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Dog Training Tips
Considered
“man's best friend,” dog training professionals have been disseminating more knowledge on how to make this animal
live up to that title.
Here are tips that one should keep in mind in training his dog more easily.
Digging Behavior
Dogs,
as social beings, consider digging as their outlet when they are lonely. Nutrient deficiency may also cause this digging.
Also known as pica, they sometimes eat the dirt they dig to supplement their health. Spending more time with your dog and
giving him a health check will keep his digging behavior at bay.
Potty Training For dog potty training, a reward-based
method will prove to be a very rewarding endeavor. Giving it a bit of dog food when it performs a good potty behavior will
make it easier for it to remember the good thing that it did.
Repeat and Repeat
Considerable repetitions will
give your dog ample time to grasp the command. Consistency is the name of the game. After doing enough repetitions, not helping
him with the routine will test if the dog really got it. Three successful attempts in a row is a fine gauge in defining if
it's just a fluke or if the dog has actually understood the drill.
The Happy Puppy Owner's Guide To Housetraining Your Puppy
by David Riewe
Dogs are probably the only animals in the
world who love unconditionally, with their whole heart and body and soul. There are many stories of dogs saving the lives
of their humans, of warning people of danger or of seeming to know when an owner is sick or in pain.
If you've decided
to get a puppy, or you've recently brought one home, congratulations! You will have a loyal friend and companion who will
enjoy your company, never be too tired to go for a walk with you, and who will always be on your side, no matter what!
One
note of caution though. A dog is only as well-trained as he has been taught to be by his owner. It is important that your
puppy understands as quickly as possible what is considered acceptable behavior and what is not in your home.
You
need to decide early if you will allow your puppy to get on your furniture, where he can sleep, and what he can chew on.
So
housetraining your dog now, while your dog is still a puppy is the best way to assure that she/he is a welcome and happy member
of your household.
The crate method is one of the fastest and most humane methods of housetraining your puppy.
But,
first, here are some do's and don'ts for housetraining your puppy:
DO'S: Do be assessable to your puppy. If you're
going to be gone for long periods of time during the training period, then do not give the puppy full access to your house.
Put him in an area where you've prepared for accidents.
Do limit the amount of food and water your puppy has throughout
the day. (If it's hot outside, make sure your puppy has enough water to drink, but remember that what goes in, will come out!
Do praise your puppy every time he/she does what you expect him/her to do. Your puppy wants to please you, and he/she
needs to learn what behaviors create praise from you.
Do be consistent. You will only confuse your puppy otherwise.
Do be realistic. Your puppy may not be capable of being completely housetrained until he is at least six months old.
DONT'S: Don't reprimand your puppy when he has an accident. It's going to happen, and if it does, it means that
you didn't get him outside in time. Just clean it up and move on.
Don't use the crate as a means of locking your puppy
up for long periods of time, or as a punishment.
Don't let your puppy go to the bathroom anywhere except his/her designated
area while you are training him/her.
Why the crate method works: Dogs are naturally fastidious animals and they don't
like to eliminate where they sleep or eat. Therefore, if your puppy sleeps in the crate, she/he will not use the crate as
a bathroom.
First things first:
Puppies need to urinate shortly after they eat, drink, play, chew, run or
walk. Depending on the breed, size, temperament and age of your puppy, this can be within 15 to 30 minutes.
1. Keep
a record of the times your puppy needs to go for a couple of days. This will help you to learn his natural schedule, and make
the training process easier.
2. Plan your "walking" schedule around your puppy's needs. From the time your puppy is
about 10 or 11 weeks to six months old, he/she should be walked between 5 and 10 times a day. Once your puppy is between six
months and 11 months old, this will drop to around 4 to 6 times a day. And when he/she is an adult, walking your dog three
to four times a day will be sufficient.
3. Especially after your puppy has spent the night in his/her crate, do not
return from your morning walk until he/she has eliminated. (If for some reason you do have to return, put your puppy in his/her
crate, and then take him/her out every fifteen minutes or so, until he/she goes.) Make sure you give your puppy lots of praise
and affection, once he/she has done what you wanted.
What the crate means for your puppy:
A crate is your
puppy's home away from home, his/her sanctuary in times of stress and his "bedroom" at night.
Make sure that your
puppy associates his/her crate with positive feelings. Put his/her favorite blanket, chew toys and treats inside the crate.
When helping your puppy get used to the crate, leave the door open until your puppy shows no sign of fear of the crate.
The
more comfortable your puppy is inside the crate, the less likely he/she will be of soiling it.
Never let your puppy
out of the crate for bad behavior such as barking, whining or scratching.
How To Get Started: 1. Establish a regular
schedule of feeding and going outdoors. 2. Put the puppy in the crate at night, but make sure you take him/her out first
thing in the morning and don't go back in the house until the puppy has finished. 3. After the puppy has gone, bring him/her
in, and let him play for an hour or so. (Remember not to give your puppy complete run of the house until he is completely
housetrained.) 4. Feed the puppy. 5. Using the chart you created, take the puppy outside within 15 minutes of the
time you know he/she is going to need to go. Don't come back in until the puppy has gone. 6. Bring the puppy in and let
him/her play. 7. Put the puppy in his/her crate for a nap.
Repeat this schedule throughout the day.
Yes,
this is a lot of work. But the method is effective, it works quickly, and your puppy will soon become housebroken, and as
he/she gets older, your puppy will let you know when he/she needs to go. In the meantime, you'll be able to have complete
confidence in your puppy!
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