The first few days with your dog are very crucial. Although some dogs easily adjust to their new environment, there are many dogs that are rather slow in learning new things. According to many experts, one of the most challenging issues that you will face with your little rascal is dog potty training. Make not mistakes about it, dog potty training can be a bit tricky and things could really get very irritating especially when your little rascal starts messing around the house. In most cases, it will take some time and a lot of patience on your part before your little dog will finally learn where and how to potty.

Training Your Dog

Dog potty training doesn’t have to be very stressful for you and your pet. The best way to start things right is to ask the breeder what time the puppy usually eats and what time it usually need to potty. The amount of food and the regular eating time of your puppy can help you determine the time when your puppy has to go potty. Note that when conducting dog potty training, you will need to closely supervise your pet during the training period. You can only effectively supervise you puppy if you are able to correctly gauge when your pet needs to go potty.

During dog potty training, it is important for you to accompany your puppy outside when it is time for it to go potty. Note that puppies has the tendency to simply play in the yard instead of doing their thing so make sure that your puppy does what it is supposed to do. Furthermore, it is important that when you take your puppy outside to go potty, you take it to the same spot all the time. Puppies learn faster if the act is constant and is repeated often. Establish a pattern and do not deviate from it so that your puppy will not get disoriented.

Praising and giving treats to your puppy during dog potty training is important. If your puppy does something right, it is important to let the dog know that you are please with it. According to experts, if you consistently praise your dog for its good deeds during dog potty training, your dog will associate the good deed with praises and treats. Since dogs love being praised and given treats, it will be more inclined to perform something that will most likely generate praises and treats.

My new Christmas puppy was a wonderful surprise, what I didn’t expect were the many unwanted surprises that followed.  I’ve had dogs all my life but always my mom and dad had done the heavy lifting of potty training the dog.  I remember it wasn’t always pleasant to be around as dad tried to make the dog bend to his will.  When he was at work mom usually worked things out with the dog so at the end of a couple of weeks dad could be proud of him self for potty training dog.

Living on my own I had this mixed view of what needed to be done with a new puppy and as I tried to apply it things weren’t going well.  Being an internet child I searched and found some online dog training videos that included a section on potty training dog.  It was great training that not only handled the situation at hand but had other, far reaching, benefits.

As you potty train your dog you will learn positive reinforcement and you will learn to be persistant, patient, and consistant.  Your dog will come to understand that the rules are always the same and she will appreciate that you let her know when she does something right.  if your dog is older you will probably have to reverse some old habits.  You need to become aware of what your dog does before relieveing herself.  You have to do your homework and watch for the patterns and signals.  When you see them let the take the dog out or to the place she should use.  When the dog goes in the new place praise and reward her.  It is that simple.  Of course puppy potty training is a little easier since there is no behavior to unlearn.

As this process was getting the dog potty trianed I found an unexpected benefit.  The positive reinforcement methods being used were becoming a part of my, a part of the way I acted in the world.  Train the trainer as they say, as the dog was trained so was I.  My relationships are working better, I find myself using positive reinforcement and patience with the people around me and they are responding.  Not only are they more cooperative but they tell me of the nice transformation that I am going through. They don’t realize that the dog trainging has become second nature to me and that I am using it with them but that is what is happening.  It’s true, dog potty training has changed me in a most unexpected but wonderful way.

 

First Principles

Teach respect, a dog has to be taught to respect its owner. You have to be his leader and not let him be yours. As you communicate with your dog he learns to understand you, he will forever be willing to please. Once the dog knows you are his leader, he will be a happy follower by teaching your dog the basic training commands and discipline.

It is next to impossible to have a normal, well-behaved, even-tempered dog without discipline and some training. Once a dog is trained he is a better pet and greater companion, and he himself will be happier for knowing that his owner is pleased with him. There are many books devoted to discipline and training and free online resources for dog training than ever imaginable! There are also many great obedience-training classes for low cost to no cost, one for example is PetSmart and I highly recommend this form of training, it helps your dog or puppy learn to socialize as well as get his basic obedience training from a professional source, helping you and your dog learn together. You must be willing to accept the fact that if your dog fails the course and becomes a dropout, it is entirely your fault not the dogs. He is a willing subject, it is your complete responsibility to ensure you and he complete all training classes and continue to adhere to the lessons learned.

Any sincerely interested dog owner can train their dog, and it can be a most rewarding educational experience for both. Patience and consistency is the key to successful training, at times you will have to be firm, but gentle and always, always give praise for each and every one of his positive efforts.Basically dog training is built on reward, repetition, reprimand and again praise. Although it can be too early to begin training, it is never too late. Most puppies form a strong attachment to an individual which may persist or wane, and there is often a phase of disobedience and defiance. Discipline is needed during this crucial period, but it must be with patience and never overbearing or intimidating. Don’t listen to the old cliché “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. There is nothing further from the truth, I don’t for one moment believe that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, he can be taught new tricks and all the basic commands whatever his age.

 

It is bound to be a more difficult to break old habits like barking, chasing cars, sleeping on furniture etc., and can be resolved with proper training aids, such as no-bark collars, sonic bark control devices, citronella spray collars, indoor radio fences, and scat mats, if all other resources have been exhausted to resolve these and various other undesirable habits develop or exist. You and your dog must be relaxed before you begin any training session. He can and will know when you are tense or uncomfortable, he can’t learn while he is tense or timid and if your dog or puppy is showing signs of stubbornness or defiance they may be more resistant to teaching, but don’t give in, stay firm, consistent and have a routine, all animals are creatures of habit, so stay with the training. In essence complete relaxation is essential for both dog and trainer, also, make lessons fun for both you and your dog. He will learn much faster, and give you a greater reward for your training efforts, vise-versa.

 

Getting To Know Your Dog or Puppy

 

To train your dog or pup to the best advantage for both, you must get to know their personality, for example there are sensitive or shy dogs who squeal at the slightest noise with disciplinary action and the merest jerk of a training lead, grooming comb or word of discipline, causing you to hurt his feelings and mistrust. Take caution and try to understand this dog or puppy’s personality, this is vital to their mental health and needs to be taken in a very slow, easy manner. If a stronger, more aggressive training method is used with this type of personality it cannot be reversed, and will ultimately result in a very scared, confused pet. Then there is the more assertive type dogs, they may need a stronger form of training and attention spans may need to be focused on, “Fearless” Fun loving, and go for it types of dogs always pushing himself at you for your attention, he jumps on your guests, slobbers on them, forces his “Here I am” on you, your guests, children or the elderly. This personality may or may not need a more aggressive training method, depending on the breed and the owner’s training abilities.

Make the Lessons Fun

Dogs get bored with long training sessions. If you work them for over 20 minutes at a time, they will lose interest and stop listening to you. For a younger dog or puppy, 5 to 10 minutes is long enough for one training session. But do it frequently, and again with, praise or training reward treats.

Basic Dog Training Commands

(1) Leash Training: This is the first and foremost of all dog and puppy training. Say you need to take your pet to the Veterinarian for a check up…this cannot be done without a well leash trained dog or puppy. Work with your dog or puppy daily  DO NOT: pull, drag or force your dog to follow the leash, take it easy…..let them walk to you, stop…say “Good Dog” Reward them with a treat, and let them sit, then, pet, praise them. Give them time, always be patient, they will respond soon to your leash training, it is so very important not to scare them while leash training!!!! They will never feel safe with you!!

 

(2) Heel: You teach your dog to walk on you left side without pulling in front of you; he always walks beside you, comfortably, easily and will never pull at the leash. When he tries to walk in front of you, you jerk back on the lead and say the word “Heel”. Use this command with easy, gentle commands, do not “Yank” on the lead, be very, very gentle or this will cause your dog to become scared and try to bolt and make the “Heel” command frighten your dog, therefore, reversing your training and all trust established with your dog or puppy. Please always use good sense and respond to your dogs action or “Reaction” to “Leash and Heel” Training.

(3) Sit: Pull the leash straight up and while pushing down on his hindquarters, saying the word “Sit”. Most dogs learn this very quickly.

(4) Down: You don’t want your dog or puppy to jump on people, especially, elderly guests, children or anyone else that is coming to visit your home. Your dog needs to learn this after he is confident with his leash training. Grasp the leash or collar just under the dog’s neck and while gently pulling in the downward motion as you say, “Down”

(5) Stay: This is a very important command, as it can save your dog from a situation were harm or injury may occur, and this can be beneficial to the both of you. This command can save you or your dog from being hit by cars, or any other dangerous situation, this can your dogs life. To teach the “Stay” command put your dog in a sitting position and talk a few steps away, and if he attempts to come to you, firmly say “Stay” and stop walking, ask your dog to sit, and start again, keep repeating this procedure until he stays, this may take some time, remember keep the lessons short, and be consistent.

(6) Come: Be sure to do this with a leash or long lead. First put him on the “Stay” command, use the word “Come” and give the leash a light tug toward you, when he responds a comes to you give him praise and or a reward treat and repeat this lesson until your dog is responsive to the command, then you can remove the leash or lead and repeat the lesson. This is one of the easiest lessons dogs learn very quickly.  With all said and these simple, easy to follow training guidelines, you should have a long and happy relationship with your dog or puppy. Note: Never give up, be patient, consistent and always praise!!!! Love your dog like he loves you.

YOUR DOG

“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog…..You are his life, his love, and his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy ofsuch devotion. “

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Potty training your new puppy is not always an easy task. Some pups are easy to train while others seem to take much longer. It will take a lot of patience, but your dog will learn.

The newspaper method seems to be the best way for a dog to learn. A space of his own where he has his food, water, toys and bed is ideal. Cover the entire area with newspaper. When you have to leave him home, shut him in this area. After a while, he will start using one spot on the newspapers. Start removing the other pieces of newspaper a bit at a time. Soon, “his” area will become just that one spot. As he gets older, he will be able to wait until you get home to go. Don’t punish your dog if he misses the newspaper. He won’t know what you are punishing him for.

“Puppy pads” are a good alternative to old newspapers. They are a lot more sanitary and they are much easier to clean up.

Always take your dog outside (to his designated area) as soon as you get home. She needs to know that outside is her potty area. When you are at home, spend as much time with her as you can and watch her closely. She will show signs of needing to “go” by getting restless, turning in circles and sniffing out areas. Take her outside immediately. Praise her lavishly when she does her business outside. It is also helpful to carry treats with you when you are first training her to potty outside.

Take your puppy outside every 45 minutes or so because you may not always be able to tell when he needs the “bathroom.” Again, praise him and show him how excited you are that he is being a “good” boy. You will not need to go outside with her after a while. Once she knows where she is supposed to go, she will always go to that spot.

You can show disapproval when your puppy goes in the house but do not — I repeat — do NOT ever hit him. He won’t learn any faster by using cruel methods such as these.

Some dogs wet themselves when they get excited about something or when they are especially happy to see someone. This is called submissive urinating and can be quite a problem with young dogs. It can be especially embarrassing if Fido “goes” on a visitor to your home. This type of bathroom training is not as easy to do as normal training. Potty training your dog will help him know he should only go outside.

There is no set age when you dog is considered to be properly potty trained. In fact, a puppy can’t be considered fully trained until it is at least six months old. And, some dogs will be older still.