Welcoming Your Puppy from Planet Dog: How To Go Beyond Training and Raise Your Best Friend

Certified dog trainer Callahan (101 Rescue Puppies: One Family’s Story of Fostering Dogs, Love, and Trust) offers highly practical and compassionate guidance for raising a puppy, covering subjects from preparing a space for the puppy’s first few weeks at home to making the most of puppy socialization classes. Emphasizing the importance of empathy in dealing with puppies, Callahan urges readers to dispense with the word “no” and instead focus on rewarding ideal behaviors when they naturally occur, by integrating training opportunities into everyday routines. Whether theydealing with potty training, separation anxiety, or walking on a leash, Callahan reminds puppy parents of the canine needs and insecurities behind typical puppy behavior and offers tips for positive rewards-based correction. The author gives examples of training games that prioritize fun and bonding, while also demonstrating how consistency, a positive attitude, and cooperation among household members are essential to training success.