PUPPY, NO!

uExpress, January, 2007 by Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

By Gina Spadafori As adorable as puppies can be, anyone who's raising one will tell you they can drive you crazy. To get through those sometimes trying months and come out with the dog you want, always remember two things in dealing with puppies: Be patient and be positive. Every puppy needs to be guided on the road to good behavior, and along the way many a puppy strays off the path into trouble.

The best way to avoid problems is to set up your home and your handling of the puppy so his only choice is to do what's right and get praised for it. But what if your puppy makes a mistake? A verbal correction, properly timed and correctly delivered, is usually all you need. Speak low and sharply, but don't yell at your puppy. Really, all you need to do is provide a distraction to stop and ...