Setting up a family meeting
Set your puppy up for success
Having a family meeting with everyone who lives in your home to discuss roles and rules for the puppy is a great idea. This sets your puppy up for success.
Puppies need consistency so it will be important that everyone in the home understands the rules and roles that they will play in the daily lives and training of the puppy.
Things to discuss are…
- Where will the puppy eat?
- Who will feed and water the puppy?
- Where will the puppy sleep?
- When will bedtime for the puppy be?
- What are the routines before going to bed?
- Where will the puppy pen be set up?
- When will the puppy be in the pen?
- What is the potty routine for the puppy?
- What areas in the house or yard are off-limits for the puppy?
- Once the puppy is fully vaccinated, who will walk the dog?
- What commands do you plan to train the dog to? These will be specific words.
- Who will be in charge of cleaning up messes?
- Who will be in charge of grooming and how often do you plan to groom?
- What will their daily routine look like?
Other things to discuss might include:
- Training techniques like using positive reinforcement and a clicker or a verbal marker
- The fact that no one is allowed to hit the puppy or drag the puppy around on a leash
- How to work on manners like manding (sitting) when they greet a person or want something
- How high-energy activities will make the puppy hyper.
- The fact that puppies can not be fed table scraps.
- Chasing a puppy that has something in its mouth like a sock will only make the puppy think that a sock is a valuable object.
- Resource guarding and how to work on it
- Reduced playing on vaccination days because the puppy may be sore, tired, and not feel well
- How to handle puppy biting and nipping
I know that this is a long list of things to consider but I will be sending you weekly emails to help address many of these items. As you receive these emails, read through them and work on getting a plan together that fits your family and schedule.
Other resources that can be helpful include
- Our Buyers Resource area of our website
- Zak George videos on YouTube
- Baxter & Bella’s online Dog Training
I know that this is a long list of things to consider but I will be sending you weekly emails to help address many of these items. As you receive these emails, read through them and work on getting a plan together that fits your family and schedule.
Other resources that can be helpful include:
- Our Buyers Resource area of our website
- Zak George videos on YouTube
- Baxter & Bella’s online Dog Training
It will probably be best to set this meeting up the week prior to your puppy’s arrival so that it will be fresh in everyone’s mind and you will have plenty of time to get your plan together.
