New Pup, New Rules

Teaching Your Furry Friend the Lay of the Land

Welcome to another tail-wagging edition of the Pawsies blog!

Today, we're diving into a crucial topic for every new dog owner: how to teach your four-legged friend the house rules. After all, we want our pooches to feel at home, but not too at home, if you catch my drift!

This is Your Bed, Not Mine

First things first, show your new mate where they'll be catching their Z's. Make their bed extra comfy with a soft blanket and maybe an old t-shirt that smells like you.

Praise them every time they settle in their bed. Soon enough, they'll realise that your memory foam mattress isn't their personal cloud, no matter how tempting it looks!

Chew on This, Not That

Dogs love a good chew, but your gran's antique table legs are not on the menu!

Introduce your pup to their toys right away. Make a big fuss when they play with their designated toys. If you catch them eyeing up your shoes, redirect them to a proper chew toy.

Remember, consistency is key – your leather loafers might look delicious, but they're strictly off-limits!

The Great Indoors is Not a Loo

House training can be a bit of a faff, but it's essential.

Set a routine for toilet breaks and heap on the praise when they do their business outside. If accidents happen indoors (and they will), don't make a song and dance about it. Clean it up without fuss, and remember – newspapers are for reading, not for... well, you know.

The Kitchen is Not a Buffet

Your new fur baby needs to learn that counter-surfing is not an Olympic sport. Keep food out of reach, and never feed them from your plate or the kitchen counter.

If they start begging, ignore them (yes, even those puppy dog eyes). Reward them when all four paws are on the floor during meal times.

Some Things are Not Dog Toys

To a dog, everything can look like a potential plaything. Teach them the difference between their toys and your possessions. If they grab something they shouldn't, use a firm "No" and replace it with one of their toys.

Praise them when they play with their own things. Before long, they'll know that your TV remote is not a chew toy, no matter how clicky the buttons are!

Doorbell Doesn't Mean "Bark Your Head Off"

For many dogs, the doorbell is like a starting pistol for a barking marathon. Teach your pup that the doorbell is just a normal sound. Ring it when no one's there, then calmly praise and treat them when they don't react. It might take some time, but your postie will thank you!

Remember, training takes time and patience. Some days you'll feel like you're herding cats (or in this case, dogs), but stick with it. Before you know it, your new furry friend will be a model canine citizen, leaving your slippers unscathed and your neighbours' ears intact.

Got any funny stories about teaching your dog the house rules? We'd love to hear them!
Drop us an email or share a photo of your pup being a good boy or girl.

Until next time, keep those tails wagging and paws off the furniture!