Training a Puppy During Lockdown

Training a new puppy can be a difficult task. But, what about training a new puppy in the middle of a global lockdown? There’s no denying that it’s going to be a little rough.

Yet, while you may hit some bumps in the road, don’t let the impending stress deter you from welcoming your furry friend into your home. With the challenges of training, a new puppy comes the excitement of companionship, undeniable love, and a new adventure.

If you need a little help to get you started, here are four tips for training your new puppy during a lockdown.

1. Spend Time Getting Puppy Acclimated Into Your Home

The first step to training your new puppy is to spend time getting them acclimated to your home. Acclimation includes showing them the entirety of your apartment or house and setting boundaries for where they can and cannot roam. 

A good rule for training a new puppy is to set up a designated spot for them that they will utilize their entire life. For example, if you want to have your pup eat their food and drink their water in your laundry room – then, that is where you should establish their crate, toys, and dishes. By doing this, you are essentially marking the space as their territory.  

If you use a crate for your puppy, which can help with behavioral training and proper sleeping habits when you first bring them home, you don’t want to place it in a room that will be off-limits. Of course, this is entirely up to you as the owner, but be mindful of where you establish your puppy’s space as habits you instill in their developing years will be ingrained into their behavior as they grow up. 

2. Set Up A Routine and Schedule For Your Puppy

Next, you should ensure that your puppy is set up with a routine. Setting a routine is usually the most challenging part of training if your schedule is also incredibly busy. Yet, during these uncertain times – you’re most likely staying at home more than usual unless you’re an essential worker, and therefore will have more time to spend setting up a daily schedule for your new pal.  

A routine is incredibly important as it sets time stamps for your dog. This consistency will give them an indication of when it’s time to go outside, eat their meals, and have their special treats. Like a human needs structure, dogs look for the same kind of stability to keep their days in order. 

To set up a schedule for your dog, you need to be consistent with your actions. This means establishing time frames that you can stick with. For example, let’s say you take your dog outside to do their business every morning at 7:30 a.m. This set time will eventually be recognizable to your dog, and their internal clock will realize that it’s almost time to go outside. 

When setting this routine during a lockdown, you should choose times related to your “normal” schedule when you eventually go back to the office. If, during a lockdown, you train your puppy to go out at 9 a.m. because you sleep in more while working from home, you will completely throw them off once you start rising early and heading off to work. 

Follow these guidelines for feeding your puppy and any treat times you may set up for them. In all, building a routine during your puppy’s infancy will promote good behavior and obedience for years to come.

3. Utilize An Online Dog Trainer During Lockdown

While you can train your puppy on your own, you may want to consider hiring a trainer to fill in the gaps and offer some professional advice. 

Even though most dog training schools are closed, you can still hire a trainer via a remote/online session. 

Here are a few services to consider:

Spirit Dog Training 

Spirit Dog offers the Ultimate Puppy Program. It covers “potty training, obedience, manners, enrichment, and recall games to daily life tips.” 

All Day Dog Training

All Day Dog Trainers offer an array of classes from puppy training to behavioral consultations. 

According to their website, the puppy training program covers: “This class is for puppies aged eight weeks to around nine months (depending on the level of training and socialization), setting your puppy up for success and providing you with the basic training starting points. We teach you how to teach your puppy basic manners using fun, reward-based methods.” 

Right now, it shows that the puppy training is only offered in person and began in March of 2020. But, you can still join a behavioral consultation online, which will help a trainer get a sense of your puppy’s obedience level and what you can do to improve or strengthen their inherent behaviors. 

One Mind Dogs

The last online puppy training option is through One Mind Dogs. Their setup is slightly different from the previous options as they offer a subscription-based service for $29/month. 

With the subscription, you will have access to: 

• 100+ online lessons
• Videos, tips, and troubleshooting
• The flexible training schedule that is suitable for all breeds

With One Mind, you can efficiently train your new puppy from your home’s comfort just by using your phone. 

4. Give Puppy Extra Love and Attention During Lockdown

Our final tip for training your new puppy is to shower them with extra love and attention. We all know that this year has been anything but easy. And, even though you may not realize it – your furry friend can sense when you’re stressed or not feeling your best. 

Yet, despite all the ups and downs of 2020 – inviting a new puppy into your home should be exciting and a well-deserved break from everything else. Therefore, erase your negative feelings by giving your new puppy extra love and attention. Not only will you feel better, but your pup will feel more comfortable and at home. 

Puppies need extra affection when they are first brought home. Leaving their mother and the rest of the litter behind can often be a little scary for your dog to understand their new surroundings fully. That’s why you need to give them extra special attention to form a connection with you as their owner and their new family. 

Do you know a great way to show your new puppy that you genuinely care about their health and happiness? By signing them up for a pet insurance policy as soon as they arrive home. The sooner you sign up your pet for an insurance plan, the longer they will be covered in the event of any accidents, mishaps, or illnesses.

At Fursure, we are pet insurance gurus dedicated to helping awesome pet parents like you find an insurance plan that fits your pet’s needs and doesn’t break the bank. We offer 

How Big Should a Crate Be For a Puppy?

One reason why crate training works is because dogs instinctually avoid soiling the places where they sleep. If your crate is too large, your puppy could go in a corner and then move to another spot in the crate. Also, the crate is meant to be a rest area and not a house of play. Large crates promote the latter, again ruining the training process. 

A good rule of thumb is that the crate should be large enough for your dog to turn around in comfortably. It should be sturdy, so look for crates with metal bars or a high-impact plastic body and metal grate. Your puppy may belong to a medium or large breed that will require you to invest in another, bigger crate later, but some dogs can use the same crate throughout their lifetime. 

Introducing the Crate to Your Puppy

Before placing your puppy in its new crate, encourage it to go to the bathroom. 

Next, place a soft blanket and a few toys in the crate, creating a welcoming environment for your new pet. Initially, only put your puppy in the crate for short periods, rewarding with a treat snack. Your pup will need to get used to the sense of confinement while associating it with pleasant things.

With a little patience, time, and training, soon your dog will be able to have free reign of your home.

Crate Training a Puppy At Night

Even if your puppy is comfortable being in his crate during the day, nighttime can be a different issue. Your puppy will be used to sleeping with his mom and siblings and not used to having to sleep by himself. To help with any distress your puppy may experience during those first few nights, try using an aid such as a Snuggle Puppy. These soft toys provide warmth and the sound and feel of a heartbeat to soothe your puppy.

Depending on the puppy, you may initially decide it is best to move his crate into your bedroom with you. Being near you may help comfort your puppy, and soothing your puppy during the night is more straightforward if he is nearby.

Deciding When Your Dog is Ready To Be Left Out Of the Crate Can Be Tough. Here Are Some Guidelines To Follow.

Many pet owners start to use a crate when they bring home a puppy for housetraining purposes, and preparing your home for a puppy to run around takes a bit of work. Nayiri Krikorian is a professional trainer with Zen Dog Training and a member of the Harry’s Picks Advisory Panel. If you think your dog might be ready, Krikorian recommends being proactive by rolling up and storing your rugs and purchasing some enzymatic cleaner in case of accidents.

After that, Krikorian suggests a few steps to puppy-proofing your home:

1. Get down on the ground and identify anything in your room that might be a particularly tantalizing chew “toy.” What about all the cords connected to your television? Consider the magazines on your coffee table, not to mention the coffee table itself. Are your sofa cushions safe? If you can remove some of these items from the room, then do so temporarily.
2. If you are worried about your puppy chewing furniture, you can spray the surfaces with a chew deterrent, like Bitter Apple.