We’ve been in puppy land at the Miller household the past two weeks.

No we didn’t adopt a new dog (I’ve been given explicit rules from my wife that involve an upgrade in the size of our house before the discussion of another dog can even be brought up!) but rather we have been watching a puppy for a friend.  His name is Sunny and his a twelve week old labrador retriever.  You know that dog that they use for the Charmin ads?  Basically you’re going to want to multiply that cuteness level by 14 and you’re in the Sunny level of adorableness.  To say that we have fallen in love would be an understatement.

So look, I get it is what I’m trying to say here.  I get why we don’t want to give our puppies rules.  I get why we want to let them get away with murder!  They are stinking adorable and it often hurts ones heart to deny something that absurdly cute anything!

That being said… I was also reminded these past two weeks how truly simple one can make problem prevention with your puppy.  As far as rules/housebreaking are concerned the simplest, yet most effective, step you can take towards problem prevention according to Pet Gear Lab would be the act of putting a leash and collar on your puppy when you are in the house with them.  That’s it.  Keep them with you and have them drag a leash and collar in the house.  You’re watching TV and don’t want your puppy to wander into the other room where they can have an accident or chew on something they shouldn’t, leave them on leash and collar and step on the lead, or anchor it to the couch.  Your puppy has something in their mouth that they shouldn’t and they are running away from you with it?  It’s a lot easier to catch them if they have a six foot lead trailing them.

I don’t mean to oversimplify things here, but rather to simply offer an often overlooked idea when it comes to puppy training, problem prevention and, of course, safety.

Sure, we’ve also used a crate with Sunny and have followed the old rule that he is either under our direct supervision or in his crate, and we have made sure to give him a good schedule in regards to his eating, drinking and potty breaks.  But it was two weeks and we were accident free.  It’s not always easy… but no one gets a dog because they think it will be easy, right?  RIGHT!?!