Puppy Prep Checklist
Puppies bring great joy and connection to our lives. In all the excitement of considering a new puppy, it is important to keep one foot grounded in reality to be prepared for a journey with your dog that can last 15 years or more. If you are thinking about getting a puppy, please think through the following questions and then enjoy some of Susan Garrett’s puppy training videos to guide you as you keep the big picture of Puppy Parenting in view.
Have you fully considered the investment of time, money, attention, and dedication it takes to help a baby develop into the well-mannered, healthy, adult dog you are dreaming of?
Do you have the proper environment to raise a puppy? (Do you have enough space for safe exercise and enrichment? Are your children properly trained and prepared to handle a puppy safely? Are your other pets accepting of puppies? Does your job allow you the time needed to get a puppy through the potty training and adolescent stages?)
Are you educated about the phases of puppy behavior and development that may not be all butterflies and rainbows? (potty training, mouthing, puppy biting, teething, separation development, drive and impulse control, adolescence and fear periods, puberty) Have you prepared with the best resources to help you get through those stages?
When your puppy is struggling to have clarity about your rules and expectations, are you willing to have the patience, adaptability and commitment to work through those stages without giving up on the puppy or blaming it on genetics?
Do you truly understand the temperament, drives, exercise requirements and sensitivities of a herding breed?
Collies are wonderful companions and life with them can be very rewarding, but it doesn’t happen by accident. If you are considering a puppy for your family, please take a few moments to go through some of Susan’s videos to help you have a clear picture of some of the joys and challenges of bringing a puppy into your home.
Great information about the impact a new puppy has in your life and the impact you have on the life of that puppy.
10 Common mistakes people make with a puppy.
Potty Training your puppy.
Susan has several videos dealing with puppy biting and bite inhibition. Search her site at Dogsthat.com for more.
If you are a first time dog owner this video will give you an overview of some training issues that may come up in dog partnership. But the great news is, for every issue there is a solution to help the dog overcome it. The important thing is to be sure you are invested in working through these types of things with your dog.
You can find an extensive list of puppy prep videos on Susan’s page here. Puppy Essentials with Susan Garrett Dog Training - YouTube