Are you thinking of getting a puppy? Or maybe you already have one? Maybe you’re just home from picking him
up and wondering what you’ve gotten yourself into? Well, you’re in for a wild ride, with both
ups and downs. In today’s lesson, I’m going to share
with you the reality of owning a puppy. Michele here with HTTADD…. Before we get started be sure to hit that
subscribe button so you never miss when another video goes live OK maybe you’ve owned a dog before, or maybe
you had one while you were growing up. But have you ever owned a PUPPY? They are a whole different ball game! Let’s talk about what you can expect: Reality #1: You will lose sleep Sorry, I hate to tell you this, but if you
think you’re going to get through potty training, sterilization surgery, the teething
phase, any possible illness, all without missing a night of good rest? Yeah, that's not happening. Nope nope and nopety nope! Your puppy can hold his bladder about an hour
for every month of age. So that means if you are bringing home a puppy
about 8 weeks old, he’s going to need to go out every 2 hours during the night ! Even
more frequently during the daytime You’ll get more time between potty outings
at night, and less time when he’s active and playing. But new puppy parents usually need to go out
at least 2 times at night at the beginning. Don't worry, that gets better with time, training
and maturity. The crate will be the best tool to help your
puppy learn to hold his bladder longer. Another great tool will be my New Puppy Starter
Kit! This kit contains The super important potty
training lesson a bell training lesson so your puppy can learn to signal to you when
they need to go out it also contains several printable resources
such as a sample schedule a potty training chart and a supply list there are also other super important videos
in there for New Puppy owners who want to avoid the mistakes most new puppy owners make Now...There will surely come a time when your
pup isn’t feeling well, has had a medical procedure like a spay or neuter surgery, or
maybe has about of an upset stomach. These are all times when you’ll likely need
to be more attentive, including in the middle of the night. Yeah, expect a little less sleep. The good news is that as your puppy grows
he will better be able to sleep through any possible physical discomfort AND hold his
bladder until morning. Puppies usually start sleeping through the
night around 14 weeks of age, but it really varies a lot on the dog and how much training
you’re putting in. Remember that we don’t recommend puppies
in a human bed until they are much much older, and I think that having only one crate in
a spot other than the bedroom is best. You can use a pet camera or baby monitor to
hear when he is ready to go out. More crate training tools and lesson can be
found here: I have an entire crate training playlist here on my channel Now we are ready for reality #2: You will
have messes. Yep, your home will be the sight of lots of
potty oopses, which is why we suggest you choose the flooring for your puppy pen carefully. We usually recommend a piece of linoleum or
even a piece of plywood. Even if you have tile floors, the urine can
soak into the grout and the smell remains. Remember that just because you can’t smell
it, that doesn't mean it doesn’t smell! Your dog can smell it! Definitely clean up all messes with Nature’s
Miracle or another enzymatic cleaner. And soft squishy areas are really just asking
for trouble with a new puppy, so keep him off the carpet until he’s older. This means you may have to remove or pick
up any area rugs including those by the kitchen sink or under the kitchen or dining room table. Another mess that is likely to happen…? Puppies are also world-class chewers! I’m not kidding, if there was a chewing
competition, puppies would win! If you give them access to all the things,
they will likely chew them! This means furniture legs, baseboards, plants,
shoes, gym bags, couches, curtains you name it they can and will chew it! This includes electrical cords, phone charging
cords, and remote controls Reinforcement builds behavior and that means
the more your puppy does it, the more he’ll keep doing it. Even if it’s the wrong thing. Especially if it’s the wrong thing, because
that creates engagement from you. Do yourself and your puppy a favor - give
him the RIGHT things to chew and restrict his access from the wrong things. Chewing isn’t a behavior we have to correct,
it’s a behavior we have to REDIRECT. Check out this video for more great info on
things your puppy CAN chew. Ready for reality #3? You will have inconveniences of space Yes, having a puppy can be an inconvenience
- at least for a while! This means that you have to manage their space
so you can better protect them and your household. Most people have to use some configuration
of baby gates or a puppy pen, maybe blocking off stairs or an entire section of the house. This management of the environment will be
there for a while so I would try to get the things that work the first time. Keep in mind that your puppy will get curious
and might try to climb or move gates. Just like I said before, the more they do
it - and succeed - the more they will try it. ** I like to use this gate that has vertical
bars that make it harder for your puppy to climb. In addition to gates, you’ll have to think
like a puppy, and that means look at everything that is low to the ground. Curtains? Rugs? Garbage cans? Shoes? Kids toys? They probably all need to be tucked away or
up for a while. You can definitely train your puppy to leave
them alone but while in training, it’s important that he doesn’t have access to them and
accidentally reinforce the wrong behavior. We often say “manage the environment, not
the animal”. Your puppy doesn’t know the difference between
that nylabone and the kid's legos. It’s up to you to help him understand which
one is better to chew on OK, moving on to my next reality: Reality
#4 You will be confused and misunderstand him. Sorry, hate to tell you that you don’t speak
puppy, but you don’t! Dogs speak a different language than we do. And it’s even more confusing for us humans
because it’s not even a verbal language - it’s a BODY language! He definitely won’t know what you’re saying
and YOU will likely miss cues that he’s giving off about his thoughts and feelings. That’s OK, it gets better - with time and
training. You’re going to hear that from me a lot! Canine communication can be hard to understand
but if you dig in a little you’ll start to notice patterns that can help you. As an adult, a dog’s brain is really about
the same developmental age as a 2 or 3-year-old human. So they aren’t super complicated if you
know what you’re looking for. Part of my online course 30 Days to Puppy
Perfect covers how to understand the signals your dog is giving off. And how to read canine body language And as a student of the pro level, we go over
this in our private FB group and on zoom calls. Our students are becoming really good at understanding
doggie body language! With a new puppy, the schedule is going to
be one of the biggest tools to help you try and figure out what is happening inside your
dog’s brain. Is it time for a nap? A meal? A play session? A potty break? The schedule can clue you into a lot of those
things. Remember I mentioned the New Puppy Starter
Kit? Yep, a sample schedule is in there, or you’re
going to love this video, all about building a schedule for your puppy. Next up on my list of puppy-owning realities….Reality
#5 You’ll probably have regrets You’re thinking “what? I worked so hard to get this puppy, now I’m
going to regret it?” Don’t worry, it won’t last forever. But a lot of people report a period of what
we call “the puppy blues” at least once or twice in the first year of owning a new
puppy. It’s SO normal, but that doesn’t mean
it’s not frustrating. But I’m here to tell you that you’ll get
through it. How? With Time and Training! I hope you don’t get tired of me saying
that! You can learn a lot more about the puppy blues
from this video. Including what you can do about it. Ok, moving along to our next reality…. Reality #6 you will have vet bills. Yep, it’s going to happen and it’s something
you’ll definitely want to prepare for. Vaccinations, check-ups, that time he gets
an ear infection, maybe a bee sting, he ate something he shouldn’t, it’ll happen to
even the most diligent puppy parent. Many people buy pet insurance to help offset
some of the more serious costs. I strongly recommend this! People underestimate just how much it costs
to raise n train a puppy. without any emergency vet visit, it's likely
that you'll spend at least $2,500 within the first year of owning a puppy. that's going to include vet bills, food, supplies,
and other necessary things for your puppy Speaking of items your puppy will need… Reality #7 is that you are going to have to
buy stuff. Thankfully we don’t have to buy clothes
and shoes for our dogs like we do our kids, but they still need STUFF. From the very beginning, they need a crate,
a puppy pen, a leash and collar and a harness for the walks, of course, they need FOOD and
definitely, they need toys! The right toys to help redirect from biting
and engage in good, healthy play is so important. Toys are only one piece of the whole pie of
a dog’s needs - training is more important - but you do need some very specific tools like
chew toys and enrichment activities to help keep your dog’s mind and body healthy. Another reality… Reality #8 You will have to work his needs
into your schedule. This means you will likely be inconvenienced
from time to time. Sometimes I have people reach out to me and
say “Michele I work 10 hours a day but I really want a sweet dog to greet me when I
get home. How can I manage a puppy who needs a potty
break every 2 hours?” The answer? You can’t. You can’t expect a puppy to suspend his
physical limitations beyond what is normal because you have to work or go to school It will be really important to examine your
lifestyle and the realistic needs of a puppy before making that commitment. That’s why I created this video - to help
you know what to expect! You also want to think about your lifestyle
outside of the day to day. Maybe your family takes a lot of vacations
- at least you plan to in the future? You’ll need to evaluate where your puppy
goes when you are gone. Boarding is definitely an option, or a housesitter
or taking the puppy. But they all have costs and preparation associated
with those choices so think that through just a little bit! If you haven’t brought your puppy home yet
that could also be a factor in the size of dog you get. And did you know that some breeds of dogs
are not able to be transported via airplane because their nose shape could put them in
jeopardy, or sometimes dogs can’t be transported at certain times of year because they could
get too hot or too cold? That’s definitely one thing to think ahead
on! Ok just two more realities to share before
we are done Before I share my last 2 with you, be sure
to hit that subscribe button so you get notified when another valuable training video like
this one goes LIVE Here’s my next one: Reality #9 You will
have to go outside when it’s hot/wet/cold. Sorry! I know those ads like to make you think that
pee pads are a super convenient option when you don’t want to leave the house but it
doesn’t work like that. Teaching your puppy to go outside means being
consistent with taking him outside. You can’t teach him to pee outside, except
on rainy Thursdays, snowy mornings, and weekends when you sleep it. Puppies don’t think like that! We want our puppies to be like the postal
service and go potty in rain, sleet, snow, and any other weather! Also, keep in mind that your dog’s exercise
needs don’t change just because it rained. They don't really want to curl up with a bowl
of soup and a blanket and watch movies all day like you do. In fact, the rain or the snow might carry
some new smells and new sensations that are super fun to explore! OK, I’ve got one more reality to share with
you. Reality #10 This one is close to my heart:
You will have to train him - if you want a peaceful household, that is. Dogs who don’t know what we expect of them
are confused and often exhibit behavioral problems not because they are bad dogs, but because
they are confused dogs who lack training and manners! If you want a dog who doesn’t bark like
crazy when your guests come over, who doesn’t chew up the furniture, who doesn’t jump up on counters and beg
while you eat dinner, you have to train him! The good news is that training isn’t complicated. You just need a little guidance. It can actually be a lot of fun and helps
you both build an amazing relationship together too That’s where I come in. In my program, I’ve put the entire blueprint
together for you Everything from the foundation skills, including
impulse control and manners to more advanced work on leash skills and a reliable come command! All in the right order for you and your puppy
to learn. The right order is best for optimal learning! I think I’ve covered a lot of realities
for you and I hope I haven’t made you too worried! Before you hop over to those other videos
I mentioned earlier... I have some final important thoughts to share In addition to all of those realities, you’ll
also have a best friend, you will have a companion who loves you even when you look/smell your
worst, you will meet others who have dogs and be
part of a community of dog owners, you will have the pride of accomplishment that you
raised a well mannered, well-balanced pup And you will have a loving forever friend. To me, all those realities are well worth
it! In the comments below tell me which reality
was most surprising to you?
