Welcoming a new puppy into your life is such a joyful experience. The anticipation of cuddles, playtime, and adventures with your pup can fill your heart with warmth and excitement. However, amidst the excitement, many puppy parents may find themselves experiencing unexpected emotions known as the “puppy blues.”

What are the puppy blues? Simply put, it’s a common phenomenon where puppy owners feel overwhelmed, stressed, or even sad after bringing their puppy home. While it’s normal to encounter challenges when caring for a young pup, the puppy blues can catch some off guard. I’d like to delve deeper into what causes the puppy blues and how you can navigate through them with patience and understanding.

Understanding the Puppy Blues

The puppy blues can manifest in various ways, from feelings of exhaustion due to disrupted sleep to the stress of housebreaking accidents and the constant need for supervision. Some puppy owners may also experience doubts about their ability to care for their puppy adequately, leading to feelings of guilt or anxiety.

It’s important to recognize that adjusting to life with a new puppy is a significant life change. Your daily routine may be disrupted, and you may find yourself facing challenges you hadn’t anticipated. Remember, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed, and you’re not alone in experiencing these emotions.

Coping Strategies for Puppy Blues

Set Realistic Expectations:  It’s normal for your puppy to have accidents, “steal” household items, or even be a little unsure at a new sound that they’ve never heard before. Young puppies have physical, mental, and emotional limitations and will need to be heavily supervised and managed at this stage. Puppies also have a hard time regulating their energy and excitement levels and so they tend to get over-stimulated fairly quickly. Pro tips: Try to focus on your pup’s progress and celebrate the small victories along the way.

Seek Support: Don’t hesitate to reach out to fellow dog owners, friends, or family members who have been through similar experiences. Joining a local puppy training class can also provide valuable support and guidance. What A Great Dog! Training Center offers an assortment of specialty classes for your pup including Great Puppy Day School, Puppy Preschool sessions, Manners classes and Private Lessons that can help you through these challenging times. The Online Puppy Seminar gives good practical tips for living with a puppy.

Take Breaks: It’s essential to prioritize self-care during this adjustment period. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to take breaks and engage in activities that help you relax and recharge. With a little R&R, you’ll  also be better equipped to care for your pup! Also, remember that puppies grow up lightning fast. When your pup matures a bit, your life will return to a more normal rhythm. 

Focus on Bonding: Cherish the moments spent bonding with your puppy, whether it’s cuddling on the couch, giving your dog a chew, going for walks, or playing together. Building a strong bond with your puppy not only enhances your relationship but also helps alleviate feelings of stress.

Embrace the Journey: While the puppy blues may feel overwhelming at times, it’s essential to remember that they are temporary. As you and your puppy navigate through the ups and downs of puppyhood, you’ll develop a deeper bond built on love, trust, and understanding. Remember: raising a puppy takes time, patience, and a lot of consistency! 

So, to all the new puppy parents out there experiencing the puppy blues, take a deep breath, give yourself a pat on the back, and know that brighter days are ahead. Your puppy may be small, but the love they bring into your life is immeasurable!

The post Navigating the Puppy Blues! A Guide for Puppy Parents appeared first on What a Great Dog!.

When your pup encounters these fall favorites on his walk, it can be startling and very scary for him. Be sure to bring extra tasty training treats on every walk and be on the lookout for any new decorations. If your pup is curious about anything new in a neighbor’s yard, say “yes” and reward him as soon as he looks at the object. Repeat this step several times. If you notice that your puppy seems worried about the object, move further away or find another route to take your pup on. Socialization is all about forming good, positive feelings about the world. If we push a pup into getting too close to a new item that they aren’t comfortable with, there’s a good chance that their fear will increase. By keeping them at a distance they are comfortable with, and creating a positive association by giving treat, you’ll have the best chance of increasing their confidence and making walks fun for you both.

The post Helping your Puppy through Spooky Season! 🎃 appeared first on What a Great Dog!.

The post DIY Dog Paw Holiday Ornament appeared first on What a Great Dog!.

Fireworks and Fido just don’t mix! Here are some great tips to help your dog:

 

Make sure your dog has plenty of opportunities to go potty outside before the sun starts to set.

 

Keep your dog’s collar and ID tags on (just in case).

 

Leave your dog at home and indoors while you enjoy the outdoor festivities. Loud noises and big crowds can frighten and/or overwhelm your dog. We highly encourage another family member or a sitter to stay home with your pets if possible, especially if you have a new puppy or dog who hasn’t experienced fireworks before.

 

Think about creating a “safe room” for your dog. This would be a place where your dog can escape to when the fireworks start (i.e. a closet or somewhere ideally with no windows). You could add your dog’s bed or place a covered crate in the room if that’s something your dog likes laying in.

 

Create some white noise in your house (fans, music, TV, radio), and make sure all windows and blinds are closed.

 

Provide your dog with some enrichment. Stuffed interactive toys like Toppls, bully sticks or bones can help soothe your dog and keep them busy.

 

Homeopathic remedies (Like July 3rd or Progility Calming Chews from WAGD) provide relief for some dogs and are worth trying with yours. However, some dogs do best on a prescription med from your vet. Don’t let your dog suffer needlessly. Get him meds if he needs them.

 

The WAGD shop stocks products that can help your pup get through the weekend. Our friendly staff members are here to answer your questions and offer suggestions for your dog!

 

The post Keep Your Dogs Safe During the Holiday! appeared first on What a Great Dog!.

Rescues get $10 off!

The post Aggression Seminar at WAGD appeared first on What a Great Dog!.

The post WINTER WEATHER UPDATES appeared first on What a Great Dog!.

April Premium

May Premium (coming soon!)

Questions? For all paper entry queries, or specific show questions, please email Meagan Johnson: trial@whatagreatdog.com

The post UKI Agility Trials at WAGD! appeared first on What a Great Dog!.

We like to use a handling technique called: Pat, Pet, Pause. This technique can be a great option for kids and adults with your own dog, or for dogs you meet. For those of you with kiddos, you’re going to want to teach this to the family. Let’s begin!

Pat: Pat your legs, and encourage the dog to come into your space. If the dog comes over to you, you can move to the next step, “pet”. *If the dog chooses not to come over, no biggie! The dog doesn’t want to be pet right now. Try again in a few hours.

Pet: Once your dog comes over to you, you can go ahead and pet. Dogs enjoy being pet on their chest. If you have a dog who leans into you, you could also pet around their shoulders and side. Avoid reaching over them or petting on top of their head. Gently pet the dog for 3-5 seconds, then continue to step 3, “pause”.

Pause: Hold off on any more petting and wait. Look for any stress signals like a shake off (the kind of shake your dog does when he gets out of the bathtub) and/or moving away. If the dog does move away, this means “I am done now, thank you!”. If he stays, you can go back to petting for another 3-5 seconds and a pause.

Pat, Pet, Pause allows our dog to make choices they want. When we can listen to our dogs wants and needs, we can avoid causing unnecessary stress or issues. It may seem small, but freedom of choice increases confidence and can deepen the trust our dogs have in us. Learning what our dogs enjoy and how they choose to interact in a certain situation will help us get to know our dog even more and strengthen the relationship we have with them.

The post Petting and the Power of Choice appeared first on What a Great Dog!.

In this blog, Ashley will go over the top 10 gifts any dog lover will enjoy! There’s nothing quite like the bond between a human and their dog, and nobody knows this better than a dog lover! After all, Dogs bring us so much comfort and joy, especially around the holidays. For those who have friends that are hard to shop for, but LOVE their dog, you can’t go wrong with these ideas! In no particular order, here are 10 great gifts for dog lovers and their dogs! 

Note: The first 7 gifts can be purchased at our WAGD retail shops. Call ahead and we will be happy to gather your holiday goodies for you and run it to your car when you arrive!

#1. Doggie Language: A Dog Lover’s Guide To Understanding Your Best Friend by Lili Chen

Dogs communicate with so much more than barks and tail wags, and misreading doggie body language makes life challenging for dogs and their humans. This small but mighty book is your perfect illustrated guide to seeing and understanding the subtle visual cues and interpreting the behaviors used by your beloved pup to express how they’re feeling. The more we notice and listen to what our dogs are trying to tell us, the more we can improve our relationship with our best friends, helping them to feel safe and happy.

#2. What A Great Dog! Gift Card

Why not give the gift of a well trained dog? What A Great Dog! Training Center gift cards are good for in-facility, online training classes or retail products at WAGD. You can purchase an e-gift card now by clicking here.

#3. West Paw Toppl

The Toppl is the ultimate boredom buster for puppies and dogs of all ages. Simply stuff with something wet like canned dog food or yogurt, mix some of your dog’s kibble and freeze. This toy can be used in your dog’s crate, when you’re watching TV, during meal time and more. It’s also easy to clean and dishwasher safe.

 #4. Clicino Clicker Ring

The Clicino Clicker Ring is a convenient clicker that fits on your finger like a ring, freeing up your hands while ensuring that you always have a clicker at the ready. This product is perfect for those who are currently training their dog or for those just starting their training journey. Watch this short video of Maureen Patin demonstrate this product!

#5. Rapid Rewards / Trek & Train Treat Pouches

These treat bags give years of service, and can be used during training, outings, and anything that comes up while enjoying life with dogs. Both bags have a magnetic closure letting you open and close with one hand with ease. There’s also compartments on both (great for credit cards, keys, or pickup bags). I use this pouch on my outings every day with my dog and I am confident ANY dog lover will put this bag to great use! 

#6. Auto Dog Mug

This portable dog mug works great in class, on hikes, and fits in car cup holders! Simply fill with water, squeeze bottle to fill, then release to drain the extra water back into the water bottle! It’s made in the USA from food-safe, BPA-free plastic. We have a sample Auto Dog Mug out on display to demo, so come check it out!

#7. Scratch Pad Nail Filer 

Take the fear out of nail trimming with this handy tool! The Scratch Pad can help form a positive association to filing a dog’s nails. We’ve created a short video for those of you who are interested in how it works.

#8. Dog DNA Kit

Doggie DNA kits give the dog lover in your life a chance to learn all about their dog’s breeds and ancestry. These kits can also provide information on genetic health concerns. We hear really good things about the Wisdom and Embark DNA kits.

#9. Matching Pajama Sets

What better way to brighten someone’s day with a matching set of pajamas for them and their dog! I purchased my set at Target (see picture above). They have a wide selection of patterns and colors to choose from, plus they have matching sets for dogs of all sizes! 

#10. Soggy Doggy Doormats 

Every dog owner knows the drill… their dog begs to go outside while it’s raining, and then tracks all of the outdoors back inside with them. The Soggy Doggy Doormat absorbs 5x more water than a regular doormat. It also helps with trapping dirt from their paw pads

The post 10 Gift Ideas for the Dog Lovers in Your Life! appeared first on What a Great Dog!.

For Even More Success: Shake things up! Pick a new walking route. Find a great spot to let him sniff to his hearts content. A little bit of novelty can greatly enhance your dog’s experience, and all of that mental stimulation will tire him out as much as the physical part of the walk. Don’t forget to sprinkle in a little training while you’re out and about!

Remember This: Anything dogs practice, they get better at. Be sure to prevent your dog from practicing jumping by keeping him on a leash, behind a baby gate, or even in his crate, if needed. Be sure to reward your dog for good behavior!

For Even Better Results: freeze the toy to make Fido’s feast last longer. This pro tip is a FAVORITE among professional trainers!

The post Training Tips for the Holidays! appeared first on What a Great Dog!.