So, you finally decided to get a new puppy. When you first bring him home, he's very quiet and seems to be unsure of what to do. You think - "This little fella is an owners dream! He doesn't chew, he doesn't bark and he's so cute and cuddly. And just like a new baby, he seams to sleep alot." Then a few days go by and he gets used to the household and boy do things change!

He went from a cute, cuddly litte baby to an out of control deamon! What happened? He's chewing on everything, barking and nipping the kids and can't seam to stop running around the house! The kids are afraid of him and won't go near him. (It's them you got this dog for, isn't it?)

O.K. calm down. Let's learn what your puppy needs and what to do about it.

A list of things to have before bringing puppy home:

• A Crate
• Chew Toys
• Grooming Aids (brush, comb, shampoo)
• Leash and collar
• Food bowls
• Contact with a good Veterinarian

Dog Training Advice

Training your puppy to use a crate is an important step, because it can be used to help potty train, give him a safe place to retreat to, keep him safe when there is no one home or when taking him in the car.

Getting your puppy used to his crate is the first step. Let him go in and out with the door open, so he can smell it and know that it is a safe place. Put some of his toys inside and if he has a blanket, you could put that in as well. Once he is used to it, you can put him in the crate when you need to leave the house, or at night. He might cry the first few nights, but should quickly calm down after a night or two. Don't abuse the crate, though, and lock him in it every chance you get.

A crate is like a den to your puppy and he will come to view it as his own place to go when he doesn't want to be bothered. It is important then, that nobody does bother him and that everyone leave him alone when he is in it.

Is your puppy chewing on everything in site? Well, just like teething babies need to mouth a teething ring, so does your puppy. Give him lots of puppy safe toys to chew. Nylon bones and 'Kong' toys are best. You can try soft sheepskin toys, but some puppies will tear these apart. It's best to stay away from anything with a bell inside or squeaker, because these can be torn apart and the inside eaten. Rope toys work well also.

If chewing on furniture is a problem, try "bitter apple", which comes in a spray to apply to table legs and any parts of furniture you don't want them to eat.

Never give a puppy any personal items to chew on, such as an old shoe or sock, unless you want him to chew on the new ones as well, A puppy won't know the difference between old and new.

Training a puppy to go outside is a very important step to keeping the sanity in a household. There is nothing more frustrating than stepping in wet puddles. This is why it is best to get a puppy if someone is able to be home with him during the day. A puppy who sits in a crate or kitchen all day, can't be expected to 'hold it' till someone comes home and will have a harder time learning to go outside if there is no one to let him out.

One of the easiest ways to house train is to keep a consistent schedule for times to eat. That way you will start to know how soon after he eats, he will have to go outside. Also keep an eye on the times he drinks water, because this too, will determine the need to go outside. Regular walks will reinforce the habit of going outside, as will lots of praise when he does what is expected.

Nightime can be a challenge, but I have a little trick to making it easier. If you use a crate, lots of times the crate is too big for a puppy, but you want it to be large enough for when he grows up. Because of the extra room in the crate, this gives him a big enough area to eliminate on one side and leave him room to sleep on the other side. You need to make the space small enough, that he no longer has that big, empty space. No dog likes to lay in their own poop. Use an empty cardboard box or a plastic tub to fill this space, so he has just enough room to comfortably turn around. Do this until he learns to 'hold it' overnight.

What if your puppy jumps on everyone and can't stop nipping? These are annoying habits that need to be addressed. If you let this go on, you will have an unhappy family and everyone will be afraid to be near the puppy.

Actually jumping up can be solved quite easily, because it is usually the owner who encourages this. After coming home, does your puppy get excited when you walk in the door and do you immediately go to him and let him jump and lick you all over? If you are like most people, the answer is yes. After all you love him and haven't seen him for awhile, so are excited at being together again. Don't do this! You are encouraging a bad habit. He will begin to think that this is good behavior and will jump on every visitor that comes in.

Instead, when you come into the house, ignore him. If he jumps up at you, just walk by and don't even look at him. After he calms down, then go to him and pet him. If he starts to get excited again, walk away. Do this over and over until your puppy gets the message that you will only pay attention to him, if he is being quiet. Also, when you do go to him, get down to his level or he will be tempted to jump up to yours.

This works with nipping as well. Same advice. When playing with your puppy and he starts to nip, immediately say "no" and stop playing. After a while he will understand that he gets to play only if he doesn't nip. Make sure though that you are providing plenty of chew toys, because nipping can be caused by teething. If this doesn't work, your puppy might be overly aggressive and may need professional help. See your veterinarian.

As your puppy grows, he will benefit greatly with daily exercise sessions. Take him for a walk, toss a ball or run around the backyard. 10-15 minutes of play, a few times a day, is enough for a small puppy. As he gets older, regular exercise will make him tired and better behaved. But when you have a new puppy, don't over-exercise and exhaust him. And don't exercise a dog right after he eats or drinks. This could cause bloating and serious complications.

The most important thing when training your puppy is to give lots and lots of praise. Hugs and kisses go a long way, even with our small furry freinds. If you take the time to teach and praise your puppy from the time he is small, he will grow to be one of the best freinds you ever had. He will be loyal, trusting and most of all, love you back!

Teach your puppy how to behave and he will reward you with a lifetime of love.