Blog: Five training tips for the new dog parent from @adogslifewithlia

You finally did it! You’ve made the move and got your dream dog. Maybe it is a pup that you fell in love with at a rescue, or that new puppy that you have been saving for years to get. It is finally happening; your new dog is arriving. The excitement is palpable and so are the nerves. What should you do? How should you greet them? What should one have at the house for welcoming them?

Welcoming a new dog to your household is an exhilarating and daunting experience all wrapped up in a fluffy, adorable being that will now completely depend on you for protection and direction. You are now responsible for learning a dog’s language! Dogs learn from their pack; therefore, in the interest of making this new relationship an absolutely thriving one, here are my five essential tips for all new dog parents out there.

1. Walking and bonding

This first one will differ slightly if you are getting a young puppy or a slightly older dog. The principle is the same, but the length and distance of a walk will be exponentially shorter for younger dogs. If you are getting a young puppy (3 to 6 months), before taking them into the house, take them for a stroll in your backyard. If you have a slip lead that you can have them drag, that would be even better. Have them follow you to where you would like them to potty and walk back and forth until they pee and/or poop. The less you talk, the better. Let the dog get to know you by your scent and your energy. Do this for about 20 minutes or until your puppy goes to the bathroom.

If you adopted an older dog (older than 6 months), take them for a long, long walk. Dogs form packs by walking together; by simply taking them on a long walk, one that the dog and the human are walking together, you are forming a bond while tiring them physically before bringing them to your house. You are setting them up for success by fulfilling an instinctual canine need for exercise and discipline before showing them tons of affection by inviting them into your household. When working with a dog, any dog, at any age, remember the formula: exercise – discipline – affection (in that order) to fulfil your dog and create the best line of communication possible.

2. Crate training

Have a crate or a pen for your new dog to sleep in. Crates make sense to a dog. All canines rear their young in a den (a small space where they can keep their young safe while preparing them for the outside world). We place our young in a crib; a crate is a crib for dogs. That is where they will go to sleep, feel calm, experience safety and relaxation. But, like our newborns, new dogs need to practice what it means to be in that space. Guide your dog to the crate using a leash, treats or a toy. Once they are inside the crate, sit down in front of it and don’t let them come out. That can be done by closing the door and preventing them from coming out or by blocking them from exiting. You are teaching your new dog where they sleep. Therefore, be prepared to take time to teach them that. Remember that you get what you pet, so if you allow them to get out when they start barking or whining, that is what they will keep doing.

If you teach them that the only way they will come out is when they calm down, that is also what they will learn. Patience and repetition are paramount when teaching, be it a dog or a human. Once your dog relaxes and lies down or gives space from trying to get out, invite them out and then do the exercise again. Do this as many times as needed until the pup learns that the only way they will come out of the crate is when they are calm. Eventually, let them rest in the crate with the door closed while you work around your house. For young puppies, be sure to let them out every couple of hours and guide them to where you want them to go potty. For older dogs, the time frame can be longer but guide them with a leash to where you want them to go potty. You are now crate training and potty training your new dog.

3. Using a slip lead

Getting your new pup used to a slip lead. A slip lead is a simple leash and collar in one. It applies pressure when the dog is pulling on the leash and releases pressure when they are not pulling. By getting your dog (no matter the age) used to a slip lead, it sets them up for success in understanding and respecting what pressure is. Since it applies pressure on the neck, it mimics what mother dogs do to their young pups. The correction and direction that is given by the pack to the pack is a form of communication that makes sense to a dog, no matter the age.

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4. Creating a feeding ritual

Create a feeding ritual that is more than a feeding routine. Food is primal; it is what keeps us all alive. No mammal is neutral about food. Therefore, it is a great teaching tool when used correctly. Going back to ‘you get what you pet’, petting means affection, and food is affection. Utilizing feeding time to teach is an amazing opportunity that should not be wasted. Start a feeding ritual as soon as your dog arrives at your home. Ask for distance when you are preparing the food.

You can start by having your dog in the crate when you get their meal ready. Once you have their food in a bowl, expect the same level of calmness as you did when the food wasn’t present. Bring the food to the crate and place it down a few feet away from your dog. Simply leave it there and go about your business. Once the dog calms down completely and surrenders to the food being close to them, you can come back and invite them to eat. What this teaches the dog is that the way to get what they want, in this case the food, is by being calm. This is the feeding ritual. Eventually, you can allow your dog to be on a bed and expect the same behavior.

5. The “tap and turn” technique

Teach your new dog not to pull on the leash. Start small. Create an association of calmness when introducing the leash. Before putting the leash on, wait until your dog is calm. No talking is necessary. Once you put the leash on your dog, start in the back yard or inside the home. Every time your dog passes you on the leash, do a slight pop to the side on the leash and change direction so your dog is behind you. Do this every time your dog passes you. Pop the leash and turn 90° in the opposite direction. This is called a “tap and turn”. The tap is to get your dog’s attention; the turn (making sure they are behind you) is to give direction to that attention. Remember always that our job in relation to our dogs is protection and direction. You are giving direction during the walk as to where you want your dog to be: behind or beside you, never in front. You know where you are going, and your dog is following you there.

This is not meant to be a list of all things one should do when getting a new dog. The intention here is simply to provide a quick road map that allows new dog owners or unsure veterans how to create a better and more meaningful relationship with their dogs. Always remembering that our time with our dogs is measured in years, not in minutes. Take your time teaching your dog what is important to you. If you are committed and consistent they will always follow your lead. Our job with our pups is to lead them towards the best versions of themselves. They can and will always do what is being asked of them. Just make sure you ask in a way that makes sense to them.

Happy training!

About the Master Dog Behaviorist and author of this blog, Lia Marquis:

Lia Marques is the founder and owner of Dogs with Lia. She is a certified dog trainer who specializes in dog behavior and dog psychology. In 2013, Lia was hired as a senior dog trainer at Cesar Millan’s Dog Psychology Center.

Our methods are all based in Dog Psychology, which, at its core, means that dogs are social animals that need structure in order to live a balanced pack life. We are a human pack that aims to fulfill our community’s canine needs.

Bio has been taken from Lia Marques’ website. Visit Dogs with Lia to learn more here, or follow her on Instagram @adogslifewithlia.