Puppy Proof your Home

When you bring a puppy into your home it can be a wonderful time, however your home can also be a hazard to your little explorer. There are certain precautions you need to take to ensure that your puppy is safe in his new home.

One of the first things you need to do is to make sure that all electrical wires are hidden out of view of your puppy. Being that they will be teething Puppies are looking for things to chew. Both to sooth their gums and to try out their new teeth.

Electrical wires are a puppy’s worst enemy. In addition, you want to makes sure that the puppy cannot chew on any of your expensive furniture. When you are cooking, keep him out of the kitchen, more accidents happen this way.

If you have a front loader washer or dryer keep him out of the laundry room. This might sound funny and farfetched but it happens more than you realize. Keep your puppy out of the bathroom, more dogs drown this way. If you are using an iron, do not leave it unattended.

Keep drawstrings for curtains and blinds out of your puppies reach. The same goes for any plant that may or may not be toxic to your dog. The last thing that you can do is simply put yourself at your puppies’ level. By doing this, you may find something that you would have missed such as a pen top or button. These are just a few of the simple tips you can do to ensure that your new addition to your family will be around for several years to come.When you bring a puppy into your home it can be a wonderful time, however your home can also be a hazard to your little explorer. There are certain precautions you need to take to ensure that your puppy is safe in his new home.

One of the first things you need to do is to make sure that all electrical wires are hidden out of view of your puppy. Being that they will be teething Puppies are looking for things to chew. Both to sooth their gums and to try out their new teeth.

Electrical wires are a puppy’s worst enemy. In addition, you want to makes sure that the puppy cannot chew on any of your expensive furniture. When you are cooking, keep him out of the kitchen, more accidents happen this way.

If you have a front loader washer or dryer keep him out of the laundry room. This might sound funny and farfetched but it happens more than you realize. Keep your puppy out of the bathroom, more dogs drown this way. If you are using an iron, do not leave it unattended.

Keep drawstrings for curtains and blinds out of your puppies reach. The same goes for any plant that may or may not be toxic to your dog. The last thing that you can do is simply put yourself at your puppies’ level. By doing this, you may find something that you would have missed such as a pen top or button. These are just a few of the simple tips you can do to ensure that your new addition to your family will be around for several years to come.

How to Keep a Dog From Jumping on People

If you own a dog then you have probably came home with an arm full of groceries and had your dog tackle you the moment he saw you. While this is a sign of affection, it can be a mess if your bottle of orange juice breaks on the floor.

Beyond the dangers of having your dog jumping on you, there is the embarrassment factor of having this happen to a guest at your home. Dogs jump to either show affection or to get attention. If you have somebody over who is skittish of dogs this will be very embarrassing for you.

The simple way to teach a dog not to jump is easy When he does it simply push him away. This may seem to be mean, but the last thing you want to do is reward him for this bad behavior. Next, you will want to use the sit command. If you have trained him correctly, your dog will respond immediately to this.

Next, you will want to use the stay command in conjunction with the sit command. These two commands put together will go a long way in getting a dog not to jump up on you or a guest.

If you have not trained your dog either one of these commands, you may want to try using either his favorite chew toy or giving him a piece of rawhide to chew on to keep him occupied. One great thing to do is if you are going to the store is to take a piece of rawhide that has been soaked in soup. When you come through the door, give it to your dog to keep him at bay.

How to Keep a Dog from Chewing on your Belongings

If you have ever came home and found you coffee table missing some of its original finish then you know all too well about a dogs chewing problem. There are several methods to prevent a dog from chewing; however before you put an end to his chewing day you need to understand why.

A dog’s natural reaction is to chew. He may chew because he is teething; he may be lonely or even just plain bored. Dogs require attention from their owners, when they do not get this attention; they find ways to get it. Therefore, the question is how you stop your dog from eating all of your stuff in your home.

First, if your dog is teething, get him chew toys that will sooth him while going through this difficult period. If your dog is past the teething stage then you might want to put him in a room that has very little for him to chew on, provide him a selection of chew toys that he can take his emotions out on while not destroying your furniture.

The one thing that you need to remember is to never punish a dog if you do not catch him in the act. Dogs are simple creatures, if you punish him ten minutes after he finished making a snack out of you slippers. The dog will not associate the two together. These are just a couple of ways to prevent your dog from chewing on your household goods; there are other methods out there if these do not work.

House Training Your Dog

When you have a new puppy one of the guarantees is that you will need to house train him to go to the bathroom. Now this can be done through several methods. Remember, house training dogs can be fun; you just need to be persistence. The first thing you need to remember is that accidents are going to happen.

Unlike us, a dog cannot tell you when they need to go to the bathroom. One rule to remember is these puppies have a much smaller bladder than larger, older dogs. This means they will have to go more often. In fact, you should start your house training puppies when it is still young so that it will get used to it. It might be too late to house training dogs when it feels comfortable doing his business indoor.

One good rule of thumb is this, roughly every two to four hours take your dog out to do his business. Even if they do not have to go at that particular time, do so anyway. If your dog does not do his business when outside, keep an eye on him when he is inside. Usually a dog will give you about a minute warning before he does his business. If you see him sniffing around in the ground then good bet is he is fixing to do his business. This is where you get to run through the house holding the dog at arm length heading for the door.

The importance of having him go outside is eventually he will not be comfortable going inside the house. If accidents do happen do not scold him, after all he is just doing what is natural. Just clean it up and repeat the following tips eventually he will begin to go only outside to keep your puppy discipline.

House training your dog will help him to feel more natural for him to do his business outside.

Getting Your Dog to Sit

Teaching a dog to sit is one of the easiest things to do. However, it is also a process that you and the dog need to have patience during. When you tell your dog to sit at first he will probably just look at you funny.

So how do you make your dog sit? The process is actually quite easy. First, you need to remember that a dog’s attention span is short. For this reason, the training lessons need to remain short and fun at the same time.

The first rule is to remember to always use the dogs name with the command. If you have had the dog since he was a puppy then he should know his name by now. Next, you need to be firm in giving the command. This does not mean to scream at him until he obeys. If he does not obey, then just leave it and come back to it later.

Using treats during this process is a good thing at first. After he has begun to listen to you then you will want to slowly wean him off the treats. This way he will do it because he was asked not to get a treat.

If your dog does not want to follow the sit command then you might want to use gentle yet firm pressure to push his rear down. After this has been achieved then reward the dog. This will again instill in him the thought of if I do this I get a reward. Eventually your dog will sit every time you tell him too and maybe even sometimes that you do not.

Teaching Your Dog to Heel

Teaching your dog to heel is one of the more difficult commands to master on both the dogs part and the owners part equally. This command is only effective for short periods. The reason for this is simple dogs have a very short attention span.

When teaching a dog to heel it is important that you have immense patience with your dog. This will be difficult as the dogs attention especially will be distracted by everything else going on around him.

The best way to teach your dog to heel is to use a leash, take your dog for a walk. Make sure that he stays close to your side, give the heel command and take about two or three steps ahead. If he does as he was asked then reward him with praise and a treat. One thing to keep in mind though a dog that is older is easier to train than a new puppy, so be patient.

Just like the other training keep sessions short, you will get better results with several short lessons than two or three long lessons. Each time keep getting farther and farther ahead until you have reached a point that you feel comfortable that your dog has mastered heel.

The importance of this command is to prevent your dog from bolting into traffic or any other dangerous situation. In addition, if you are approached by someone coming towards you, you do not want your dog running towards them in a threaten manner. This is in fact a difficult command to teach, however it is one that will reward you in the future just be patient.

Teach Your Dog To Fetch

There are numerous commands out there to help your dog behave better. However, there is one command out there that is actually designed to help you and your dog to have fun together. The command is fetch; you use this command when you want teach your dog to fetch a stick or ball that you throw.

Many young smaller dogs are ready to go for this command. However if you have an older larger sized dog they might not obey as easily. In many cases the dog will give you the “you threw it you go get it” look.

However, an active dog is a healthy dog, so here are a few tips to help get Fido ready to play fetch. First, get his favorite toy, and then throw it a short distance. Either your dog will run after it or look at you like you are crazy.

If he goes and retrieves the toy then praise him for doing a good job. If the latter happens then you might have to bribe him to get him to comply. If possible, try to avoid treats when you teach your dog to fetch.

Now after you have got to the point your dog will go the short distance, you need to keep this progress up by throwing it farther and farther each time. Each time he returns it is important to give him praise and enforce the point that you are proud of him.

Now it is time to graduate to the rubber ball. This way he is not familiar with just the one toy. As he gets more and more used to you throwing the ball use the fetch command. After all, of the training you and your dog can enjoy playing fetch in the park with a ball or even a Frisbee.

Teaching your Dog the Come Command

If you and your dog have ever gone to the park to play, then you have probably had him run chasing after something or someone. This can be quite embarrassing to a dog owner, so how do you train your dog to come when you call him.

First, there are a few reasons why the dog may not come when called. For example if they have been given the command and simply ignored it and was never corrected. Maybe he just simply does not know the command. On the other hand, he may know that he is going to have an experience he really does not want to have such as being put in a cage.

So how do you get Fido to come when you call him, one-way is to call him when it is time to let him out to do his business. After he comes to the door to go out make sure he knows you are pleased by giving him praise for coming. After he has done his business, call him again to come inside. Again, it is important to praise him for obeying, always praise him for doing what you tell him to do.

If it is dinner time, again call him to come eat. Praise him when he gets to his bowel and never lose your cool if he takes his time. If your dog is a rescue, you need to take into account that you do not know what trauma he went through before you got him.

It is important to praise your dog when he comes on your command. If however he does not come, you need to be firm but gentle in dealing out punishment. In the end, you will both be rewarded with a healthy relationship.

Training Aggressive Dogs – How To Train Your Aggressive Dog

As all living things do, dogs do communicate usually through aggression. This is a behavior which may involve several reactions which include; snarling, growling, biting or even attacking their subjects. Some of the types of this reaction better known as aggression include:

Protective aggression. Dogs may react in an aggressive way in order so as to protect their territory from people or even animals that may pose potential threat to them and their space. They are also known to protect their food, toys in a defensive way. This is a possessive aggression.

Fear aggression. When any dog feels there is potential of being harmed, then this may motivate an aggressive mood as a reaction. This may even cause the dog to bite you if he feels threatened. Try for example to raise any object over the dog and you will notice the reaction from the dog.

Pain caused aggression. You may try sometimes to help an injured dog, but when you cause any pain to him, he may even snap at you. Thus eliciting any form of pain will lead to aggression from the dog. Always, before trying to help out a dog in pain, make sure to put a muzzle as a protection measure.

It is always advisable to let trained personnel to attend to an aggressive dog. They are better in understanding these behaviors. Ensure to report the matter to a veterinary officer for further medical examination.
Training dog aggressive behavior

Training a dog is not always a common sense activity as many take it to be. It is a process involving many stages such as; beginners, intermediate and advanced levels. These training may include; training him to use crates, training them to listen when you talk or even training them to stop barking at people or even vehicles. You may train the dog to respond to whispering as horses do or even praising him.

There is a solution for all the dog training methods and techniques. These have been compiled by an expert in a book called ‘stay fetch book’. These are effective solutions when used and will change the behavior of your dog forever. However, training starts when the dog is still small and progresses to advanced levels as time progresses.

Crate Training For Your Dog and Puppy

Crate training is a very effective and reliable way of training your dog. Hence locking a puppy in a cage is not a mistreatment or a punishment to these beautiful creatures. Like every one else, puppies need somewhere cool, comfortable and without any disturbances when they pose to rest after a lot of plays and interactions outside. This is a place they can own and claim at any time. They even require playing with their toys in a secret position out of other disturbances.

According to experts, Dog housing is very effective usually when the dog has to spend most of the time in that cage. Any animal will love its home due to the comfort and the warmth provided by the crate. It also plays an important place to play with its toys undisturbed.

There are several important roles that a cage plays usually when you are not within your home premises. These include;

- It prevents your pet to harm itself when you are not near
- It prevents the pet from damaging your home or furnishes. Prevents chewing of your furnishes or the holes usually dug by pets on the walls.

- It keeps the home clean by preventing the pet form defecating everywhere thus causing a lot of mess.
- The effectiveness of puppy training is much increased when using a crate as a training method. It forms a reliable way to house break the pet.

Since safety for your dog comes first in any training technique, then it is evident that the use of crates offers a wide range of positive results. It makes dogs training both easy and comfortable. All the same, these are not the only available methods of dog training. More options may be considered for better results.

Secrets to Dog Training to Stop Your Dog’s Behavior Problems

According to many dog owners, majority of dog behavior problems show up when still young. Although there are some behaviors and character that seem impossible to get rid off, dog training out of these is relatively possible. This dog training involves the obedience training and is effective in many cases of unnecessary behavior if done in the right way.

Usually the dog behaviors depend on the owner himself and do not depend on the dog in question. It is important to remember the following:
- Every dogs mission is to make you happy. Every dog apart from doing the normal things feels obligated to make the owner happy and he enjoys it.
- It is always important to make him understand his position on the family ladder. This involves removing the behavior that he was used to when living with his respective pack. He should identify himself on the lower end of the family ladder and this will eliminate many problems. When a dog feels too honored or highly regarded in the family it may cause a lot of problems.

There are some serious mistakes that many people make in trying to train their dogs. These include:
- screaming at your dog. This does not bring any meaningful behavior reaction and may even harden the dog’s bad behaviors. The dog may even do the opposite of what you are training him or may even get aggressive. This should be avoided at all times. He must be trained to recognize you and respond as required.
- beating your dog. As seen earlier, eliciting any pain may lead to an aggressive behavior. They don’t like pain they will try to avoid it at all costs. This should also be avoided.

Therefore, there are several things needed to cure the bad behavior.

1. Be patient. It is possible that, after several training sessions of your dog, nothing really changes. Just remember that the dog’s brain is not like that of an adult human being. Keep trying more times and you will succeed.
2. Consistent reaction. It is always important to react to a dog’s behavior in the same consistent way. The trainer also needs be very consistent as the training proceeds. If this is not observed, he will just go back to the original behaviors.
3. Training exercise. It is not advisable to always contain your dog in the cage day in day out. This will just make him lazy. Taking strolling walks with your dog allows you to study and control his behaviors in different situations. This makes you to control him effectively and is a very successful method of training him.

The above methods when well followed and adhered to, will give very positive results. More research is needed also to add on these methods when doi8ng your training sessions.

Dog Clicker Training in 15 Minutes Or Less

A clicker is a box that produces a certain type of noise when you press a button. This is done any time the dog does a good thing and is meant to commend him. The dog should be trained to know and recognize what the clicking sound is all about. This works very positively. Since the dog works hard to make you happy, letting him know that he has done a commendable job is important.

As usual, when you get your first dog, many people will give a lot of advice on how to best train him. Remember that you are the master and the dog has to learn from you in all the aspects possible. Make you own decision for you are the one to take care of the dog.

There are many books about pet training now in stores. This is acquired after buying the clicker box. To train your pet using this method, just try by making him do just simple things such as move. Talk to him politely and practically try to make him do what you are telling him. After he does the same press the clicker. If you do this every time he reacts positively, he equates it to good behavior and no help will be required later but just the clicker box.

There have been lately some dogs’ competitions that involve running and passing over obstacles. If you watch closely, there is always a trainer with a clicker box. This is a very effective way of training your dog. The commanding, treating and clicking action when well followed makes them know your happy reaction to their behaviors, since they respond better to praise than punishing them. It puts the trainer in a position of having the responsibility to praise or punish accordingly. The clicker box should be used as often as they are supposed to hear it.

Dog Obedience Training – Stopping Aggressive Puppy Biting

This involves studying the dog’s psychology. Bad are misinformed decisions when training a dog makes many people to a lot of human errors when training their dogs. This may range from copying other people’s methods or ideas reading the wrong information or books and one may feel frustrated when the dogs are not attentive enough to instructions or just make unnecessary reactions. In all the methods taken for training, there are five mistakes that people always make.

These if avoided will make the training process fun for both the dog and the owner. They are:

1. Punishing the dog when he responds positively to your call.
This is a big mistake that will make any dog think twice when you call him next. It is very important to praise and commend him when he responds positively to your call, then send him back to play. Thus he knows that the fun continues and will be more than willing to come next time you call him.

2. Making the dog to eat his poop when house training.
This may make your dog confused when you beat him when forcing him on his poop. The problem is that he has done it in the wrong place. Thus when you do this next time he will try to hide the poop in very awkward places in the house just to hide it from you. This can be very irritating sometimes. Correction is only effective when the dog is caught in the act. Shout to him ‘No’, lead him outside and stay with him until he finishes. After this praise and commend him a lot. This is the only way he can understand a correction.

3. Ignorance of bad behavior such as snarling or chewing
Many people take these behaviors as normal in the development of their dog. Theses may include jumping aimlessly, snarling at family members to intimidate them etc. teach your dog out of this in order to instill good behavior in his development or interaction with people.

4. Letting your dog to take control.
It is important that you take control of your pet and let him recognize you as his boss. Many people differ on this matter but it is important that as he develops, he takes obedience attitude. If this is not observed, then what you are training is a dangerous animal of which you cannot control. Make his cage comfortable and safe. For example, it is important that you make him seat before you give him food in the cage to recognize you as the boss. There are also other different methods to ensure this and all should be practiced for an orderly development.

5. Pushing your dog too fast when you take him to the toilet.
Assume that it is on a winter and the snow is falling. You have taken your dog out to relieve him. First the dog starts to do other things such as running around picking scent in the area. You get annoyed because it is cold and the as soon as he finishes you force him into the house immediately. This develops a cheeky behavior in the pet and next time, he will try to out do you. The best thing is to let him know that as soon as he finishes, there is a reward. This will develop as a trend on a regular basis as time goes by.

When these rules are observed, you will be training him in a very positive and orderly pattern and the earlier you start the better the development.

What Are the Best Sources of Dog Training Advice?

Training is a very important life aspect for both animals as well as human beings. Almost every one would like to have a well trained dog or pet which is well mannered and responsive to its master. A lot of these training programs have of late jammed the market.

There are very different commercial dog trainers in the market today, but what is most important is to consider the most important training program for your pet. This has resulted from the large numbers of clients in the market who would like their dogs to be trained. They may even offer some guarantees to attract the dog owners. However, many people do not know about these dog training programs or their availability. There are several factors that you have to consider before choosing any training program.

It is always important to check and research for credible dog trainers. This is because as the market floods with trainers, many of them are mot qualified enough for the task. Indentify also the training courses or program offered and desired about their suitability to your pet. They should offer the intended help to your pet. The most important however is the cost of the training program. This should be considered in respect to the training offered to your pet. Thus aim for the best training programs which involve the least cost possible.

Most important is to do thorough research about all the programs available. The training methods greatly differ from one program to another, and since your aim is to offer the best to your dog research is vital. You may even talk to other dog owners about their experiences from different trainers. This will enable you to make the best and most suitable decision.

Dog Training – How to Handle Dog Barking Problems

There are very many problems that are encountered when trying to train your dog. These may vary from many reasons or causes but when identified, training may be made simple.

It must be noted that dogs will always use emotions and their instincts, and if we only try to read their minds properly, these may be overcome easily. Dogs are like human beings and emotions like fear, jealousy or even hatred do play a great deal in their life. Face the dog training instead of fearing it, and try to understand how your dog feels. When this is achieved, you are able to understand him better and thus your training won’t be that difficult. You will make him comfortable, understood and this will make him pay attention to you.

In in-house training, develop a routine of taking your dog out to relieve him and constant rates or times. This dissolves the anxiety in him, making him to hold hi bowels properly in anticipation of the relieving time. This training restrains your dog from relieving anywhere in the house. After relieving praise him and reward him accordingly. He will develop a very good attitude of respect and develop closeness necessary for effective training.

Hitting and shouting at him will only make him fearful and anxious and this will not help in the training. Never punish your dog after relieving in the in appropriate areas. This is because; he cannot make the connection between the two events.
If your dog has an aggressive behavior, such as snarling, snapping or even failing to respond to your commands, make him learn that you are the boss in a gentle way. Shouting or punishing him will only raise fear and anxious emotions. This may include hiding, urinating aimlessly or startling. Thus dominating your dog using fear just makes an over submissive dog with a lot of fear related behaviors.

Always make the necessary move aimed at correcting and not intimidating the dog. In fact staring too much at your dog’s eyes is a sign of over dominance and will only instill fear. Let him be used to eat only in his cage and you may separate him form other pets during the feeding time. It is important for him to feel that he is superior to other dogs but not you. Most important to avoid these problems, learn on how to reward and commend on your dog after every thing positive it does.

Dog House Training

Dog house training or dog potty training requires lots of patience and perseverance and it is the most fundamental thing a dog should learn. Dogs that are not properly house trained may cause you to lose your temper and in many cases, this is the main reason why so many dogs were being sent to shelter homes.

Steps For Dog House Training / Dog Potty Training

Nature of Dogs. Instinctively, dogs do not like to soil the area where they sleep and eat and they will avoid eliminating in these areas as much as they could. Generally, a healthy dog is able to control his bladder and bowel for about 8 hours.

Consistent Feeding. Always make a habit of feeding your dog consistently as inconsistent feeding time may result in inconsistent potty time. It helps you to determine when your dog needs to go to the toilet. Take your puppy dog to the appropriate potty area whenever there’s a need arises.

Establish A Potty Area For Your Dog. Whenever your dog needs to go to the toilet, accompany your dog to this area until you’re sure that your dog has developed a strong habit of eliminating there. Use a dog leash to guide him to the area.

Patience Is The Key. Give your dog some time to get used to eliminating at the defined toilet area. Understand that house training or potty training a dog does not happen in a day or two.

Praise and Reward Your Dog. Praise and reward your dog profusely when you catch your dog doing it at the right potty area.

Take Your Dog Out Frequently. One of the reasons a dog eliminates in his sleeping area is the dog has been confined for long periods of time. Take your dog to the toilet area if he’s been confined to a crate for some time.

Never Punish Your Dog. Do not punish your dog whenever you catch your dog eliminating at the wrong spot. Quickly clean the area so that your dog will not do it at the same spot again.

Dog House Training / Potty Training Equipment:

* Dog urine odor cleaner/remover
You may need to purchase dog urine odor cleaner/remover to eliminate the scent of your dog’s urine or feces at home. This product works great for house training to prevent your dog from eliminating at the same spot.
* Dog Treats
Motivate and praise your dog for exhibiting good house training behavior by giving him some delicious and healthy dog treats.

Dealing with Accidents

As part of the dog house training – potty training process, you should get yourself prepared to clean up some mess in your house. When you catch your dog or puppy in the act, here is what you can do to rectify the situation:

* If you happened to catch your dog doing it at the wrong place, do something to interrupt him immediately like making some loud noises for instance, but make sure not to scare him. Then, take him to the right spot so that he could finish his business. When he does, praise and reward your dog.
* Make sure to clean the soiled area well to eliminate the scent. Dogs tend to continue soiling at the same spot if he smells urine or feces at that area.
* Never punish your dog if he soiled an area in your house. Do note that any kinds punishment will do more harm than good as it creates a negative impact on your dog whenever he needs to go to the toilet. He may be afraid to eliminate in your presence next time and this could only prolong the potty training process.

Other types of Dog House Training Issues

If your dog continues to soil your house even after many attempt of consistent house training process, it may be due to some other reasons:

Separation Anxiety. Dogs with separation anxiety may soil the house if they are left alone in the house to release the tension and anxiety created.

Medical Condition. Do check your dog’s health condition regularly by a veterinarian. Medical complications may cause your dog to eliminate inconsistently.

Fears & Phobias. Whenever the puppy or dog is exposed to loud noises, he may lose the control of the bladder.

Urine Markings. Dogs leave their urine marking to establish their territory if they feel their territory has been invaded.

Puppy Potty Training

Puppy potty training does not come easy especially during the first few months. Potty training a puppy requires patience and lots of commitments. Most puppies take at least 6 months to be properly potty trained. Unless you’re there to monitor your puppy all day long, do expect to clean up some accidents during these few months. Because the puppy’s bladder control is not fully developed at this stage, your puppy is unable not hold it for too long they will eliminate more frequently than older dogs.

Steps For Puppy Potty Training

Establish a Consistent Toilet Routine For Your Puppy. Your puppy needs to go to the toilet immediately after he wakes up, after playing, eating, drinking and before sleeping time. Make sure to take your puppy to the chosen potty area as frequent as possible (every 1-2 hour).

Establish A Consistent Feeding Schedule. To make life and potty training easier for both of you and your puppy, do feed your puppy in a consistent schedule so that he will eliminate in a more consistent basis. This helps you to determine when your puppy needs to go to the toilet.

Pick A Toilet Spot For Your Puppy. Always take your puppy to the chosen toilet area on a leash. When accidents happen, clean up the area well with a rag or paper towels. Then, leave the rag or paper towels at chosen toilet area so that your puppy can smell the scent and recognize the area as the place he is supposed to go next time. Use warm and happy tone to praise your puppy such as “Good Potty!” whenever your puppy eliminates at the right area.

Praise, Praise and Praise Your Puppy! When your puppy does eliminate outdoors, immediately praise your puppy profusely or gives him some dog treats as a reward so that your puppy knows he has done what you had expected him to do. Remember to praise your puppy IMMEDIATELY, not when he has return back inside the house.

Never Punish Your Puppy. Whenever you find soiled areas in your house, DO NOT punish your puppy, beating and scolding your puppy will only do more harm than good. Your puppy will avoid eliminating when you’re around next time and this will only make the potty training process more difficult. When you catch him in the act, immediately take him to the right spot so that he could finish his business and praise “Good Potty!” or “Good Boy!” To prevent accidents, do take your puppy out frequently.

Puppy Potty Training When You’re Out

If you need to be away from home for at least a few hours a day, consider getting an older dog instead of a puppy. But however, if getting a puppy is still your preferred choice, then you must know the right way to potty train your puppy. There are many ways to potty train a puppy. But how on earth are you going to potty train him when you could not be at home to teach your puppy the right way to do it? If you could not supervise your puppy at home:

* Confined your puppy to a small, “puppy proof” room. In this case, a “puppy-proof” room means a room that is free from items that may injure your puppy. The room should be big enough for your puppy to stand, sleep, a space for your puppy to play and a potty area.
* Cover the elimination area with either papers or other types of dog litter products.
* When accidents happen, clean up the area well with a rag or paper towels. Then, leave the rag or paper towels at the elimination area so that your puppy can smell the scent and recognize the area as the place he is suppose to go for potty next time.
* In the beginning, your puppy will most likely to eliminate everywhere in the confined room itself and as playful as he is, expect your puppy to play with the papers, chew them and such. You should not get upset or frustrated with this as it is absolutely a normal behavior of a puppy and this should not be the reason for you to punish your puppy. Instead, when you get back, clean the room and replace the papers with fresh, clean ones.

Puppy Potty Training Using Papers

If you choose to potty train your puppy with papers, be aware that this will create a preference for your puppy. He may eliminate on any newspapers lying on any part of your house. But however, if you choose to train your puppy or dog using papers, do follow these paper puppy potty training guidelines:

* When your puppy is confined to a room that is covered with papers, sooner or later, he will develop a habit of eliminating on papers at a certain area.
* As time goes by, gradually and slowly remove the paper that is furthest away from his chosen elimination area. Make sure to remove the papers slowly.
* If the puppy failed to eliminate on the papers, then you are removing the papers too quickly. Go back and try again by covering a larger area with papers.
* When you notice that your puppy is consistently eliminating only at the papers you left, it is the time to move the paper to your preferred potty area, making sure to do it slowly and gradually.
* If your puppy misses the paper again, that means you’re going way too fast for your puppy to catch up. Go back a few steps and try again.
* Remember, it is absolutely normal to have minor setbacks in puppy potty training. Don’t be surprised if you need to go all the way back to covering the entire room with papers. With great determination and commitment, your puppy will soon be paper potty trained.

Note: Remember that paper training your puppy or dog will only encourage him to eliminate only on papers. If you wish to train your puppy to eliminate outdoors, this house training process may not be suitable for you. If you could not be home to supervise your puppy, a better alternative to paper training is to use a dog litter box that is able to absorb urine odors and it smells and feels like outdoors. Always remember that consistency is the key to successful puppy potty training.

Recommended Puppy Potty Training Equipment:

Dog Leash - You need a dog leash as part of the puppy potty training process. Dog leash is needed to take your puppy for elimination at the chosen area.

Dog urine odor cleaner/remover - You may need to purchase dog urine odor cleaner/remover to eliminate the scent of your puppy’s urine or feces at home so that your puppy will not develop a habit of eliminating at the same spot again.

Dog Litter Product - Use dog litter product as a substitute for using papers to potty train your puppy. This product is capable of absorbing urine odors and it smells and feels like outdoors. Thereby, you don’t have to worry about your puppy developing a habit of eliminating on papers only.

Crate Training

The Need For Crate Training Your Dog or Puppy

Crate training a puppy or dog helps to reduce some of the dog behavior problems like destructive chewing, separation anxiety, digging holes and biting. A crate is like a home to your dog, a save place where the dog eats and sleeps without being exposed to any dangerous items at home. Additionally, a crate also serves as place to be in when you’re not there to supervise your dog. All dogs or puppies that are not fully housebroken should not be left to wander alone at home.

Crate training is one of the most effective methods to house train your dog to eliminate outdoors as dogs naturally are very clean animals and they will avoid soiling the place where they eat and sleep.

Steps to Crate Training Your Dog or Puppy

Be careful when you first introduce your dog or puppy to the crate, make sure to do it gently and slowly so that your he will associate the crate as a secure and comfortable place to be in.

Placing the Crate. It is best to place the crate near you when you’re home such as the hallway or kitchen. This prevents your puppy from feeling lonely and isolated while he’s in the crate.

Crate Training Young Puppies. Young puppies under 4 months old should not be left in the crate for long periods of time and puppies under 9 weeks old should not be crated at all as they have yet to develop their bladder control system at this stage. Make sure to take them out of the crate frequently as they will eliminate more frequently than older dogs.

Positive Reinforcement Method. While your puppy is investigating his new crate, do drop some of his favorite dog treats in the crate to create a positive association between your puppy and the crate.

Praise Your Dog / Puppy. When you first introduce your puppy or dog to the crate, make sure to praise him profusely whenever he enters the crate. Never scold or force your puppy into the crate. This will only create a negative association between your puppy and the crate.

Playing Games with Your Dog / Puppy. Occasionally, you can use the crate to play some enjoyable games with your puppy. Drop some pieces of dog treats or toys in the crate. Then, call your puppy with an encouraging and enthusiastic tone and direct the puppy to the crate. Whenever your puppy enters the crate and finds the treat, praise him enthusiastically. Do not shut the door. Your puppy should be let free while playing this game.

Crate Training With Your Dog. To prevent your dog or puppy from feeling isolated while he’s in the crate, crate training is at best when it is done while you’re at home with your dog or puppy. This will help him to get used to your absence while you’re away from the room.

Dealing With Accidents

If your puppy eliminates in the crate, never punish or scold your puppy. Instead, clean up the area thoroughly with pet or dog odor neutralizer to eliminate the urine odor.

Dealing with Barking and Whining

If you choose to crate train your puppy, be prepared for some long nights. Barking or whining may be due to your puppy is trying to get out of the crate. Other possibilities include: Your puppy has been crated too soon, suffering from separation anxiety, lack of attention, socializing and exercise. However, if your puppy does cry continuously, do not give in easily. Be firm to your puppy or he will never learn.

Note: The purpose of using a crate is to provide a place for your dog to relax and sleep, therefore, you should not use it for punishing your dog or puppy. The puppy might resent going into the crate next time.

There are some circumstances in which you must not crate your dog or puppy:

* If your puppy is too young – under 10 weeks old
* If your dog is sick
* If your dog has not eliminated before crating him
* If your dog is under exercised or lack of attention
* If the weather is too hot

Recommended Crate Training Equipment:

* Dog Crate
In crate training, of course you can’t go without a dog crate. Consider these 2 factors when choosing a crate for your dog:
a) Size. Make sure to choose a crate large enough for your dog to stand comfortably without his back touching the top of the crate. However, do not get one that is too large that your dog can use one end of the crate to for his potty purposes.
b) Safety. It is important to choose a crate that is safe for your dog to be in. For instance, your dog may accidentally swallow dangerous items such as wood particles or some sharp objects.
* Dog Treats and Toys
Provide your dog with his favorite dog treats and dog toys to encourage him to stay in the crate and teach him to understand that he can still have fun while he’s being crated. Dog treats and dog toys available in pet stores comes in different types such as dog chew bones, rawhide bones, dog biscuits, Kong toys and etc.
* Dog urine odor cleaner/remover
Do purchase dog urine odor cleaner/remover to clean the soiled area in the crate. These dog urine odor cleaner/remover are widely available in pet stores today and it works wonder for removing your dog’s urine and feces scent.

Dog Barking

Dog Barking Problem: Excessive Barking

It is unfair to stop your dog from barking altogether. All dogs bark and they bark for various reasons. However, if your dog is barking uncontrollably, you may be the one who unintentionally encouraged this behavior. As you know, dogs are social animals and if your dog is confined or neglected for long periods of time, it is very likely that your dog is bored, under exercised or lack of attention. Dogs that are isolated for long periods of time may take up barking as one of their hobbies to get the attention that they long for. Soon this barking behavior will become an enjoyable habit and they will continue to do so if you do not make any corrections to this behavior.

Knowing Your Dog Basic Needs

Dogs are social, pack-oriented animals. All dogs need sufficient exercise to lose that extra energy in them. A socially isolated dog is prone to develop some dog behavior issues such as excessive barking, howling, whining, aggression, chewing, digging holes and other forms of destructive behaviors. If you’ve been neglecting your dog all these while, it is time to make a major correction now before it becomes too much for you to handle later. Take your dog out for walks regularly (at least 30 – 45 minutes daily). Or you could take him to the dog park daily or weekly so that he could make friends and socialize with his other doggy friends. Playing some fun games with your dog like the “Hide and seek” game and obedience training are all great mental exercise activities for your dog. Make the obedience training an enjoyable time for both of you.
Training Your Dog to Stop Barking

If your dog is barking excessively, make sure to act quickly to stop this behavior before it becomes too annoying to you and your neighbors. It is at best to train your dog to stop barking while you’re at home. Do follow these guidelines to train your dog to stop barking unnecessarily.

* While you’re at home, simulate a situation that will trigger your dog to bark. If your dog tends to bark when someone rings the doorbell or knocks on the door, ask someone to help you practice this exercise with you.
* Whenever your dog runs to the door and bark, using a leash or a collar, grab him and with a firm tone, say “Quiet” or “No Bark”.
* If he does keep quiet, praise and reward him.
* However, if the barking persists, hold on to the muzzle of his mouth, and firmly shout, “Quiet”. Massage his body gently to calm him down. Then, praise and reward him.
* If everything fails, you may also consider purchasing the dog barking collar to assist you in training your dog to stop barking.

Dog Barking DON’TS
Do not punish the dog for barking. Regardless of any training method you choose, never scold or abuse your dog.

Recommended Dog Barking Training Equipment:

* Dog Leash
You need a dog leash when training your dog to stop barking. Using a dog leash is important so that you can control and make corrections whenever your dog starts barking.
* Dog Collar – Dog Barking Collar
Dog barking collar (available in pet stores) that is designed for the purpose of controlling your dog from barking works well if the barking continues. Choose one that can humanely, safely and effectively control your dog to stop barking. Seek professional advice if you’re not sure which is the best to choose.
* Dog Treats
Give your dog some dog treats if he stops barking. Dog treats works as a great reward for your dog for exhibiting good behavior.

Dog Digging

The Reason For Your Dog’s Digging Problem
Dog’s digging can be a problem for you if he keeps on destroying your lawn and garden at home. Dogs dig for many reasons and for some dogs, they dig because of the natural characteristics of their breed. But generally, dogs dig to bury or recover bones or to build dens. For some dogs, they dig because they want to escape due to long period of confinement.

Stop Dog Digging

* If you’re going to be away all day, make sure to provide your dog with plenty of exercises, walks and playtime, and the chances are your dog will be less likely to start digging your garden.
* However, if your dog loves to dig, you can redirect the digging behavior to an appropriate digging place by creating a digging pit for him.
* Bury a dog treat or your dog’s favorite toy in the soil while your dog is watching the preparations. Then call your dog over and say “Dig!” With your assistance, help your dog to retrieve the buried treat in the digging pit.
* Once he gets the idea of retrieving the items in the digging pit without your help, with an enthusiastic tone, praise him lavishly. Repeat this step over and over again until he is familiar with the “Dig!” command.
* Moving on to the next step, bury some dog treats in the pit, and place your dog far away from the pit. Then say, “Dig!” and enthusiastically praise him if he goes to the right place.
* If your dog ever digs at the wrong place, with a firm tone, say “No Dig!” Then, immediately place him at his digging pit and say, “Dig!” Praise him when he starts digging in his pit.
* Practice this training regularly each day to familiarize your dog with the command

Dog Digging DON’TS:
Never punish your dog for digging, as this will only increase the digging rate for alleviating the tension created.

Recommended Dog Treats:
Dogs loves food and burying some of his favorite foods and toys can highly motivate your dog to practice this training with you. Dog treats in the form of dog biscuits like dog homemade biscuits, dog chew bones and dog chew toys that are widely available in pet stores today are all great rewards for your dog.

Dog Leash Training

Leash Training Dog / Puppy

Leash training a dog and puppy to walk with manners beside you takes time and requires regular practices. If your dog has been pulling on the leash hard enough for you to almost tumble on a fall, whilst grasping your breath trying to catch up his pace, it’s time for you to be in control now through stricter dog leash training. Do not give in whenever he starts pulling or else your dog will learn that it is all right to do so, and he can go anywhere he wants once he to pull on the leash.

Steps For Leash Training Dog / Puppy

Putting On The Leash. Dog or puppy leash training begins at the point when you put on the leash on your dog’s collar. Ask your dog to do the sit-stay position while you put on the leash. After that, he may try to pull you to the door. If he does, do not give in, wait till he has settle down before walking him. Praise your dog when he has calm down.

Holding The Leash. Make sure to hold on to the leash firmly and shows great confidence as the pack leader while walking the dog. If you don’t, you dog can feel the negative energy in you and may subject to take control instead and starts pulling on the leash.

Taking Your First Step In Dog Leash Training. When you see your dog has finally settled down and keenly waiting for you to take your first step, bring your dog to walk around your garden first before the actual walk outside. Whenever your dog starts to pull, stop walking and stand still. Praise and reward him whenever he calms down.

The Actual Walk. When your dog is finally paying attention at you and is consistently following your lead, it’s time to take him outside. Again, stop walking whenever he starts to pull. When he has calm down, praise and reward him before continuing the walk.

NOTE: Do not punish your dog if he continues to pull on the leash. Leash training does not happen in a day or two, he needs consistent and regular training to get used to not pulling and follows your lead.

Dog Leash Training Recommendation:

* Dog Obedience Training. If you can’t train your dog to do the sit-stay position, do enroll your dog in an obedience training class conducted by professional dog trainer.
* Dog Treats and Rewards. For best results in dog leash training, you need to provide your dog with lots of dog treats as a form of reward for exhibiting good leash walking behavior.

Dog Chewing

Dogs chewing problem is due to various reasons. Of course it is fine if your dog has been chewing on his own toys. But how can you tolerate if your dog tends to chew on the wrong items such as your personal belongings, furniture, shoes and etc? Knowing and understanding the reasons behind the destructive dog chewing helps you determine the appropriate correction on your dog’s chewing problem. It’s not their fault as it is only their natural behavior to chew. Provide your dog with some guidance on his chewing, and it’ll be fine for both of you.

The Reason For Your Dog’s Chewing Problem

Teething Puppies
Generally, teething puppies, aged between 4 and 6 months need to chew more than older dogs. During this stage, the habit of chewing must be handled carefully so that it will not be carried into adulthood.

Boredom, Lack of Exercise and Socializing
Older dogs chew to release tension as a result of boredom, anxiousness or frustration when being left alone or have been isolated for too long.

Separation Anxiety
Dogs that suffer from separation anxiety often feel stress when they are being left alone for long periods of time. When you’re leaving home, try to avoid making a great fuss on your departure. A brief departure such as “Goodbye!” helps create less anxiety on your dog while you’re away.

Your Dog is Seeking For Attention
Dogs chew to seek attention from their owners.

Stop Dog Chewing

* Provide your dog with lots of exercises, playtime and socializing as lack of these activities may cause your dog to feel restless and tense, resulting in more chewing.
* Exercise his mind and body with dog obedience training or you can teach the dog to learn new tricks every day.
* Provide him with attractive and interesting toys to play with.
* Always praise your dog for playing and chewing on his own toys.
* If you catch your dog chewing on the wrong items, with a firm and deep tone, immediately say “No!” Then, redirect your dog to play with one of his toys and praise him.
* If you can’t supervise your dog all day, make the forbidden items unattractive for your dog to chew on. Spray some pet repellents (available in pet stores) to deter your dog from chewing on the items.
* All in all, if you can’t supervise your dog all day, it is best to keep your personal belongings out of his reach.

Dog Chewing DON’TS:
Never punish or isolate your dog for destructive chewing. This will only alleviate more tension, causing more chewing. Make sure to correct your dog when you catch him in the act. Scolding your dog after the act will only confuse him. Your dog will not understand what he’s done wrong.

Recommended Dog Chewing Training Equipment:
Dog Toys and Treats. To eliminate your dog’s destructive chewing effectively, do provide your dog with different types of dog toys. Kong toys, chew bones, rawhide bones or sterilized marrowbones are great to keep your dog interested in his toys.

Pet or Dog Repellent. Dog repellent works well to forbid your dog from chewing on your furniture and etc. To make sure the pet or dog repellent doesn’t stain, do test the dog repellent with some fabrics before applying on furniture.

Dog Biting

Reason For Your Dog Biting Problem & How To Stop Dog Biting
Dog biting may be the hardest problem for you to deal with but it is not impossible. A dog that has the tendency to bite can cause injuries to others and may be put down. Dog biting is especially dangerous to children at home. If your dog has a biting problem, it may due to one of these or a combination of these problems:

Your Dog is in Pain. In some cases, dog biting may be due to pain and illness. When one touches the affected area of the body, it may cause your dog to react aggressively and bites.
Correction: Make sure to take your dog to the veterinary clinic if you suspect your dog biting problem is due to pain or illness.

Dominance. If your dog is showing aggression either to other dogs, people or territory, it may be the sign of your dog is trying to establish himself as the leader of the pack or the “top dog”.
Correction: Immediately re-establish your leadership role through stricter control and training.

Invasion of Territory. Dog biting due to territorial aggression is when the dog feels his possession over certain objects such as his home, food or his bed has been invaded.
Correction: Training your dog early by establishing your leadership role to create less territorial dominance in him.

Fear. Physical punishment or abuse may result in dog biting.
Correction: Never punish your dog for bad behavior. Beating and kicking your dog is not the right way to train a dog. Building trust and respect is the key to training your dog.


Dog Biting Recommendation:
If your dog has a serious dog biting problem, seek help from professional dog trainers or veterinarians to find out the best method to curb this problem

Dog Separation Anxiety

Dog separation anxiety often relates to being left alone at home. In most cases, separation anxiety in dogs often leads to barking, whining, chewing, digging and other forms of dog destructive behaviors just so that he could get you back home to be with him, or to release the anxiety or energy built up while being left alone.

When you’re about to leave home, do you make a great fuss on your departure? If your answer is a big “Yes”, then you could be the one who had unintentionally trained your dog to behave such way while you’re away from home. Long-exaggerated and dramatic goodbyes often create more anxiety and stress in your dog and the only way to release this negative feeling is by barking, chewing, house soiling and such.

Signs of Dog Separation Anxiety

Refer to the following questions to determine if your dog has separation anxiety. If most or all of the answers are “Yes”, it is very likely that your dog is suffering from separation anxiety.

* When you return home, do you see any signs of your dog demonstrating any forms of destructive behaviors such as digging, house soiling and chewing?
* Does your dog follow everywhere you go?
* When you’re about to leave home, does your dog reacts with anxiety and depression?

Steps to Overcome Dog Separation Anxiety

Provide Your Dog With Lots Of Exercises and Playtime. Make sure to provide your dog with regular exercises and playtime. For example, when you’re planning to leave home, you can take your dog out for a walk so that he will be contented to sleep during the day while you’re away from home.

Provide Your Dog With Toys and Dog Treats. Providing your dog with some of his favorite toys and treats can decrease the feeling of boredom when he’s alone at home. Chew toys and chew bones works well to occupy his time when you’re gone.

Find A Companion For Your Dog. If you need to be away from home for long periods of time each day, getting a new canine companion for your existing dog will often improve on your dog separation anxiety problem. However, do seek for professional advice for guidance when introducing your new dog to the existing dog to prevent any aggression or dominance issues between the two dogs.

Avoid Making A Great Fuss On Your Departure. Long and dramatic farewell when you’re leaving creates more anxiety in your dog. Instead, by saying a brief “Goodbye, see you later!” works better to decrease the feeling of isolation and anxiety when he’s alone.

Regular Training To Overcome Separation Anxiety. Provide You need to train your dog to get used to your departure. For example, leave your dog several times a day for short periods of time, say 5-10 minutes, then comes back to him. Slowly and gradually leave your dog for longer periods of time and comes back to him so that he’ll understand it is okay to be home alone for awhile, you’ll come back to him soon.