Raising a well-rounded and well-behaved puppy isn’t just about stopping them from misbehaving, it’s about teaching them what is right, and preventing them from doing what is wrong.
One of the keys to helping your puppy stay out of trouble is management. Management is using things like puppy gates, closed doors, playpens, and crates to prevent our puppies from getting into trouble. Management is also keeping the house and counters clean and keeping non-puppy safe things out of reach. Just like you would baby-proof your house before having a toddler over, you should also puppy proof your house!
In my opinion, the two most important things all puppy parents can have for training and safety are an Ex-Pen and a Crate. The Ex-Pen/playpen is essentially your puppy‘s bedroom and playroom. Your puppy‘s expen is a safe space for you to leave them on their own while you cook dinner, take a shower, or even leave the house for a bit.
Setting up your Exercise Pen
You puppy’s pen should have a bed, a water bowl, and a selection of their favorite toys. I like to also include their crate IN the expen, or attached to it with their bed in it. If you have to leave your puppy alone for several hours, and they aren’t old enough to be fully potty trained yet, you should also include a potty spot for them.
There are quite a few ex-pen options out there, so let me know if I can help you pick one! Make sure it has a door that you and your puppy can walk through, and make sure it’s both tall enough and heavy enough to keep them inside.
What management tips helped you keep your sanity during puppyhood?
