DogTrainster.Com

Article Source: turnagaintimes.com
Article by: Julie St. Louis

So you just got an adorable new puppy and after all the cuddling and petting you think, “Now what?” Well, now it’s time for potty training. He or she needs to learn to go to the bathroom outside, and the sooner the better.

Despite the horror stories you may have heard from others, housebreaking is easier than you think as long as you set yourself and your pup up for success. For new pups it’s best to keep them in your sight while you are home, and crated or limited to one area of the house while you are out. To keep Rover in your sight you can shut the door to the room you are in, or keep your pup on a long leash tethered to you.

Know the signs and most likely times when your pup will need to go out. Rover will start to sniff the floor or may become restless or whine to get your attention. He’ll need to go out within about 20 minutes of eating, sleeping or playing, so make a point of taking him out at these times. Consistency is key.

If you aren’t able to recognize the signs, try teaching him to ring bells hanging off the door handle. A strip of sleigh bells work really well for this. Just before heading out gently help your pup nose the bells. Once Rover has done his “business” praise him enthusiastically so his tail wags, or reward with a treat. Immediately take him back into the house so that he associates the bells or your praise with going potty outside. If you stay out there to play, then he will wrongly associate the bells with going out to have fun, not for going to the bathroom.

Another added measure is to teach him special commands for both peeing and pooing. Take your pup for a walk. As he lifts his leg, or she squats to pee, say a word like “hurry” or “spot.” Each time your pup pees say this word, so that eventually Rover will associate your word command with peeing or pooing. Again, after each time give praise, “Good hurry” or Good spot,” or a treat reward. This way your pup will know that he’s making you happy and doing things right. This will come in handy on those super cold days when you want to go out and get back in fast.

Of course you can’t be home with you pup non-stop, but for faster training it’s advisable to take several days or a week off from work to focus on your pup. If you can’t be home for extended periods of time, or when you do leave the house, consider placing your pooch in a pet carrier or wire kennel, or using a baby gate to keep him confined to one area of the house, ideally one without carpeting.

A young puppy will be all right for up to two hours alone. If you must be gone most of the day, consider hiring a dog walker or having a friend come by to let your pup out every couple of hours. As the puppy ages, he will be able to go for longer and longer periods without being let out. Confining a pup to a crate or smaller area is not cruel, and in most instances puppies will feel more secure by having a space that is theirs. Also, puppies tend not to mess in an area they consider their den or bed. The crate should be big enough for the pup to stand up and turn around in, but not so big that he’s able to pee in one corner and still be comfortable on the other side of the crate. Place a durable toy, or treat inside and he will be content.

If your pup has an accident in the house, and he will, don’t rub his nose in it, or hit him or berate him, especially if you did not catch him in the act. Your pup lives in the present and will not associate your punishments with soiling the carpet. He will connect it with whatever he is doing at that moment and be confused. In particular if you yell and scream at him as soon as you get home, your pup will not be running to greet you happily when you return for much longer. If you do catch your pup mid-pee, scoop him up and run him outside to finish and then praise him.

Finally, for cleaning up the messes, there are several helpful products on the market as well as some home remedies. Water and soap will not be enough to dissolve the stain and the scent. You must get the scent out, or Rover and his other puppy pals will continue to mark that spot. Nature’s Miracle, Simple Solution, and several with Arm-n-Hammer Baking Soda added, all work to remove the odor-causing bacteria. If you don’t have any of these available you can use a solution of half vinegar half water. The vinegar will neutralize odor.

Enjoy your new puppy while helping him become a happy and well-trained member of you family. Remember positive reinforcement and consistency, and the love and companionship he gives back to you will only grow stronger each day.

Article Source: seattletimes.nwsource.com
By: Denise Flaim

Five easy, low-cost tips for training a dog to do his business outdoors instead of indoors.

If ever there is an evergreen topic in pet-dom, it is house-training puppies.

The magic formula: Puppies have about one hour of bladder control for every month of age. So a puppy that goes home at 8 weeks (never younger, no matter what the breeder tells you) can hold it for only two hours. Plan potty breaks accordingly.

Reward good behavior: Puppies learn best through rewards, not punishment. Accompany your puppy outside for potty breaks, and be sure to praise him lavishly after he urinates or defecates. Those who are fans of clicker training can “mark” this behavior by clicking when the dog first begins to squat, then rewarding with a food treat after.

I command thee to pee! As odd as it may sound, you can attach a command to pottying to solicit the response in your dog. Make sure it is a phrase that works in public, as well as in the solitude of your backyard. While some folks can sing, “Go poopies!” in mixed company without batting an eyelash, my personal preference is the more generic “Hurry up” or “Let’s go.”

Timing is everything: The only time you can correct your puppy for a housebreaking lapse is if you catch him in the act. Scoop him up mid-squat, say “no” firmly, and take him outside to resume his relief effort. If he does, praise lavishly.

If you come upon the mess after it has been made, silently clean it up and blame yourself for lousy vigilance.

Gee, whiz: No crystal ball can tell you precisely when your puppy will piddle, but there are some pretty clear signs, including sniffing and whining. Always take a puppy outside after waking, eating or playing, as these activities tend to herald nature’s call.

Clean sweep: With their powerful sense of scent, dogs will return to the scene of the crime and repeat the offense if you do not adequately clean up their messes. Never use ammonia, as that mimics the scent of urine. You can invest in commercial pet-stain cleaners or try white vinegar cut with equal parts water.

As a preventive measure, I buy clear plastic sheeting (the kind used by painters to protect floors and furniture from drips — the thickest I can find), and lay it over carpets during the first few weeks of house-training. It also acts as an early detection system: When I hear the frantic patter of puppy feet on plastic, it means an intervention is required now.

Source from: stabroeknews.com

By Eileen Cox

The Guyana Society for the Preven-tion of Cruel-ty to Animals has kindly provided an article on ‘How to be a responsible Pet Owner.’  This is not the be-all and end-all of the subject.  As is stated in the article, there are books and material on websites for those who wish to derive the utmost benefit from owning a dog. Here goes:

How to be a responsible pet owner

Owning a dog brings many benefits, including, as some studies have found, a healthier and happier life for the owner. However, becoming a dog owner can also add many responsibilities to your life. A pet needs proper food, veterinary care (when necessary) and a safe environment to live in. This safe environment is one that has no place in which your dog can get hurt (by getting stuck or falling), and should also ensure that your dog is not able to roam freely in the public domain. If you own a dog or are thinking of doing so, make sure you can meet your responsibilities as a pet owner.

Preparing a safe environment for your pet

Before bringing a pet into your home, prepare a special place for it to eat and sleep. At first, try to maintain the animal’s daily schedule for play, eating, and answering the call of nature. You should pet-proof your home just as you would child-proof your home to avoid accidents. Harmful cleansers, plants, electrical cords, and breakable objects should be removed from potential contact with your pet.

Housebreaking

Housebreaking should be started as soon as a puppy arrives in your home. Young puppies cannot suppress their need to urinate or defecate for long periods of time. Therefore, as soon as they can walk properly, they should be taken out multiple times during the day (almost every hour at first and especially after periods of play, naps, and mealtimes. You should take the puppy to the same area each time and praise it immediately and enthusiastically when it eliminates. Do not play with, or talk to, the puppy until after it has urinated or defecated.

Obedience training

One of the first steps a responsible pet owner should take is to train his or her dog in basic obedience.

Many times, a dog exhibits “bad behaviour” simply because it did not receive basic obedience training. Pet owners can work with a professional dog trainer or can even train their dogs themselves.

Dogs are social animals and will display certain instinctive behaviour like digging holes in your yard, soiling your belongings and even biting people and other animals. While this is all normal behaviour for a dog, it is possible to prevent or treat certain canine behaviour problems so that they become acceptable in the usual domestic setting.

It is very important that the owner establishes a social hierarchy with the dog in which the animal understands that it plays a subordinate role. This may be done by teaching your dog to show submission through various obedience “tricks” like shaking hands (raising a paw), rolling over and the “sit” and “stay” commands. A properly trained dog will also go to its owner when called.

While some puppies may be at the age where they are easily distracted (and harder to train), most dogs will learn at any age. However, be warned that training a dog takes lots of patience and does not involve hitting the animal or any other violent techniques.

It is beyond the scope of this brief article to impart dog training skills. However, there are lots of good books written on this topic and many websites with good material for you to use. In the end, a well-trained dog is a joy to own and it is easier to control than an untrained one.

Article Source: newsday.com

by Denise Flaim | Animal House

If ever there is an evergreen topic in pet-dom, it is house-training puppies.

The magic formula Puppies have about one hour of bladder control for every month of age. So a puppy that goes home at 8 weeks (never younger, no matter what the breeder tells you) can hold it for only two hours. Plan potty breaks accordingly.

Forget the newspaper The rolled-up version, that is. Like children, puppies learn best through rewards, not punishment. Accompany your puppy outside for potty breaks, and be sure to praise him lavishly when he urinates or defecates. Those who are fans of clicker training can “mark” this behavior by clicking when the dog first begins to squat, then rewarding with a food treat after.

I command thee to pee! As odd as it may sound, you can attach a command to pottying to solicit the response in your dog. Make sure it is a phrase that works in public, as well as in the solitude of your backyard. While some folks can sing, “Go poopies!” in mixed company without batting an eyelash, my personal preference is the more generic “Hurry up” or “Let’s go.”

Timing is everything The only time you can correct your puppy for a housebreaking lapse is if you catch him in the act. Scoop him up mid-squat, say “no” firmly, and take him outside to resume his relief effort. If he does, praise lavishly.

If you come upon the mess after it has been made, silently clean it up and blame yourself for lousy vigilance.

Gee, whiz No crystal ball can tell you precisely when your puppy will piddle, but there are some pretty clear signs, including sniffing and whining. Always take a puppy outside after waking, eating or playing, as these activities tend to herald nature’s call.

Consistency counts The best way to house-train a puppy is to ensure that he never makes a mistake in the house to begin with. This means, essentially, never allowing the puppy out of eyeshot until he is reliably potty-trained. It’s a lot of effort, but you will shorten the process - and spare your rugs - if you make the commitment.

Crate expectations Dogs naturally do not want to soil their sleeping quarters or “dens,” which is what their crate represents. Crates that are too big, however, encourage puppies to eliminate in a far corner. Instead, you want your crate to be just large enough for the puppy to comfortably stand and turn around in.

Rather than buying a revolving inventory of crates, simply buy one that will best suit your dog when he reaches his adult size and weight. Then, if you have a wire crate, purchase a crate divider that neatly segments the crate. (Caveat: I often reserve using these crates until the puppy is older, as small jaws can get stuck in the wire easily.)

Plastic airline-style crates require a bit more ingenuity: Find an empty cardboard box that is large enough to displace the amount of room needed, and place it at the back of the crate.

Clean sweep With their power sense of scent, dogs will return to the scene of the crime and repeat the offense if you do not adequately clean up their messes. Never use ammonia, as that mimics the scent of urine. You can invest in commercial pet-stain cleaners, but I find that white vinegar cut with equal parts water works just as well.

As a preventive measure, I buy clear plastic sheeting (the kind used by painters to protect floors and furniture from drips - the thickest I can find), and lay it over carpets during the first few weeks of house-training. It also acts as an early detection system: When I hear the frantic patter of puppy feet on plastic, it means an intervention is required now.

Know what you are up against Certain breeds - bichon frises and pugs come to mind - have a reputation for being difficult to house-train. Know this going in, and ask fellow fanciers in that breed for tips.