Easy way to train your dog.

Training your new puppy

Bringing a new puppy into the household is always an exciting and fun time.  Everyone wants to play with, cuddle and hold the little ball of fur.  The last thing on the minds of most new puppy owners is training the new addition, but it is important that puppy training and socialization begin as early as possible.

Socializing a new puppy is a vital part of any training program, and it is important for socialization to begin early.  The window for socialization is very short, and a puppy that is not properly socialized to people, dogs and other animals by the time he or she is four months old often never develops the socialization he or she needs to become a good canine citizen.

Learning how to interact with other dogs is something that normally would occur between littermates.  However, since most dogs are removed from their mothers so soon, this littermate socialization often does not finish properly. 

One vital lesson puppies learn from their littermates and from the mother dog is how to bite, and how not to bite.  Puppies naturally roughhouse with each other, and their thick skin protects them from most bites.  However, when one puppy bites to hard, the other puppies, or the mother dog, quickly reprimand him, often by holding him by the scruff of his neck until he submits.

The best way to socialize your puppy is to have it play with lots of other puppies.  It is also fine for the puppy to play with a few adult dogs, as long as they are friendly and well socialized.  Many communities have puppy playschool and puppy kindergarten classes.  These classes can be a great way to socialize any puppy, and for handler and puppy alike to learn some basic obedience skills.

When socializing puppies, it is best to let them play on their own and work out their own issues when it comes to appropriate roughness of play.  The only time the owners should step in is if one puppy is hurting another, or if a serious fight breaks out. Other than that the owners should simply stand back and watch their puppies interact.

While this socialization is taking place, the pack hierarchy should quickly become apparent.  There will be some puppies who are ultra submissive, rolling on their backs and baring their throats at the slightest provocation.  Other puppies in the class will be dominant, ordering the other puppies around and telling them what to do.  Watching the puppies play, and determining what type of personality traits your puppy has, will be very valuable in determining the best way to proceed with more advanced training.

As the socialization process proceeds, of course, it will be necessary to introduce the puppy to all sorts of humans as well as all sorts of puppies.  Fortunately, the puppy kindergarten class makes this process quite easy, since every puppy gets to interact with every human.  It is important that the puppy be exposed to men, and women, old people and children, black people and white people.  Dogs do not see every human as the same.  To a dog, a man and a woman are completely different animals.

It is also important to introduce the puppy to a variety of other animals, especially in a multi pet household.  Introducing the puppy to friendly cats is important, as are introductions to other animals the puppy may encounter, such as rabbits, guinea pigs and the like.  If your household contains a more exotic creature, it is important to introduce the puppy to it as early as possible, but to do it in a way that is safe for both animals.

It is often best to start by introducing the puppy to the smell of the other animal.  This can be easily accomplished by placing a piece of the animals bedding, like a towel or bed liner, near where the puppy sleeps.  Once the puppy is accustomed to the smell of the other creature, he or she is much more likely to accept the animal as just another member o the family.

Teaching your dog not to chew

Chewing is something that comes naturally to every dog.  Every dog feels the instinctual need to sharpen its teeth and hone his biting skills.  Chewing on the right things, like specially designed chew toys for instance, can even help the dog clean his teeth and remove plaque.

Even though chewing is natural and healthy, that does not mean that the dog should be given carte blanche and allowed to chew everything in sight.  It is vital for every dog to learn the difference between the things it is OK to chew on, like toys and ropes, and the things that are off limits, such as carpets, shoes and other items.

When working with a new puppy, it is advisable to keep the puppy in a small, puppy proofed room for at least a few weeks.  This is important not only to prevent chewing but to properly house train the puppy as well.

Older dogs should also be confined to a small area at first.  Doing this allows the dog to slowly acquaint him or herself to the smells and sights of the new household.

When you set up this small, confined area, be sure to provide the puppy or dog with a few good quality chew toys to keep him entertained while you are not able to supervise him.  Of course the dog should also be provided with a warm place to sleep and plenty of fresh clean water.

As the dog is slowly moved to larger and larger portions of the home, there may be more opportunities to chew inappropriate items. As the dog is given freer access to the home, it is important to keep any items that the dog or puppy should not chew, things like throw rugs, shoes, etc. up off of the floor.  If you forget to move something and come home to find that the dog has chewed it, resist the urge to punish or yell at the dog.  Instead, distract the dog with one of its favorite toys and remove the inappropriate item from its mouth.

The dog should then be provided with one of its favorite toys.  Praise the dog extensively when it picks up and begins to chew its toy.  This will help to teach the dog that it gets rewarded when it chews certain items, but not when it chews other items. 

Teaching the dog what is appropriate to chew is very important, not only for the safety of your expensive furniture and rugs, but for the safety of the dog as well.  Many dogs have chewed through dangerous items like extension cords and the like.  This of course can injure the dog severely or even spark a fire.

Most dogs learn what to chew and what not to chew fairly quickly, but others are obviously going to be faster learners than others.  Some dogs chew because they are bored, so providing the dog with lots of toys and solo activities is very important.  It is also a good idea to schedule several play times every day, with one taking place right before you leave every day.  If the dog is thoroughly tired after his or her play session, chances are he or she will sleep the day away.

Other dogs chew to exhibit separation anxiety.  Many dogs become very nervous when their owners leave, and some dogs become concerned each time that the owner may never come back.  This stress can cause the dog to exhibit all manners of destructive behavior, including chewing soiling the house.  If separation anxiety is the root of the problem, the reasons for it must be addressed, and the dog assured that you will return.

This is best done by scheduling several trips in and out of the home every day, and staggering the times of those trips in and out.  At first the trips can be only a few minutes, with the length slowly being extended as the dog’s separation anxiety issues improve.

 Training your dog with a head collar

There are many devices used in the world of dog training, and some are obviously more effective than others.  One of the dog training devices that does work well, however, is known collectively as the head collar. 

The head collar is a device that is designed to wrap around the nose of the dog and then attach behind the head.  It uses the pressure points on the dog’s nose and head to apply pressure which stops the dog from pulling, jumping and straining against the leash.

Many people who see head collars mistake them for muzzles.  This can make many people nervous when the dog is out and about, and it bothers some dog owners as well.  Beyond that, however, the head collar can be a valuable training tool for many dogs, particularly large breeds that may have learned their own strength and are difficult to control with a normal buckle collar.

There are two main brands of head collar on the market, the Halti and the Gentle Leader.  Most people find the Gentle Leader easier to use than the Halti.  In addition, the Gentle Leader is designed to fasten around the dog’s neck.  With this design, if the dog manages to remove the muzzle portion, it is still wearing a collar.  While it is difficult for most dogs to get out of the muzzle portion of a head collar, some dogs do figure out how to perform this trick.

The Halti version, on the other hand, generally provides better control of the dog, and it is often favored with those working with large, aggressive dogs for that reason.

Training the dog with a head collar is often easier for beginning dog trainers and inexperienced dog owners than is training with a regular buckle color.  Head collars are quite good at stopping even the strongest dogs from pulling and straining, since these devices use leverage to give the handler more control.

Head collars are often favored by many people for handling dogs in difficult situations, such as being around other dogs or taking a trip to the vet.  A head collar can be quite effective at controlling the dog in frightening and difficult situations, even when it is not used for regular training.

It is better, actually, to use head collars as occasional training tools or reminders, not as a replacement for a regular buckle collar or training collar.  That is because many dogs quickly learn to tell the difference between the head collar and the normal collar, and adjust their behavior accordingly.  Therefore, the dog that behaves perfectly while wearing the head collar may suddenly jump and strain out of control when returned to the regular collar.

That fact, of course, points up the limitation of any training device, even one as effective as a head collar.  The goal of any quality dog training program should be to create a willing, obedient dog that can be controlled by nothing more than the handler’s voice. 

Even if you plan to never allow your dog to go outside without a collar and lead, a well trained dog should be capable of walking with you without a leash, even if there are a great many distractions around.  The head collar can help guide you to this goal, but it is till up to you to gain the respect and trust of the dog that will allow it to become a truly well trained member of the family.

If you are unsure how to use a head collar, or if you are unsure if a head collar is right for you, you might want to consult with a dog trainer, your veterinarian or the staff at your local pet store. These experts have probably seen many head collars used, and they may be able to provide valuable insight on the type of training device that will work the best for you.

Training your dog with a training collar

There are many excellent training devices that can be used when training your dog.  The most basic piece of equipment that every dog owner should own is a quality training collar.  There are many different types of training collars, and these devices go by a variety of different names, including choke collar, choke chain, correction collar, slip collar and of course training collar.  Training collars are favorite tools among both amateur and professional dog trainers.

When used properly, a training collar is a valuable, effective tool.  However, like any tool it must be used properly in order to be effective.  Despite its simple appearance and design, a training collar is a piece of precision equipment, and it must be treated with respect.

An improperly used training collar will do no good, and it can harm your training program by causing the dog to become confused and frightened.  There are several important things to consider when choosing and fitting a training collar.

The first consideration when choosing a training collar is how the collar fits the dog.  It is vital that the training collar be fitted properly to the dog. Only a properly fitted training collar will be effective for the dog.

The training collar must also be put on the dog the right way.  Unlike a normal buckle collar, there is a definite right way and wrong way to put on a training collar, and putting it on the wrong way can make the collar ineffective or even dangerous.

In addition to being fitted and sized properly, the training collar must be used properly as well. The training collar is designed to provide a reminder, not a punishment.  It is very important to never use steady pressure with a training collar.  A training collar works by providing a sharp pressure, followed by an immediate release of pressure.

The weight of the chain and the size of the links on the training collar are very important when choosing a training collar.  The weight of the chain should be appropriate for the size and weight of the dog.  For instance, you would not use a heavy chain on a 10 pound dog, just as you would not use a very light chain on a 100 pound dog.

When using a training collar, it is very important to place the collar on the dog properly.  The collar must be placed on the dog properly in order to be effective.

It is relatively easy to determine the length of training collar your dog needs.  The appropriate size of the collar is the distance around the animal’s neck, plus 2-3 inches.  Since training collars are usually made in even sizes, it may be necessary to round up to find the right size.  When measuring, be sure to not make the tape measure too tight.  The training collar will need to fit snugly, but not too tight.  It is important that the pressure on the training collar be instantly relieved when the leash is slackened.

If the training collar is too tight, the pressure will not be relieved when you loosen the leash.  If the collar is too loose, on the other hand, it could accidentally slip off the dog when he lowers his head.

When putting the training collar on the dog, it is important that the end of the chain that attaches to the leash is on the top of the dog’s neck.  This is important in order for the collar to function as intended.  It is important that the training collar loosen properly when the leash is slackened, and that it tighten instantly to provide the sharp correction when needed.

If the connecting piece of the training collar is placed anywhere except on the top of the dog’s head, the training collar will not loosen properly when the leash is slackened.  This constant pressure on the training collar will be counterproductive, since the dog will not understand what is being asked of it or why the pressure is not being relieved when it does as it is asked.

 House training your dog the right way

House training your dog properly is one of the most important aspects of dog ownership. More dogs are surrendered to animal shelters for elimination problems than for any other reason, so proper house training can literally be a lifesaver.

The most popular ways to house break dogs, and the ones that are the most effective, are those that use the dog’s own instincts to provide this important lesson.

Dogs are instinctively very clean animals, and they try very hard to avoid soiling the areas where they sleep and where they eat.  The modern methods of house training dogs, including crate training, den training and other variations, take advantage of this aspect of dog behavior to create a well behaved, house trained dog in less time than many other methods.

Another aspect of the dog’s nature that can be used to your advantage is the fact that the dog pays close attention to the kind of surface on which it makes its toilet.  That means that a dog that has become accustomed to using grass or dirt as a toilet will be reluctant to eliminate on other surfaces, such as gravel, asphalt or carpet for that matter.  This is a great aspect of canine behavior that many owners are unaware of.

The first part of house training any dog is setting up the training area, or the dog’s den.  The den is the centerpiece of the house training program, and it should be a small area, like a small bathroom, or part of a larger room.  The dog should be confined to this den any time it cannot be directly supervised.

It is also important for the owner to spend as much time as possible in the established den with the dog.  The owner and family members should spend time in the den, playing and interacting with the dog.  It is important for the dog to feel as comfortable as possible in his special area.  The dog should be given a special bed in the training area.  This bed can be anything from a store bought bed to a beach towel to something as simple as a large cardboard box.  The important thing is that the dog feel comfortable and secure in this area.

At first the dog may do its business in the bed area of its den, but after awhile, when the dog has come to recognize this as his sleeping area, he should be reluctant to eliminate there.

The other part of this house training process is to establish the toilet area.  It is very important that the dog have ready access to the toilet area every time he needs to do his business.  It is also very important for the owner to go with the dog every time he goes to the toilet area.  This is important for two reasons.  First, it will ensure that the dog uses the established toilet area, and only the toilet area.  Second, it will allow the owner to provide praise and encouragement to the dog for using the toilet area.

Establishing a set feeding schedule for the dog is also very important to properly house training the dog.  A set feeding schedule will mean a set elimination schedule.  Once you are familiar with the dog’s toilet schedule, you will be better able to anticipate his toilet needs and take him to the toilet area whenever the need arises.

It is important to not confine the dog for long periods of time without access to his toilet area.  If the dog is left alone too long, he may have no choice but to soil his den area, and his can set house training back for weeks or even months.  It is important to take the dog to the toilet area consistently, and to provide lots of praise every time the dog eliminates there.

Dealing with house training your dog

 

House training is one of those issues that every dog owner must grapple with.  In most cases house training is the first major milestone in the relationship between owner and dog, and it can sometimes be difficult and confusing for owner and dog alike.

 

The best house training procedures are those that use the dog’s own instincts to the owner’s advantage.  These strategies take into account the dog’s reluctance to soil the spots where he eats and sleeps. This is the concept behind den training and crate training.  Dogs are very clean animals, and in nature they always avoid using their dens as toilet areas.

 

These kinds of natural training methods generally work very well, for both puppies and older dogs.  Naturally, older, larger dogs will need a larger area for their den, and crate training is generally best used for puppies and small dogs. 

 

When house training a dog or a puppy, however, it is important to pay close attention to the signals the dog is sending.  It is also important to be consistent when it comes to feeding times, and to provide the dog with ready access to the toilet area you establish on a regular basis.

 

It is important as well to never try to rush the process of house training.  While some dogs are naturally easier to train, most puppies and adult dogs will experience at least one or two slip ups during the house training process.  When these accidents occur, it is important to not get mad and punish the dog.  Accidents during house training usually mean that the owner is trying to move too fast, or that the dog has been left alone for too long.  In this case, it is best to just take a step back and start the process again.

 

It is also important for the owner to reward the dog enthusiastically when it does its business in the appointed area.  The dog should learn to associate doing its business in its toilet area with good things like treats, rewards and praise.

 

During the house training process, the den area starts out very small, often as small as half of a small room in the beginning.  As the dog learns to control his bladder and bowels better, and the owner learns to anticipate the dog’s toilet needs, the den area can be slowly expanded.  It is important not to make the den area too large too soon.  The den area must be expanded slowly in order for the house training process to move along smoothly.

 

It is important for the dog to be properly introduced to its den.  Many dogs, particularly those who have never been confined before, such as those who have spent their lives as outdoor dogs, may react to the den area as if it is a prison, and constantly whine, cry and try to escape the den.  It is important that the dog learn to accept its den as a home and not a cage.

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One problem many dog owners overlook when house training a dog is that of boredom.  Boredom is actually the root cause of many behavior problems in dogs, including chewing and other destructive behaviors.  Boredom can also be the root cause of problems with house training.  Dogs that are bored often consume large amounts of water during the day, and this excess water consumption can lead to the need to urinate often, even in its den area.  Since soiling the den area goes against the dog’s nature, he can quickly become confused and frightened, thereby setting the house training program back even further.

 

To prevent the dog from becoming bored when you are away from home, be sure to provide him with lots of different kinds of toys, as well as a safe and secure place to sleep.  In addition, a vigorous period of play time can help the dog sleep while you are away.  In addition, playing with the dog in its den area will help him bond with this area and recognize it as a safe, secure home.

 

 

Training your puppy not to bite

Biting is one of those things that every puppy seems to do, and every puppy must be taught not to do.  Like many behaviors, such as jumping up on people, biting and nipping can seem cute when the puppy is small, but much less so as he gets older, larger and stronger.

Left to their own devices, most puppies learn to control their biting reflex from their mothers and from their littermates.  When the puppy becomes overenthusiastic, whether when nursing or playing, the mother dog, or the other puppies, will quickly issue a correction.

Unfortunately, this type of natural correction often does not occur, since many puppies are removed from their mothers when they are still quite young.  It is therefore up to puppy’s owner to take over this important process.

Socializing the puppy with other dogs and puppies is one of the best and most effective ways to teach the puppy the appropriate, and non appropriate way to bite, and to curb the biting response.

Many communities and pet stores sponsor puppy playtime and puppy kindergarten classes, and these classes can be great places for puppies to socialize with each other, and with other humans and animals as well.  As the puppies play with each other, they will natural bite and nip each other.  When one puppy becomes too rough or bites too hard, the other puppies will quickly respond by correcting it. 

The best time for this socialization of the puppy to occur is when it is still young.  It is vital that every dog be properly socialized, since a poorly socialized dog, or worse, one that is not socialized at all, can become dangerous and even neurotic.  Most experts recommend that puppies be socialized before they have reached the age of 12 weeks, or three months.

Another reason for socializing the puppy early is that mothers of young children may be understandably reluctant to allow their young children to play with older or larger dogs.  Since socializing the dog with other people is just as important as socializing it with other dogs, it is best to do it when the puppy is still young enough to be non threatening to everyone.

It is important for the puppy to be exposed to a wide variety of different stimuli during the socialization process.  The socialization process should include exposing the puppy to a wide variety of other animals, including other puppies, adult dogs, cats and other domestic animals.  In addition, the puppy should be introduced to as wide a cross section of people as possible, including young children, older people, men, women and people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

While socialization is very important to providing the puppy with life lessons and preventing him from biting, it is not the only method of preventing unwanted biting and mouthing.  Giving the puppy appropriate things to play with and bite is another good way to control inappropriate biting.  Providing a variety of chew toys, ropes and other things the puppy can chew is important to preventing boredom, keeping his teeth polished and keeping him from chewing things he should not.

As with any training, it is important to be consistent when teaching the puppy not to bite.  Every member of the family, as well as close friends who may visit, should all be told that the puppy is to be discouraged from biting.  If one person allows the puppy to chew on them while everyone else does not, the puppy will quickly become confused, and that can make the training process much more difficult than it has to be.

 Teaching a puppy to accept his collar and leash

Learning to walk on a collar and leash is the basis of all further training for every puppy.  Until the puppy has learned to accept the collar and leash, it will be impossible to perform any additional training.

The first step toward getting the puppy to accept the collar and leash is to find a collar that fits the dog properly.  It is important that the collar be neither too light or too heavy, neither too thin nor too thick.  A collar that is too light for the dog can be easily broken, while a collar that is too heavy may be uncomfortable for the puppy to wear.  It is also important that the width of the color be appropriate for the size of the dog.

Determining the proper length of the collar is relatively easy.  Simply wrap a tape measure or a string lightly around the dog’s neck to get an accurate measurement.  It is important that the tape measure not be tight, just slightly snug. 

Most collars are sized in two inch increments, so you may have to round up to get a properly sized collar.  For instance, if the dog has a 13” neck, you would buy a 14” collar, and so on.

After you have purchased the perfect collar, the next step is to put it on the dog and allow him to wear it around the house.  Do not be dismayed if the dog whines, paws at the collar or otherwise tries to remove it.  This is normal, and the dog should not be punished for it.  It is best to simply ignore the dog and allow him to work out his own issues with the collar.

The dog should be allowed to wear the collar 24 hours a day for a number of days to get used to the feel of the collar on his neck.  After the dog is accepting the collar well, it is time to start introducing the leash.  A lightweight leash works best for this process.  Simply attach the leash to the dog’s collar and allow him to walk around the house with it.  The dog should of course be supervised during this process in order to make sure he does not get the leash caught on anything.  Getting the leash caught or snagged could frighten the dog and create a leash phobia that will be hard to overcome.

In the beginning, the leash should only be attached for a few minutes at a time.  It is important to attach the leash at happy times, such as playtime, meal time, etc.  It is important for the dog to associate the leash with happy things.  When the leash is not attached to the dog, it is a good idea to keep it near the dog’s food and water bowls.  The dog should be encouraged to investigate the leash, and to discover that it is not something to fear.

After the dog is used to walking around with the leash attached, take the end of the leash in your hand and just hold it.  Allow the dog to walk around.  If the dog bumps into the end of the leash, just allow the dog to react and move as he desires.  The goal of this exercise is to simply allow the dog to get used to the feel of the collar and the leash.

It is important to allow the puppy plenty of time to get used to wearing the collar and leash before ever attempting to lead the puppy.  It is best to perform this exercise in the home or other environment where the puppy feels safe and secure.  After the puppy is comfortable and content walking on the leash in the home, it can slowly be taken outside.  It is best to make these outside trips very short at the beginning, and to lengthen them slowly over time.  Some puppies take to the collar and leash immediately, while others may require some additional time. 

Teaching your dog with confidence and respect

The first thing that any successful animal trainer must do is win the confidence and respect of the animal to be trained.  This important piece of advice definitely applies to the training of dogs.  As social pack animals, dogs have a natural need to follow a strong leader.  Setting yourself, the owner or handler, up as this leadership figure is the basis of any successful dog training program.

Until your dog has learned to trust and respect you, it will be difficult for any training program to be successful.  Trust and respect are not things that can be forced, they must be earned through positive interaction with your four legged companion.  After the dog has learned to trust and respect the owner, he or she may be amazed at how quickly the training sessions progress.

Many new dog owners mistake love and affection for trust and respect.  While it is of course good to shower your new dog or puppy with love and affection, it is also improtnat to gain its confidence and respect. It is also important to not allow the puppy or dog to get away with everything it wants to.  It is easy to let a dog take advantage of you, particularly when it is so cute and adorable.  It is important, however, to set boundaries, and to establish acceptable and unacceptable behaviors.

Dogs actually appreciate these types of boundaries, since they are similar to the rules that the pack leader establishes in nature.  Every dog in the pack knows what is expected of it, and knows its plce in the pecking order.  This kind of structured hierarchy allows the pack to function, hunt and survive as a single entity.  Your dog is actually seeking this type of leadership.  If he or she does not get leadership from you, he or she may be frightened or confused.

In addition, failure to gain the respect of the dog is very important to the well being of both the human and the dog.  A dog that lacks respect for its human owner can be dangerous as well as hard to live with.  It is important to establish firm boundaries of good and bad behavior, and to consistently, effectively enforce those boundaries.

When dealing with a puppy, it is important to start gaining his respect and trust as soon as possible.  Establishing an early bond is the best way to move the treaining and socialization process forward.

It is also important to make the initial training sessions short.  Puppies have a notoriously short attention span, and even older untrained dogs may be unable to focus for more than 10 or 15 minutes at a time.  It is best to make the lesson short and positive than to stretch it out and create a negative experience.

It is also a good idea to start and end each session with a period of play.  Starting and ending the training sessions on a high note is important.  Dogs make quick associations, and creating a positive association with obedience training will help to create a happy, healthy and well adjusted dog.  A happy dog will be easier to train, and more willing to please.

It is also important to keep the dog from becoming bored during the training sessions.  Many dog owners make the mistake of drilling the dog on things like basic obedience skills, heeling, sitting, etc.  While these obedience skills are important, and it is true that they will form the basis of more advanced skills, it is important to mix things up and make things fun for both yourself and your dog.  The more variety you provide the better your dog, and you, will enjoy the training sessions.

 

Tips for house training your new puppy

House training a puppy is one of the first, and one of the most important things, that any new dog owner must do.  It is easy to get frustrated if you do not understand the basics of this important process, so we have put together a few tips to make the process of house training your puppy a little easier.

It is vital to establish good toilet and hygiene habits in the puppy when he is young, since the patterns that are established in those first few months can last a lifetime.  When you consider that house training issues are the number one reason why dogs are surrendered to animal shelters, it is easy to see why house training is so extremely important.
In most cases, a puppy will not be completely house trained until he or she is six months of age.  That is because puppies younger than six months often lack the bowel and bladder control that they need in order to be reliably left alone in the home all day.
Puppies younger than six months should be confined to a single, small puppy proofed room any time the owner is not available to supervise the animal.  The entire floor of the room should be covered in newspaper or other similarly absorbent and cheap material.  At first the puppy will go everywhere and anywhere in the room.  As the puppy gets older and begins to display better bladder and bowel control, the amount of paper used is slowly reduced, until the puppy goes only on the established “toilet” papers.  This toilet area will form the basis of later house training.

House training the puppy – what to do:

Ø  Provide the puppy with constant, unrestricted access to the toilet area that has been established. 

Ø  Take the puppy to the toilet area every 45 minutes when you are at home.

Ø  When you are away from home, or when you cannot supervise the puppy, it is important to confine the puppy to a small area that has been puppy proofed and covered with newspaper.

Ø  It is important to be sure that the toilet area does not resemble anything in the home, such as carpet or hardwood floor.  Once the puppy is used to eliminating on a particular surface, such as grass or blacktop, he will want to eliminate on that time of surface.

Ø  Always provide lots of praise when the puppy does its business in the established toilet area.  The puppy needs to learn to associate eliminating in the established area with positive things like treats, toys and praise from you.

Ø  It is important to keep a set schedule when feeding the puppy, and to provide ready access to fresh, clean drinking water at all times.  Providing a consistent schedule for feeding will help you learn to anticipate your puppy’s toilet needs.

Ø  Using a crate can help the puppy to develop much needed self control.  Dogs are naturally very clean animals, and they will try their best not to soil their bed area.

Ø  And finally, it is vital to employ patience during the house training process.  House training can take as long as several months, but it is much easier to house train right the first time than to retrain a problem dog.

 

House training the puppy – what to avoid

Ø  Do not punish or reprimand the puppy if it makes a mistake.  The puppy will not understand the reason for the punishment, and he may become nervous and agitated.  This could set the training back even further.

Ø  Do not give the puppy constant access to food. Keep the puppy to a set feeding schedule instead of leaving food out all the time.

Ø  The puppy should not be given the run of the house until he has been thoroughly house trained.

 

House training a new puppy is not always easy, but it is important to persevere.  By exercising patience, and rewarding your dog with lavish praise every time he does the right thing, you will have your puppy house trained in no time at all.

 

Dealing with problem puppy behaviors

 

Everyone who owns a puppy or dog will eventually have to deal with and correct less than desirable behaviors on the part of their companion animal. There are a number of behaviors that should be nipped in the bud, including:

 

Jumping up on people

This is one of those behaviors that many owners inadvertently encourage in their animals, since jumping up, wagging his tail and the like can be adorable in a young puppy.  When that puppy is older, larger and heavier, however, this jumping up behavior ceases to be cute and begins to become annoying and even dangerous.

 

A large, heavy dog jumping up on people can be dangerous to young children and even to some adults, since a large, 100 pound plus dog can easily knock down a child or small adult.  Since you as the owner are responsible for the behavior of your dog, it is important to nip this problem behavior in the bud.

 

The best time to do that, of course, is when the puppy is still small and easy to handle.  When the puppy jumps up on you or someone else, gently place the puppy’s feet back on the floor. When the dog remains standing there, be sure to praise it extensively.

 

It is also important to give the puppy an alternative to jumping up.  Puppies jump up on people to express their enthusiasm, so it is important to redirect this energy in a more socially acceptable direction.  Try teaching the puppy to present his paw instead of jumping up.

 

When teaching the puppy to not jump up on people, it is important to be consistent.  Consistency is important in any training program, and all members of the family must understand that the puppy is not permitted to jump on them.

 

Pulling, charging and tugging on the lead

One problem you definitely want to nip in the bud is this one.  It is important that the puppy learn to respect the collar and leash now, when he is still small and light enough to handle.  Teaching this lesson to a 10 pound puppy will be much easier than teaching the same lesson to a 150 pound dog.

Using a good strong body harness or head collar can be a big help when training a puppy not to pull, or to retrain a dog that has already learned to pull on the leash.  When first fitting a harness, it is important to allow the puppy to walk around wearing it, so that he can get used to wearing it.

The first thing your puppy must learn, and the basis of all subsequent training, is teaching your dog to heel.  Teaching your dog to walk quietly at your side on a loose lead is the basis of all dog training, and until your puppy has mastered this vital skill he will be unable to move onto more advanced training.

When walking with a puppy on a leash, it is important to always keep slack in the leash.  If the puppy begins to pull on the leash, the handler should quickly change directions.  The puppy will then find itself lagging behind instead of forging ahead.  The least will be loose except for the split second it takes to change directions.  It is important for the handler to use a quick tug of the leash, followed by an immediate loosening, when teaching this lesson.

When teaching the puppy to walk properly, it is important to never allow the puppy to pull you around, or to forge ahead on the leash.  Allowing the puppy to pull you around will teach him exactly the wrong lesson.