So You Adopted a Puppy- Now What?!

You just added a new member to the family: an adorable puppy. At first, their cuteness helps them get away with everything. However, the non-potty-trained piranha who has you up every 2 hours to go out stops being so cute.

So, where do you start? Of course, scheduling a puppy consult with one of our awesome trainers is a great first step. But what should every puppy have, and what are the basics to set your new best friend up for success? 

So here are our best tips for bringing a puppy home for the first time. We don’t claim to know it all, and of course, we’d love to have you attend one of our courses, but this is a great way to set you up for success in the meantime.

Areas of Focus For Your New Puppy

Puppies may be cute, but they require a lot of training.

The early weeks are critical for setting the foundation for a well-behaved, confident adult dog. Three key areas that every new dog owner should focus on are:

1. Crate Training

2. Potty Training

3. The Rule of 12 (Puppy Socialization)

4. Separation Anxiety Prevention and Muzzle Training.

Let’s walk through each of these so you and your puppy can start off strong.

1. Crate Training: Creating a Safe Space

Crate training your puppy will make everyone’s lives easier in the long run.

Crate training is one of the most effective tools for raising a puppy. Contrary to popular belief, crate isn’t a punishment. It’s a safe, den-like space where your puppy can relax, sleep, and feel secure, creating a safe space to keep your new puppy from wreaking havoc on your home and keeping them safe from potential dangers. Crate training is also important for vet and groomer visits down the line. 

Benefits of Crate Training:

• Helps with potty training (puppies won’t usually potty where they sleep)

• Prevents chewing or destructive behavior when you can’t supervise

• Builds independence and reduces separation anxiety

• Prepares your dog for vet visits, travel, or boarding

Crate Training Tips:

• Start slow: Let your puppy explore the crate with the door open. Use treats, toys, or meals to create positive associations.

• Keep it short at first: Begin with a few minutes at a time and gradually increase duration. 1 hour per month of age until 6 months is a great tool.

• Never use the crate as punishment.

• Use the crate for naps and overnight sleep; consistency is key.

• Do not let them out until they have settled down and are not crying. 

• Crates shouldn’t be oversized; they should be just big enough for your dog to stand up, sit down, and turn around without their back and body touching the sides. 

• Keep potential harmful items when ingested out of the crate at first, such as small toys, bones that can be swallowed, and beds with fluff material.

Think of the crate as your puppy’s bedroom, not a jail cell. It’s a must, especially if you want to keep your sanity in the early days of puppy parenthood!

2. Potty Training: Consistency Is Everything

Make sure you train your puppy properly on potty training.

Potty training is one of the first things every puppy needs to learn, and the faster you get consistent, the easier it is.

The Basics:

• Take your puppy out frequently: first thing in the morning, after eating, after playing, after naps, and before bedtime. Establish a routine.

• Use a consistent potty spot and reward immediately when they go in the right place. Use consistent language to queue the appropriate time and place to use the restroom.

• Praise and treat within 1–2 seconds of them finishing; timing is everything. Make it a party, be over the top!

• Keep a potty log if needed, especially during the first few weeks.

• Accidents happen, make sure to treat the area with an enzyme cleaner to avoid future marking and smell association.

General Rule of Thumb:

A puppy can typically hold their bladder for 1 hour per month of age (e.g., a 2-month-old pup = 2 hours max). Overnight is an exception — some puppies can last longer, others may need a midnight trip.

Accidents happen, but avoid scolding. Instead, focus on supervision and routine.

3. The Puppy Rule of 12: Early Socialization Done Right

Ensuring your puppy is properly socialized is a must.

Socialization isn’t just about meeting other dogs. It’s about teaching your puppy how to confidently navigate the world. The Rule of 12 is a philosophy designed to expose puppies to a variety of experiences during their critical learning window (typically before 16 weeks of age).

The Puppy Rule of 12 Encourages Exposure To At Least:

• 12 different people (ages, sizes, ethnicities)

• 12 different surfaces (grass, wood floors, gravel, sand, etc.)

• 12 different sounds (vacuum, doorbell, traffic, thunder, etc.)

• 12 different environments (parks, vet office, car rides, pet stores)

• 12 different handling experiences (paws touched, ears cleaned, being picked up)

• 12 different animals (cats, other dogs, livestock if relevant)

The idea isn’t to overwhelm. It’s to introduce new things in a calm, positive way. Always pair new experiences with treats, toys, and praise so your puppy builds happy associations.

Well-socialized puppies grow into confident adult dogs who are less likely to develop fear, anxiety, or reactivity later in life.

4. Prevention of Separation Anxiety and Muzzle Training 

Separation anxiety is one of the main things new puppy owners struggle to deal with in their dog.

• Leaving your dog in the crate, with different people, and doing so often allows dogs to understand that you will always come home and establishes proper bonds. 

• Do not feed your puppy scraps from your plate or eat with them in the beginning. 

• Establish a positive association with being alone. Do not comfort your puppy every time they cry so they can establish self-confidence. 

• Try placing your puppy on a leash in the home, tethered to something where even at the longest part of the leash, your puppy can’t reach you. Use their dog bed as a comfy place to lie and encourage individual play with toys and taking a nap without contact. 

Why Muzzle Training? 

• Often only seen for aggressive dogs, muzzle use for dogs is more common than you think. 

• Purchase a basket-style muzzle that they can eat and drink through. 

• Make it a game and positive, to associate it with something that, if used in the future, won’t cause stress. 

Okay, but why muzzles? From groomers, vet visits, whether it’s routine or god forbid an emergency, dogs can be muzzled even without signs of aggression to protect animal professionals of all kinds. If they aren’t trained or familiar with a dog, it can cause unnecessary stress to a potentially already stressful situation. 

Final Thoughts: Set the Foundation Now

Puppies are an amazing addition to any family; just make sure you’re prepared!

The first few months with your puppy are an opportunity you’ll never get back. By focusing on crate training, potty training, and intentional socialization through the Rule of 12 and completing it in the first 12 weeks you have your pup, you’ll lay the groundwork for a calm, well-adjusted companion for years to come.

If you’re feeling unsure or overwhelmed, you’re not alone. A professional trainer can guide you through these early stages, making the process smoother, faster, and more enjoyable for both you and your puppy. 

Need help getting started with your new puppy? Contact us today to schedule a Puppy Foundations evaluation and set your dog up for success and lifelong confidence with NLR— right from the start.

What Makes a Balanced Dog Trainer?

Dog training is full of opinions, methods, and philosophies, but is there truly a “right” or “balanced” method? From purely positive reinforcement to more correction-based approaches, the world of dog training varies. In the middle of that spectrum sits the balanced dog trainer. But what does that really mean? And how does it impact your dog?

Let’s break down what it means and why NLR uses balanced training. 

What Is a Balanced Dog Trainer?

Balance is a must in life, and for training dogs!

A balanced dog trainer uses a combination of rewards (like treats, praise, toys) and corrections (like leash pressure, verbal markers, or tools like prong collars or e-collars and other tools) to teach dogs. The goal is to clearly communicate both what we do want from the dog and what we don’t. To break down and address the root cause of the behavior

It’s not about punishment or dominance; it’s all about clarity and fairness. A balanced trainer understands that just like humans, dogs learn best when they have both motivation and boundaries. Balanced training with NLR focuses on my background in animal behavior, veterinary technician training, and even nutrition. We get to the root of the behavior instead of just programming a new behavior in the place of the old, using a treat or punishment.

We here at NLR want the dog to truly understand the command and not just follow blindly. Instead, it’s about following commands based on the dog’s want for praise, a job well done, and the relationship with their owner above all else. 

The 4 Pillars of Learning- or Dog Training Methods

There are many different types of training methods for dogs, and a combined approach is often best.

Balanced training is rooted in learning theory — specifically, the four quadrants of operant conditioning:

1. Positive Reinforcement – Adding something the dog likes (like a treat) to increase a behavior. Ignoring the bad behaviors and instead rewarding only positives using food or treats to build drive for the new behavior. Often only works temporarily and not in stimulating environments. Also, creates a reward system where listening is only required when there is a transaction between owner and dog.

2. Negative Reinforcement – Removing something the dog dislikes (like leash pressure) when they do the right thing. Punishing the negative behavior and making it uncomfortable for the dog so they don’t want to do the bad thing anymore. This more dominant or alpha style of training produces anxious and non-confident dogs who are fearful of their owner.

3. Positive Punishment – Adding something unpleasant (like a verbal “No”) to reduce a behavior. Often used by treat trainers to mark negative behaviors without adding a punishment to establish a negative word association with the undesirable behavior.

4. Negative Punishment – Removing something the dog likes (like attention or a toy) to reduce a behavior. Often used by force-free trainers to crate train, or offer a “mild or force-free correction” for negative behavior. Most often seen in crate training or resource guarding in puppies.

A balanced trainer uses all four, not just one. Why? Because life uses all four, and dogs live in the real world, not just in a training bubble. Every dog is different, and using the best method for the dog while applying the principles of balanced training, in our experience, has the best chance of confident dogs and owners. 

Why Balance Matters, and the NLR Way 

Here at NLR, we teach a structured, balanced, holistic training method to both dogs and their humans.

Dogs, like people, thrive on structure. Who can honestly say they love change? They need to know what behaviors earn them rewards, and what behaviors aren’t acceptable. Just like kids growing up, we are taught pro-social and anti-social behaviors. As dogs grow and learn, they learn what’s accepted and not. Balanced training with NLR teaches:

• Clarity: Dogs learn faster when communication is consistent.

• Accountability: Just like we don’t get rewarded for everything we do, dogs learn that not all behaviors are okay.

• Freedom: When dogs are well-trained, they can enjoy more freedom off-leash, in public, or in social settings.

• Confidence: Confident dogs start here isn’t just a cool tag line. Our dogs learn confidence independently and together with their owners. 

• Lifelong success: With our method, we see dogs not just being successful with a trainer or for a few weeks after training, but for their entire life.

Contrary to what some may think, balanced training isn’t about being harsh — it’s about being honest, clear, and fair. We focus on building trust and a fair relationship between the owner and their dog. 

Is Balanced Training Right for Every Dog?

Some dogs require a different approach, but adjusting expectations is key to dog training.

Not every dog is the same, and a balanced trainer takes that into account. Some dogs respond quickly to reward-based methods, while others may need firmer boundaries to break unsafe habits like leash reactivity, jumping, or resource guarding. Where our training has a 100% graduation rate, not every dog is a fit; that’s why we start with our evaluation, creating a clear understanding and goals for training is paramount. 

A skilled, balanced trainer adjusts their tools and techniques based on the dog in front of them, not on a one-size-fits-all philosophy.

Final Thoughts

Our trainers at NLR can help find a training plan that’s right for you and your pup!

Being a balanced dog trainer isn’t just about using treats and tools. It’s about understanding dog psychology, applying real-world experience, and helping dogs and owners thrive together. At its core, balanced training is a relationship-based approach that prioritizes communication, respect, and results.

In a world full of extremes, balance isn’t just a method; it’s a mindset.

With experience and holistic guidance, our trainers are ready to meet you where you are and create a truly remarkable experience and new bond with your dog. Reach out to us today to talk about training!

The Truth About Pit Bulls: Myths, Facts, and Why We Need to Fight For Them

Few breeds are as misunderstood as the pit bull. If you're a current client, you know how passionate I am about these misunderstood dogs. From media headlines to housing restrictions, the term “pit bull” often sparks fear, controversy, and misinformation. But beneath the stigma lies a reality that countless dog owners, trainers, and breed advocates know well:

Pit bulls are loyal, affectionate, intelligent dogs that make wonderful family companions.

Let’s break down the myths, look at the facts, and uncover the truth about this deeply misunderstood breed.

What is a “Pit Bull,” Really?

Pit bulls are actually angels, and their violent reputation isn’t fair to them.

The term “pit bull” is not a breed itself, but a general label used to describe a group of breeds with similar physical characteristics. This usually includes:

• The American Pit Bull Terrier

• The American Staffordshire Terrier

• The Staffordshire Bull Terrier

• And sometimes, the American Bully and mixed breeds with similar looks

Due to their muscular builds and blocky heads, many mixed-breed dogs are mistakenly identified as pit bulls, even when they aren’t genetically related.

This confusion has fueled unfair breed stereotypes and made it easy to lump countless unrelated dogs into one misunderstood category.

A Brief History: England’s Working Dog

Pit bulls were originally bred to protect children.

Pit bulls trace their origins back to 19th-century England, where they were bred for tenacity, intelligence, and loyalty. These dogs were farm helpers, family protectors, and were often called nanny dogs, known for their strong bonds with humans and high tolerance for children.

Bred for their work ethic and people-oriented nature, these dogs were never intended to be indiscriminately aggressive. In fact, their temperament was highly valued, as dogs that were difficult to manage or showed poor judgment around people were not kept or bred.

That strong desire to please their humans, paired with impressive physical ability, is still present in the breed today.

The Myth of the “Aggressive Pit Bull”

In behavior testing, pit bulls outperform many other dog breeds.

Let’s address the biggest myth head-on:

Are pit bulls more aggressive than other dogs?

No. Absolutely not, and if you’ve had the pleasure of knowing one, you know you are more likely to be knocked out by one of their farts than ever facing a bite. 

According to the American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS), a respected organization that evaluates breed temperament through controlled behavioral tests, pit bulls consistently score higher in affection and sociability than most commonly owned breeds, such as labs, goldens, and 96% test higher than “doodles”. 

These tests evaluate dogs on their reactions to strangers, loud noises, distractions, and overall stability. A high score means a dog is well-balanced, manageable, and safe around people.

Pit bulls didn’t just pass; they outperformed many popular breeds that are widely considered “safe” or “ideal” for families.

Why the Misinformation?

Historical bias is just one reason why pit bulls are supposedly violent.

Why are pit bulls consistently portrayed in such a negative light? The answer comes down to misidentification and media bias.

When a dog-related incident happens, breeds like pit bulls are often blamed first, sometimes without verification. Because of their physical appearance and popularity in certain communities, they’re overrepresented in bite reports, even when the dog isn’t a pit bull at all. In fact, the most common dog bite seen in hospitals is a preventable, not serious, and oftentimes caused by the old family chihuahua or lab accidentally taking a treat a little too quickly from a child’s hands. 

Combine that with selective media coverage and sensationalized stories, and the breed’s reputation suffers, regardless of the facts.

Pit Bulls as Family Dogs

Pitties are fantastic candidates for service animal work because of their high sensitivity.

In homes across the country, pit bulls are living as:

• Gentle companions for children

• Couch cuddlers and lap dogs

• Service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support animals

• Highly trainable working dogs in obedience, agility, and scent work

• Our own N, L, and R are all majority bully breeds

They are affectionate, eager to please, and thrive in environments with structure, leadership, and love. When properly socialized and trained, like any dog, pit bulls can be calm, reliable, and deeply devoted to their families.

Their intelligence and sensitivity also make them quick learners who enjoy mental stimulation and human interaction.

Fun fact: In my almost 10 years of experience (as of October 2025) and hundreds of dogs worked with across all breeds, I have never been bitten seriously or otherwise by an “aggressive dog breed” like pitties, Dobermans, German Shepherds, or Rottweilers. In fact, I’ve only been seriously bitten 2 times in my 10 years, and only by labs and doodles. Not what the news would lead you to believe, right? 

What Pit Bulls Need to Thrive

Pit bulls make amazing companions for humans of all ages and stages.

Like all dogs, pit bulls need responsible ownership. Here’s what sets them up for success:

• Early training and socialization

• Clear structure and boundaries

• Regular exercise and mental stimulation

• Positive reinforcement and leadership

• A family that understands and advocates for them. 

• Jackets for cold weather 

• Of course, cookies, treats, love, and affection

They aren’t “easy” dogs; no intelligent, high-energy breed is. But they are worth every ounce of effort. And, when raised with intention and love, pit bulls are some of the most loyal, goofy, and affectionate dogs you’ll ever meet.

Final Thoughts: Let the Dog Speak for Itself

Don’t count a pit bull out if you’re thinking of adopting a dog; just be sure to pursue training and education about the breed!

The truth is simple: a dog should be judged by its behavior, not its breed.

Pit bulls are not a problem to be fixed. They are a misunderstood group of dogs who deserve fairness, not fear. And, the more we educate ourselves and others, the more these dogs will be seen for who they really are: incredible companions with huge hearts. No two dogs are alike, so get to know the pup instead of going in with things you think you know. 

If you’re considering adopting a pit bull or currently share your home with one, connect with a trainer who understands the breed and can help you bring out the best in your dog — because there’s a lot to love, and even more to learn.

Of course, I’m biased. As I sit here writing this blog, I am greeted by the beautiful snores of my two pit bull mixes. In my humble opinion, being loved by a bully breed is unlike any other love.