Tips on How to Raise a Puppy at Home

Living with a dog has been noted to help relieve stress and lower blood pressure, according to WebMD. A dog can benefit a person in many ways. The dog can accompany a family member on jogs, entertain the elderly and play with the children. However, you will have to go through the sometimes arduous trials of raising a rambunctious puppy. Raising your puppy to be a well-behaved, manageable dog will require proper socialization and care.

  1. Be Top Dog

    • Dogs naturally utilize a hierarchy of power. A puppy that thinks that it is on top of the hierarchy will have the tendency to be disobedient, aggressive, even nippy. Make sure to establish your role as "top dog" as soon as you get your puppy. TopPuppyTraining notes that a dog owner can establish this position by showing that the owner and her family comes first -- literally. When walking the dog, make sure that you, and not the dog, are leading. Always make sure that you are first to walk into a room. This action may seem simplistic, but it will resonate with the dog, making you look like the leader of the pack.

    Socialization

    • Make sure to socialize the puppy from a young age, especially in its first eight to 12 weeks of life. Exposing a puppy to an array of external stimuli will help create a dog that is well-rounded and well-behaved. As a dog owner, you can promote socialization by constantly exposing the dog to new people, scents and sights. Allow the dog to meet new people on a regular basis. Taking the puppy to the local dog park and having it romp about with other dogs can facilitate healthy communication skills as well. Simply taking your dog on a hike through some hills or a walk in new territories will help create a well-adjusted dog.

    Crate Training

    • Proper crate training will help with housebreaking. Allow the puppy to have a positive connection with the crate by throwing in its favorite play items and chew toys. PerfectPaws notes that you should only confine the puppy to its crate while you are in the vicinity, making sure to allow the dog to relieve itself every hour. Whenever it gets out of the crate, allow the dog outside so that it can relieve itself. Make sure to give plenty of praise with an occasional treat if defecation or urination occurs. This will resonate with the dog, allowing it to see the positive connection of holding its bladder while in the crate and relieving itself while outside.

    Feeding

    • Purchase dog food that is formulated for the developing puppies. Food formulated for puppies tends to have more vitamins and minerals that food made for adult dogs. Lay out food on a clean dish about three times a day. Provide enough food for the puppy to eat in a single sitting. Supplement its food with dog vitamins fortified with vitamins B and C. These vitamins promote joint health and facilitate proper growth of the puppy.