My
story about toys isn’t really about play things. Toys teach an
important lesson. It’s a brief explanation, but so helpful. It makes a
huge difference in any home with a puppy. “What belongs to who” is the lesson that keeps puppies from chewing on your shoes, furniture or other belongings. This tip is also important to keep puppy safe and out of mischief that could cause puppy harm.
Many new dog owners don’t realize the real need for toys. First, we started buying puppy all different texture toys until we discovered what kind of toy he prefers. I made a few, too. That’s when we learned what “textures” puppy might confuse with “what belongs to mom and dad.”
Shouting at puppy only works to make him feel as if he’s in harms way. Always be sweet to puppy.
Once we knew the texture he preferred, we simply denied puppy access to our things until he was older, and understood the “what was ours; and what was his,” strategy.
Once we knew that bit of info, we turned to the “trade” strategy. Of course, never ever scold puppy or hit puppy. Never.
When puppy snatched our kitchen t-towels, we took it away and gave him one of his toys. Gave him a pat and said with a smile, “good boy.” (Meaning good boy for his own toy)
We knew he understood, just not the way we meant. Our clever puppy started replacing a t-towel for his toy, He’d drop his toy and snatch the t-towel. We continued the "this is yours" strategy. It didn't take long before he learned not to get what wasn't his.
Dogs want to please. We just had to "communicate" nicely until he figured it out on his own. If we would've scolded puppy, he wouldn’t have understood. He’d just keep snatching our t-towels. Frustration and more scolding would follow. There’s a right way to communicate with your dog. Puppies need a lot of patience by mommy and daddy. It has years of reward.
Today, our puppy knows what belongs to him and what’s ours. He even knows the "name" of all his toys. He has a sweater for cold days, a "patriot" neckerchief for the 4th of July, and a Christmas scarf.
Pup also has a bolster bed or “pad” for the family room now. It's his "chair." I sewed him a nice cover with bright colored flowers.///