Puppy Survival Guide: How to Raise a Happy, Well-Behaved Dog

How to raise a puppy into a well-behaved dog

Bringing home a new puppy is like welcoming a tiny, chaotic tornado into your life—one that chews on everything, has no respect for personal space, and somehow never runs out of energy. But fear not, new pet parents! With the right approach (and a little professional help from this survival guide), you can learn how to survive puppyhood and raise a well-behaved, happy dog.

Let’s break it down.

1. Set a Routine (Before Your Puppy Does it for You)

Dogs thrive on routine. Without one your puppy will create their own schedule—which probably involves chewing shoes at 3 AM and using your favorite rug as a bathroom.

Here’s a good starting routine:

1. Wake up & potty (before the zoomies hit)

2. Breakfast & training time (food motivation is your friend)

3. Play & exercise (a tired puppy is a good puppy)

4. Nap time (finally, a break)

5. Midday potty & play (or a visit from your favorite pet sitter—hint, hint)

6. Dinner & evening training

7. One last potty break before bed

💡 Pro tip: Consistency is key. If you don’t want your puppy sleeping in your bed forever, don’t start now (no matter how cute those puppy eyes are).

2. Socialization: More Than Just Puppy Playdates

When people hear "socialization," they often think of puppy playdates and dog park outings. While that’s one piece of the puzzle, socialization actually means exposing your puppy to the entire world—sights, sounds, textures, and experiences—so they grow into confident, well-adjusted dogs instead of anxious, overly reactive ones.

The critical socialization period is between 3 and 16 weeks, so now’s the time to introduce your pup to:

• Different surfaces (grass, concrete, tile, carpet, wobbly bridges—yes, really)

• New sounds (doorbells, vacuums, thunderstorms, fireworks—start with low volume and work up)

• All sorts of people (hats, beards, sunglasses, kids, delivery drivers—puppies need to know humans come in all varieties)

• Car rides & vet visits (because “first time in the car” shouldn’t mean “going to get poked with needles”)

• Handling exercises (touch their paws, ears, and tail gently so they don’t freak out at the vet or groomer later)

This exposure should be fun and positive, never overwhelming. If your puppy seems scared, slow things down and use treats, praise, and play to make new experiences exciting, not scary.

Bonus: When you book puppy visits with Oh, Fur Pet’s Sake, we help with structured, safe socialization—introducing them to new sounds, textures, and experiences while reinforcing positive behaviors. Plus, every new puppy gets a Welcome Basket from us, packed with goodies to start them off on the right paw! 🎁🐶

3. Potty Training: No Nose-Rubbing, No Shaming—Just Success

First things first: never, ever rub your puppy’s nose in an accident or scold them after the fact. Dogs don’t think like humans, and they won’t understand that you’re upset about something they did ten minutes ago. Instead, they’ll just learn to fear you—or worse, they’ll start hiding their accidents behind the couch.

What actually works? Positive reinforcement! Praise and reward every successful potty break like they just won the Puppy Nobel Prize. If there’s an accident (and there will be), just clean it up calmly and move on. Consistency, frequent potty breaks, and patience are the keys to success.

Pro potty tips:

• Take them out after waking up, eating, playing, and every 1-2 hours in between

• Reward them immediately after going outside—don’t wait until they’re back inside

• Stick to a feeding schedule to predict potty times

• Supervise indoors or use a crate to prevent sneaky accidents

If you’re away for long hours, our puppy visits ensure those tiny bladders get the necessary breaks—saving your sanity and floors.

4. Training: Because Good Manners Don’t Happen by Magic

Even the best-behaved puppy doesn’t come pre-installed with “sit,” “stay,” and “don’t eat the couch” software. You’ll need to teach them.

Start with these puppy must-knows:

• Crate Training – Their crate should be a comfy den, not puppy jail.

• Basic Commands – Sit, stay, come, and “leave it” (because they will try to eat something gross).

• Leash Manners – Avoid the dreaded puppy alligator roll by making leash time fun.

• Bite Inhibition – Those needle teeth hurt! Redirect them to toys instead of your hands.

Short on time? That’s where daily visits from a pet sitter come in handy. We reinforce training, provide midday potty breaks, and make sure your puppy isn’t turning your furniture into a chew toy while you’re at work.

5. The Energy Problem: Tired Puppies Are Good Puppies

A bored puppy is a destructive puppy. If you don’t give them something to do, they’ll find something—like redesigning your couch with their teeth.

Energy outlets that actually work:

• Interactive puzzle toys (treat-dispensing ones = bonus!)

• Short, frequent training sessions (mental work = exhaustion)

• Playtime with other dogs (puppy daycare or pet sitter playdates)

• Daily walks & adventures (because zoomies need an outlet)

Oh, and puppies need more sleep than you think—like 16-20 hours daily. If they’re acting like tiny gremlins, they’re probably overtired.

6. How We Can Help: Puppy Visits Make Life Easier

We get it—puppyhood is a lot. You’re trying to work, sleep, and maintain your sanity while a four-legged toddler runs your life. That’s where we come in.

Our puppy visit services include:

• Midday potty breaks (so you’re not scrubbing carpets after work)

• Structured playtime & socialization (no more zoomies at 10 PM)

• Reinforcing training (because consistency is everything)

• Extra love & cuddles (because puppies deserve it)

• Puppyhood doesn’t last forever (even if it feels like it).

With patience, routine, and the right support, you’ll become a pro at raising a puppy into a well-behaved dog—and still have a couch left at the end of it.

Need help? Book a puppy visit with Oh, Fur Pet’s Sake, and let us take some of the stress off your plate!