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Dog Daycare is the best Socialization Tool

Having a puppy is so exciting! Their development week-by-week is vital during their first year of life. Having a plan in place for their training as well as their socialization is the key to your best dog!

Quick Jump:
7-9 weeks
9-12 weeks
13-16 weeks
16+ weeks
week-by-week 7-9 weeks old puppy
Age 7-9 Weeks
Puppy Basics
  • Book your first vet visit and continue your schedule and puppy-proofing. Remember consistency is key; do not give in if your puppy is fussy
Training
  • Take your dog outside in the carrier and introduce them to the sounds and smells of your neighborhood.
Socialization
  • Once your dog is cleared by your vet, you may begin socialization in a monitored environment like Biscuits & Bath
week-by-week 9-12 weeks old puppy
Age 9-12 Weeks
Training
  • Implement regular training into your schedule with a Trainer, this is when your dog is first able to start learning at a higher level.
  • Begin working on name recognition, rewarding and giving attention for the right behaviors, and discuss training plan with a Trainer.
Socialization
  • Bring your dog for their first partial day of daycare with their first brush-out. It’s important to establish positive association with their first grooming, i.e., cleaning of the pads, trimming of the paws and nail trim.
Age 13-16 Weeks
Training
  • Schedule a one on one session with your Trainer to create a new schedule for outside potty training as well as chewing / teething.
  • Your dog will become more independent and willful, pay close attention to where and when.
  • Schedule training time for basic obedience.
Socialization
  • Begin regular socialization at Biscuits & Bath and daily walks from home, a regular schedule is key.
Age 16+ Weeks
Training
  • Create an on-going training schedule with your Trainer on all adolescent behaviors such as nipping, jumping, potty training, and leash behavior.

Still in the planning phase?

Need a trainer?

Our daycare options

Previous: Getting a New Puppy – How to Prepare

A mouthy puppy is completely normal. Puppies perceiving everything as a chew toy is a natural part of their development. It is their way of learning the world, similar to babies discovering objects by touching. You will see this behavior especially during playtime, which can include nibbling on hands, feet and clothing. Save your hands, shoes, furniture and clothing from unwanted puncture marks from the dreaded puppy mouthiness.

Tips to combat your puppy’s piranha teeth

Not every pup learns the same way but here are a few ways you can help them understand that your hands aren’t toys.

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Having trouble leaving your dog alone? Check out this post on tips to curb Separation Anxiety

Puppy mouthiness have you at your wits end? Meet with one of our trainers to guide you through this stage and beyond.

Managing Your Puppy’s Needs

The first year with your dog is a year filled with exciting firsts, as well as challenging milestones. You are probably wondering what sort of changes you will have to make to your lifestyle with a new puppy, i.e., will they need to be drastic, how much attention and training does my dog need, and where do I begin? Don’t worry, we’ve got you!

a black puppy lying down with a blue ball in her mouth
Pre-Puppy planning, breeder, rescue expectations, and beyond Three Weeks Prior:

Discuss what your breeder or rescue is currently doing for the care of your puppy, set proper expectations.

Two Weeks Prior:
  • Schedule a session with a Trainer to create a schedule and start puppy-proofing your home. You should expect to go over
    • How to create a “safe zone”
    • Creating a dog’s schedule
    • Creating a consistent language for the household
  • Set up a Zoom call with New York Veterinary Practice to discuss your dog’s Annual Wellness Plan.
Day of arrival – tips for success:
Entering Your Home:
  • Take your dog to their “safe zone,” setup during your puppy-proofing. Your dog should have access to go in and out of the crate. Put kibble or a treat in the crate so there is positive association with the area.
  • Based on the schedule established with the Trainer, put down food and water (do not leave these down for more than 30 minutes). This will help your dog feel more comfortable.
  • Introduce your dog to your family and household. Do not approach all at once as this can be overwhelming. Allow your dog to come to you.
  • Tour your dog around your home, avoid areas you do not want them to go.
  • Now is a good time to begin your brief period of solitary downtime in the playpen / crate
    • Solitary downtime, or crating, should be no more than one hour per month of age
    • Avoid exceeding nine to ten hours in a day (not including sleeping periods).
    • This development is important for bladder control, preventing chewing / destructive behavior, and independence. A one hour period of aerobic exercises should follow these sessions.
Your puppy is home, has their own space, and is comfortable – what next? Check out this week-by-week guide to check in your and your puppy’s progress!
Welcome back to Puppy 101! This blog series highlights the key guidelines to making your puppy’s first months as smooth, productive, and stress-free as they can possibly be.

Let’s start at the most crucial of all your puppy’s needs: an amazing vet who can guide your puppy towards a healthy lifestyle.

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Your puppy’s health is priority #1. What many puppy owners unfortunately don’t understand is that pups require medical care as frequently as we do. We wouldn’t dream of not taking an infant for a monthly checkup, so don’t deprive your puppy of this crucial aspect of their healthcare.  

Creating a relationship with your puppy’s veterinarian is a great way to ensure you’ll always have your questions answered and your concerns addressed. If your puppy is comfortable with his or her vet, they’ll also be infinitely more calm and receptive to any treatment they may need in the future. An early meet and greet is a great way to begin a relationship with your vet.

Early meet-and-greets are a great way to receive guidance for designing the best routines for your puppy to ensure a long and happy life. Establishing your puppy’s diet, exercise,and social schedule under the guidance of a vet is a huge advantage. You’ll rest easier knowing a professional approved your choices for your puppy’s lifestyle.

Another important factor to keep top of mind is the specific challenges of your puppy’s breed. Knowing about breed-specific traits and medical regularities before they present issues is a great way to save time, money, and vet visits sometime down the line.

Keep in mind: mental and physical health are key components to a long, happy, wonderful life for your puppy. Don’t let these crucial necessities fall to the wayside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biscuits & Bath is the only facility in NYC with an on-site vet partner, New York Veterinary Practice. NYVP provides on -going education to our associates, vet care to our client’s dogs, and assistance during an emergency. The vet team checks their emails until 10 pm, 7 days a week! This means if your puppy is acting strange, or feeling under the weather, you can reach out and someone will get back to you quickly. Your puppy’s health is our top priority.

Welcome to Part 3 of Puppy 101!

This week, we’re going to discuss your puppy’s hygiene. Hygiene is vital to your dog’s overall health and well-being. Not only do you want your dog to smell, look, and feel clean at all times, you also prevent numerous diseases and harmful parasites when you keep your puppy groomed and fresh.

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Some key hygiene pointers to stay aware of:

  1. Starting a regular grooming schedule early will allow your dog to get comfortable with the many tools groomers use. Scissors, shears, and clippers can seem threatening to your puppy, so conditioning them not to fear these implements is a very smart move.
  2. As we said above, maintaining proper hygiene prevents numerous health issues. Grooming uncovers issues that are missed by the untrained eye. On countless occasions, our groomers have found nearly life-threatening symptoms on puppies during grooming.
  3. No one wants their fur to host a flea market! By consistently grooming your puppy, you avoid matting, hot spots, and itchy, unhealthy parasites like fleas and ticks. Keep your puppy clean and comfortable by ensuring their beautiful coat stays soft, warm, and clean.
  4. Keeping your puppy’s fur trimmed and under control keeps dog hair off your furniture and out of your drain pipes.
  5. See our previous posts on dog grooming for tips on home ear cleaning, teeth cleaning, and nail trimming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great news! Biscuits & Bath offers a 20% discount on dog grooming for puppies under 8 months on both haircuts and baths! If you set up a standing appointment, you’ll always get the time slot and groomer you love, every time!

Welcome to Puppy 101!

We’re handing over the best puppy-rearing tips to ensure a smooth transition into your home for your puppy! You’ve been eagerly awaiting the day you can take your new best friend home from the dog kennel, but is your space ready to host an energetic young puppy? Are your cabinets too easily accessible? Can your pup possibly be exposed to harmful chemicals in your pantry?

Do you not even know where to begin?

Here’s where we come in.

Every heard of baby-proofing a house? You can puppy-proof your home as well!

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Here’s your basic checklist:

  1. Secure your cabinets and doors! This one is super-important. Puppies (and dogs as well) cannot tell the difference between Drain-o and water. Don’t get careless with the substances around the house and keep all doors closed tightly and securely.
  2. Remove any and all sharp object out of reach. That means moving your cutlery to a higher shelf or drawer, keeping all scissors wrapped and put away, and of course keeping power tools and/or razor blades as far from the floor as possible.
  3. Cover all exposed electrical wiring and outlets. Nothing says “Chew me!” like a length of wiring. Prevent all electrical incidents by keeping plug-in appliances and electronics in safe, secure spots.
  4. Keep bowls/beds/pens out of the way of any possible falling debris. If things are always falling off your kitchen counter, don’t keep your puppy’s feeding bowls there.
  5. Keep unsupervised puppies in an enclosed pen or gate. Keeping your puppy enclosed may feel harsh, but this protects them from harming themselves until they have a better understanding of what’s a toy and what can harm them.

And finally, just use common sense. Whatever you see as a potential hazard to your pup, keep far away from their reach. Use foresite: your puppy will be growing stronger, faster, and smarter every day! So stay on top of potential hazards to prevent any injuries to your new ball of energy!

Biscuits and Bath offers private, at-home puppy proofing sessions. Our trainer will come meet you and your family with your dog to ensure their transition into your home is seamless!

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