Puppy Kindergarten

Take advantage of the early imprinting period in a puppy's development to lay the groundwork for good behavior later. Puppies, like newborn babies, are clueless about their new environment. Wilson suggests using this time to encourage good behaviors by lavishing a puppy with treats and affection when it behaves as desired. Ignore or redirect negative behaviors, and in some instances, apply a mild correction.

Kilcommons says tug-of-war is used mainly for training guard dogs and creates aggression in the animals. "It's not a good game to play with your dog. Play fetch, have it sit, throw objects for it, but tug-of-war should be left alone."

Avoid overstimulating a new puppy by picking it up every time it whines. Use a crate to instill calmness, and don't attempt to deal with a whining puppy at night. This causes too much stress. Let the new puppy sleep near you at night, then introduce the crate during the day. Also, take the time to make the crate a pleasant experience. Do not just toss the puppy into the crate and leave it alone to adjust. Feed the puppy, provide some treats, and throw in some toys for good measure. Play games that have the puppy can running in and out of the crate.

Figure E--A soothing toy that's ideal for teething puppies is a frozen rope toy. Soak the rope in water and place it in the freezer. Chewing on the frigid rope toy will reduce the swelling of the puppy's gums.