| When and How Do I Train My Puppy? | | | | control, so accidents are nearly impossible |
| | | | to avoid completely. You can not expect the |
| Anyone who has ever had a dog knows that | | | | puppy to go more than a few hours without |
| training a new puppy is a challenge, but | | | | having to eliminate, and don't expect him to |
| essential. With any new dog, puppy training | | | | wait once he is out of his crate to go, |
| starts the day that you bring your new pet | | | | instead take him straight outside to avoid |
| home and continues for months as they | | | | any problems. |
| continue to learn the basics becoming a part | | | | |
| of the family. By the time you bring your new | | | | Before taking your puppy out for the first |
| puppy home they are ready to learn. In fact, | | | | time, decide what word or phrase you would |
| puppies can be trained from a very early age | | | | like to associate with his behavior or action |
| as long as we don't expect too much of them | | | | that you desire. In the beginning, the puppy |
| right away. By natural design the mother dog | | | | won't understand the word, but if you use |
| has been educating her litter for several | | | | "hurry up", or "go potty" and continue to |
| weeks, preparing them to survive on their | | | | repeat the phrase until he goes, praising him |
| own. By seven weeks the puppy's development | | | | her when it happens, your puppy will learn to |
| allows him to leave the mother and ensures | | | | associate these words with the action. Later, |
| the strongest human ties and best | | | | when in a hurry or inclement weather you can |
| socialization possible. Older puppies may be | | | | use the cue word to get your dog to relieve |
| less inclined to attach to humans right away, | | | | himself in quick time, without having to wait |
| but eventually with love and affection and | | | | in the scorching sun, or freezing rain. |
| our constant interaction the bond will be | | | | |
| just as strong. No matter what age you bring | | | | Method Two: Crate Training with Doggy Door |
| your puppy home, the important thing to | | | | |
| remember is that they are ready to learn, | | | | Another, and many say easier, method for |
| they just need patience and practice! | | | | house training is to use a crate with a dog |
| | | | door and an enclosed dog run. First, you |
| Dog training at this early stage will focus | | | | position the dog crate against the dog door |
| on the essentials; house training, chewing, | | | | which will allow the dog to go out whenever |
| digging, jumping, and learning to wear a | | | | he needs. Because his small size, the dog |
| collar and walk on a leash. The most | | | | door may need to be taped or otherwise rigged |
| important thing to remember about training | | | | up so the puppy can comfortably go through |
| your puppy is that you are creating | | | | the dog door. With the crate set up to the |
| boundaries and establishing house rules that | | | | dog door, your puppy learns quickly to let |
| will be in place for a lifetime, making your | | | | himself out of his containment area to |
| time together the best possible. The | | | | relieve himself. This method also helps him |
| groundwork you lay today will allow you to | | | | develop some independence always having his |
| have a wonderful, productive relationship | | | | human to watch over him. One important thing |
| with your dog every day. | | | | to consider with this system is that when you |
| | | | first let your puppy out of his crate, you |
| Responding To His/Her Name: | | | | should still take your puppy immediately to |
| | | | the outside area so that he can go. Even |
| The first place to start training is to begin | | | | though your crate has access to the outside, |
| training your puppy to respond to his name | | | | puppy may have been resting and not recently |
| being called. You can begin by calling the | | | | "emptied out." It won't take much excitement |
| puppy's name as you feed him his meals so | | | | or physical movement for the puppies need to |
| that the puppy starts to associate his or her | | | | "go" to be present and we don't want mistakes |
| name with his food- a good thing! After a few | | | | that could easily have been prevented. |
| days you can change the order, so that you | | | | |
| call his name, wait for him to look at you, | | | | When the pup isn't in his crate, you need to |
| and then give him a treat. Once he's | | | | use constant supervision to keep him from |
| responding on a regular basis, you can phase | | | | having accidents. The best way to have a |
| out the treats, using your voice (good | | | | constant eye on your puppy is to literally |
| puppy!) and your and petting to praise him | | | | tie or tether the pup to your waist with a |
| and let him know that you are pleased with | | | | leash or line, or you can tether him to a |
| him. Treats can still be used on an | | | | piece of furniture, but be sure that he has |
| unpredictable schedule as a reward, but the | | | | no more than three feet of freedom in any |
| puppy is responding to your voice and praise | | | | direction. Remember that a puppy tethered to |
| more than looking for his payment of the food | | | | furniture should be watched carefully or he |
| or treats. Having your dog recognize his name | | | | may chew it. Crating, supervising and |
| and respond by looking at you will prepare | | | | tethering are examples of management systems |
| him for dog obedience, puppy training classes | | | | used to support the dog until he is fully |
| and more! | | | | trained. |
| | | | |
| House Training | | | | Because dogs are inherently pack animals, |
| | | | they prefer to be with us rather than to be |
| On his first day in your home you should | | | | alone. Most cases of adult "separation |
| begin house training your puppy. Most people | | | | anxiety" would never develop if the dog, as a |
| are surprised, but house training is one of | | | | puppy, had been trained in the one of the |
| the easiest things to teach a dog. Because | | | | management systems just described because |
| dogs are clean by nature and do not want to | | | | early on the puppy would learn to deal with |
| soil their 'den', it can be particularly | | | | being alone, handling is own needs, without |
| useful to use the crate method of house | | | | access to chew or destroy things. Give it a |
| training. The first thing to keep in mind | | | | try and see if it benefits your new puppy and |
| with house training is that you must | | | | your family. |
| supervise your puppy closely and give the pup | | | | |
| the chance to go outside when he has to | | | | Remote Collar Training: |
| relieve herself. | | | | |
| | | | Have you wondered if using a remote |
| Young puppies are not ready to have full | | | | electronic collar can work for training a |
| access to your whole house, it will overwhelm | | | | puppy? The answer is, yes. Why? Because the |
| and either intimidate or over-excite them. | | | | Sit Means Sit remote collar training system, |
| One of the biggest pitfalls in house training | | | | developed by Fred Hassen, is a proven, |
| fails is when people allow their puppy more | | | | effective and gentle training method tailored |
| freedom than he can handle within the home | | | | individually to your dog's needs. Dog |
| and don't supervise his initial experiences | | | | training, obedience, puppy, and even agility |
| going potty outside. It is important for | | | | training are well suited to the remote collar |
| owners to set aside time to take the new | | | | training method. Sit Means Sit uses the |
| puppy out, watch them go and bring them back | | | | better quality remote collars on the market, |
| in so that the puppy begins to understand how | | | | which means that these are fully adjustable |
| you want them to handle their natural urges. | | | | for different dogs. The remote collar is used |
| We can give a general outline of what you can | | | | as a cue system similar to a tap on the |
| need to do to maximize house training, | | | | shoulder that says "yoo-hoo" to someone in an |
| remember that you should always consult a | | | | effort to let them know you are talking to |
| professional trainer to guide you through the | | | | them. In other words, the collar is never |
| process. | | | | used with a puppy as punishment, but instead |
| | | | as a means to successfully gain the puppy's |
| Method One: Crate Training | | | | attention. In any case, you should seek a |
| | | | professional's advice and aid in this type of |
| You can tap into the puppy's natural desire | | | | training to avoid any elements of confusion |
| to be clean and not soil the area in which he | | | | for your pup. |
| sleeps by using a crate. Using a crate to | | | | |
| replicate the safe, secure "den" environment | | | | Is there a specific age at which dogs can |
| can aid your house training efforts, as long | | | | begin remote collar training? No. Common |
| as he is given the opportunity to get out of | | | | sense will tell you when your dog is |
| his crate when necessary. | | | | physically coordinated enough to go for walks |
| | | | on a leash, which is a good indicator that he |
| After hooking the puppy to a leash, let him | | | | is ready for further training. Another |
| out from the dog crate and take him out to | | | | indicator may be when he is active enough |
| the area, the backyard, a nearby park or | | | | that you feel he is ready for more advanced |
| green space, where you want him to 'go' or | | | | training. He's your pup knowing when he is |
| 'eliminate'. If he goes, praise him. If he | | | | ready for further training is personal choice |
| does not then put him back into his crate and | | | | akin to whether your child is ready for |
| try again in about 15 minutes or so. Continue | | | | kindergarten. Some children are ready at just |
| with this dog training cycle, building a | | | | under five while some need another year. |
| routine for you and your dog. If an outing is | | | | Pups, like kids, mature at individual rates. |
| successful, then you can allow the pup some | | | | He's your puppy, enjoy him but remember he |
| freedom for twenty minutes or so and you can | | | | needs rules, supervision, attention, |
| gradually extended the time as he grows older | | | | exercise, good positive mental outlets, good |
| and more reliable about not having accidents | | | | food and lots of rest to grow up strong, |
| in the house. Remember a seven-week-old puppy | | | | healthy and well behaved! |
| does not have a great deal of bladder | | | | |