WELCOME TO THE KEENDOG PUPPY PORTAL
Whether you have an 8-week-old puppy or an older brand-new-to-you dog, we want to set you up for success from day one! To get you started on the right foot, we've put together this portal with all of our tried-and-true puppy raising resources. Scroll down for our top tips, links to must-read blog posts, and free printables.
OUR 5 TOP TIPS FOR PUPPY RAISING
So you’re getting a puppy or a new dog... The excitement in your household is at an all time high and you know you want to start training, but you're not sure where to focus your energy. We want to set you on the right course, so we are sharing with you our 5 top tips for puppy raising!
Most owners want to jump straight into obedience training, but your dog has their whole life to perfect their loose leash walk and off leash recall. While puppies are malleable sponges and teaching new behaviors is fun, focusing on life skills like housebreaking, crate training, eliminating undesirable behavior (like puppy biting), building confidence, and exposing your puppy to the world is more beneficial in the long run and more age appropriate.
We've helped raise thousands of puppies of varying breeds and temperaments over the years and the foundational advice is always the same...
- Employ in-home management techniques to reduce and prevent undesirable behaviors.
- Build a strong relationship through play.
- Prioritize early environmental exposure and socialization.
- Spend quality time together.
- Make meal times fun and interactive.
READY TO START YOUR TRAINING JOURNEY?
Whether you're looking for an intensive board-and-train, a self-led online course, or something in between, we've got a program for you!
CONTINUE SCROLLING FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & FREEBIES
CRATE TRAINING 101
Why Crate Training?
From providing a safe haven and aiding in housebreaking, to preventing destructive behavior and easing separation anxiety, crate training offers many advantages for both you and your puppy. With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, the crate can be a valuable tool in raising a happy, well-adjusted canine companion.
Daily Schedules For Puppies
Puppies thrive on structure! Creating and sticking to a routine will help you stay on top of potty training and ensure you are providing the varied activities that your puppy needs throughout the day. Just how much time should your puppy spend in their crate? Click through to read our recommendations.
Using Shaping To Crate Train
Shaping is one of our favorite ways to teach new behaviors because it requires your puppy to think for themselves and voluntarily offer behaviors. Using shaping in crate training creates a positive association and teaches your puppy to love going in their crate! Read on for a breakdown of how shaping works.
PRINTABLE RESOURCES
Puppy Raising Timeline
Not sure when to start training or what order to introduce behaviors? This timeline lays out our tried-and-true approach when starting training with an 8-week-old puppy. Every dog learns at their own pace, and every household has unique factors that must be considered; if your training doesn’t align with this schedule exactly, that’s okay!
Lifestyle Key Principles
This is a cheat sheet we share with all of our clients! It condenses months worth of training into a convenient one page summary. Print this out and stick it on your fridge or keep a copy wherever you store your puppy's food or training tools. Use it as a quick reference tool to ensure you're staying on track with training.
LET US JUMPSTART YOUR TRAINING JOURNEY
Click the buttons below for more information about our training packages and online courses!
Not sure what's the best fit for you and your dog(s)? Schedule a consultation with us and we'd be happy to walk you through your options!
