Your New Puppy: Dog Training and Dog Behavior Lessons to Help You Turn Your New Puppy into a Well-Behaved Dog

It’s been a great day. Your puppy has been an angel.

And then out of nowhere, your puppy flips a switch. 

The biting gets more intense. They stop responding to anything you say. They’re lunging, they’re frantic, and for a second, you actually wonder if something is wrong with them. Or with you.

This is puppy witching hour. And it is so much more common than you think.

It usually hits in the evening, right when you’re tired, and your patience is running low.

And if your p...

You’ve prepared for your puppy.

You did the research.You bought the supplies.You read the books and checked all the boxes.

So why does it still feel overwhelming when your puppy finally comes home?

You did everything right, but you forgot one key part of puppy preparation: you.

Good preparation doesn’t eliminate the chaos of bringing a puppy home. It prepares you to handle it when it shows up.

In this episode, I talk about:

Dinner should be a chance to relax, not a nightly negotiation with your dog.

In this episode of Your New Puppies Podcast, I’m breaking down one of the most common struggles I see with puppies and adult dogs: dogs begging, barking, or demanding attention while their humans are trying to eat.

It does make sense that this happens. Besides the obvious food, everyone is gathered together, and there tends to be a lot of movement and chaos. Your dog just wants in.

The good news is you don’t need to teach new...

Potty training was going so well… until it suddenly wasn’t.  

Let’s discuss why potty training regression is completely normal, what it actually means, and how to get back on track without feeling like you’ve failed your puppy.

You have a stretch of good days, you start to feel confident, and then all of a sudden, the accidents are back. It feels like you’re back at square one, you start asking what you did wrong, and you might even wonder what’s wrong with your puppy.

Here is the truth.Regression is no...

Potty training was going so well… until it suddenly wasn’t.  

Let’s discuss why potty training regression is completely normal, what it actually means, and how to get back on track without feeling like you’ve failed your puppy.

You have a stretch of good days, you start to feel confident, and then all of a sudden, the accidents are back. It feels like you’re back at square one, you start asking what you did wrong, and you might even wonder what’s wrong with your puppy.

Here is the truth.Regression is...

Bringing a puppy home is a joyful time… except sometimes reality hits a bit harder.

Welcome to the Puppy Blues.

It’s common to underestimate the effect this big life change will have on our emotional well-being.  

I’m doing this wrong?Why is this so hard?I feel like a failure.There’s something wrong with this dog.It’s not supposed to be this way.

These are all normal things to think and feel when you bring your puppy home. 

Feelings of anxiety, frustration, exhaustion, or even guilt are so...

Wondering what to do on your puppy’s first night home?

You’re bringing your new puppy home, you’re excited, you’ve got everything ready, and you already have great plans on how your new puppy will fit right into your family. 

But wait, do I know what to do that first night?  

Maybe you’re coming home late and don’t have much time to make them feel safe and comfortable before bedtime.  

You’re probably wondering:Where should my puppy sleep that first night?Do I put them in the crate even...

If you are experiencing some behavior changes from regression to old behaviors to brand new ones popping up, this episode is for you.Welcome to this special replay episode.  I’m wanted to bring back this important episodes for anyone with a puppy who's entering adolescence.If you're feeling like your once sweet, well-behaved puppy is suddenly turning into a bit of a troublemaker—you're not alone.This is a super common struggle that many puppy owners face, and I’m here to help you navigate through it.In this replay, we’re diving deep into behavior changes that happen as your p...

Tug of war is a game that dogs LOVE to play.  Yet I always get asked the question "Can I play tug of war with my dog?"The short answer is YES!  It's is great game for you and your pup.  It's easy to play, they love it, it burns lots of energy and tires out those heavy chewing jaws and nipping puppy teeth. So why is this a question?  Well, there's some misconceptions about tug of war that have been going around for a while. In this episode, I debunk the common myths, like the idea that it’s a domina...

Tug of war is a game that dogs LOVE to play.  Yet I always get asked the question "Can I play tug of war with my dog?"The short answer is YES!  Tug of war is great game for you and your pup.  It's easy to play, they love it, it burns lots of energy and tires out those heavy chewing jaws and nipping puppy teeth. So why is this a question?  Well, there's some misconceptions about tug of war that have been going around for a while. In this episode, I debunk the common myths about tug of war, like t...

Welcome to Episode 100 of Your New Puppies Podcast! I’m thrilled to celebrate this milestone with you, my amazing listeners. As I reflect back, I started to think about what I've learned and the things I believed before I became a dog trainer.  I wanted to share some key lessons with you because unless you've become a dog trainer yourself, you may believe these same things.The three lessons I talk about:Even if you've lived with dogs before, being the one in charge of their well being and training is a very different experience.Puppies aren't a blank slate.Dogs...

The holiday season is a popular time to bring a new puppy into the family.  But how we do it can make a big difference in the well being of all involved. Now before I totally burst your bubble, I'm not saying you shouldn't get a puppy this time of year (though there are things to consider while making that decision).    What I'm going to talk about here is why you shouldn't surprise someone (kids or adult) with the actual puppy on a specific day - Christmas morning, for example. We think of it as a special magical moment where a pup...

Why your dog isn't listening depends on a bunch of factors including what your asking them to do, where they are, what you've taught them previously, and more.It's one of the most common questions I get but it's also one of the hardest to answer.  I usually need ALOT more information.  From my experience, I've narrowed it down to 5 reasons.  They are not mutually exclusive.  In fact, chances are it's a blend of a few reasons.  The five reasons are:You haven't taught them what you're asking for.You skipped some steps in their training.You haven't practiced in this e...

Just about every dog is going to have some trouble with the hot weather.  For some dogs even a slight elevation in temperature will find them seeking out the shade and wanting shorter walks. The heat itself can be tiring for a dog so it tends to shorten walks and activity.  This will result in us having to find creative ways to entertain our dog and burn some energy. For this episode I reached right into my Enrichment Database (available with YOUR Perfect Puppy) to find some activities that are perfect for a hot day.  I have you covered if you w...

It can be counter intuitive but when your puppy has a potty accident, we shouldn't punish them.You may feel that you need to do something to let them know "this is wrong".  Or maybe you know that you're not supposed to punish your puppy's potty accidents but you're not sure why.In general, I discourage using punishment as a form of teaching your puppy anything.  But this question comes up a lot around potty training. In Episode #10: (Complete Guide to Potty Training Your Puppy), I talk about what to do when your puppy has an accident.  Punishment is never part...

How do you know if your kids are ready for a dog?  And if they are, how do you prepare them for bringing that new dog home?Well lucky for you (and me) Justine Schuurmans, the expert on families, kids, and dogs,  is going to answer those questions.Justine is the founder of The Family Dog and the creator of The Dial Method.  Her work with families has greatly impacted how I work with kids and puppies to this day.  The best part?  This is part one of a two part series.  Stay tuned for part two where she talks about w...

If you're a parent, how do you know if your kids are ready for a dog?  And if they are, how do you prepare them for bringing that new dog home?Well lucky for you (and me) Justine Schuurmans, the expert on families, kids, and dogs,  is going to answer those questions.Justine is the founder of The Family Dog and the creator of The Dial Method.  Her work with families has greatly impacted how I work with kids and puppies to this day.  The best part?  This is part one of a two part series.  Stay tuned for part two whe...

It can be counter intuitive but when your puppy has a potty accident, we shouldn't punish them.You may feel that you need to do something to let them know "this is wrong".  Or maybe you know that you're not supposed to punish your puppy's potty accidents but you're not sure why.In general, I discourage using punishment as a form of teaching your puppy anything.  But this question comes up a lot around potty training. In Episode #10: (Complete Guide to Potty Training Your Puppy), I talk about what to do when your puppy has an accident.  Punishment is never part...

Something exciting is happening!! 

I wanted to share why I'm offering $100 off my signature new puppy course YOUR Perfect Puppy until April 28th!!

I've just finished two major changes to YOUR Perfect Puppy, my 4 week new puppy course. 

It's the same 4-week course that has helped hundreds of new puppy owners get through those first few months with their puppy but I've added an entire skills and cues section, both expanded lessons that were already there and added new ones.  

Now there is almost double the amount of lessons to help you...

You may know that you're not supposed to punish your puppy's potty accidents but maybe you don't know why.In general, I discourage using punishment as a form of teaching your puppy anything but this question comes up a lot around potty training. Since, you know I never miss an opportunity to discuss the why behind training I'd like to take the opportunity to answer the questions "why are we not supposed to punish potty accidents?"In this episode I talk about:Why I get this question around potty training.What I mean by "punishment". What we are supposed to do...

Is your dog trying to dominate you?  The short answer is no, they are not.  And though that might not come as a surprise to you, what isn't always clear is why it's not true.  Especially because this theory that dogs want to dominate us or some dogs are more "dominate" than others still comes up a lot in dog training. That's why I want to talk about where this dominance and alpha theory came from, how it's been debunked, and why it still persists even though we now know better. I believe this information is important because helps us bette...

If you have a dog that refuses to go outside in the rain. you know how annoying and time consuming it is.  It's even worse when you're trying to potty train a young puppy that isn't going to hold it until it stops raining.  For most dogs they will learn to tolerate it but for others it may always be a struggle. We know we should stay positive to try and change their association but when you've been outside for the 10th time in the rain and they still haven't gone it's hard not to let that frustration show through. Diff...

Teaching your dog to wear a muzzle might not be something that you have thought of.  Muzzles have a bad rap and a lot of times we think of them as a last resort type of tool.  Where muzzles can benefit us and our pups in a lot of ways.Muzzle training our dog entails exposing our dogs to wearing a muzzle in a positive, stress-free way (see resources below on how to do this).  That way when we find ourselves in a situation where one may be necessary our dog already knows the drill.  And when we take away that...

Socialization is the most important training you can do for your puppy.  It's also the most overlooked and misunderstood part of your puppy's training.When done correctly as a puppy, socialization creates a confident, well adjusted dog.  And who doesn't want that for their puppy?  I've gathered the 4 most common misconceptions about socialization to help you better understand what socialization is all about.Each topic has it's own podcast episode where you can learn even more.  As always, the resources I talk about in this episode are listed all below. In this episode I talk about:What socialization is. How sociali...

Is your dog trying to dominate you?  The short answer is no, they are not.  And though that might not come as a surprise to you, what isn't always clear is why it's not true.  Especially because this theory that dogs want to dominate us or some dogs are more "dominate" than others still comes up a lot in dog training. That's why I want to talk about where this dominance and alpha theory came from, how it's been debunked, and why it still persists even though we now know better. I believe this information is important because helps us bette...

Potty training can be overwhelming.  The good news is, one of the first things we can check off the list is getting our puppy to sleep through the night.   Potty training overnight is a little different than during the day.  Even though they can hold it longer overnight, they still aren't going to make more than 4 hours or so at first.   Our goal is to take them out as little as possible while still minimizing the risk for accidents.  I give you the steps to make this happen. I've seen puppies as young as 10 weeks sleep through the night but most wi...

Potty training can be overwhelming.  The good news is, one of the first things we can check off the list is getting our puppy to sleep through the night.  Potty training overnight is a little different than during the day.  Even though they can hold it longer overnight, they still aren't going to make more than 4 hours or so at first.  Our goal is to take them out as little as possible while still minimizing the risk for accidents.  I give you the steps to make this happen.I've seen puppies as young as 10 weeks sleep through the night but most wi...

When we thing of what our dog's walk should look like we think of them walking by our side without being distracted by anything and only sniffing when we say it's ok.   Spoiler alert!  There is NO "should". I'm here to let you off the hook.  Your walk doesn't have to be perfect.  As long as your dog is 6 feet from you, you and your dog are enjoying the walk, and everyone around you is safe, then I don't care what your walk looks like.  No we don't want them dragging us down the street (then we wouldn't be enjoying the w...

When we thing of what our dog's walk should look like we think of them walking by our side without being distracted by anything and only sniffing when we say it's ok.   Spoiler alert!  There is NO "should". I'm here to let you off the hook.  Your walk doesn't have to be perfect.  As long as your dog is 6 feet from you, you and your dog are enjoying the walk, and everyone around you is safe, then I don't care what your walk looks like.  No we don't want them dragging us down the street (then we wouldn't be enjoying the w...

A microchip is a tiny device that is placed below your pet's skin.  It has a unique 15 digit code that you register along with your contact information.  This way if your pet ever gets lost, shelters, veterinarians, police stations, and others can scan the microchip and access your contact info and help return your pet to you.   Think of it like a tag that can't get lost or fall off.   Microchipping your dog is a pretty standard and safe practice nowadays.  Most breeders and rescues automatically chip their dogs before sending them to their forever homes.   In certain place like the UK...

When we thing of what our dog's walk "should" look like we think of them walking by our side without being distracted by anything and only sniffing when we say it's ok.   I'm here to let you off the hook.  As long as your dog is 6 feet from you, you and your dog are enjoying the walk, and everyone around you is safe, then I don't care what your walk looks like.  ​ In this episode I talk about: What my rules for what your dog's walk should look like. What my rules aren't.  Why every dog should know "heel". Why I encou...

Most of the time we want to use the cue "off" to tell our dogs to "get down".  For example, when they  jump on us or our guests or when they jump on the table or counter.   I have nothing against teaching this cue, I just approach it in a different way.  If we think about it, what we really want to teach our dog not to jump up.  So, if we need to use the word "off"  that means they're already preforming the behavior we don't want.  BUT if we teach our dog a habit of keeping four paws on the g...

Potty training is hard.  It can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months.  Even then you can still have a random accident here and there up to a year.  It's a process that we can't rush our puppy through.  We can set them up for success as much as we can but it usually takes as long as it takes.    If you've been    It can be very disheartening especially when the kids don't want to play with the puppy anymore.   That's why I'm giving you my three favorite games that I teach my clients to help with a nipping puppy. Each one is des...

Nipping is one of the biggest struggles every puppy parent goes through.   It can be very disheartening especially when the kids don't want to play with the puppy anymore.   That's why I'm giving you my three favorite games that I teach my clients to help with a nipping puppy. Each one is designed to give you a way to interact and play with your puppy while keeping sharp teach away from sensitive fingers. Each of these games are great for kids and adults.  In this episode I talk about: Why puppies nip and bite. To prevent nipping it's sometimes about chan...

A strong recall is one of the most important behaviors your dog can have. That is why I wanted to replay this episode about how to get a stronger recall.   This is a special training that I do inside my digital products (YOUR Perfect Puppy and Playtime Paws Academy) I talk about how I approach recall as a habit that you and your dog need to develop (not just a command to teach).   This part is overlooked so often when teaching recall I wanted to replay this episode once again to make sure that you get to listen.  If you hav...

A lot of new puppy owners wonder if it's OK to use a pen in addition to or instead of a crate.   The idea of giving your puppy or young dog room to move around and play is a very appealing one.  BUT there are some drawbacks to giving them this extra space.  A emphasize using the crate because I believe it is an essential tool to have throughout your dog's life.  A pen can be an extra accessory but we have to make sure that we are using it correctly. In this episode I talk about: The biggest difference betwe...

Every dog needs a collar and leash.  There are many options out there so let's talk about them. Each of these tools has it's advantages and disadvantages and there's no one perfect solution that works for every dog. In part one I talked about the different types of leashes.    In this episode (part two) I talk about the most common types of collars and harnesses that are available. I also share my recommendations and which ones I think you should avoid.  By the end you'll have a better idea of what will work for you and your dog.  Here are the d...