No one can precisely recount how and when Native Americans have started to adopt wolves as pets and paved way for such seemingly ferocious animals to become household members. But one thing is for sure though, every dog lover from the world over owe a big debt of gratitude to them since canines are known to be the unprecedented choice for pets. It was around 12,000 years ago when wolves slowly began to seek the company of man rather than to simply thrive on their own in the wilderness. This ushered in the discovery that dogs indeed make wonderfully loyal and intelligent pets.

However, a jog in dog history will probably won’t matter much if you find yourself a new puppy owner. Although a frisky little puppy is always a welcome addition to the family, you will probably feel a little overwhelmed with the seemingly daunting responsibility. Undoubtedly, the transition period will result to anxiety and stress as well as a fit of excitement not only for family members but for the puppy as well. The important thing to remember here is to treat your pet with a little caution, a healthy dose of compassion and understanding especially in the first three months. Your new dog doesn’t have any idea what is expected of him, and mistakes can be a common occurrence when they are first introduced to a new environment. Even puppies that were previously house trained may temporarily forget simple commands, mainly because of the stress and confusion in being in an entirely different environment. Try not to be too hard on yourself and your dog, as minor hitches and glitches are expected during the first months.

Most animal experts recommend new dog owners to follow the "rules of threes’ to effectively predict the behavior changes of your pet. This rule simply refers to mile markers in your dog’s transition period as he slowly learns to adapt to the new life. According this rule, you will see behavior changes approximately 3 days after, 3 weeks and 3 months. Such changes usually occur as they begin to feel more comfortable and slowly begin to learn how to express himself and his needs better. After three full days, you can start you see a more confident dogs and at the same time notice new behaviors occur. This will become more apparent after 3 weeks from adoption as his comfort zone widens and increases, and your pet would feel more secure in your household. All these changes will still occur at 3 months and will be permanently adapted for his entire lifetime, unless otherwise subjected to some structured training and obedience and behavior training.

The important factor in any house-training dogs is CONSISTENCY. This is especially true when you christen your pet with a new name. You need to call him in a cheerful manner to get the best response, and be sure to avoid coming up will several names that will only confuse him. As much as possible make sure you gather all the pertinent background information about your dog, including past medical history, if any. You will definitely need it as reference sometime in the future when problems start to crop up.

As mentioned earlier, the first three months can be crucial in house training your pet. This will become the defining factor in how well you and your pet can adapt well with each other as well as the development of its behavior. Here are some helpful guidelines you need to keep in mind:

The pet’s first night in your home is more crucial that one would initially think. You need to understand that being abruptly removed from his litter and practically thrust in the arms of strangers can be a little scary for a small puppy. Some people would assume that their pet to sleep ate the very foot of their bed right away. But this is simply not the case- not until your puppy feels secure enough to let his guard down. A lot of people recommend keeping a ticking clock near the puppy’s sleeping area to simulate the heartbeat of his mother and the rest of the litter. Others opt to leave a radio softly playing so the puppy will not feel so alone and abandoned. However, if your new family member shows some signs of distress such as whining and scratching, check on him. Some puppies still need reassurance that they are not entirely alone.

If would considerably help if you can provide a comfortable bed for your dog, complete with toys and pillows. It should be wide enough to allow your cute pooch to comfortably stretch out. You need not worry about your pet accidentally messes up the bed since it’s actually part of their nature to ensure to keep his sleeping area clean.

Although a lot of people believe that puppies below 16 weeks old should not subjected to any form of training. However, a number of animal experts openly vouch on training puppies as soon as possible, since what you teach your puppy during those crucial formative months serves as a foundation of the behavior as they grow up. 90% of Americans with pet dogs prefer to have their dogs inside the house. So if you are one of these individuals, it would be best to teach your dog to adapt to living indoors to prevent encountering major problems.

The housebreaking process may be a little difficult and will probably take a while, especially if you have no prior experience with dogs. However, with a steady stream of patience you and your dog will be able to pull it off in no time. Understandably, you will encounter some minor slip-ups and mess along the way, the very important thing to remember when housebreaking your pet: never punish them if they accidentally pee or drop their poop in the house. It can be frustrating at times, and would probably need the patience of a saint but you need to understand it requires time - punishing your pet will only make him more nervous.

Another important rule to live by for dog owners is to never fail to reward your pet if he has done things correctly. By all means show your appreciation and convey it by giving out treats or even a simple scratch on the ear would do. Here are some housebreaking techniques that you can use to make the experience easier for you and your pet:

Now that you have taken steps to ensure that your new puppy will easily adapt to living indoors, you need to do your part and make some minor changes to accommodate the presence of a dog inside the house. You may not know it, but the kitchen and living room areas presents a world of mystery that can be too much of a temptation for a curious and inquisitive puppy to resist. Although chewed bits of your sofa cushion may not raise some warning alarms, this seemingly normal canine pursuit is not only detrimental to your precious decors it is also quite hazardous to their health.

The main idea in dog proofing is not to allow your dog to have access to delicate and harmful objects that are usually carelessly littered inside the house. Here are some of the great handy tips on dog proofing that will help you safeguard your property as well as your dog’s health:

As you might have gathered by now, adopting a dog entails a great responsibility. Although a lot of people can readily take on all these responsibility and demands of having a dog, some people find out too late not having a pet doesn’t simply fit with their lifestyle. To save the dog and you from any trauma, carefully weigh all considerations before taking the plunge of getting an additional member in the family.