Good Dog In A Box | Welcome Home! | Beginner Dog Training

​Congratulations on bringing a new canine family member into your home. The Good Dog in a Box Welcome Home Program is designed to set you and your dog up for success. We're going to give you a plan of action to help you and your dog adjust to life together based on science based, family friendly training methods. Let's get started!

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Online Course Instructions

Your online course is divided into three sections.

1. Welcome Home Program - This section gives you ideas and suggestions for how to get your home and family ready for a new dog. You'll learn how to set up schedules for your dog, the items you'll need to make management easier, how to socialize your new dog, and ideas for when things go wrong. You can view these lessons in any order.

2. Reward Based Dog Training - There are four sections related to reward based dog training exercises for you to practice with all the members of your household. These exercises are kid friendly, but require adult supervision. We recommend that any child under the age of twelve be supervised by an adult when with your new dog and when practicing our dog training games. We've included how to's, name and attention games, sit games, and down games. We recommend these online lessons be watched in the order presented. Master one game before moving to the next. Each training game builds on skills for future games.

The training game videos you'll view in this account are meant to be repeated again and again. Practice in different rooms of the house, inside vs outside, and with different members of the family can keep things entertaining and exciting. Consistency and repetition is the key to success. We recommend training sessions of 5 to 10 minutes at a time, one to several times per day.

It's important to remember that every dog is unique. Each dog will have its own learning style and attention span. Your dog may learn some training games quickly, while others may take more practice. If your dog walks away in the middle of a training game or you're not getting the response you're hoping for, that's OK. Stop and come back later. Not every lesson will be perfect and not every dog will pick up a new skill on the first try, but that's OK. Keep practicing and feel free to leave a comment in any video lesson where you have a question or problem.

3. Tellington TTouch Relaxation and Stress Relief Exercises - Bringing a new dog into your home is exciting and stressful for everyone, including the dog. Tellington TTouch or TTouch is a form of gentle touch that gives you a new way to pet and interact with your dog, while relieving stress. TTouch takes hand slides, circular movements, and gentle massage to calm and relax pets. TTouch exercises can be done at any point in the course, so feel free to watch these videos in any order. We recommend that you start and stop a TTouch session with Noah's March.

Good luck with your new dog and welcome him into his new home with a plan and purpose.

Note: The Good Dog program does not address aggressive or fear based behaviors in dogs, which require the assistance of a positive reinforcement dog training professional.

Top 10 Must Have Items for Your New Dog

Here are some essential items that you are going to want on hand for your new dog.

1. collar and identification tag with your contact information

2. harness for leash walks (Halti is a great choice)

3. 6 foot leash

4. bowls for feeding and water, I like stainless steel and wash them daily

5. high quality food without corn, wheat or byproducts

6. pet stain remover -it must be something especially made for pet stains that has enzymes to break down organic compounds

7. taste deterrent spray, which you may want to use on things your dog seems to gravitate to chewing

8. grooming supplies: brushes and a nail trimmer

9. several toys - can be toys for food dispensing or for games of retrieve - you may need to experiment and see what your dog likes

10. crate for containment and management with a soft bed to lie on inside the crate

Housetraining - Setting up for success

There are several tried and true rules for housetraining success. The first rule is supervision, supervision, supervision. Especially during the first few weeks, you need to have your eyes on your dog at all times. If you can’t supervise your dog, they should be in their crate.

Second is knowing when to take your dog outside. Don’t rely on your dog to tell you when they have to go. Ideally, we want to be near their potty area when their bowel and bladder are full. The most likely times are when they wake up from a nap, after playing/ exercising, and after eating. Eating. especially, stimulates the digestive tract, so you know that you’re puppy will need to go after eating.

Third, we have to make it more rewarding to go outside than inside. Have special treats on you, so that you can reward your dog generously when they complete successes outside. Don't reward them when you get inside, you always want the reward to come immediately after the success outside.

Help your good dog be successful, by following these rules for house training success.

Dog-Proofing Your Home

Look at your environment from the dog’s perspective. Dogs will want to investigate with their mouths, so unless you want a dog mouth on your possessions, get everything valuable and unsafe out of your dog's reach. One particular spot of interest is the kitchen. Be sure you’re not inviting a potential counter surfing habit by keeping food away from counter edges. Your dog can’t tell the different between their toy and your shoes, so help them by removing them from their level. Close closet doors, drawers, and keep a lid on your garbage and laundry baskets. You can also use a taste deterrent, like Bitter Apple to make your things less appealing to your dog. You may need to manage the space with baby gates or crate your dog when you aren’t with them, so your dog does not have the ability to roam throughout the house unsupervised. Help your good dog be successful, by dog proofing your home.

Crate Training

Crate training is one of the easiest ways to help your new dog be successful in your home. Crates provide a den-like, safe space to contain your dog when you aren’t home or aren’t able to supervise them. Crates should be large enough that your dog can stand up, turn around and lay down comfortably. Crates help with house training routines and manage dogs that are going through excessive chewing phases. We always want the crate to be a positive place, so giving your dog food dispensing toys in the crate is a great way to help them like the crate. Help your good dog be successful by providing them with a crate.

Setting Up Your Dog's Routine - Feeding

You can help your new pup adjust to life in your home by providing a consistent feeding routine. Be sure to feed your dog a high quality food without fillers such as corn, wheat or byproducts. What goes in, must come out, so If your dog is eating at the same times each day, they will be on a predictable schedule for trips outside for housetraining. The best schedule for most dogs is a morning meal and an evening meal. Just be sure that you plan to take your dog outside to their potty area. Eating a meal stimulates the digestive tract, so a trip outside after meals is a necessity for most dogs. Help your good dog be successful, by having them on a consistent feeding routine.

Setting Up Your Dog’s Routine-Rest

You can help your new pup adjust to life in your home by providing a consistant routine of rest. Downtime is just as important as exercise and proper feeding and one of the most important skills your dog should acquire is being able to be calm being away from you. Your dog will need a space of their own, preferably in a quiet area, away from the hustle and bustle of activity. This should include a soft bed and may also include a crate. You can help your dog settle into their rest area by giving them something to work on, such as a stuffed Kong. Be sure to provide a trip outside to their potty area since waking up is usually a time when dogs eliminate. Help your good dog be successful, by having them on a consistent routine of rest.

Setting Up Your Dog’s Routine-Exercise

You can help your new pup adjust to life in your home by providing a consistent routine of exercise. Every dog benefits from physical exercise, but size, age and breed help determine how much is adequate for your dog. What was your dog's breed or breed mix bred to do? If you dog is hyper, destructive and running circles around your living room, you may want to increase their physical exercise and find activities that satisfy their instincts and drives. Exercise can include leash walks, playing in a fenced area, and playing games inside such as retrieve. Help your good dog be successful, by having them on a consistent exercise routine.

Manners at Mealtime

Help your dog learn house manners and use up their mental and physical energy by using mealtime constructively. Instead of putting the food in a bowl and watching it disappear, carry the bowl around from room to room having your dog practice sitting, laying down, and giving you eye contact. Practice for 5 minutes in several rooms and whatever food is leftover from the meal, put in a food dispensing toy. Put your dog in their crate with the toy and give your puppy some alone time. Help your good dog be successful, by using mealtime as mental exercise time.

Socializing your dog to different places

An essential part of your dog being able to successfully live with humans is learning that different places are enjoyable and safe. It is important especially for puppies and young dogs to have a wide variety of positive social experiences with new and different places around your home and around your town. Taking your dog to different places should be part of your routine, as long as your dog is comfortable. If you see your dog seeming shy or skittish, slow down, and let them adjust gradually on their own. Verbally praise and offer a high value treat for walking with you. Don't force your dog into an interaction or lure your dog with food. Allow them to adjust on their own, then be rewarded. It's also a great idea to practice in places that allow dogs, such as pet stores, your veterinarian's office, and pet friendly stores. Download our Good Dog socialization checklist to help track your dog's progress.

Socializing your dog with other dogs

An essential part of your dog being able to successfully live in the world is learning about other dogs. It is important especially for puppies and young dogs to have a wide variety of positive social experiences other dogs. The best places can be a force free, family friendly dog training class. If you see your dog seeming shy or skittish in social situations with new dogs, slow down, and let them approach gradually on their own. Verbally praise and offer a high value treat after they approach on their own. Dog parks may not be the best place to start, as many dogs can be overwhelmed in dog parks. Download our Good Dog socialization checklist to help track your dog's progress.

Socializing your dog with other people

An essential part of your dog being able to successfully live with humans is learning that meeting new people is enjoyable and safe. It is important especially for puppies and young dogs to have a wide variety of positive social experiences with new and different people of different age groups. Meeting new people should be a part of your routine, as long as your dog is comfortable. If you see your dog seeming shy or skittish in social situations, slow down, and let them approach gradually on their own. Verbally praise and offer a high value treat after they approach. Don't force an interaction or lure your dog with food. Allow them to approach on their own, then be rewarded. Pay particular attention that your dog is not overwhelmed by children and that all interactions with children are actively supervised by an adult. Never allow your dog to be alone with children, even your own. It's also a great idea to practice wearing hats, sunglasses, and coats.

Socializing your dog to things

An essential part of your dog being able to successfully live with humans is learning that things they encounter in the world are enjoyable and safe. It is important especially for puppies and young dogs to have a wide variety of positive experiences with new and different things, like household items, appliances, and loud noises. Exposure to new things should be a part of your routine, as long as your dog is comfortable. If you see your dog seeming shy or skittish, slow down, and let them approach gradually on their own. Verbally praise and offer a high value treat after they approach. Don't force an interaction or lure your dog with food. Allow them to approach on their own, then be rewarded. It's also a great idea to practice having your dog walk on different types of surfaces and different types of flooring.

Housetraining - Problem Solving

If you are following the rules of housetraining success, then mistakes should be minimal. Most mistakes can usually be traced back to human error. Who was supposed to be watching the dog? Was he taken out immediately after eating? If you do find a mistake, don’t waste your energy getting upset with your dog. Clean it up with a pet stain remover, review your house training plan and figure out how you can help your dog be more successful next time. Keep a log of the successes and mistakes which can help you track your dog's routine and solve potential issues. If you dog is having a mistake every day ‪at 3pm‬ or every time one of your family members is supposed to be supervising, that will help you resolve the problem. Help your good dog be successful, by following these rules for house training success.

When Things Go Wrong

Imagine being a dog in a new home with humans. You don't know the language, you don't know the rules, and you're probably confused. . Learning the rules for living with humans should be an experience that builds your relationship, so that your dog learns that trusting you and listening to you is always the right choice. Setting your puppy up for success with the Good Dog in a Box Welcome Home program will help minimize problems but it is important to always be patient and kind. If you dog makes a mistake or does something that you don't like, it is important to not blame your dog. Reprimanding your puppy by yelling or punishing them physically often leads to more confusion and does nothing to actually resolve issues. Don't just say "NO". Think about how you can change the situation next time so that your dog is successful or better understands what you want them to do. If your are having problems resolving issues or if your dog is showing signs of stress or fear based behaviors, contact a science based, force free dog training professional for assistance.