When you’re working full time, it can be difficult to stay on top of things at home. If you’re a pet owner, it’s even harder. There’s nothing worse than coming home to a misbehaving dog and having to spend your evening tidying up after him/her.
If your life is being controlled by your dog and you don’t know how to take it back, try these 4 solutions.
House Rules
Professionals must create a home environment that is warm and minimises stress. This is an essential element of any successful household. When bringing a dog into the family, families should first discuss and agree on the house rules. Topics should agree on furniture rules, range of the house, and dog chores, just to name a few.
Setting rules will immediately give the dog a consistent message of what is allowed in the home, and what isn’t. It’s a way to ensure that the home is an environment that minimises stress for the homeowners and the dog. When a rescue is involved, this is especially important because they are then corrected less often and will feel more loved and praised.
Training
As a busy professional, the process will go beyond house training. It will include obedience training to meet your lifestyle and possibly crate training. This exercise must begin the moment the puppy arrives at home. The demand for this is high and there are now many dog trainers who specialise in obedience who can help you control how your pet behaves.
Obedience training is also vital to helping everyone get along. We sometimes need a few minutes after work to catch up with loved ones and simply relax. Dogs won’t be able to understand “give me a minute”. Establishing simple commands and using them before getting angry or frustrated can help maintain the peace and love in your family.
The first tool for house training is patience because the process could take a while. Day crate training can be a support tool for house training, as well as adding security by establishing a den-like substitute for the puppy as a safe, warm location. It will also minimise the frustration of coming home to a huge cleaning task after a long day at the office.
Schedules
The new family member may not like being alone. Like a new baby, they will need schedules to help them with training. Parents should set schedules for food and water, as well as the puppy relief schedule. Developing a feeding routine will help your puppy body develop a refuse schedule. In your schedule, you should be ready to give them attention as soon as you get home if they are 8 months or older, and they should have provisions such as a training pad for younger puppies.
The Unexpected
An essential tool for new dog parents to have is to be prepared for the unexpected. Puppies may rebel against being home alone or just not getting their way like a human child. When you have a rescue, they may play up because of past trauma in their life. The most effective support for your family is to employ a dog behaviourist.
When you’re getting a new dog, the key is to prepare yourself and your home before they arrive. Know the rules you want to set and how you wish to train them. Once they arrive, it’s down to you (and the help of a trainer) to bring them up with the right set of behaviours.