Trimming Toenails And More: Getting your pup used to all the aspects of basic grooming can save a lot of time and frustration down the road. Wrestling with an eighty pound dog who doesn't want his toenails trimmed or ears cleaned is not a pleasant experience for you or your dog. Most pups can be taught to easily accept these routine grooming procedures. Start with gentle, short sessions. Get him used to having his toes handled before attempting to cut any nails. After he tolerates having his feet and toes handled, you can clip one or two toenails. Just cut the tip so the nail is no longer touching the ground. Over several sessions you can work up to trimming all nails at once. Brushing your dog can help decrease shedding and mats and keeps the coat healthy. A lot of dogs enjoy being brushed. Brushing teeth and cleaning ears are also important things to get him accustomed to. Ask your veterinarian during your first puppy exam to demonstrate how.
Unwanted Puppy Behavior: A lot of normal behaviors in the dog world are not appropriate for interactions with their human counterparts. Teach your puppy that behaviors such as biting and jumping up are not allowed. These actions may be cute and harmless when he is little, but the biting may lead to injury and the jumping can lead to soiled or torn clothes. Also, children and elderly people can be easily knocked down by a dog who jumps. Teach him that when he chews on your fingers or jumps up on you that this is the end of play. Walking away from your pup or turning around will often stop the behavior. If done consistently, he will realize that this behavior results in an end to the fun. Asking your pup to sit when he jumps up can also help. If he is sitting, he cannot jump. Giving him a chew toy when he is trying to chew on your fingers teaches him what types of things are appropriate to chew on.
Exercise And Play: Last but not least, an active dog is a happy dog, so make a point of engaging him in some physical activity every day. Tying him out on a leash is not an appropriate form of excercise. Take him on walks, throw a ball, play frisbee, or go for a swim. Mental stimulation is important too, so let him explore and sniff his environment, or teach him some new tricks. Most local shelters offer puppy classes, which can help both you and your new puppy with all these essential aspects of obedience training. Most puppies love these classes, which can also be a valuable means of socialization.
