Puppy training for absolute novices

[scatteredglitter]

W were lucky enough to be getting a cavapoo puppy next week.

We almost got a puppy last Christmas but decided to wait until dd was another year older. So it s not a light decision.
But we are complete novices. Please can you share training tips and anything else we need to know ? I d be most grateful.
We will book in with a trainer but from enquiring locally there s no slots until the new year.
She will be 9 week old next week when she arrives.
Thank you

Take pup out every 20/30 mins to begin. Stay with pup and praise once they go to the toilet.
When they have an accident inside don't react, just take them back outside.
Buy an enzyme floor cleaner like Simple Solutions. This will get rid of all smells so pup doesn't go back to wee again on that spot.
I would have pup sleeping next to me at night so when pup stirs you can take them outside for a wee then straight back to bed.
Get a lightweight lead and collar to get pup used to it early on.

If your don't want adult dog on your bed/sofa don't let them up when they are a pup

We bought cheap bed/toys until we found out what pup liked.

Get decent insurance

Use stair gates to block off anywhere you don't want pup to have access to.

Do lots of research and have realistic expectations about leaving pup alone, mouthing, toilet training etc.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Join the face book page dog training and advice. They cover pretty much everything in their files and you can post questions for anything that's not covered

Do not use puppy pads, you are just teaching your puppy to toilet indoors.
Take it in the garden to toilet as soon as you arrive home with it.
Accept that you are taking it in the garden every 30-60 minutes, and that you will be getting up a couple of times in the night too.
We took it in turns to be ‘in charge’ of the puppy so that it didn’t have the opportunity to have an accident. One had puppy while the other cooked etc.
Puppy proof the house and garden. Wrap any wires that can’t be moved and check the garden for poisonous plants.

The Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey, Or Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy by Steve Mann. Ideally, read both if you have time

The breeder should advise you, We crate all our dogs and its safer for them, crate can be divided when pup is small to make a toilet area but as mentioned get them out ASAP.
All have the same rules and commands to avoid confusion, make play time and quiet time, if working from home crate the pup for a couple of hours a day so if you do go out it will be fine to leave.

Join 'Dog Training Advice and Support' facebook group. They have a whole puppy unit. Also check this out, its amazing:

Pippa Mattinson Happy Puppy was my go to, and I read it before the puppy arrived. The sooner you start training the easier it is-even tiny ones can come, sit, lie down. Make training as much fun as you can.
Keep the puppy somewhere easy to clean up until toilet training is more reliable, and be religious about getting it outside every 20 minutes as well as after food, a nap, a play. Train yourself too-leave puppy in crate with something nice or when they are tired so they get used to being on their own. All of that said, mine was (I now realise) very easy so she helped make things easy!! Most of all enjoy!

YouTube has some good stuff, I'm learning loads in preparation for our planned puppy next year. Kikopup and Zak George in particular are really easy to follow.
As well as the books and Fb page already mentioned.

We brought our pup home Tuesday, he is just over 8 weeks. We were advised to use pee pads, so have just the one by the back door. He is tiny and seems to get cold and cries outside and won't wee there. We were thinking of just taking him out in the garden more regularly to get him used to it and move the pad out there?

He was only using pads prior to coming to us. Its so difficult as so much differing advice out there.

He doesnt wee that often but isn't reliable at letting us know, he has gone to the mat a couple of times to wee so he's a long way off so I am sure all is not lost.

He is easy at night so far and in the day just goes to his crate when tired. Toileting is definitely the stressful bit.

Great advice on here. Puppies are HARD WORK. Prepare yourself for an emotional rollercoaster! Remember that this is a baby mammal who will be missing mum and litter mates and will be unsettled at first. Lots of love. As much socialization as possible . Hard work now really pays off in your adult dog.