Puppy potty training 101 – Part 5

March 15, 2010 by boodidyajump  
Filed under Training Dogs

Potty training a puppy can be a frustrating and challenging experience. However, if you do it correctly, it can be rewarding and bring you and your puppy closer together.

I highly recommend crate-training at first. Most dog training sites on the Internet say that crate-trained dogs are easier to house break and more likely to stay house broken than other dogs. Dogs do not like to eliminate where they sleep. The crate you get should be big enough for the puppy to turn around and lie down in. For a very young puppy, do not leave him in the crate more than 2-3 hours. A young puppy’s bladder is too small and the puppy can not hold it. During the day, someone needs to be able to come by and let the puppy out a few times. As the puppy gets older and its bladder gets bigger, it will be able to stay in a crate for up to 8 hours.

At first, you can line the crate with puppy pads or newspapers in case the puppy has an accident. This makes it a little easier to clean up. For overnight times, I always put water in the crate with the puppy, though it is entirely up to the owner. If the owner is going to get up every 2-3 hours, give the puppy water and take it outside, then no water is required. However, if you are going to accept that the first few weeks, the crate will be messy in the mornings, then allow water in the crate at night. For the water, I use a dog water bottle or dish that can hang on the side or front of the crate.

Before crating the puppy, take it outside. It is imperative that you stay with the puppy to watch it. As you are going outside, give the puppy a command like, “go outside” or “outside.” Once outdoors, give the puppy a command like “go potty.” Be patient. The puppy has no idea what you want it to do and is easily distracted.

When the puppy urinates or poops outside, immediately give it praise, like “good girl” or “good boy.” When you come inside with the puppy, you may give it a treat, water and play with it. After drinking, the puppy will likely have to potty again in 15 to 30 minutes. Take the puppy back outside to potty before putting it back in the crate.

When removing the puppy from the crate, the first thing to do is give the outside command and you start the process all over again. If the puppy has an accident in the crate, do not punish it. After all, the puppy can’t hold it and the timing for taking it out is just off. Just clean up the mess and try to time when to take the puppy out better.

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Benefits of formal dog training – Part 1

March 11, 2010 by boodidyajump  
Filed under Training Dogs

A well-trained dog is a happy dog.

A puppy that is allowed to do whatever it wants, whenever it wants, may seem cute and amuse us with its antics. But an untrained adult dog is a nuisance and even a danger, not only to all the humans in its life but also to other animals and itself.

Most dogs want to please their owners and enjoy getting lots of positive attention from them. Short but regular training sessions are enjoyable for the dog and its owner and help them to understand each other.

Basic obedience training involves using a dog’s natural instincts to help it adapt to what can be a very unnatural environment. For example, training a puppy to come when it is called, to walk at your side on a leash, to sit while waiting to cross a road, not only makes him easier to control but could save him from being the victim of a traffic accident.

Dealing With House Training Your Dog

October 23, 2009 by boodidyajump  
Filed under Training Dogs

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.

What You Should Know About Crate Training – One Of The Most Effective Ways Of House Training Any Puppy Or Dog

October 20, 2009 by boodidyajump  
Filed under Training Dogs

Crate training is one of the most effective ways of house training any puppy or dog. Crate training is very efficient, and very effective, since it uses the natural instinct of the dog to achieve the desired result of a clean house and a well trained dog.

The concept behind crate training is that a dog naturally strives to avoid soiling the area where it eats and sleeps. By placing the dog in the crate, this instinct is enhanced. The dog will come to see the crate as its den, and it will try to avoid soiling its den.

The key to successful crate training for a puppy or an older dog, as with other forms of dog training, is to establish a good routine. This routine will enhance the ability of the dog to do its business in the right place, and avoid eliminating in the wrong place. It is important to shower the dog with praise each and every time it eliminates in the established toilet area, and not to express frustration or anger when the dog makes a mistake.

It is important to confine the dog or puppy to a small part of the house, generally one puppy proofed room, when you are not at home. The room should contain a soft bed, fresh water and some favorite toys to prevent the dog from becoming bored and frustrated.

Crate training is different from confining the dog to one room, however. With crate training, the puppy or dog is confined to a crate when unsupervised. The idea is that the dog will think of this crate as its home, and not want to soil is home.

When crate training, it is important to remove the dog from the crate as soon as possible after returning home, and to take the dog promptly to the previously established toilet area. When the dog does its business in this toilet area, be sure to provide lots of praise and treats. It is important that the dog learn to associate proper toilet procedures with good things like treats and toys.

It is important to never leave the dog in its crate for long periods of time, as this will confuse the dog and force it to soil its sleeping area. The crate is simply a tool, and it should not be abused by leaving the dog in it for extended periods of time. If the dog is left in the crate for too long, it could set back the training program by weeks if not months.

The dog should only be confined to the crate when you are at home. Except for nighttime, the dog should be given the opportunity to relieve itself every 45 minutes or so. Each time the dog is taken out, it should be put on a leash and immediately taken outside. Once outside the house, the dog should be given three to five minutes to do its business. If the dog does not eliminate in this time period, it should be immediately returned to the create.

If the dog does its business during the set time period, it should be rewarded with praise, food, play, affection and either an extended walk or a period of play inside or outside the home.

During the crate training period, it is important to keep a daily diary of when the dog does its business each day. If the dog is on a regular feeding schedule, the toilet schedule should be consistent as well. Having a good idea of when the dog needs to eliminate each day will be a big help during the house training process. After the dog has used his established toilet area, you will be able to give the dog free run of the house to play and enjoy himself.

Dealing with accidents during crate training

It is very important to not punish the puppy or dog when it makes a mistake or has an accident during the crate training process. If there has been an accident, simply clean it up. Accidents during house training mean that you have provided the dog with unsupervised access to the house too quickly.

The dog should not be allowed unsupervised access to the home until you can trust her bowel and bladder habits. If mistakes do occur, it is best to go back to crate training. Taking a couple of steps back will help move the house training process along, while moving too quickly could set things back.

Dog Training: Success Tips You Won’t Want To Miss

August 22, 2009 by boodidyajump  
Filed under Training Dogs

Dog training can indeed be done at home and with you as their very own trainers. There are several dog training and puppy training methods as well as professional dog trainers but you can train your dogs yourself if you know some dog training success tips. An important thing to remember in dog training is that it isn’t a one time thing as dog’s attitudes tend to change over time.

Dog+training must be a consistent and ongoing effort for both the dog trainer and the dog. Reinforcing desirable attitude must be done on a regular basis for successful dog training. Here are other dog training success tips to ensure a good and rewarding training program.

First tip is to know that there are some elements that are required for successful dog training and these are patience, persistence and consistence. Having these attitudes in a trainer will definitely assure an excellent dog training experience.

Another tip is to make sure that your dog will recognize and respect your authority as the Alpha Dog or the leader of the pack. This is termed this way because dogs are pack animals and they follow the leader of the pack, so once you get this respect it is very easy for the dogs to follow your instructions or commands. A sign of submission that the dog will show you is when he allows you to rub his belly so if he allows you to do this, and then you have his respect as Alpha Dog.

Training dogs will not always lead to perfect results as dogs will commit mistakes. When this occurs, it is wise not to scold the dogs but instead correct their behavior while the mistakes are occurring. Correcting these mistakes at a later time might prove to be too late and will slow down the training process.

A bullet to remember in dog training success tips is to lavishly reward your dog with praises every time they show you a behavior that is desirable. Rewarding your dog every time they do something good will lead to a snowballing effect that will allow more opportunity for you to reward your dog.

Training should also not last too long or the dog will cease to perform at his best. Short training sessions are best and these training sessions must have enough fun games to keep the dog interested and performing at his optimum. Make the training session a sort of bonding time for you and your dog.

If you happen to notice some inappropriate behavior in your dog, it is best to correct them in the beginning so the dog will not form this as a part of his habit. Correcting inappropriate behavior must be done when the dog is still a pup because it might be hard correcting this behavior when the dog has established for itself his way of living.

These are just some of the dog training success tips that you can apply when training your dog at home. As trainer, do not be discouraged at the first try of training your dog, instead have enough patience and believe that you can actually train your dog and in doing so, ended up with a bunch of savings.

Is crating your dog cruel?

July 25, 2009 by boodidyajump  
Filed under All about Dogs

I’m an extremely strong advocate when it comes to the wonders of the dog crate. I have owned, trained, and shown dogs for close to twenty years of my life. During that time a crate has proved an indispensable tool for me as a dog owner and a safe haven for my dog who is a strong den animal by nature.

Many people will cringe if you mention crate training your dog. But I encourage everyone to do research into the true nature of your dog. Dogs are closely related to their relatives the wolf in many aspects. One of those is their need and desire to have a den of their own. A dog prefers to be in a small place that they can call their own. A crate fits this ingrain need that they have. It gives them a sense of safety and security. In the wild wolves seek out dens which often consist of small caves or holes burrowed into the ground or mountainside. Once they have located this wonderfully safe haven then they will finally give birth to their pups in the darkness and seclusion they so desire.

When you first purchase a puppy a crate is the best way to housebreak the pup. You purchase a small crate that fits your new puppy. At first the puppy might bark or whimper when it is put into the crate. But soon it will adjust and come to realize that the crate is its own personal den. A place of safety, a place to retreat if the dog is afraid or unsure, and a place to sleep without worry about other wild predators that exist in your dogs mind from its wild ancestral past. So the crate works in your favor and your dogs. A dog will not soil its den. This is an instinct that runs deep in all canines. You can use this to your advantage when house training. Place your puppy in the crate at night or times when you will be gone. When you release the dog from the crate you immediately place it outside to do its business. Your dog will quickly learn that it goes outside to eliminate.

Crates are far from cruel. I encourage everyone to research the behavior and personality of the dog. Learn about your canine because they are wild at heart. They are animals that live and exist on many instincts. Your dog is not only a pack animal that quickly adopts the human family as its pack family but it is also a den animal that craves the peace and safety of a small place to call its own. The crate provides that security that alleves the dogs insecurities that arise from the wild animal that still exists in your pet. Dogs grow to adore their crate. They will seek it out for naps or any time that the dog feels insecure or afraid. It will ultimately bring the best solace that we can offer our wild best friends character.