Is it your job to potty train a puppy, after you (or someone else) brought the adorable furball home? Potty training a puppy takes time and patience, there’s no doubt about it. There also has to be a method to your madness for that inexperienced little creature to understand what you want.

Oh, isn’t she just the cutest thing you have ever seen? That brand new little puppy you received as a Christmas present is the best gift you’ve ever received. You’re so excited, and you just can’t wait to … Wait a minute! What’s that smell? You’ve got to be kidding me!

There are as many ways to raise a puppy as there are to raising a child. In fact, one way per family in general! Still, most of us agree that when it comes to children, certain things are universal and undisputed. Yet when it comes to dogs, a number of things just don’t seem to occur to people.

Puppy training can be a trying time. The key to this time is to really remember that all puppy behavior is normal. They like to mouth, jump, bark, dig and piddle wherever they are. They aren’t doing it to annoy you; they’re just doing what they’ve learned so far. It’s our job to patiently train them otherwise.

Dogs are creatures of habit. And once they develop a habit, breaking it can be a long, frustrating process. Your dog needs guidance and encouragement from you to develop a toilet habit you can live with. Animal behaviorists have learned a lot about dogs over the last couple of decades, and there are many tips available that will make housebreaking your dog or puppy a less frustrating task.

Countdown with these ten great tips to help you develop a lifetime of satisfaction and deep bonding when it comes to your new puppy.

You’ve picked out the perfect puppy. You spent hours on the internet, researching the right breed for you and your family. Then you went from breeder to breeder or humane society to humane society, meeting and greeting pups until you find just the right match. Now what? He needs a name!

Raising a dog from puppy to mature adult is rewarding experience, but also pretty exhausting. Much like human babies, puppies tug at our heartstrings and we sometimes give into their whims. But, just as with humans, it’s very easy to spoil a puppy and end up with an annoying pet instead of the sweet companion you wanted.