You’ve done your homework, decided the time is right to get a puppy, and chosen the right puppy. Now it’s time to prepare yourself and your house for the new arrival. Yup, just like you would get ready for your new baby!
Prepare a safe place for your puppy. You’ll likely want a crate for sleeping and an exercise pen (X-pen) or baby gate to create a safe containment area on an easy clean surface. I suggest having the crate in your bedroom at night and the pen near your main living area. If you don’t have an appropriate floor surface available, get a remnant of vinyl flooring from your home center or carpet store to use under your X-pen. You will use the X-pen as a long-term confinement area for times when you can’t watch the puppy for a few hours. You can use the crate at night, and for short periods like taking a shower or talking on the phone. Rid yourself of the mindset that a crate is punishment; by using it properly, it will instead become your dog’s favorite safe haven. (more…)
Reminds me of my husband’s comments about political candidates. They all say they are “tough on crime” because no one would vote for someone who said they were soft on crime, now would they? Traditional trainers that use food and toy rewards may call themselves “positive”. Some call themselves “motivational” trainers. These days there are folks that refer to themselves as “balanced” trainers. But what does all this mean to you, a pet owner, when trying to choose the best trainer for your dog? 
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