Anonymous wrote:I wish I would have learned to do my dogs nails from the start and gotten her used to me doing it. Just buy your own dremel and teach yourself to do it and train your dog to be fine with it. Beats having to take them to get their nails done, and having to pay for it, and putting them through the anxiety of it.

+1 It's fine to outsource these tasks later on, but it's your job to train your dog to sit quietly for nail trimmings, ear cleanings, anal gland expressing (if needed), etc.

crate train your dog. It's not cruel, it's smart. They like their little "den" and will feel safe there. It uses their instincts to help with potty training; they don't want to soil their den. Straight from the crate to outside, give them a command to do business, treat them if they go. If not, back to crate and try again in 15 minutes. This is a lot of work for a week or two, and makes the next 2-3 years SO much easier!

Never let puppy out of your sight. If they're not in their crate, they're with you. If you want them to move through the house with you, get a waist leash or a leash that clips to your belt. If you're not actively supervising, pup is in its crate. Preventing bad behaviors (peeing inside, chewing shoes, etc.) is so much easier for you and the dog than correcting bad behaviors that have already happened. Set yourself and your dog up for success!

Also: frozen washcloths for when those puppy teeth start falling out. Soak them in water or unsalted, allium-free bone broth. Your dog will thank you.

Thanks all! Good stuff.

Anonymous wrote:It's really worth it to put in the work at the beginning WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY. We watched the Masterclass videos on it together and it was so helpful to have everyone on board.

Knowing the basics on how to train is invaluable

Socializing the first 8 weeks you have the puppy is critical. My doodle could easily be yippy and anxious and annoying around people but the socialization we did prevented all that. It was COVID so we actually dropped her at Woofs! in Arlington and they did group stuff with them, like walking on different surfaces, hearing different sounds, being around other dogs. I had no idea how important that would be and don't think I would have known to do any of it.

+1 We did a great job training the Covid puppy and he knows a million commands. We didn’t do the best job exposing him to lots of things (sounds, surfaces, different people, balloons, hats, etc.) and I wish we would have.

Someone on here once said that puppies combine the neediness of an infant with the destructiveness of a toddler. Most apt description ever.

That they are like infants and the first few weeks are horrible. They need to go out every hour, they cry at night, you will need a dog walker.

Anonymous wrote:You need much more patience than you realize. Puppies are wonderful but so much work. Don’t forget they’re babies, so they can’t be expected to listen right away. They also need to be taken out for bathroom breaks often.

+1000

And it is exhausting. Very worth it in the long run, but hard.

I wish I would have learned to do my dogs nails from the start and gotten her used to me doing it. Just buy your own dremel and teach yourself to do it and train your dog to be fine with it. Beats having to take them to get their nails done, and having to pay for it, and putting them through the anxiety of it.

It's really worth it to put in the work at the beginning WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY. We watched the Masterclass videos on it together and it was so helpful to have everyone on board.

Knowing the basics on how to train is invaluable

Socializing the first 8 weeks you have the puppy is critical. My doodle could easily be yippy and anxious and annoying around people but the socialization we did prevented all that. It was COVID so we actually dropped her at Woofs! in Arlington and they did group stuff with them, like walking on different surfaces, hearing different sounds, being around other dogs. I had no idea how important that would be and don't think I would have known to do any of it.

Puppies are babies, and adult dogs are basically toddlers in terms of intellect. They don't understand your words or why you want the things you want. Create situations for them to succeed at what you want (peeing outside, coming when called, etc) instead of being mad they don't get it.

Also, a well trained and well socialized dog is a joy for life but you have to put in the work early. Don't give up.

The toll they will take on your floors. The wood will get scratched and the carpets dirty.

Too much work. I wish we hadn't gotten ours. Watch all the training videos. There are also a ton of videos about what to do to prep for a puppy, its first 24 hours with you, its first week, etc. Watch all of them.

You need much more patience than you realize. Puppies are wonderful but so much work. Don’t forget they’re babies, so they can’t be expected to listen right away. They also need to be taken out for bathroom breaks often.

You’ll need to let the out to pee a lot more than you’d expect. They’re also sharks and will play bite you every chance they get.

I'm getting an 8-week-old puppy in a week. What do you wish you would have known or did when you first got your puppy? Any tips for me?