How to Not Lose Your Temper With a New Puppy

Don't take your frustrations out on your puppy.
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Puppies, naturally exuberantly energetic, will be excited about exploring their environment and new family when they come into your home. They're cute and endearing, and you know they're frustrating, too. If you find yourself losing patience, try to think of your puppy as a newborn baby who can’t yet control his actions. This widdle one is completely dependent on your care.

Establish expectations before you bring a puppy into your home by learning about the breed's care and training needs. This way you'll ensure you are going into puppy ownership with realistic expectations, helping you avoid surprises with regard to your puppy's breed temperament and likely behavior.

Purchase everything you need for your new puppy before you bring him home. A training crate or kennel, puppy training pads, food and water dishes, food and age-appropriate toys are items to have in place before your puppy comes home. Don't forget a collar and leash, which will help you with early training.

Puppy-proof your house. Many frustrations arise when puppies chew on shoes, have accidents on the floors and otherwise explore their new surroundings by making a mess of everything that looks or smells interesting. This is natural puppy behavior, so prepare your home accordingly to limit potential damage.

Spend time with your puppy. Even a very young puppy can start learning about your expectations through early training. This process, paired with lots of personal time and attention, will help establish a trusting bond between you and your puppy, which can help cut down on frustrations and the potential for losing your patience.

Learn how to do relaxed breathing exercises so that when you catch yourself becoming frustrated with your puppy, you will have tools for calming down. Bringing a new puppy into the home is a big, life-changing event, and it’s normal to have different emotions during the process.

Gently place your puppy in his crate and walk away if you find yourself losing patience with your puppy. Find a quiet place to collect yourself and slowly count to 10. Remind yourself often: Your puppy is just a baby and needs lots of leeway in his training progress. Knowing the breeds' ticks and tendencies will help you determine when to let it go.

Warnings

  • Never hit your puppy or yell at him, which will scare him and abolish any trust you may have established.

    If you don't have time or patience to properly train and acclimate a puppy, reconsider pet ownership for the time being, as you are likely to lose your patience and create an unpleasant environment for both yourself and your puppy.

Warnings

  • Never hit your puppy or yell at him, which will scare him and abolish any trust you may have established.

  • If you don't have time or patience to properly train and acclimate a puppy, reconsider pet ownership for the time being, as you are likely to lose your patience and create an unpleasant environment for both yourself and your puppy.