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