Below I have listed some, in no way all, tips for helping your new Riptide Puppy have an easy adjustment to their new home and family. I follow a very positive training method. What that translates to is a a soft toned correct and a positively fabulous “good job”!

I also am a huge fan of the Puppy Culture program.

This program is what I have been using for some time. I used it on my own two Porties, Rumour and Belle. I have been using it on your new Riptide puppy. I highly recommend taking a look at their site and their products and I do hope that you become a devotee as am I.

Tips For Your New Puppy

Crate Training

Never let your puppy out of the crate when crying, barking, etc. If you do, you are teaching your puppy how to ASK to be let out of the crate. The puppy will eventually go to sleep. When the puppy awakes that is the time to let them out.

Make the crate your puppy’s home. Feed meals in the crate, place toys in the crate, drop a treat in the crate when the puppy is happy in its crate. When your puppy falls asleep, outside the crate, place the puppy in the crate to nap, leaving the door open. When awake, place treats and toys in the crate while your puppy is watching. Encourage your puppy to go in several times a day. Give a command every time. I suggest using, “Kennel Up” as they enter the crate. Always treat when you give a command while the puppy is doing what you asked. Reward even if you placed the puppy in the crate.

I don’t recommend using a crate pad at this time. Puppies are teething and will most likely chew it up. An old towel is best if you must put something in the crate. 

Food

Orjen brand dog food is an excellent choice. Make sure to get the puppy variety. I suggest feeding ¾ of a cup three times a day. Feeding when you are up, around noon, and then again early evening. 

Water

Keeping a bowl of water out all day is best. Make sure to wash and refill the water bowl often during the day. Also, remember, that puppies generally need to urinate about 20 minutes after drinking water. This also applies to eating.

Nighttime

Take your puppy out before going to bed. If they wake up in the night they will have to go potty. Get them out at the first sign of stirring. Don’t wait for them to say they need to go out. It’s best to exercise your puppy before going to bed to sleep through the night.

Never give your puppy the run of the house

Always supervise your puppy when loose in your house. Keep your puppy in a small area around you, or in their crate. Baby gates are great for sectioning off a kitchen or family room while you are working in that area of the house. If you are gone for over two to three hours a day, the puppy should be in its crate. It you are out longer, then two to three hours, make arrangements for someone to come over to take your puppy outside. A small area containing their crate, with the door rigged open, a bowl of water, some toys, and a place for the puppy to go to the bathroom such as puppy pee pads or a tray of equine litter, should be made available. A crate is not a potty area. Dogs are only going to use their crate if it is absolutely impossible for them to go somewhere else. 

Potty

You puppy will have to go out to potty after: sleeping, eating, running, and playing. Basically every two hours. Watch your puppy closely for signs of needing to go – circling, nose to ground, leaving the area you are in. Do not punish your puppy for pottying in your home. Say, “No” in a soft voice, pick them up carefully, and place them in the potty spot. Say “Potty.” Reward with excitement when your puppy potties in the right area. Another great potty training technique is what I call the Tree Technique. Take your puppy out on a leash to the yard. Stand in one place. Do not move. The puppy will circle you. Most likely they will go to the bathroom. If they do not, return them to their crate for no longer than ten minutes. Repeat the exercise. If they do go potty outside make sure to reward with praise.

Treats

Soft treats work best for puppies. You may also use cheese sticks or microwaved slices of hotdogs. A small piece is enough. The act of treating is what the puppy is excited about, not the food necessarily. You can also use their kibble. Using their kibble works best when training around meal time.

Attention

A puppy’s attention span is about ten seconds. Use it wisely. Use this time to train behaviors that you want your puppy to have.

Always make your puppy Earn what it gets

Have them sit before eating, a down before eating dinner, go to their crate when someone comes over, etc. They do not understand Stay yet, that is a behavior that is built over time. A simple Wait is best at this time. This is easily trained at meal time.

Practice the Come command

When the puppy is in the same room as you, stop what you are doing, say your puppy’s name then the word Come or Here. If the puppy doesn’t come to you, then ignore the puppy. Try again a few minutes later. You can clap your hands, crouch low, face them sideways. If they do come, make sure to praise them.

Jumping

If you praise a puppy when it jumps on you they think that jumping on you is great. Use the command Off. Only give the puppy attention when all four of their feet are on the ground.

Being Picked Up

Try not to pick up your puppy all the time. They will come to dislike being held.

Hugging

Despite how we love a hug, puppies interpret it as a dominant gesture and become afraid and may act out with biting.

Chasing

Never chase a puppy. This makes training Come/Here so much more difficult. They will think you are playing or even feel scared.

Mouthing/Biting/Nipping

When the puppy puts their teeth on you, make sure to replace your arm, finger, etc. with one of their toys. Tell them No or Wrong. 

Supervision with Children

If your puppy will be with small children make sure to supervise the time they spend together. The minute your child becomes excited so will the puppy. I also suggest not getting your new puppy any toys that resemble your children’s toys like stuffed animals. Get your puppy a toy that is unique to a dog, a rope toy for example. 

Games

This is a wonderful way to earn respect from your puppy.

Sit in a circle, call the puppy’s name. If they come to that person, give them a treat or a nice pat on the head.

Hide and Seek. Have someone hide and encourage the puppy to find them. The person hiding should have a treat on hand or remember to praise the puppy when they are found.

Hide a Treat. Hide a treat under a towel or a hard plastic container. They puppy will be able to smell the treat and should find it. Don’t give them that treat, give them another treat from your hand.