placed on a blog post here.   No is not a cue!! No is not a behavior, it’s not something your dog can perform. You might mean one thing like stop, come here, stand still, lie down, drop it, down but it’s likely very unclear to your dog what you want. Stop telling your dog no and start asking for a behavior they know instead, tell...

There are two ways to be more patient with your puppy, and I will discuss both in this episode.  Patience will go a long way when raising a puppy.  Give your puppy time to learn and adapt to your lifestyle.  Be patient when teaching new commandsBe more patient overall as they grow upFREE GIFT:  Download the chart below to help identify unwanted minor puppy behaviors and teach a replacement behavior. Download the chart here https://www.puppytraining.dog/bemod-chart Potty Training Your Puppy...

In this episode, I discuss the pros and cons of having your puppy sleep with you in your bed.  Remember, that is my opinion, and the opinions of other dog trainers and vets will vary.  The Complete Puppy Training Manual is now available on Amazon.  FREE GIFT:  Download the chart below to help identify unwanted minor puppy behaviors and teach a replacement behavior. Download the chart here https://www.puppytraining.dog/bemod-chartDiscover a simple and effective method for loose-leash walking...

In this episode, I share what I did during my dog Dixie's First Day Home on May 5, 2020. I immediately taught Dixie her name, leash acclimation, and set boundaries in the apartment.  Notice my tone, words, and leadership skills when I communicate to Dixie in this video https://youtu.be/f-qA1fYUp40. Here is a link to the podcast episode, The First 5 Things to Teach Your New Puppy. View my new book, The Complete Puppy Training Manual. FREE GIFT:  Download the chart below to help identify...

I use three types of walks for puppies that I train. Each of these walks is unique and can be combined to achieve multiple goals in one outing. The Training WalkThe Enrichment WalkThe Potty Break WalkRoughly 40% of your walks will be potty breaks, 40% will be training walks (loose leash walking), and 20% will be enrichment walks. FREE GIFT:  Download the chart below to help identify unwanted minor puppy behaviors and teach a replacement behavior. Practice reinforcing the replacement behaviors...

The top 3 reasons why your puppy's behavior is not improving:  You are reinforcing the unwanted behavior.You are trying to "fix" your puppy instead of teaching your puppy.You are not being consistent. Use this FREE chart below to help identify unwanted minor puppy behaviors and teach a replacement behavior. Practice reinforcing the replacement behaviors without reinforcing the unwanted behaviors. Download the chart here https://www.puppytraining.dog/bemod-chart Discover a simple and effective...

In this episode, I discuss one of the chapters of my new book, Leash Training Your Puppy, which will be available by the end of February 2023. To get on my mailing list for updates on the book release date, go to PuppyTraining.dog.  The most important tip for starting the loose leash walking journey with your puppy is to stay in the moment. Learn to be connected to your puppy through the leash.  Don’t let personal distractions get in the way of a stress-free walk. Put the phone away and...

Use this FREE chart below to help identify unwanted minor puppy behaviors and teach a replacement behavior. Practice reinforcing the replacement behaviors without reinforcing the unwanted behaviors. Download the chart here https://www.puppytraining.dog/bemod-chart Click here to purchase my new book, The Complete Puppy Training Manual. Potty Training Your Puppy Video Course: https://www.puppytraining.dog/potty-trainingPotty Training Your Puppy Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNGRNXNX

I recently received an email from Dr. Leslie Brooks DVM, MPH, and a Vet Advisor for Betterpet. She sent me some information on a new tool that she helped create called The Dog Age Calculator.  She went on to say that many pet owners don't always know how old their dog actually is and how they should be caring for their furry friend. If pet parents know their dog's exact stage of life, they can make better decisions about their diet, nutrition, exercise, and health. That’s why my team...

Can You Take Your Puppy Outside Before it is Fully Vaccinated?  This is a great question that was a comment on one of my YouTube videos.  The short answer is "Yes, But Follow These Rules To Stay Safe." Links to supporting articles and Podcasts: PawsGeek.com article: https://www.pawsgeek.com/can-i-take-my-puppy-outside-before-it-is-vaccinated/ThePamperedPup.com article: https://www.thepamperedpup.com/when-can-puppies-go-outside/A Letter on Puppy Socialization:...

Our most popular episode has been #3 from January 12, 2021, on How to Potty Train Your Puppy. I continue to receive comments on social media posts and daily emails from local clients of Top Gun Dog Training who are having trouble potty training their puppy.  In this episode, I share the top 3 reasons why your puppy is not properly catching on to potty training. I have also linked several related articles and videos to help you potty train your puppy.   6 Potty Training Tips:...

In this episode, I am going to discuss important details about using corrections with young puppies. This information is a companion to the past episode #56 on The Benefits of Positive Reinforcement Training. When to use correctionsWhat type of corrections should you useHow to use corrections - correct it, redirect itWhy too many corrections are not productiveHow to know when you are overcorrectingDale's dog training website is https://topgundogtraining.com/ Visit the show's website at...

This episode is from an article written by Taylor Andrews for my website. You can read the entire article here https://topgundogtraining.com/blog/f/the-benefits-of-positive-reinforcement-training Dale's dog training website is https://topgundogtraining.com/ Visit the shows website at http://puppytalkpodcast.com Visit this website http://puppytraining.dog to join our mailing list for updates on the release of my new book The Complete Puppy Training Manual.  Click here to purchase my new...

Everyone in your family, including dogs, has to have rules and boundaries in the house. You should start teaching the puppy rules and boundaries as soon as you bring them home. Giving a puppy too much freedom and the ability to do anything it wants, is a recipe for disaster. Setting Rules Rules refer to what a puppy is and isn’t allowed to do.  Here are some examples: No jumping on furniture when not invitedNo pulling on the leash when walkingNo jumping on guests when they are greetedNo...

These 5 things need to begin even before the basic obedience training command such as sit, down, stay, etc.  Potty Training - Episode #3Crate Training - Episode #21Rules and BoundariesPuppies NameStopping Play Biting - Episode #5If you teach your new puppy these 5 things from the very beginning, you can prevent a lot of frustration. Video Resources: How I Potty Trained My Puppy in One Day:  https://youtu.be/KumQMZt90lE How to Stop Puppy Play Biting:...