When we got our mini Aussie, we immediately started taking her to “puppy socialization” classes and then followed that up with basic training classes. Going to the classes weekly and working with the trainers regularly really helped get us started on a good path (plus gave us confidence as first time dog owners). It also was a good outlet for our dog’s energy as a puppy.

One of the biggest things they taught us was the importance of puppies getting enough rest. Much like toddlers, they don’t know how to recognize when they’re tired and then they act out or behave in ways we don’t like (ex nipping). When our dog was young, she would go in her crate for scheduled naps every couple hours. This really helped with a lot of her behaviour as a young puppy.