So you have a new puppy in your house? Well, then your hands are definitely full. You have a new furry bundle of love who is running around your house, chasing dog toys, and chances are having a couple of accidents on your carpet. Potty training your puppy can be a challenge, and you need to know what to expect.

Potty training your puppy is not really something that you can expect to do until you little guy has hit about the six-month mark. Any younger than this, and it is not really reasonable to expect them to be able to control their bladders like an older dog would.

When you begin to potty train your pup, you need to come to the realization that you will not be able to monitor your little guy twenty-four hours a day. There will be times when you need to leave the house. To prepare for this you will want to make sure that you have prepared the room that you are leaving your puppy in. You will want to have the entire floor covered in paper. Then you also want to make sure that your puppy has food and water, his bed, and his dog toys in there so that he can stay busy.

As your puppy gets more familiar with the potty training ritual, start to reduce the amount of paper that you have on the floor. Your puppy will have gotten into the habit of going potty on the paper, so as you shrink the amount of paper on the floor your puppy will begin to resist the urge to go potty on it. Eventually, you will want to remove all of the paper. However, before you do this you will want to get your puppy used to going to the bathroom outside.

To do this you will want to get your puppy on a very scheduled going outside schedule. Typically, you want to aim to take your puppy outside anytime that he needs to go to the bathroom. On average, this tends to be approximately every forty-five minutes. You will also want to take your puppy out after every time they eat, drink, wake up, and after a big play session with their favorite dog toys.

Make sure that when your puppy succeeds in going potty in the right area that you praise and reward him. This will make sure that your puppy learns that if he wants to get treats and good attention then he needs to go potty in the right places. Though it may be frustrating, you have to be careful not to get angry at your puppy when he makes mistakes. At his young age, he may not understand why you are yelling or punishing him, and that will not help you in the potty training process. Instead, you should focus on the positive reinforcement. Of course, positive vocal praise is a great way to encourage your little guy. But don’t forget about pulling out their favorite dog toys so that you can have a vigorous play session, or about giving them a tasty dog treat. If you can focus on those types of reinforcement your new puppy will be potty trained in no time!

 

Probably it has been a long time since you wanted a pet.  But Dukespost has a wide array of puppies for sale and that means one thing, finally a pet of your own.  For all those times of waiting in anticipation for the perfect pet puppies galore at Dukespost has at long last remedied the waiting.  Nothing beats a puppy from a good breed looking beautifully.  Unfortunately many a good puppy is ruined when a breeder takes the puppy for granted.

 

 At Dukespost they go beyond selling.  Proper care for health and good grooming are tackled in must read articles.  For a lot of people, cute and cuddly are the first words that come to mind when the word puppy is said but for good reason.  Puppies of whatever breed are existing everywhere in the country and homes have either one or two of them.  Puppies can be very playful at anyplace but a good training makes the discipline work. 

 

Know your puppy.  Is it a cocker spaniel or a golden retriever?  Does the puppy come from the dachshund family or has it a Labrador lineage?  Is it a terrier or a Chihuahua?  The breed counts.  There are breeds with super temperaments like the German shorthaired pointer puppies.  There are the cute poodles for just lounging around. The Chihuahuas are known for their mellow temperaments.  And the mini Aussie puppies are simply adorable. 

 

From knowing their breed you can set behavioral patterns which can either break or make a puppy.  Behavior can cause problems if not given much attention.  Dogs like humans are so social by nature.  They need to be around people or their kind to make things easier.  Don’t ruined a good pup by poor discipline techniques.  Puppies can easily learn when there is constant contact with the owner.  The puppy wants to know you well too.  This is a two-way thing.

 

Some puppies for sale at Dukespost can be tough.  For those tough cuts, they need to be softened by car and attention.  But don’t overdo things because puppies can also be spoiled.  Once the little litter gets spoiled, bad behavior sometimes can happen.  A little discipline will go a long way.  Benefit from your patience and diligence.  Have a simple regimen as possible to show them how things are done.  No extraordinary training.  Not all puppies respond equally.  Like humans different folks have different strokes. 

 

Health wise, according to Dukespost, the puppies need a veterinarian for their vaccination shots and sickness whatever the case maybe.  There are only a lot you can do and you cannot be too careful. So some things need the assistance of qualified experts like the vet and dog trainer.  Don’t attempt to put matters in your hands when something goes awry.  Even puppies for sale need the confidence and experienced of certified animal doctor.  Dukespost recommends consultation at all times. 

 

Even if you are not having a puppy for competition purposes, your pet should still get the same care and attention as a prospective champion.  Puppies are considered members of the household.  Kids play with them ad you get to talk with them when your alone.  You feed the little litter and he eats from your hands at times.  What better pet can you get? 

 

 

Since the holiday season is coming , buy a dog toy to keep your dog company. Just like kids, your dog may sense that the holiday season is near. With New Year, Thanksgiving and Christmas’s coming, why not buy a dog toy for them and put it under the Christmas tree for them too? 

There are a large number of of different dog toys in the market. Here’s a list of dog toys to help you choose a suitable toy for your pup. Whether they are small, big or medium size dogs, there will definitely be one to suit them.

a)Plush Dog Toys comes in different sizes and shapes. From sporting themes to toys that look like car and train, to hot dog and donuts shape like toy. Your dog will definitely be excited with all these fun stuffed toys lying on his dog bed. There’s also nothing like a big dog toy and small dog toy to cheer your dog up and get him in the mood for this holiday season with buying a Christmas theme toy like Santa hats and candy canes plush dog toy .

b) For puppies who have teething problem, it is best to get them dog chew toys. Because if you don’t take this precaution, your books and shoes may be destroyed by your pup.. There are numerous dog chew toys available.

Dog Kong Toys promotes jawrobics workout. It is also healthy, stimulating nose-to-tail workout for reflex and every muscle. Inside the Kong toy, you can stuff in healthy dog treats and when they managed to squeeze out the treats from the Kong toy, they can enjoy a delicious treat coming out from the Kong toy. It satisfies a dog’s natural need to chew and also conditions the gum and cleans the teeth.

While there are Dog Kong toys, there’s another chewable dog toy that has the durability. The rubbers used are non-splintering, non-toxic, non-abrasive and does not get sharp when chewed. The rubbers are made out of various shapes and these dog chew toys can be chilled in a deep freezer and be used all over again. The tough plastics consist of non-toxic water which are safe to be chews by all dogs.

When choosing cute dog toys, it is a must to know what type of size or toys that are best for your dog. If the dog you have is small, make sure the toys are not too big for them. Inspect the dog chew toys before buying one. This is to make sure that there are no small pieces that can fall off from the toy and choke your pet or strings that can come unraveled and wrap around your pet’s neck.

This holiday season, cook up a scrumptious meal for your dog but let them eat in moderation. While it is fun to give them dog gifts, you can also consider giving them healthy dog treats and warm dog apparel to keep them looking hip, happy and healthy .

Puppy potty training on command is an easy technique using a voice cue to quicken elimination.  Most puppies can be taught to relieve themselves on command.  This is much easier than you may think.

Advantages to on Command Training

On command dog potty training will prevent spending a lot of time waiting for your pup to do his business. This technique can be very helpful if the weather is horrible.  Other advantages are when you are traveling with your best friend and you are on a time schedule.

The words you say will eventually act to trigger desired behavior. Each time you take your dog potty (every hour) say,  “Outside” and take him to “his potty spot”.  Soon he will learn what this command means.

Praise and Reward

When you are outside, use any phrase that suits you - “Hurry up,” “Get busy,” “Do your business,” or some other socially acceptable, euphemistic eliminatory command.   Before long, when you say “hurry up” she will squat.  Quietly praise your canine friend as she goes and say something like “Good Job.”

Each time your dog does the right thing; enthusiastically use praise “Goooooooooood dog!”  It may be a good idea to offer a food reinforcement or two - Input for Output - Praise and Reward.  Puppy potty training is one of those times to pull out all the stops I use the Ferrari of dog treats - freeze dried liver

Your puppy will more likely go potty if you stand still and let him circle around you on a leash.  If your dog does not go after 5 minutes, no problem!  Take him indoors and crate him for a half-hour or so.  In a half-hour repeat the process.  Eventually, your pup will do the right thing and you will be able to reward him.

If your dog inappropriately urinates inside in your presence, say “Outside” and take him to “his spot” immediately.

Dogs quickly learn that as soon as they eliminate, they are taken indoors and may hold it until they go back inside which is not the behavior you are aiming for.  Alternatively, when your puppy has done his business, take him for a walk or play fetch with the ball as a reward!  Most dogs, especially puppies, like the sights and smells of the outdoors. Your buddy will look forward to this and it will encourage him to rush through the elimination process.

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Housebreaking Your Dog Made Easy

1. When not supervised, keep your pup confined.

2. Take your pup out on a leash every hour to the toilet area, instruct to eliminate using the chosen word, and allow 5 minutes to do so.

3. Praise your best buddy for a job well done.  Use treats as well as reward (walk or playtime) for a job well done.

By instructing your dog to eliminate beforehand and by rewarding for eliminating afterward, you will be teaching your best friend, “puppy potty training on command.”  The key to house training is patients and consistency.

Over the last 5 years, the range and quality of pet accessories available to you and your bundle of fun has increased dramatically, and nowadays our four legged friends are almost just as well accessorised as we are! There are accessories to enhance your pet’s appearance, to make life easier for you as the owner and to make sure your pup gets everything they need.

However, whilst the collection of products available grows, as the owner of an online pet boutique, I know there still remain, as ever, 8 essential dog accessories’ every owner should supply to keep their pooch happy and healthy.

Many owners relish doting on their companion and these ‘hints and tips’ will help you navigate your way through the many products out there to find the best quality essentials to make your dogs day.

Essential 1: The Perfect Dog Collar

There is literally an enormous range of dog collars on the market for dog owners to choose from, and choosing the right one can be a daunting task. The most important feature of any collar is that it fits comfortably without any restriction or tightness, so always pick the size with the most room. Measure around your pet’s neck at the point where their collar would usually sit and if your pet is on the size limit or has a particularly thick, fluffy coat, you may want to go up to the next size.

When it comes to your dogs collar it really does pay not to skimp on quality. The cheap options out there may seem attractive, however it is unlikely that they will withstand your pups lively, playful and mischievous nature and also the cut-price materials used will not be pleasant for your precious pet to sport 24/7.

Essential 2: The Ideal Dog Leash

When you and your pooch go out pavement parading, it is essential that you have the right leash to keep your pet calm and controlled.

The top tip for finding that ideal dog lead is to look for a product appropriate to the size of your dog. Most dog leads should let you know whether they are suitable for small, medium or large breeds. Large dogs should always have wider, thicker leashes.

Just like finding the perfect collar, your dogs leash is not an area where you should compromise on quality, as it is a product designed to keep you, your pup and the surrounding public safe. If your baby likes to always look a million dollars, best get them a matching collar and lead set, just to keep them from moaning!!

Essential 3: The Bon Ton

For those who aren’t quite sure exactly what a ‘Bon Ton’ is, read on. Bon Tons are convenient little bone shaped carriers, which handily clip either to your belt or to your dogs lead. They contain rolls of bags, which are ideal for depositing your baby’s little poops in, so they can be disposed of quickly and efficiently.

When you and your pup go out for your daily exercise and roll around in the park, it is essential that you are able to clean up after them as there is quite a hefty fine associated with fouling in a public place. With a stylish little Bon Ton always clipped to your dog’s leash, you will never be out and about and caught short!

Essential 4: The Stylish ID Tag

ID Tags are now an essential requirement for any dog that likes to be out and about. The Control of Dogs Order 1992 advises that any dog (even if they are chipped or have a tattoo), in a public place must wear a collar and tag with the name and address of the owner written on it. Your telephone number is optional. This can be formatted in various ways, full address or if a small tag then the house number and postcode along with owners name is sufficient.

There are some beautiful dog tags on the market for your pet to choose from ranging from sparkly and glitzy to unique and funky. Keep your eye out for the companies who offer free engraving with their tags!

Essential 5: The luxury Bed

There are many different types and styles of dog beds on the market today and it is up to you as the owner to decide which kind will best suit. The size of your dog is an important consideration. You want your pup to have their own space where they can relax and spread themselves out comfortably, so always buy a bed that is slightly larger than him. This allows for movement and also room for growth in growing pups.

The quality of your dog’s bed is again not something to skimp on. It has to withstand your pup’s tendency to chew, drool and claw without falling to pieces. There are many beds out there, which can be unzipped apart and washed accordingly. This really is essential, as your dog’s bed will become smelly very quickly without a spin in the washer once in a while!

If you shop around, you will easily be able to find a luxury dog bed that fits right in with your own furnishings and colour scheme!

Essential 6: The A La Carte Dog Bowls

To make dinner time something to look forward to for your dog, always choose food and water bowls either with a bit of weight to them or with non-slip feet so your hungry pup doesn’t have to chase their dinner around the kitchen floor! Also take into consideration the size of your dog; a large Great Dane will needs much more food and water than a little baby Chihuahua! It is vitally important that your dog has access to fresh clean water 24 hours a day.

Many dogs at dinnertime have the rather attractive tendency to virtually inhale their food as if there was no tomorrow! A great solution to this is to look for ‘Eat Better’ and ‘Drink Better’ dog bowls. Their unique design stops your mutt from getting his snout to the bottom of the bowl as easily, which significantly slows down their eating. This design is fantastic for stopping any regurgitation, bloat and helping with weight control. They also come in very funky designs and colours, which is a bonus for you and your dog!

Essential 7: The Endlessly Entertaining Dog Toy

Dogs need huge time commitments from their owners and are naturally very playful. There will undoubtedly be times when your pup needs to amuse themselves whilst you are otherwise occupied, and well chosen dog toys will provide you with some peace and quiet as well as saving your furniture, slippers and newspapers from gnawing, clawing and drool!

Choose dog toys appropriate to your pet’s size. Its no fun for your playful pup if the toy you’ve chosen is too large for them to pick up.

Essential 8: The Great Grooming Set

This essential is particularly useful for longhaired breeds of dog. After you’ve been for a roll around in the park you may need to give your pet a hand to get all of the dirt and tangles out of their coat, as if they are left, your dogs pretty little coat may become matted and matted hair will have to be cut out! Look out for grooming accessories specific to longhaired dog breeds.

There are also dog-grooming accessories specific for shorthaired pups. Regular grooming not only helps to de-tangle beautiful coats, but also helps to keep your dogs skin and coat clean and healthy.

Did you know that a dog jumping up on people is a sign of dominant dog behavior?  Dominance issues are one of the more serious dog behavior problems.  If a dominant canine is causing headaches for you, you need to stop dog jumping now.

Dominant Dog Behavior

Canines are pack animals.  Each pack has a leader who asserts his dominance over the other individuals in the group.  The leader will often do this by “jumping up” on another pack member and putting one or both front paws on the other’s shoulders.  Are you seeing any similarities here with your pup’s behavior?

Watch how two canines greet each other.  Each will stand quietly and allow the other pup to sniff him.  They don’t jump all over each other when they first meet.  This kind of behavior is very ill-mannered in the canine world, because, as mentioned above, putting front paws on another individual is a way of asserting dominance.  

In the pack, a subordinate individual would NEVER jump on the pack leader.  The leader will not tolerate this behavior if he wants to remain the leader, so he corrects the subordinate pup immediately.  

If you allow your pet to jump up on you, and you don’t correct him right away, you’re confirming to him that he’s the alpha dog in your household.  This is a sure recipe for dog behavior problems.

Controlling A Dominant Dog

It’s important that you don’t allow your pet to jump up and get his front paws on you.  If he attempts to jump up on you, turn to the side and block him with your hip.  If he manages to get his paws on you, turn your back on him and make a point of ignoring him.  Once all four feet are on the ground, tell him to “sit” and then pet him.  

Never reward him with attention for jumping up on you.  If he ambushes you and gets those front paws on you, don’t yell “no” or back away or push him off with your hands.  He’s liable to think you’re playing with him, which will make him jump even more.

A dominant dog will often demand your attention.  You must be the one who decides when he gets attention.  Ignore him when he demands that you pet him.  If he’s very insistent or pushy, use a water pistol to squirt him in the face.  When he gets down, tell him to “sit” and then pet him.  Never give in to his demands.

Make him earn your attention.  Have him sit-stay before you pet him.  Your dog needs your love and attention, but you need to give it to him on your terms, not his.

More Dog Obedience Tips

Consistency is extremely important to stop dog jumping.  You won’t be able to end any dog behavior problem if someone in your household is encouraging it.  

Spend ten minutes a day training your pup.  You’ll be amazed at what a difference even a few minutes a day will make in his behavior.

Your goal now is to look for a good dog training course so you can learn to control dominant dog behavior.  Try to find one that offers a free consultation with an experienced dog trainer, so you can avoid accidentally reinforcing problem behaviors.  With love and attention, you can stop a dominant dog jumping up on people.

Dogs play an interesting role in our society these days. Dog obedience training is now expected of our furry friends. They live in our houses, walk our sidewalks beside us, play with our children in the front yard and visit their doggie buddies at the dog park. They are expected to be on their best behavior at all times. This is a lot to ask of an animal!

Many years ago, dogs held a different role. Most likely, our parents grew up with dogs who didn’t know what a leash was! There was always the scary dog who lived in the neighborhood and children knew to petal quickly by that house on their bicycle! Dogs may have lived outside - all the time. Tell that to today’s dog who attends doggie daycare 3 times a week and wears designer collars!

Today, the role dogs play in our lives and societies has changed (that scary dog in the neighborhood is no longer accepted as “just being a dog”, now the owner would have to deal with neighbor complaints, city fines and legal issues if the dog ever bit someone). It is the dog owner’s responsibility to make sure their pup has the skills to be a good fit in our homes and communities.

Situations Where You Want Good Dog Behavior

There are some activities that you and your dog participate in where having a certain level of dog obedience training is not only convenient, but expected. Such situations are:

Daily life; walking a dog, having him or her in your house, interacting with family members and people who come over to your house.

Competition sports such as: agility, dog shows and flyball.

Volunteer programs such as visiting nursing homes, hospitals or schools.



Emergency situations, such as when outside and the dog’s collar comes off or their leash breaks or gets dropped.



Why Getting Obedience Is Sometimes Difficult

The primary reason dogs and people misunderstand each other or have trouble communicating is because we are two very different species and we do not speak the same language. The one thing we do have in our favor, however, is that we both seem to have an affinity for each other. Basing our relationship on the fact that we enjoy each other’s company means that we need to find an effective way to “talk” to each other. Because we are the people in the relationship (unless of course your dog can read and is the one reading this!) it is OUR responsibility to ensure we are being clear when we communicate with our dogs.

Before starting out dog obedience training, it is important that we recognize the difficulty involved in this for our dogs.

easons why training may be difficult for our dogs:

They are trying to read us and figure us out. As a human, we can make their job a little easier by being as consistent and clear in our instruction as possible. Reward good behavior, ignore or redirect incorrect behavior.

Dogs are under exercised and under stimulated. Asking a puppy, who has been in their kennel for a few hours while you were at work, to be calm once they are let out is an impossible task for them. It is not physically possible for the dog, therefore we can not expect it. If we want a calm dog, we need to give them exercise and energy outlets.

They may never have been taught training. Dogs become more savvy to training the more practice they get. Be patient with a dog who is a novice. If your training is clear, your dog will make progress.

Dogs do have minds of their own and we have to respect and understand that. If a dog is showing signs that training is difficult for them, analyze what may be the cause. Sometimes the dog is in physical discomfort; therefore the “sit” behavior may hurt them. Other times there are distractions such as kids, good smells, or other dogs. Imagine if you were trying to concentrate on your teacher, but someone kept waving a piece of chocolate cake or plane tickets to Hawaii in your face… it would be hard to remain focused on the teacher!



Every dog can learn. It is up to us, as the human who has specific expectations of our dog’s behavior, to help them understand what we want. We need to be patient, clear and understanding.

How to Achieve Good Behavior

If you are having trouble with dog obedience training, you will likely find that seeking the help of a professional dog trainer not only provides some great tips and suggestions, but provides a lot of fun for you and your dog! Dog training is actually a highly developed skill that involves deep understanding and the study of psychology. Just like bankers are good with numbers and plumbers are good with pipes, dog trainers are good with dogs. It is commendable that if you don’t have the knowledge to train your dog that you seek the help of someone who does. You certainly wouldn’t try to work on your water pipes if you knew nothing about plumbing! The same goes for our dogs and the way they learn.

A dog trainer who uses positive training techniques will encourage their clients to utilize treats and praise when teaching the dog good behavior. Because the behaviors being learned are brand new behaviors, it is important to give the dog rewards for doing them until the behaviors are very consistent. Once the desired behaviors are known very well by the dog, the use of treats can be used intermittently. Using positive training techniques is good for our dogs, good for us as people (the traditional ways of training where we used physical force to intimidate our dogs into acting a certain way doesn’t reflect very kindly on us!) and good for the bond we share.

Just remember, the saying that “an old dog can’t learn new tricks” simply isn’t true! Every dog can learn dog obedience training that will help them become better members of our homes and societies.

Deciding to buy a puppy should be a careful, well-thought out decision. A dog can be the most rewarding of pets, but also one of the most demanding. Before you buy a puppy, please think first. Is there really time for a dog in your life, and can you give a commitment that might for 12 years, possibly more?

Do you have the time to provide the exercise and training that a dog requires throughout its life, provide a safe and secure home and afford a suitable and nutritious diet that will ensure the very best of health?

You should also take into consideration your health and age. Do you want an active or sedentary animal? Some dogs require almost constant attention, lots of exercise and stimulation. Others are more laid back; therefore you need to research which dog will suit you and your family’s lifestyle. For instance if you live in a flat and have limited free time, a Border Collie or Springer Spaniel would not be such a good idea, and would probably lead to behavioural difficulties, not only for the dog!

You will naturally want a puppy with a good temperament who will adapt happily to life as part of the family. Buying a puppy that has been home reared; exposed to everyday sights, sounds and smells should help the transition from life with Mum and litter mates to a new home and environment.

If you’re buying from a breeder make sure that they will let you come and see the puppies with their Mum and will answers all of your questions. Never ever let anyone bring the puppy out to you – you really do need to see the puppy and Mum together. If the person selling you the puppy tells you that this is not possible then just walk away.

This might seem like common sense, but the sad fact is that too many people are persuaded to buy a puppy at under 4 weeks of age, maybe without even seeing the mother. Then there are tales of woe from new owners who bought from a pet shop or puppy farm where the pup had been exposed to illness, fear or stress, and then wonder why they are experiencing health or behaviour problems later.

There are arguments as to the best time to separate a puppy from its mother.

The optimum time for socialisation is between 6 – 8 weeks when the puppy’s instinct to make friends with strangers overcomes its natural wariness, and this is generally considered the ideal time period for removing a puppy from its litter mates and mother.

For a puppy, being taken away from its mother and placed into a strange environment where nothing is familiar can be a frightening experience. Spend the first few days welcoming the puppy into your family, giving it lots of attention and mental stimulation and showing it the basics of what’s right and what’s wrong, where it can eat, sleep and go to the toilet.

Create a positive experience at all times. The escape and fear response has not fully developed in the first 12 weeks of development and so things out there in the ‘big wide world’ will not be so scary. Puppies do need to get used to the various stimuli that they will encounter in everyday life as early as possible. These include car rides, household and other strange noises, other animals, water and traffic.

Puppies go through many changes in the first 12 months of their lives and most of their learning and behavioural patterns are learnt in this time. Teach the puppy to socialise with humans and other dogs as soon as possible. A puppy has a short attention span so all training sessions should be frequent but brief. Simple obedience and the discouragement of unwanted behaviour will help to show you are ‘worthy’ of the puppy’s respect. Praise is important!

The earlier the training the better, even if it’s just the basics.

Vaccination is important to prevent your dog from becoming ill from infectious diseases. It stimulates the body’s own defence system to produce protective antibodies in the blood. The micro-organisms that cause disease can be widespread in certain areas of the U.K and unvaccinated dogs are at risk from a range of life-threatening diseases such as canine distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis, infectious canine hepatitis and kennel cough.

A course of vaccinations will be needed for your puppy. These are usually given at around 9 and 12 weeks of age.

Worming is also important. It is possible that your puppy already has worms, which have been passed from its mother, and worming should be done every month until the puppy is 6 months old and then every 3-6 months.

It is important to choose the correct diet for your pup. Rapid growth can cause health problems in later life, so it’s best to feed a high quality, low protein and low fat food, such as BURNS Mini Bites, to enable your puppy to grow strong but steady. Avoid the temptation to fill the puppy with treats and sweets on top of his daily allowance, and if you do then take what ever treats are given out of the total food given in the day. Always provide a ready supply of fresh drinking water.

Puppies need lots of time, care and patience. Follow these guidelines and your efforts will be positively rewarded.