A new pet can transform a home. Walking a dog gives you a new focus for exercise, as you need to walk them regularly. Suddenly you have so much more love and affection to give, as they need a lot of care and patience, and a new way to relate to your whole family. It would be an exaggeration to say that getting your first puppy is as transformative as having a baby. But not by much!

Today we’re taking a look at some of the challenges that a new puppy brings with it alongside the rewards.

Toilet Training

Establishing a routine with your new dog to help avoid unexpected mess on the floor in the morning (or the evening, or at any other time of day). This is one of the important but most difficult challenges of the early days of dog ownership.

There are many different schools of thought on the best way to toilet train a puppy.However the most successful ones rely on you recognising the signs that your dog needs to go and reacting quickly. Quickly establish that outside is the right place and thoroughly cleaning the aftermath of any indoor incidents. Using a special cleaner will eradicate the odour isn’t just for your comfort. It helps prevent your dog associating that area of your house with its toilet habits.

The difficulty can be multiplied by a puppy’s curiosity for things it really shouldn’t eat. This can be anything from furniture, to leftover food, to things found outdoors and swallowed before you can react! You’ll find yourself telling the internet “My dog has diarrhea” multiple times and looking for answers. Unfortunately, in the majority of cases the answers are to make sure your dog is hydrated. Just remember to be patient and in future be more vigilant about what they’re chewing!

Attention

One of the greatest demands a puppy places on you is their need for attention. Dogs are unlike cats: they can’t be left to their own devices for long periods, and will seek you out. They require your presence to make them feel secure and safe.

While, over time, you can accustom your dog to being left at home for a few hours at a time. It can help to get a puppy crate to make sure they don’t get into mischief whilst you are out. Once you get a dog you need to be aware that you’ll have to factor them into your simplest plans, from quick shopping trips to preparing meals. From now on you need to be able to either split your attention between the dog and the task at hand or make sure someone else is around to distract and entertain the puppy while you concentrate.

This gets easier in time: as your puppy ages and feels more secure, they get less demanding, but you need to be prepared for the long haul!