Awwwwww……..it’s so cute, cuddly, sweet, little, fuzzy, precious!! Although such may be true, the fact is that your puppy also poses some very REAL challenges. To put matters into perspective, a puppy is a living, breathing bundle of variety. As with any living thing, a puppy has a mind of its own and with that mind it is prone to independent thinking. For the owner, some of the behavior that results from the independent thinker-the puppy- can be favorably amusing. However, some of the behavior, on the opposite end of the spectrum, can be frustrating, annoying, and exhausting.

When purchasing your puppy, you no doubt envisioned a life filled with years of joy, countless hours of fun, loving companionship, and numerous moments of bonding-pleasantries, pleasantries, pleasantries! No doubt, in time, you received an undeniable knock at the front door, better known as a REALITY CHECK.

While your puppy has no doubt been the well-packaged bundle of excitement and pleasure that you desired, your puppy has also been a source of irritation at times. The goal of every responsible pet owner should be to enable their pet to live its best life possible; thereby, creating an environment in which a pet can thrive and evolve into a civil and temperamentally sound member of both a family and a society. Responsible puppy ownership is primarily about addressing and supplying the constant needs of a puppy in a manner that promotes the internal and external well-being of the canine as it grows. A balanced life for the owner and the pet is what leads to a satisfying life-long bond with your canine companion.

While a puppy is young and tender, it is an ideal time to introduce a word, a concept, a practice hat makes an environment more civil and more peaceable-TRAINING. Through training, you feed an innate desire within your puppy to please its caring owner. A puppy, like children, solicits affectionate attention, commendation, and constant validation of love. A puppy wants to know that it creates happiness in your life. It is a commonly accepted opinion that one of the greatest joys in life is derived from having children that are well disciplined and respects authority. The same principle applies to owning a puppy. Having a well-trained canine companion will add an enjoyment to virtually any environment. Remember, “mans best friend” is loyal and loyalty is a quality that is driven by obedience which can only be achieved through proper canine training.

Canine puppy training is a form of communication because it establishes understanding between a puppy and its owner. When expectations are set, then all parties involved, although of a different species, operate within their roles in such a way that leads to satisfying coexistence.

Aim for healthy emotional and physical prosperity for your puppy and your family. A well-trained dog is a reflection of the type of owner it has so provide your puppy with what it needs to represent you well!