Puppy House Training Secrets

Bringing a new puppy home is a wonderful, joyful time. But amidst all the fun and games, there's important work to be done. I'm talking about house training, and unless you want to share your home with an animal that can't control her toilet habits, it's something you'll have to do.

Fortunately, with the proper training techniques, and lots of persistence, house training a puppy is not that difficult to do.

In fact, your dog's natural behavior will help you succeed. For starters, despite what some may think, dogs are clean animals, and given the choice will "make their toilet", away from where they live.

Secondly, dogs love to please us and will do whatever it takes to make us happy.

These two principles are the secret to successful house training regardless of what training method you choose.

Here are the most common puppy house training methods;

Supervision Method

Crate Training

Paper Training

Litter Box Method

Now the method you choose is up to you, but as someone who has trained many dogs, using all of these techniques, I've found crate training to be most effective. Crate training just plain works, because it draws strongly on the aspects of canine behavior I mentioned earlier.

Crate training takes full advantage of your puppy's natural behavior, and that has to be a better way than trying to force the dog to make her toilet in a specific area.

Not that the other methods don't work, they do, so choose whichever method you are comfortable with. What's more important is that you remain calm, positive and patient. Shouting and punishing the puppy will only make her afraid of you.

Remember that you are dealing with a baby. If a baby messes her diaper you wouldn't scream at her, swat her with a newspaper, or rub her nose in it, would you? The same applies here.

The puppy doesn't yet know that she has done something wrong. But persist with your training and she'll soon get the picture. Dogs are a lot smarter than we give them credit for.

Want to see even faster results?

Then give credit where it's due.

Your puppy will do just about anything to gain your approval. Praise her when she does her "business" outside, or on the paper, and she'll be encouraged to do this again, and again.

And don't be stingy with the praise either. You need to make it very obvious that you are pleased with her behavior, so be enthusiastic, be effusive, be downright over the top!

Later, when you start obedience training, your puppy will already know that obedience equals praise, so in effect house training sets the scene for all your dog training efforts to come.

Visit dogsanddogtraining.com for more dog training tips including puppy house training and dog obedience training.

Training - Teaching Your Dog to Sit

So you have a new puppy or perhaps a dog that you have rescued who is now your new best friend... Now what?

Teaching your dog to sit is the first step to controlling his behaviour and should be the first command that is taught. Although sitting is completely natural for a dog to do, following the command to sit is not. Mastering this command will help you in your training of your dog.

First you must find a location that is quiet and without distractions. Teaching a dog is not unlike teaching a child. If there are many distractions around that the dog finds interesting, he will be less likely to pay attention to you. Remember to have patience with your dog. He's learning something for the first time. Take your time with him.

The verbal command is simply "sit". Most trainers will tell you not to use your dog's name with the command unless it is a command to move forward. I don't really know the reason for this, but from all reports I have it seems to work.

The dog should be positioned on your left hand side facing forward. Holding his leash in your right hand you should move your left hand gently down his back until you get to the point where his legs meet his back. You should then give the command "sit" and squeeze gently into the two indentations in front of your dog's hip bones. At the same time you should push down gently on his back with your left hand and lift the leash up slightly with your other. The dog should sit immediately. If he does not, try making the command longer..."siiiiitttt" while pushing down gently and pulling up on the leash. Do not jerk the leash or speak loudly to the dog. This will only serve to frighten him. Training will be more difficult. Remember to be kind and gentle and have patience as your dog learns.

Next, try it without using your left hand. Pull up on the leash gently and say "sit:" Continue this until your dog will sit without pulling up on the leash. Soon he will respond to the command "sit" without any urging or coaxing by you!

It is critical that you praise your dog for doing what you asked him to do. A nice pat on the head or a quick rub on the back along with a "good dog!" will go a long ways to helping him remember what he has done to get the praise. Some individuals choose to give their dog a treat after they execute a command correctly or do a trick, however this only tends to make your dog expect a treat after each time he correctly does something. It's good for an occasional way to praise them, but don't do it often enough to make them expect it every time.

Congratulations! You did it! You have started on the road to teaching your dog obedience and to follow your commands! Now you can continue his training using many of the same techniques described above. Remember, the two P's... have PATIENCE and always remember to PRAISE your dog when he completes the task you have asked him.

Chris Lauritzen is the co-owner http://www.mydogsbestfriend.com/. The website offers advice, reviews of products and services for your dog, as well as a blog where dog lovers can share ideas, thoughts, and brag about their best friend.

Golden Retriever Training As Easy As 1-2-3

To stimulate your clever and energetic friend and to make sure they are not bored and irritate you, golden retriever training is your answer. It is not that difficult to train your dog, for Golden Retrievers are easier to train than other breeds. These dogs are very intelligent and smart. Make sure you channel their behaviour. Your dog will be trained to behave like a star and bad habits will be something of the past. We teach you what to do during your training, nobody wants to start without guidance.

Training your canine is almost like doing homework with your kids. Planning and structure must be part of the exercise and if not your canine may not get the message when the trick is explained or message given.

The following tools can help owners to train their pets:

Make sure you can facilitate your notes and create a routine. It will make your life much easier if your training is organized and well thought through. To have a happy trained dog they love an environment that is well structured and based on good foundations. Very quickly, you'll have a CCC (champion calibre dog).

Trust is gained from consistency:

Your dog loves your consistent training and attendance and during the Golden Retriever Training session it gives you the chance to bond with your pet. Do the training regularly to make sure he remembers the trick. Spoil him with a treat when he learns and remember a trick. Continue with positive rewards as the training continues. Don't be shy to verbally praise them for good behaviour, it will motivate them to remember the trick and continue doing it.

Introduction to other puppies:

You may often ask yourself the question where to start the introduction. Well the answer is very easy, the park of cause! Just as us humans they would love the open spaces and all the different exciting things available to see and do, and it includes other dog friends too! The relaxing atmosphere is a great place for you and man's best friend to bond. Let the freedom of the outdoors rub off on both of you and let him be chain free.

Love your dog IN the house:

This part of having a dog can make you or break you. One of the most crucial elements of any pet is to house train them so you can keep on loving them even if they are inside your home. You want a well-mannered dog and after a long day's work you don't want to come home to a messy smelly home. They should be trained to do everything outside and it is not that farfetched. To control accidents give them something to drink as soon as they have eaten something.

Take them for a walk after half an hour, make sure it is a relaxed atmosphere and when they are finished take them back inside. If you keep repeating this process patiently for a while, your dog will get the idea, eventually know where the toilet is, and you'll have no worries.

Persistence, Practice, Participate:

To get the best out of your dog while conducting training, it is absolutely essential to be patient. Dogs are not human and therefore we should be consistent in our training to ensure good results. Tricks can be learned through patient repeatance and a snack as reward is not to be forgotten! The more you are involved and participating with your canine more trust is gained. You will be greatly rewarded by your dog when he shows off all the skills and tricks that have been taught to him.

Dogs are partners for life and have proven themselves to be the best friends man can ask for. Golden Retriever Training lets you have the pleasure of not only having a friend but also one with good manners! With consistency and patience, mutual trust develops and there will be a champion Golden Retriever right with you in your home!

Basic House Training Tips For Dogs Every Owner Needs To Know

Owning a dog can be one of the most rewarding relationships anyone could have. But, with that comes responsibility and the best canine relationships are formed when owners commit to training their dog.  A well trained dog is one that you can bring with you anywhere without fear of him causing a disruption or hurting another animal or human and a pet that everyone wants to have around.  Not only that, but proper obedience training insures that you will be able to call your dog back should he be heading into a dangerous situation.  Taking the time to train your dog properly is critical for your pets safety as well as the safety of those around him.

Many owners bring a home a puppy and realize a few weeks into ownership that it is too much to deal with. Sadly, it is the puppy that suffers because of decisions made without first thinking them through. Before you decide to get a new puppy, make sure you are ready to commit the time and money needed for owning a dog. You will need to make time for training as well as time for bonding and playing. Being financially able to care for any pet is important when you consider the level of medical care every pet needs to remain healthy.

Potty training is an essential part of dog ownership. This is also an area that causes many new owners to give up ownership. Every new owner needs to realize there will be times a new pup or even adult dog will make mistakes. This is especially so for an adult dog that has never lived inside a house. Patience is certainly an attribute new owners will need to have a lot of when house training.  Potty training can be challenging because, unlike obedience training, you are trying to teach the dog NOT to do something  - it takes time and patience.

Puppies can be easily crate trained for learning to go outside for rest room duty. However, making sure you do not leave a pup in crate for too long at a time is important as well. Crating should only be a part of behavior exercises, not as a place to put a pup when owners get tired of dealing with him. Nap time and night time are great times for crating when you are potty training.  Since most dogs will not soil their crate, you should keep your dog in the crate until it is time for him to do his business then bring him right outside.  When he does his business outside, then praise and treat him so he knows this is the desired behavior.  Remember that a puppy has a very small bladder and can't be kept in the crate for more than a few hours at first.

Getting your dog used to being around strangers is important to avoid fear biting. This is an important part of behavioral exercises that should start as early as possible. The dog that is well socialized is easier to take places with you. Many dog parks are becoming available and taking your pet there means you taking the time to get him used to other people and other animals as well.

When training your dog, whether it be obedience training or housebreaking, using positive reinforcement is that best way. Yelling at him or hitting him can cause fear issues that will completely disrupt a dogs attitude towards not only you, but other people and animals also. Training should only include firm but gentle commands. Never hit your dog or slap him with rolled up newspaper during training.

Chewing and biting are a part of every dogs personality, especially puppies because it is a natural behavior for dogs. In most cases, puppies chew due to teething pain. However, the adult dog with chewing issues can be due to boredom or anxiety. The best way to solve chewing problems is by providing safe, long lasting toys. This is especially so for the dog staying at home alone while owners are gone.

Simple obedience commands are essential for the well behaved canine. Make sure your dog knows you are the leader while also applying loving gentleness. This is the greatest way to get the behavior you want while also forming a close bond. Never allow the dog to be in control or your training efforts will be for nothing.  Make sure that you are always the Alpha dog and your dog will instinctively want to obey you.

To train your dog to perform a trick or do a certain behavior, try to get the dog to do the behavior first, then reward and praise him.  For example, if you are training your dog to sit, then try to get him to sit by taking a treat and holding it above his head, then move it slowly back and saying the command "Sit" - this should cause him to sit as his focus is following the treat.  Once he sits then praise him and give him the treat.  Repeat this as often as you can and eventually he will associate the command "Sit" with the act of sitting.

Every dog has the potential for being well behaved when the right basic training tips are followed. Taking your time and having patience can help to grow a strong bond between you and your pet. Always keep in mind your dog loves you unconditionally and making sure you never violate that love goes a long way in the bond you form with your pet.

Adopted Adult Dogs Might Need House Training From a Dog Trainer

So you've taken the plunge and gone to your local animal shelter and picked out an adult dog. You take your new friend home and, much to your dismay, shock and horror, he/she promptly finds your new rug and relieves itself! It's time to get your old dog house-trained or re-house-trained as the case may be.

As a new dog owner, you should assume adopted dogs of any age are not house-broken and take precautions before bringing it home. Shelters sometimes don't provide regular access to the outdoors for them to eliminate. A shelter environment can quickly alter the behavior of dogs who were well-trained and house-broken. If you know your new dog was previously house trained, re-training them will be easier.

Trainers Make House-breaking your dog Easier

Trainers work with you and your family as they house train dogs. Here are a few tips to help re-house-train your new pet:

* Keep a schedule. Feed and walk your canine at the same times every day. In addition to day-time walks, allow your pet outside access first thing in the morning and at the very end of the day. Reward him or her every time they eliminate outside.

* Make a routine. Use consistent voice commands for all activities. Dogs learn and follow cues. Dog owners who create a routine are usually amazed at how quickly their new dog grows to expect their routine. Dog training programs help limit anxiety since dogs learn what to expect every day. Take your dog out the same door every day. Don't allow play time until after it has eliminated outside.

* Offer quality dog food. Dry dog food limits stress on digestion and reduces the amount of stool. Choose a brand and stick with it to prevent your dog from having digestive issues and discomfort.

* Crate train. Don't allow your dog to freely roam your home - especially when you're not at home - until they have proven to you they know to eliminate outdoors. Be patient and start over after an accident. Dog owners will need to re-establish a routine after a dog has an accident. It's essential to thoroughly clean the area, for health concerns and so that your dog doesn't try to re-mark their territory. Don't punish accidents and only reward good behavior.

* Visit a vet if house-breaking your dog is not working. Your dog may have a medical issue that is preventing him or her from controlling their bladders or bowel movements. Also, dogs have fear and anxiety issues just like humans. Their bladder control may be associated with fear or a submissive temperament. If your vet believes medical or emotional factors are affecting your new family pet, Raleigh dog trainers at DarwinK9 can create a custom house-training program for your dog.

House training an adult dog takes time, effort, patience and consistency. Remember, your dog is learning this new routine too and they're learning good behavior from your consistent, repetitive training.

If you need help training your dog, don't hesitate to call house-training for adult dog specialists at DarwinK9 for a consultation. Our dog trainers throughout North Carolina are all qualified and experienced in house training your adult dog.

1101 Dawson Rd., Chapel Hill 27516
(919)355-8359 or info@darwink9.com.

Agility Training for Dogs: Tips and Mistakes to Avoid

Agility training for dogs is a competitive sport sponsored by many different governing bodies including the American Kennel Club. Dogs must navigate a series of obstacles in the correct order with the help of their handler. These obstacles, which may vary depending on the competition, include jumps, tunnels and walkways. Dogs are judged by how fast and how precise they complete the obstacle course.

Begin training too early. Puppies, while they almost always demonstrate a lot of energy, are not quite ready for agility training and may become injured when training for specific events. Experts recommend that focused agility training should not commence until the dog is at least 1 year of age. Basic obedience, however, is very important as a prelude to agility training and can begin when your dog is 4-6 months old. Puppies that learn basic commands such as "sit, stay, down, come and heel," at an early age will fare much better when the time comes to master the more advanced agility skills.

In agility training for dogs, expert trainers recommend that each obstacle be tackled separately prior to putting it all together.

What are Contact Obstacles? The contact obstacles are named as such because along these apparatus there are certain points that a dog must touch with his paw in order to score points. These obstacles include the A-frame, a steep incline on both sides which the dog must walk up and then down; the dog walk, an apparatus that resembles a balance beam and the teeter totter, which resembles those seen in children's playgrounds.

When training first begins, contact obstacles should be as low to the ground as possible. With the dog on leash, give a specific command such as "teeter-totter" each time you approach the obstacle. Handlers can use both treats and praise each time the dog begins and ends each pass over the obstacle, using another treat to encourage the dog to touch the required contact point. As the dog becomes more proficient, contact obstacles can be gradually raised until they eventually reach regulation height.

Most dogs will respond to the combination of treat and praise rather quickly, but for those dogs that absolutely refuse to negotiate the obstacle on their own, try picking them up and placing them on the obstacle, and then rewarding them for their effort.

What is in the Jumps? The jumps on an agility course must be cleared in order to receive points, with points deducted any time the bar is touched, knocked off or avoided all together.

Jump training, much like training for contact obstacles, should begin with the bar placed very low to the ground. For smaller dogs, you can even begin with the bar on the ground. With the dog on leash, encourage him to jump over the bar and reward him with treats and praise each time he is successful.

For dogs who continue to avoid the obstacle, you can try training them in a narrow passageway where there is no room to go around the bar. Encourage the dog to jump over the obstacle by waiting on the other side with a treat in hand.

The only way to go is through the tunnels. A common mistake in tunnel training is beginning with a tunnel that is too long or too narrow. In the early stages of training, try using a short tunnel through which your dog can see the other side. Lead him to the tunnel with the leash, giving the "tunnel" command as he reaches the entrance. A helper on the other side of the tunnel can then call the dog and shout words of encouragement as he passes through. When the dog emerges from the other side, use a combination of praise and treats to reward the behavior.

Agility training for dogs, whether in preparation for competition or sheer enjoyment, can be a lot of fun, but before you begin a training regimen, be sure to have your dog checked out by a veterinarian. Once your dog is cleared for training, remember to start slow and reward him lavishly each step of the way. If done correctly, this method of training will soon see your dog negotiating obstacles you never dreamed possible.

Hi I am Anne Law. Know the basics. Does your dog do a reliable Sit, Down and Stay? At my site, http://dog-training-matters.com/secrets-to-dog-training-review/ you can find out more about a proven dog obedience training system that complements agility training for dogs.