Dog and Owner

So you've got a dog - that's great! But, suddenly, it hits you: you've got a lot of responsibility here: not only for your dog, but to yourself. You have to take care of a dog and be consistent in your own habits so that your puppy can be raised in a stable, healthy environment and learn to be your companion.

If you're going to learn about your dog, you should probably start with the fundamentals. That's why this article will give you three tips that will illuminate the basics of working with and raising your new dog.

Tip #1: Know your exercise, and stick to it.

Everyone in the world should have some kind of regular exercise program, but if you don't, a dog can be a great excuse to start up a new one. When you take the dog out for a run or a jog, you'll have the added bonus of "working out for two," as the physical benefits will be felt by both parties. Obviously you don't want to overdo it with puppies, but you do want to let dogs expend their natural energy in a healthy way before that energy manifests as a behavioral problem.

In order to exercise effectively, try exercising before a meal (this helps dogs to learn that walks come before food, which is motivating) like breakfast, and do it every day. It can be as simple as a 30 minute walk, and you can even mix it up by jogging or by going slowly on a bicycle.

Tip #2: Diet.

As you raise a puppy, you'll want to feed it a healthy diet, but you'll also want to remember the impact that diet can have on behavior. Have healthy treats ready for when your dog does something you want to reinforce - never use diet to negatively reinforce bad behavior. The dog won't know why you're withholding food, but it will eventually figure out that you give treats when it produces a desirable behavior.

Tip #3: Don't force the dog to do anything far beyond its boundaries.

This is especially true for puppies, where you don't want to give a dog more than he or she can handle. At the same time, you'll want to make sure that you do teach the dog new tricks in increments, and that you don't force any of these tricks. A dog won't understand what you're telling it to do. A dog does understand food and treats, however, and it will be anxious to recreate the behavior that brought the treat. Be ready to hand out treats when a dog acts the way you want it to.

Photo Credits: Alan Stanton