 Next time you walk past a pet store and see those adorable black eyes looking up at you, keep walking. Instead, head straight into the pet store that helps adopt out unwanted pets, your local humane society or to a reputable breeder who puts care and attention into her hobby.  To start, change your routine before you leave. Try to make it less drawn out. Put your keys in your purse ahead of time, for example, and have your shoes ready to put on at the door. Dogs know the routine of leaving, and if it's drawn out they become increasingly anxious.  When your pup can actually have a leash attached to their collar without losing their marbles, begin to actually take him for a walk. Always, always make it fun and never correct bad behavior. Instead, praise good behavior.  Puppies are pretty basic. When they are tired they will stop nearly mid stride, lie down and sleep. When they are hungry they will tear through their food.  Nothing will cause that wonderful feeling of new puppy euphoria to fade faster than having to continually clean up after the accidents your puppy has all over the floors in your home. That’s why potty training a puppy becomes a top priority to new pet owners.  The eyelids are jelled in the initial stage when they are born and the cleavage appears approximately on the 12th day leading to complete opening of the lids with the appearance of blue colored eyes.  First, it’s important to note that if, for some reason, you have put off spaying your dog until she is older, understand that there are always some benefits to having your dog fixed, but that doing so before the dog has her first heat cycle will be most beneficial for your pet.  Training your puppy to pee outside is not difficult or rocket science, even for the pooch. You must learn to be consistent, proactive and read the dogs body language.  Body language is everything with animals and learning to mimic various behaviors can substantially speed up the learning process. As a pup matures within the pack, immature actions and behaviors are discouraged by many types of body language ways – ‘body blocks’ being one of the most common.  While biting between littermates comes naturally, when the puppy starts involving humans, it’s a problem that should be quickly nipped in the bud.  Barking is as natural to puppies as breathing. It’s how they communicate, show fear, seek attention, play and warn us of an unexpected visitor or intruder.  Before purchasing or adopting a dog, take some time to consider what traits fit best with your lifestyle and why you want a dog. Are you a hunter? A male dog will be a better choice, as the higher level of endurance will be a benefit. Want a dog that will care for your children and tolerate their misbehavior? A female dog is more likely to accept the tail pulling and ear poking better then a male.  Many make a selection of a puppy solely on looks or on the current hot fad. But selecting a dog without taking into consideration its needs compared to your lifestyle is unfair to both you and your new best friend.  A puppy must also learn that he does not have rule over the entire household, but does have his own space: the crate. A crate can be the dog’s own secure place to relax, and may come in handy for trips to the vet, traveling, or keeping your pup out of trouble while you are away from home.  Indoor fetch games are good for reminding your puppy that you are the dominant figure in your puppy’s little world. Sitting on the floor and tossing the toy that he will inevitably bring back to you for more, gives you the chance to playfully pet him in between throws.  When it comes to rewarding your pet, snacks and praise go hand in hand. When your pet completes a command or achieves the success of a trick you’ve been working on - sing his praises.  When you begin puppy training at the right age, you set the foundation for a solid, trusting relationship between you and your dog. Love your puppy, but know that pack rules are a natural part of life.  Puppy socialization is the process of introducing a pup to unfamiliar surroundings, objects, and creatures during his formative months to give him confidence to appropriately deal with the unknown later in his life.  For a puppy, who wants nothing more than to be your best friend, withholding a reward is often the best punishment. A brief scolding and refusal to cave to his demands show him that he can not be so needy.  Stairs are a hazard that we often take for granted. We recognize that small children are susceptible to falling down the stairs, but unsupervised puppies are likely to take a nasty tumble as well.
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