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First Time Dog Owner Guide

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Home » New Dog Owner Tips

New Dog Owner Tips

Got a new dog? Congratulations! These are the bare minimum things you need to know as a new dog owner... How to prepare for YOUR DOG's FIRST DAYS at home, plus tips for surviving those sometimes challenging first weeks with your new dog. See what you should do before you even bring your new dog home -- including how to puppy proof your house (inside and outside) to ensure that your dog’s world is completely safe. Tips for renaming a dog -- how to change your dog’s name and get them to learn their new name quickly. Dog necessities -- the best dog training collars, dog training leads, dog food & water bowls, and how to choose the best dog house (or build one yourself). How and why to come up with a puppy feeding & potty schedule for your new dog, plus the best dog potty training tips that work! How to start teaching your dog good manners -- the 5 easiest dog training commands to teach your dog first (even an 8-week-old puppy). How to train your dog to live in a crate for their first year -- so they can safely live inside your house for the rest of their life. What to expect from dog daycare if you go that route instead of leaving your dog home alone. And how to find a pet sitter quick -- because you shouldn’t leave your dog longer than a few hours at a time. (See also “Dog Breeds,” “Raising Two Or More Dogs,” and “Adopting/Rescuing Dogs”)

How To Prevent Dog Boredom: Here Are 9 Easy Ways To Entertain Your Dog At Home

Looking for ways to prevent dog boredom? Here are 9 easy ways to keep your dog busy. See how to entertain your dog at home, indoors, outside, and while you’re at work!

A List Of The Most Dog Friendly Cities In The U.S. For Your Dog Travel Bucket List!

I’ve researched the cities (and states) which appear on 5 popular lists of dog friendly cities. There are 27 cities in 20 different states represented. I’m going to summarize the findings for you — to help you decide if you might want to move to one of these cities or travel there with your dog!

Tips For Raising Two Dogs Together: How To Manage A Multi-Dog Household With Ease

Raising two dogs vs one dog. Should you raise one dog or two dogs? That’s a question I asked myself for years — until I decided to try owning multiple dogs (usually 2, but sometimes 3) at the same time. Because multi-dog household aggression is real! It’s one of the signs of Littermate Syndrome when you’re raising two puppies. I’ve been at this for decades now! Here’s how to introduce 2 dogs. Signs one dog doesn’t like the other. Pros & Cons of having more than one dog. Ways to simplify life when you have multiple dogs. How to get dogs to get along. All my best tips for how to raise two dogs in the house together!

Preventing Littermate Syndrome In Dogs: How To Raise Two Puppies (From The Same Litter OR Different Litters) At Once Without Issues

Is Littermate Syndrome real? YES! Most experts strongly advise against raising sibling puppies — because they may become difficult to handle as they mature due to Littermate Syndrome. What Is Littermate Syndrome? Littermate Syndrome (sometimes called Sibling Puppy Syndrome) refers to issues that are more likely to arise when puppies from the same litter (or […]

Puppy Proofing 101: Things You Need To Do Right Away To Make Your Dog’s World Safer!

Here is a list of common everyday objects we all have in our houses that I’ve learned firsthand (and while working at a vet) can be deadly to a dog. See what you can do to modify these things to keep your dog safe. Plus, my own DIY puppy proofing tips that I use to keep my dogs safe at home.

A Dog Routine For New Dog Owners: Why & How To Come Up With A Puppy Feeding Schedule And Potty Routine For Your Dog

Trying to find the right puppy feeding schedule and puppy potty routine for your new dog? See why it’s important to get your dog peeing and pooping on a regular schedule every day — and timed perfectly with your dog’s feeding schedule. Plus, how to tell when your dog needs to go outside — specific signs to watch for. I’m going to show you how to set up a daily dog feeding schedule and a dog routine for going outside.

Can You Rename A Dog? (Yes!) Here’s How To Change A Dog’s Name + How To Get A Dog To Learn Its Name

Wondering if changing a dog’s name is something you should do? And can you change a dog’s name regardless of age? Here’s WHEN it makes the most sense to change a dog’s name, the times when you should NOT change a dog’s name, a few things you should do BEFORE renaming a dog, HOW to change a dog’s name now to avoid problems later, and how to get a dog to LEARN its name quickly!

Dog Training Commands 101: How Do You Train An 8-Week-Old Puppy To Understand Basic Dog Commands?

Believe it or not, a puppy is never too young to learn basic dog commands. In fact, you can (and should) introduce puppy training the day you bring your new dog into your house. A well-behaved dog is what everyone wants, but not everyone wants to start the dog training early enough. By training your puppy early, she will always know what’s expected of her inside your home.

How To Stop Puppy Nipping & Biting: Why Do Puppies Bite? When Do Puppies Stop Biting? What To Do When Your Puppy Keeps Biting & Nipping All The Time

puppy nipping and biting

All puppies nip or bite at your hands, feet, and ankles. See the #1 reason you should not allow this behavior any more, How to stop a puppy from nipping and biting, Why puppies bite, When puppies stop biting, and All about puppy teeth!

Dog Crate Training Mistakes: 10 Important Things I’ve Learned That Make Crate Training A Dog Easier

The usual simple steps to crate training are practical and helpful — but they overlook the day-to-day troubles that you’re likely to face in the process of crate training a dog. Here are some important things I’ve learned about crate training dogs. I did it differently with my first dog (a Labrador) than I did with my second dog (a French Bulldog). See the 10 mistakes I’ve done when crate training dogs — and how to avoid making those same mistakes.

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About Me

LynnetteI like to help Dog Parents find unique ways to do things that will save time & money -- so I write about "outside the box" Dog Tips and Dog Hacks that most wouldn't think of. I’m a lifelong dog owner -- currently have 2 mixed breed Golden Aussies that we found abandoned on the side of the road as puppies. I've always trained my own dogs and help friends train theirs, as well. Professionally, I worked at a vet and have several friends who are veterinarians -- whom I consult with regularly. (And just because I love animals so much, I also worked at a Zoo for awhile!) I've been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started... and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). My daily motivation is to help first-time dog owners be better prepared from the first day your new puppy enters your home. I like to help dog owners understand what's 'normal' and what you can expect in terms of living with and training your dog -- how to get through the ups & downs of potty training, chewing, teaching commands, getting your dog to listen, and everything else that takes place during that hectic first year! When I'm not training, walking, grooming, or making homemade treats for my dogs, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). To date, I've written over 500 articles for dog owners on this site! Many of them have upwards of 200K shares.

Lynnette: View My Blog Posts

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