When you bring your puppy home for the first time, it is truly a time for celebration. You have added a precious and exciting member to your family.

Now what?

Your puppy was taken from his mother at such a young and impressionable time of his life. He still had much to learn about the world and how it works. Are you up to the task?

He needs to become socialized and learn the ropes with other dogs and people. He needs to learn manners, like bite inhibition and potty training. Did he come to you with those skills?

If you are really lucky, he has much of this already started or even solidly learned. It is entirely reasonable to expect a potty trained pup at this stage. That doesn’t mean that he can hold it all day, while you’re at work, or even throughout the long night. After all, he’s just a little guy with a very small bladder. The important part of this training is that he now has a solid preference for only going outside and will speak up and request that you get him out the door, when nature calls.

Does your pup chew on everything, including you? This is perfectly normal behavior and is his way of experiencing his world. You WANT this behavior.

Only, by biting and mouthing, can he learn that most important lesson called “bite inhibition”. This is the time when he learns to control his bite and this is crucial for him as an adult dog.

He also is going to learn what is “ok” to chew and what is inappropriate. This is the time to get him to understand the difference between his chew toy and your favorite shoes. He needs to learn this. To him, they’re all the same.

What is probably THE most important area of learning for your puppy is socialization. He needs to interact with other puppies and stable and kind adult dogs. He should become acquainted with cats at this stage and befriend a few.

Every new experience for your pup is another building block towards a balanced and confident dog in the future.

These lessons cannot wait. They must happen in this short window of time, called puppyhood.

This is why Good Dog Academy is starting the Puppy Play Day program. We will take your pup for a daycare day and allow them to play and interact with other pups and a wonderful maternal dog, who will nurture and show them the ropes in a safe and fun manner.

The Puppy Play Day will be held in a separate area which will be impeccably clean and safe of all hazards. Pups will be walked outside, on leash, multiple times daily, which will ensure their potty manners. We will also introduce and positively train crate acceptance, which is so important for the lifetime of the dog.

The caretakers will work with the basics, like sit, lie down and come, with all the pups.

Most of all....your puppy will make friends and play..play...play!

Please contact Good Dog Academy for the enrollment requirements and get those pups started in life on the best track.

Congratulations on your newest family member!