PupStart
Build confidence and trust with your puppy:
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Management & Schedule - Proof your home! Set up a fair schedule to achieve successful potty training and chew toy training with an appropriate balance of rest.
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Diet - Use your puppy’s daily diet for enrichment, training and conditioning.
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Care & Handling Exercises - Help your puppy become comfortable with collar grabs and being calm for grooming.
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Socialization - Positive social exposure starts at home.
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Training - Start building skills and communication.
Downloadable PupStart Booklet is available after class registration.
Essential Items
Choosing an Exercise Pen for Your Puppy
An exercise pen can give your puppy a safe, defined space for supervised play and enrichment while helping you manage their environment.
There isn't one perfect pen for every puppy, so we've included a few different options depending on your space, puppy's size and how you plan to use it. Although there are options with flooring, they are not included because they don't have walk through gates. You can add a tarp or cardboard to protect your floors and make clean up from potty accidents easier. While potty training, always monitor your puppy and provide regular potty breaks when in play area.
Strong & Versatile
Heavy Duty Dog Fence for Large Medium or Small Dogs Indoor/Outdoor Foldable Pet Exercise Pen.
Sturdy weather proofed metal panels for creating a designated puppy area inside or outside.
Affordable & Flexible
Durable iron metal with rust-proof black finish for indoor and outdoor use for small to medium size breeds.
A less expensive options that you can choose with or without a door to create different configuration possibilities.
More Escape Proof
For Indoor/outdoor use for medium to small breeds.
Roof prevents escape as well as shade and more protection from outdoor predators.
PupStart Tip: Choose the height and size of your exercise pen based on your puppy's expected adolescent size, activity level and ability to climb or jump. Always supervise your puppy and make sure the pen is secure and appropriate for your individual dog.
Safety: No play pen is as safe as a crate to leave your puppy alone in. Follow the instructions in the PupStart Booklet to teach your puppy how to play independently before you leave the play area but remain close by. Play areas are designed to allow your puppy a place to self entertain while you are in the room but you don't have 100% of your attention for your puppy.
Choosing a Crate for Your Puppy
A crate makes puppy rearing vastly easier. It's the best tool for successful potty training. It is also an excellent tool for puppy safety, rest, and emotional regulation. If the crate is a place your puppy loves, it will help him/her feel content in your absence.
Beyond puppyhood, there will often be a scenario where your dog will be in a crate. Vacations, vet care, evacuations, just to mention a few. Crate training early, when it's the easiest to imprint a safe place to rest and to shut off, will always be there for your dog when you need it. Even if you don't use it daily in your adult dog's life.
A crate is an important part of setting your puppy up for success. Choose a crate that fits your puppy’s needs, your home, and how you plan to use it.
Wire Crate – Adjustable as Your Puppy Grows
A double door wire crate is a more flexible option so you can choose which door to open to let your puppy out. Look for one with a divider panel so you can make the crate smaller when your puppy is young and gradually increase the space as they grow.
Foldable Travel Crate
A foldable travel crate is a convenient option for taking your puppy with you. It can be folded down when you’re not using it, making it easy to store or transport. This type of crate can be useful for travel, visits to family and other situations where your puppy needs a familiar place to settle.
Airline Crates
An airline-style cargo crate is a sturdy option with solid sides and good ventilation. It can be useful for travel and can also provide a more enclosed, den-like space for puppies who prefer a quieter environment. On-board carriers can be an option for dogs small enough to travel with you on the plane. Check your airlines for dimensions and rules.
Products We Love
Puppy Chew & Play Toys
Puppies explore the world with their mouths, so having a variety of appropriate toys available can help satisfy their natural need to chew, encourage independent play, and provide appropriate ways to redirect unwanted mouthing.
For Crate Time & Settling
A stuffed KONG can help make crate time more enjoyable while giving your puppy something appropriate to focus on. Stuff it with some of your puppy's regular kibble or a puppy-safe filling. Prepare 3 and freeze the others until ready to use.
PupStart Tip: Offer a stuffed KONG when your puppy goes into their crate to help create a positive association with settling in their own space.
For Teething
Puppies have a strong need to chew, especially while they're teething. A puppy-specific dental chew gives them an appropriate outlet for that need while providing an interesting texture to chew and explore.
PupStart Tip: Keep appropriate chew toys available so you can quickly redirect your puppy when they start chewing on hands, furniture or other things they shouldn't.
Using Food For Enrichment & Play
Turn part of your puppy's meal into an engaging activity. Fill it with kibble and let your puppy work out how to get the toy moving to dispense food. It's a great way to encourage your puppy to explore, problem-solve and work for their food.
PupStart Tip: Start with an easy setup so your puppy quickly learns how the puzzle toy works. You want them to feel successful, not frustrated.
For Interactive Play & Redirecting Mouthing
Interactive toys such as the KONG Wubba are great for playing with your puppy while keeping an appropriate toy between your hands and their teeth. If your puppy becomes mouthy during play, use the toy to redirect them onto something they are allowed to grab, tug and chase.
PupStart Tip: Keep an interactive toy nearby during play sessions so you can redirect unwanted mouthing quickly and calmly.
Different Textures For Puppy Mouthing and Play
Soft toys give puppies another way to play. They can carry, toss, shake and explore them while interacting with you or playing independently. Look for puppy-appropriate toys that are the right size for your puppy and don't have small pieces that could become choking hazards.
PupStart Tip: Toys will have more value to your puppy if they get attention when interacting with them. Treat their toys like they stole your shoe and they will try to get your attention by 'stealing' their own toys.
For the Herders and Chasers
Your puppy does not have any siblings to chase or chew. Make it fun for your puppy to chase toys instead of your moving feet, children or your cat. Find a small squeaker ball to put inside the Jolly Pets Ball. You can step on it and make it squeak to interrupt and redirect your puppy's attention away from problem situations.
PupStart Tip: Keep chase games controlled and short, and include plenty of pauses and opportunities for your puppy to settle. The goal isn't simply to tire your puppy out—it's to teach them how to play appropriately and then switch off.
Rotate Your Puppy's Toys
You don't need to leave every toy out all the time. Keep a few toys available and rotate the others. Bringing out a different toy can make it interesting again and gives your puppy variety without constantly buying new toys.
A simple rotation might include:
Crate time: Stuffed KONG
Teething: Puppy-safe Dental Stick
Mealtime: Puzzle Toy
Interactive and redirection play: KONG Wubba, rope bones or soft toys
Supervised play: JW Ball or Jolly Pets Balls. Any ball your puppy likes to chase!
Remember, toys aren't meant to keep your puppy busy every minute of the day. Puppies also need to learn how to settle, rest and be comfortable doing nothing.
Safety: No toy is indestructible. Choose toys appropriate for your puppy's size, age and chewing style. Supervise your puppy with new toys, inspect toys regularly, and remove any toy that becomes damaged or could be swallowed.
Diet
Using Food For Training Your Puppy
Use your puppy’s daily diet for enrichment, training and conditioning.
Puppy's need time to adapt to your new environment and treats can be rich for a puppy. But sometimes using treats are necessary.
Treats
Ziwi Peak is dehydrated dog food that is ideal for people feeding their dog raw dog food. It's also easy to break off into small pieces for smaller breeds without crumbling. It is ideal for training sessions for all sizes and ages. Using dog food for training makes it easy to maintain a well balanced diet for your dog. My personal favourite is Lamb with Tripe.
Treat Bag
There is nothing like having a good treat bag so you can be hands free to pay attention to your puppy. One of my favourites that I've been using for over a decade is one with a magnetic closure. It's also easy to wash and keep free of bacteria.
Timing is Everything
Using a marker (clicker) before you give your puppy a treat will help your dog to learn faster.