Your new Puppy
First of all lets introduce your new puppy and talk about what may not be so obvious with all the exitement (especially if you have young children!) First of all it will be vital to have a retreat for your puppy to retire to that they will consider their own and that no one will disturb them whilst they are in there,this can be a warm and cosy corner or even a makeshift cardboard box kennel in the kitchen.Your puppy needs about 18 hours a day to sleep undisturbed and should be left alone whilst slumbering otherwise you will end up with a "nutty"bulldog which will always be jumping up at the slightest noise and will never settle down in later life.This will probably be the hardest thing to do if you have children as they won`t understand to start with.What we will do in the next few paragraphs is explain how your puppies mind works.we would always advise that you purchase a folding crate for your puppy to sleep in at night,it should be large enough for a bed and toilet area,this will also double as a secure place to put your puppy should you leave him alone for a while to go shopping etc so he/she cannot hurt himself whilst you are not there,it also helps to stop chewing...
always bear in mind your puppy is just that, and as such needs to be taught in the most loving and patient way possible.....contrary to watching training programs on tv it is not possible to train a puppy in 3 days... the treat system is a very good way for a puppy to learn that good behaviour is rewarded with a treat....
Your puppies outlook
Your puppy has known nothing else apart from it`s litter mates and probably the 4 sides of the whelping box so the big outside world is terrifying for it so the first thing on arrival home should be introducing them to what will be their "castle"that we spoke of above which will need to be warm and cosy and feel safe like the home they have been used to up until now.A good way to help with this is to plan well in advance and decide on the best place for them rather than to keep moving the bed around afterwards..A very good way to help them settle in is to bring the smells of home with them,simply take 3 new tea towels with you when you collect the puppy and also a "safe" puppy sized soft toy(no eyes or buttons etc)..we would then place these in the whelping box for 1/2 hour for the puppies to play with and so leave their smell on them for when you set off home..Your puppy will feel much better on their first night with familiar smell around them..after the first 2-3 nights you should be able to remove them
Play
A puppy must have a certain amount of time to "play" with members of the house,he/she needs this almost as much as they need their food! The best things are the usual rope toys etc and also balls to chase remembering that they must be too big for your puppy to get lodged in their mouth.A football has always been popular with ours. As a matter of course try to explain to all concerned that it is important for your puppy to "win" and take their prize back to their bed to play with alone aftrewards otherwise they will soon learn not to bother playing at all and turn with age into old "grumps" that won`t have any fun..the point you will be getting across to your puppy is that you are choosing to give them the toy at the end of play time and not because they are the strongest..It is perfectly normal behaviour whilst still a puppy to bite toes/fingers/socks/shoes and anything else that is a moving target,over time as his/her new mum or dad with patience and understanding it is your job to imprint on their minds what is or isn't acceptable behaviour,a puppy is not born with this information and without their mother or litter mates they have to learn it from you,this will not happen over night and all puppies regardless of sex or breed will do this..the thing to remember is that to your puppy everything is a game and the way to stop anything you don't approve of is to provide a better game instead...a very good way to put a puppy off certain behaviour is to make a shaker with a lidded tin and a few spoonfuls of dried peas..when your puppy tries to chew your sock or shoe give the tin a little shake near it's head and it should let go and think about it...this will give you time to replace your sock with a toy of choice.....please also bear in mind that even if you provide dozens of toys they are no substitute for you actually playing with your puppy and they will always return to the "pack leader" for reassurance and play...
Other Household Pets
Whilst very young your puppy will see anything that moves within reach as a play mate,this will include your yorkshire terrier right up to a german shepard...he/she will not be bothered by size or shape,even a cat will do to play chase with..Normally the dominant established animal will assert their claim on the territory and the puppy will simply accept this over time...however,all puppies play as part of their daily activities and if you have an older pet sharing the kitchen? with your new puppy you may need to provide for instance a doorway stair gate to allow your existing pet a little space and peace for a while if your puppy gets boistrous...as your puppy ages he will slowly start to prefer other things to do instead of playing chase etc...established pets should be introduced over a period of time and not just left with your new puppy as they seemed ok to start with..
Puppies food
A brief note about your new arrivals food..do not try to change the food the breeder has been using for at least 2 weeks to allow them to settle in.there are varied opinions to timing but 2 weeks should be fine...Should you try to save a few pennies you`ll only regret it later as your puppy is going to grow very fast and it is vital they get the best nutrition available...most breeders will include a quantity of the puppies normal food when you collect them
Toilet training
Toilet training is a minefield of well meaning advice so here is the method and explanation as to why we advise to do it this way.Firstly your puppy has no idea as to the fact that you don`t want them to go on the floor and has to go about once an hour (tinkle) and slightly less often (poop) he/she has no control over this properly until about 14-16 weeks of age just like any other puppy...The best way is to take advantage of what nature has built into their minds and that is not to soil either on or near the bed place or near their food...If you have placed their bed in a nice corner bear this in mind as so many times in the past you hear of people struggling to toilet train only to find that the food and water bowls have been put next to the back door-the very back door you will be wanting them to go out of to "go potty" .You`ll want to arrange things to have a natural distance from the bed place with the food/water bowls a few feet from this and leave a clear path to the door with your newspapers etc...During the warmer months the back door can be left open and he/she will go out of her own accord once used to the idea..Always remember that your puppy Will wee and poop during the night as they cannot hold themselves and simply have to go,you are aiming for them to use the newspaper area until they can go through the night so don`t try to explain this to them in the morning as it`s way too late for that....
Biting
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! never ever leave any child unattended with any puppy of any breed and do not put very young children on the floor with them..we hear stories of people angry on the telephone to breeders saying they have been sold an aggressive puppy..there is no such thing as an aggressive puppy,aggression comes from several months of bad treatment and enviroment and is the fault of the owner,the puppy is only doing what comes naturally in that his/her litter mates are not there so any new moving target to play with and chase will do..very young puppies WILL without exception bite whilst playing regardless of how soft they look when taken home and put in an unfamiliar enviroment,after a few days to settle in they will resume doing what comes naturally to any puppy,it is your responsibility to take all possible precautions in your home before you bring your puppy home...over time they outgrow this behaviour..the best place for a new puppy is in your kitchen with a mesh stairgate in the doorway,this way they can see you but small hands cannot go through any bars and get nibbled.you should not allow your puppy into your living room/lounge until they are house trained as accidents on your carpet can lead to long term soiling problems..a good piece of advice is that young children wear their wellington boots in the kitchen whilst the puppy is very young when playing with it,without any laces to pull at they soon get bored and go back to their toys....
Your puppy can only express themselves and explore their world with their mouth..we always advise people to choose a rope toy or similar for each family member and that each time the puppy wants to play with their needle sharp teeth on you,simply swap for the toy..should the puppy go back to you for another bite stand up and walk away so that there is no reward for the wrong behaviour..We have had a hard time in the past explaing to our children that if you just push away or climb on a chair or say "no" it won`t make any difference to your puppy as they see it as an invitation to do it more as they see it as a game of chase..The best advice for any training for your puppy is that no means no without exceptions as if one family member for instance allows shoe biting how will the puppy work out that she can`t do it with anyone else? A puppy should always see you as the dominant member of the "pack" so when you scold them for bad behaviour look as big as possible by leaning over them when scolding,your puppy should take a couple of steps back and then possibly lay on their side showing submission to you..He/she will probably bark at you in defiance as well but don`t be tempted to smile or show forgiveness to them..Bulldogs are as stubborn as the day is long so it is a matter of wills and you must win on this one otherwise you will not enjoy your dog as you should..never never smack a puppy,if you need a good deterrent a wet tea towel flicked against the kitchen floor makes a great noise to back up a firm "NO" to scold behaviour should you really need to...the problem nowadays is that we live in the quick fix era and people think a puppy can be trained almost overnight and don`t understand the concept of training at all..
Lead Training
This a very important piece,under NO circumstances should you attempt during normal daily life to walk your bulldog on a collar and lead unless your dog is trained for the show ring..A bulldogs throat can be crushed with a normal collar so for normal walking always use a harness...there are many types available so go for the one that is most comfortable for your dog and yourself...Along with this use a short ,perhaps 18" lead attatched to it ...never never never use any type of choke chain as you can do your dog serious harm possibly even fatal....you will also have far more control over your dog with a harness....As with all dog training,look up your local training classes where experienced trainers can advise how best to train your dog....They are not as expensive as you may think,our local class charged a mere £25 for an 8 week course for 1/2 hour a week for puppies so it`s not expensive and your puppy will benefit from the socialisation with other dogs and people as well.Also regardless of what some may say,whilst bulldogs are stubborn with patience and the reward training system any dog should be able to achieve the k.c bronze level of obedience.
Always remember that you should not try to make your bulldog into something they are not as you will only end up creating a situation where your dog will not want to come near you for fear they will have to do whatever it is again. Enjoy training each other ! and a good point to make is that there is no such thing as a bad dog,they are made into those by their owners
First of all lets introduce your new puppy and talk about what may not be so obvious with all the exitement (especially if you have young children!) First of all it will be vital to have a retreat for your puppy to retire to that they will consider their own and that no one will disturb them whilst they are in there,this can be a warm and cosy corner or even a makeshift cardboard box kennel in the kitchen.Your puppy needs about 18 hours a day to sleep undisturbed and should be left alone whilst slumbering otherwise you will end up with a "nutty"bulldog which will always be jumping up at the slightest noise and will never settle down in later life.This will probably be the hardest thing to do if you have children as they won`t understand to start with.What we will do in the next few paragraphs is explain how your puppies mind works.we would always advise that you purchase a folding crate for your puppy to sleep in at night,it should be large enough for a bed and toilet area,this will also double as a secure place to put your puppy should you leave him alone for a while to go shopping etc so he/she cannot hurt himself whilst you are not there,it also helps to stop chewing...
always bear in mind your puppy is just that, and as such needs to be taught in the most loving and patient way possible.....contrary to watching training programs on tv it is not possible to train a puppy in 3 days... the treat system is a very good way for a puppy to learn that good behaviour is rewarded with a treat....
Your puppies outlook
Your puppy has known nothing else apart from it`s litter mates and probably the 4 sides of the whelping box so the big outside world is terrifying for it so the first thing on arrival home should be introducing them to what will be their "castle"that we spoke of above which will need to be warm and cosy and feel safe like the home they have been used to up until now.A good way to help with this is to plan well in advance and decide on the best place for them rather than to keep moving the bed around afterwards..A very good way to help them settle in is to bring the smells of home with them,simply take 3 new tea towels with you when you collect the puppy and also a "safe" puppy sized soft toy(no eyes or buttons etc)..we would then place these in the whelping box for 1/2 hour for the puppies to play with and so leave their smell on them for when you set off home..Your puppy will feel much better on their first night with familiar smell around them..after the first 2-3 nights you should be able to remove them
Play
A puppy must have a certain amount of time to "play" with members of the house,he/she needs this almost as much as they need their food! The best things are the usual rope toys etc and also balls to chase remembering that they must be too big for your puppy to get lodged in their mouth.A football has always been popular with ours. As a matter of course try to explain to all concerned that it is important for your puppy to "win" and take their prize back to their bed to play with alone aftrewards otherwise they will soon learn not to bother playing at all and turn with age into old "grumps" that won`t have any fun..the point you will be getting across to your puppy is that you are choosing to give them the toy at the end of play time and not because they are the strongest..It is perfectly normal behaviour whilst still a puppy to bite toes/fingers/socks/shoes and anything else that is a moving target,over time as his/her new mum or dad with patience and understanding it is your job to imprint on their minds what is or isn't acceptable behaviour,a puppy is not born with this information and without their mother or litter mates they have to learn it from you,this will not happen over night and all puppies regardless of sex or breed will do this..the thing to remember is that to your puppy everything is a game and the way to stop anything you don't approve of is to provide a better game instead...a very good way to put a puppy off certain behaviour is to make a shaker with a lidded tin and a few spoonfuls of dried peas..when your puppy tries to chew your sock or shoe give the tin a little shake near it's head and it should let go and think about it...this will give you time to replace your sock with a toy of choice.....please also bear in mind that even if you provide dozens of toys they are no substitute for you actually playing with your puppy and they will always return to the "pack leader" for reassurance and play...
Other Household Pets
Whilst very young your puppy will see anything that moves within reach as a play mate,this will include your yorkshire terrier right up to a german shepard...he/she will not be bothered by size or shape,even a cat will do to play chase with..Normally the dominant established animal will assert their claim on the territory and the puppy will simply accept this over time...however,all puppies play as part of their daily activities and if you have an older pet sharing the kitchen? with your new puppy you may need to provide for instance a doorway stair gate to allow your existing pet a little space and peace for a while if your puppy gets boistrous...as your puppy ages he will slowly start to prefer other things to do instead of playing chase etc...established pets should be introduced over a period of time and not just left with your new puppy as they seemed ok to start with..
Puppies food
A brief note about your new arrivals food..do not try to change the food the breeder has been using for at least 2 weeks to allow them to settle in.there are varied opinions to timing but 2 weeks should be fine...Should you try to save a few pennies you`ll only regret it later as your puppy is going to grow very fast and it is vital they get the best nutrition available...most breeders will include a quantity of the puppies normal food when you collect them
Toilet training
Toilet training is a minefield of well meaning advice so here is the method and explanation as to why we advise to do it this way.Firstly your puppy has no idea as to the fact that you don`t want them to go on the floor and has to go about once an hour (tinkle) and slightly less often (poop) he/she has no control over this properly until about 14-16 weeks of age just like any other puppy...The best way is to take advantage of what nature has built into their minds and that is not to soil either on or near the bed place or near their food...If you have placed their bed in a nice corner bear this in mind as so many times in the past you hear of people struggling to toilet train only to find that the food and water bowls have been put next to the back door-the very back door you will be wanting them to go out of to "go potty" .You`ll want to arrange things to have a natural distance from the bed place with the food/water bowls a few feet from this and leave a clear path to the door with your newspapers etc...During the warmer months the back door can be left open and he/she will go out of her own accord once used to the idea..Always remember that your puppy Will wee and poop during the night as they cannot hold themselves and simply have to go,you are aiming for them to use the newspaper area until they can go through the night so don`t try to explain this to them in the morning as it`s way too late for that....
Biting
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! never ever leave any child unattended with any puppy of any breed and do not put very young children on the floor with them..we hear stories of people angry on the telephone to breeders saying they have been sold an aggressive puppy..there is no such thing as an aggressive puppy,aggression comes from several months of bad treatment and enviroment and is the fault of the owner,the puppy is only doing what comes naturally in that his/her litter mates are not there so any new moving target to play with and chase will do..very young puppies WILL without exception bite whilst playing regardless of how soft they look when taken home and put in an unfamiliar enviroment,after a few days to settle in they will resume doing what comes naturally to any puppy,it is your responsibility to take all possible precautions in your home before you bring your puppy home...over time they outgrow this behaviour..the best place for a new puppy is in your kitchen with a mesh stairgate in the doorway,this way they can see you but small hands cannot go through any bars and get nibbled.you should not allow your puppy into your living room/lounge until they are house trained as accidents on your carpet can lead to long term soiling problems..a good piece of advice is that young children wear their wellington boots in the kitchen whilst the puppy is very young when playing with it,without any laces to pull at they soon get bored and go back to their toys....
Your puppy can only express themselves and explore their world with their mouth..we always advise people to choose a rope toy or similar for each family member and that each time the puppy wants to play with their needle sharp teeth on you,simply swap for the toy..should the puppy go back to you for another bite stand up and walk away so that there is no reward for the wrong behaviour..We have had a hard time in the past explaing to our children that if you just push away or climb on a chair or say "no" it won`t make any difference to your puppy as they see it as an invitation to do it more as they see it as a game of chase..The best advice for any training for your puppy is that no means no without exceptions as if one family member for instance allows shoe biting how will the puppy work out that she can`t do it with anyone else? A puppy should always see you as the dominant member of the "pack" so when you scold them for bad behaviour look as big as possible by leaning over them when scolding,your puppy should take a couple of steps back and then possibly lay on their side showing submission to you..He/she will probably bark at you in defiance as well but don`t be tempted to smile or show forgiveness to them..Bulldogs are as stubborn as the day is long so it is a matter of wills and you must win on this one otherwise you will not enjoy your dog as you should..never never smack a puppy,if you need a good deterrent a wet tea towel flicked against the kitchen floor makes a great noise to back up a firm "NO" to scold behaviour should you really need to...the problem nowadays is that we live in the quick fix era and people think a puppy can be trained almost overnight and don`t understand the concept of training at all..
Lead Training
This a very important piece,under NO circumstances should you attempt during normal daily life to walk your bulldog on a collar and lead unless your dog is trained for the show ring..A bulldogs throat can be crushed with a normal collar so for normal walking always use a harness...there are many types available so go for the one that is most comfortable for your dog and yourself...Along with this use a short ,perhaps 18" lead attatched to it ...never never never use any type of choke chain as you can do your dog serious harm possibly even fatal....you will also have far more control over your dog with a harness....As with all dog training,look up your local training classes where experienced trainers can advise how best to train your dog....They are not as expensive as you may think,our local class charged a mere £25 for an 8 week course for 1/2 hour a week for puppies so it`s not expensive and your puppy will benefit from the socialisation with other dogs and people as well.Also regardless of what some may say,whilst bulldogs are stubborn with patience and the reward training system any dog should be able to achieve the k.c bronze level of obedience.
Always remember that you should not try to make your bulldog into something they are not as you will only end up creating a situation where your dog will not want to come near you for fear they will have to do whatever it is again. Enjoy training each other ! and a good point to make is that there is no such thing as a bad dog,they are made into those by their owners
