Hello and welcome back to Sugarbear Cockapoos!

This application is a little different than most. It’s designed to help us get to know you, and also get a general feel of your dog knowledge and how you relate to dogs. Ten scenarios are introduced and ask you what you would do in that situation.

If you’re an experienced dog parent then the answers will come easily to you, but if this would be your first puppy you may not know what to say. In that case you can leave the application for now and spend a week or two just studying the topic of raising puppies.

Youtube videos by dog trainers, puppy training books, puppy training podcasts, or puppy training groups on Facebook can all be great ways to see and learn about how best to train a puppy you’re happy to live with.

Then come back and fill out the application using the best practices from what you’ve learned. This way you’ll have a much better grasp on what all comes along with a new puppy and can best gauge if your family is ready 😊

Okay, let's get started!

Scenario 1 of 10

You just took your puppy out to go potty, at a time when they would normally need to go, and they only sniffed the grass and walked around. Maybe barked at a passing jogger and sniffed some more, just not going potty. It’s time to go back in so you pick your puppy up and go inside. 

Scenario 2 of 10

Guests are coming over and your puppy is very happy to see them!!! They walk through the door and she jumps up and down, up and down. She's so happy and jumping all over your guests. 

Since this is a long form there is the option to stop and save your form up to this point. A link will be emailed to you that allows you to return to the form. If you need to pause feel free to click the "Save & Complete Later" button.

Scenario 3 of 10

After a long day of skiing (you live up north in this scenario 😉) you’ve come home exhausted. Your puppy was hanging out in its puppy pen and when you get home you take your puppy outside to let them run around, then come back inside. You realize your favorite TV show is on and you stop to watch, letting the puppy run around free in the house. Five, ten, fifteen minutes go by… It’s a great show. Suddenly you realize your puppy is peeing on the rug in front of you.

Scenario 4 of 10

Taking your puppy for a walk one day you see a dog approaching. Your puppy starts barking, then pulling at the end of leash trying to get to the other dog. He ignores your tug on the leash and your calls, straining and trying to get to the other dog.

Scenario 5 of 10

As a parent of 2 children, ages 4 and 8, and 1 puppy, you’re a busy person. One day as your children and puppy are running around playing your child reaches for the puppy’s favorite toy, and the puppy growls at your child over the toy. The child stops reaching for it and walks away, and you think “The puppy might have snapped at my child over the toy”. Later that day you hear your puppy growling at your other child over its bone, and once again your child walks away.

Scenario 6 of 10

Puppies are a lot like sharks, they like to bite things and have very sharp teeth! Unfortunately, we live with puppies and we have really soft skin. When you bring your puppy home you’re surprised by how much they like to grab things with their teeth, and your children are saying they don’t like the puppy because he bites when they play with him.

Scenario 7 of 10

Your puppy is finally old enough to go to the dog park since he finished his vaccinations. Excited you walk in with your puppy and unhook his leash. He runs around excited and making friends. When it’s time to go you call your puppy and head towards the gate to leave. But your puppy ignores you and when you go to try to catch him just runs away, acting like it’s a big game of chase.

Scenario 8 of 10

After your puppy has grown into a big fluffy adult dog, you take them to get their first professional groom. You’ve tried to brush them but it’s hard and you’ve forgotten for the last week or two. When you get to the groomer they say that your dog is matted and will have to be shaved short. To try to dematt them would be painful, like brushing out a whole head of tangles. 

Scenario 9 of 10

Your friend just got a new puppy and asks you “I don’t know what to do with him! Do you know of any good training books I could read?

After reading the book your friend says “Books don’t help, I need to see how to train him. Do you know of any videos about training?”

Exasperated, your friend calls you. “I just can’t get him to listen! What am I doing wrong? Do you know of any classes or trainers I can take him to?”

For this answer please list at least one trainer that you’ve found in your local area (googling it is just fine) and a puppy class that would be an option for you to take your puppy to. It might surprise you, but puppy classes aren’t really for the puppy – they’re for you! The trainer at a class has the job of training their human students (you!) how to train their puppies.

Scenario 10 of 10

Your puppy has grown into an amazing dog. You’ve taught them well and you really enjoy their company, and everyone who meets them just falls in love.

That’s it, that is the final scenario!