Archives for February, 2010
I want to share with you some very useful dog house training tips and advice. These tips will not only work for dogs however they will also work for puppies too. So whether you’re house training a dog or house training puppies I’m sure you’ll find this article a massive help to your dog training campaign.
One of the best dog house training tips would be to be observant and always be mindful that your puppy or dog has free roam of your home. The other alternative you have if you can’t be around all the time is to crate train your dog, which is an effective way and a way I’d recommend to properly house train your dog.
If you don’t know what they’re up to, especially a puppy, then you can’t stop them from getting into trouble. For example you don’t want your puppy to go to the toilet in your home so if you don’t have them in sight how do you know they haven’t done their business somewhere in your house. You’ll only find out when the smell hits you a few days later. When house training your dog or puppy, give them plenty of opportunity to go outside so they go to the toilet there and instead of in your home.
One very good dog house training tips is to be sure to praise and reward them when they do go to the toilet outside and try to give a command just as they are about to begin and then give them a reward after they’ve finished.
During the puppy house training phase be sure to clean up after your puppy should they go to the toilet inside. When you house train your puppy; don’t acknowledge them or tell them off as this won’t help with their training. If they’ve managed to go to the toilet inside your home it’s because you haven’t kept a close enough eye on them. Had you been watching them then they would have had the chance to go.
Some signs to watch out for in your dog that they may need to go to the toilet are that they may start to whimper or whine and may hang around the door to your home while they do this. Here’s some dog house training tips on what to watch for;
• They will start to sniff the floor, with house training puppies you’ll need to be very quick because from sniffing the floor to the actual squat can be only a matter of seconds.
• Your dog may start to circle in a crazy manner as if they are looking for something in a small area.
• Relentless panting as if they’ve just ran a marathon and back.
• They may also be asleep one minute on their bed in front of you whilst you’re watching TV and then all of a sudden they’ll get up and leave the room.
Remember these dog house training tips and be mindful of these signs although some dogs may act a little differently, for example if you’re sat on your sofa your dog may come up to you with his ears pinned back and climb up on your lap with his front two paws and start to look at you with a look of panic in their eyes.
I hope that you have found these dog house training tips useful and I hope that they help you go a long to getting your dog or puppy house trained as soon as possible. And remember with house training your dog they don’t want to go to the toilet in your home as this is also their home and dogs are in actual fact very clean animals. So be patient, be consistent and remember if your dog or puppy can’t get outside they will probably relieve themselves inside your house.
Keep an eye on my website for more dog house training tips and advice.
Click HERE for the best dog house training tips to train your dog in a week
Feb 12, 2010 | | House Training Your Dog
So you’ve decided to get yourself a puppy have you? Are you ready for the commitment? You should ask yourself this before you decide to take on your very own little ankle biter!! I hope to give you here some useful free puppy training tips and advice to help you at least get started with making sure you have a well behaved puppy living in your home. So lets get some free puppy training tips transferred to you so you can begi training your puppy now.
First things first, where will your puppy sleep at night, one of my first free puppy training tips I’ll give you is that, I’d recommend you find somewhere in your home which is slightly shaded yet still warm preferably near a heat source within your home such as a radiator or near some of your heating systems pipes where the hot water for your home runs through. Try not to get into the habit of letting your puppy sleep with you on your bed as they will get used to this and weaning them off it will be very difficult with lots of mid night wake up calls from your lonely dog downstairs.
One of the good free puppy training tips which has been known to work very well is that you’ll want to consider getting some puppy training pads as your little friend will need to go to the toilet a lot and you can’t keep your eye on him all the time and these pads will certainly help with potty training your puppy, when his little body tells him he needs to go he will just go. Puppy training pads give him somewhere, at least when you’re not there to let him outside, he will be able to go in a place where you want him to go. I’d also recommend you place the pads near one of your doors. The puppy training pads will ensure that when your puppy goes to the toilet, they don’t leave a massive puddle to soak through to your carpet.
These free puppy training tips should be enough to get you started and they could be all you need to do.
Next thing to sort out before you get your puppy home is what to feed them. There are many foods available but you want to stick to the foods which are specifically made for (and titled on the packaging) for puppies. If you’re unsure consult with your Vet and they will be able to advise you on the best food to use.
Use your Vet as a resource for more free puppy training tips and advice:
Speaking of your Vet make sure you get your puppy booked in for his booster injections to ensure he doesn’t catch and bugs or diseases which fly around like our common cold. Your Vet is also a great resource for free puppy training tips and puppy care advice and they will always advise you on the best way to go so use them whenever you’re unsure of anything.
Once you’re puppy is settled into your home and has hit the 16 week old milestone and has had all his vaccinations its time start the socialization and training of your puppy. There are many puppy training classes available and when you start researching you’ll find there are loads in your area. These classes will offer you some great free puppy training tips and will teach you some invaluable puppy training techniques to ensure you have a well behaved dog. They all start with a socialization class which is where your 16 week old puppy will meet other 16 week old puppies to get them used to playing wit other dogs and been handled by other owners. As child like as this sound this sounds these puppy training classes are a very important aspect in your puppy’s life and this can help shape how your dog will turn out socially.
This should be enough free puppy training tips to get you started and remember to just have fun with your puppy and you’ll enjoy every minute you’ll spend together.
Click HERE to learn how to house train your puppy in a week
Feb 12, 2010 | | Puppy Training Tips
I discussed the topic of crate training your dog in one of my other articles however I also wanted to address specifically the topic of crate training your puppy as I feel that although they are similar methods there are some slight differences you must take into account.
With crate training your puppy you still follow the method for getting ready for crate training your dog however you need to be aware that your puppy may need a little more attention and they can’t be left on their own for as long as a dog can. A puppy must also be left alone when it’s in its crate because you want the crate to act as a ‘safe haven’ to your puppy from the outside world. If you got your puppy from a responsible dog breeder then your puppy should already be used to a crate so crate training your puppy should be easy.
So here’s an overview on how crate training your puppy should be done. First sit on the floor by the crate with some treats in your hand, call your puppy over to you and give them a treat along with some positive praise and attention for obeying your command, then throw a couple of treats into the crate by the door (not all the way in, about an inch or two from the door) your puppy, been a puppy, should go into the crate for the treat. At this point your puppy isn’t thinking ‘I’m in a crate’ he’s thinking ‘gimme that treat.’ Don’t start off by throwing a treat all the way into the crate and then shutting the door behind him when he goes in. You want to gradually entice your puppy into the crate and you shut the door when they are comfortably inside the crate and their attention is elsewhere (like on a toy or eating more treats).
While your puppy is eating the first batch of treats near the front of the crate toss a few treats to the back of the crate. Your puppy will do one of two things stop and think about going all the way into the crate or he will just dive straight in for the rest of the treats without thinking about it. Basically the whole process of crate training your puppy is all based around you throwing the treats further and further into the crate which in turn entices your puppy further and further inside the crate.
Once your puppy goes all the way in on his own accord give him more positive praise and attention followed by more treats. Try closing the door when he’s all the way in and his attention is on either a toy or eating more treats however, to begin with, open the door again before he’s nearly eaten all the treats. Eventually he’ll be happy to go inside the crate without enticement from you.
What to do next if crate training your puppy is going well:
Once they are happy and comfortable with the crate you could try crate training your puppy at night and see how you puppy is while you sleep. Hopefully he will also be tired and should sleep right through. However in the first few days whilst your puppy adjusts to the crate you may experience puppy crate training whining and crying. As heartbreaking as it can be you just need to ignore them and they will eventually settle down. If you attend to them when they whine or cry, they will learn that this is how they get your attention.
Begin crate training your puppy by creating a schedule by letting them out of the crate at regular intervals during the day and if possible at night. I’d put your puppy in the crate a couple of hours before you go to bed and then let him out just before you go to bed, take him straight outside to pee and then put him straight back in. Then first thing in the morning do the same again. Don’t make a fuss just straight out and straight back in. Obviously in the morning once you’ve let him out he will be out until he’s going to be left alone like when you go to work.
The whole process of crate training your puppy can take just a couple of hours or it could take anything up to a week. It all depends on how patient and consistent you are and how much you allow your puppy to make his own mind up about entering the crate. The best thing to do with crate training your puppy is don’t pressure him in if you force him in he won’t ever accept the crate at all.
Click HERE to learn how to house train your puppy in a week
Feb 12, 2010 | | Crate Training Dogs
Here’s a general guide to help with crate training your dog and how you should go about introducing your dog to the crate for the very first time when you bring it home. These suggestions will also be effective when crate training your puppy however there are some slight adjustments you’ll need to make between training a dog and training a puppy.
Firstly and before you even go to the shop to look at the available crates for crate training your dog you need to take an old t-shirt, jumper or blanket and lay this over your dogs existing bed. Choose something which you don’t mind giving to your dog even if they end up chewing it to pieces. What we’re doing here is creating something that you can use when you start your dog crate training to act as the bedding for the crate. By letting your dog sleep on this for a few days to a couple of weeks before you bring the crate home ensures that you’ll have something other than the dogs bed to use inside the crate which has a strong scent of the dog (something he will know and trust).
When selecting your crate for crate training your dog make sure that the crate you buy allows the dog enough room so that he can stand up, lay down and turn a full circle inside quite comfortably without touching the sides of the crate. This makes crate training your dog a lot easier as you’ll be making it as welcoming and comfortable a place as possible for your dog. Remember your dog can be in there for long periods at a time so you’ll want to make sure they are happy being in there.
One of the best pieces of crate training your dog advice I can give you is that when you arrive home with the crate arrange for someone to take the dog for a walk while you set it up and put it in its place within your home. When deciding on where to put the crate make sure that your final decision means that the crate won’t constantly be moved around. This could affect your efforst with crate training your dog later down the road.
Next take the item of clothing or blanket you’ve been using on the dogs bed for the last couple of weeks and place that on top of or over the bedding you bought for the crate. Don’t use their bed straight away as this could cause the dog to become scared of the crate. By using the item of clothing from the old bed means the dog will have a choice between the crate and their bed (with crate training your dog you’ll eventually move their bed into the crate once the dog has accepted it). Also line the inside of the crate with a couple of your dog’s toys.
When your dog arrives home from his walk (which hopefully will be when the crate is finished and ready) leave the crate door open and don’t make a fuss of it You don’t need to show your dog the crate either as his nose will do that for you, just make sure the dog can get to the crate without and obstacles in the way. Let your dog investigate it by themselves if they go inside off the bat then you’re already half way there. If they won’t go near it try putting some treats in the crate and let the dog go in off his own accord to collect them. When he goes in give him lots of praise and attention and a couple more treats.
With crate training your dog you’ll need to be patient, if you force the crate onto your dog you’ll run the risk of scarring them and they’ll never go in and you don’t want to be in that situation. When they are finally used to the crate and they go inside it on their own move their original bed into the crate and enjoy a clean and tidy home.
You can use the same method for crate training puppies that you would use with crate training your dog however the difference between a puppy and a dog is a dog is much older and wiser. With puppy crate training there’s a little more involvement from you as the owner which I’ll discuss further in another article but I hope that you’ve found these puppy and dog house training tips help you out with crate training your dog and I hope that they make the task of getting your dog fully toilet trained easier.
Click HERE to learn how to house train your dog in a week
Feb 12, 2010 | | Crate Training Dogs
When you’re not around you can’t stop your dog from roaming your home freely doing whatever he wants to do however crate training a dog can limit what he can get up to during the day while you’re out at work. So this means less damage to your home and less mess to clean up when you get home. Crate training a dog is a great way to help with the introduction of potty training for dogs and can really accelerate your puppy’s learning curve.
The perception by people is that crate training a dog is cruel and acts as a sort of a confinement for when the dog is in trouble. When you visit one of your friends and their dog is sat inside a crate you immediately feel sorry for the dog and although you don’t say anything to the owner you’re thinking how cruel they are.
I’ve heard of people falling out over this particular topic as one side thought the owners were punishing their dog and they decided that the use of crate training a dog was been inhumane. Little do they, or most people who think like this, know that the dog actually likes to be in the crate even when the door is shut. Dogs are, by nature, known as ‘Den Creatures’ and this means that they like small, dark confined areas. Which means when you’re crate train your dog you are actually helping them with their own natural instincts.
By crate training your dog in their new home offers a number of benefits to both the dog and the owner; firstly for the dog it gives him his very own ‘Den’ or safe haven where he can feel safe and secure and get out of the way of the busy family it lives with whenever it needs any ‘Me Time’ and for the owner it ensures that the dog can’t get up to any mischief when there not around. You should start crate training a dog from the very second he arrives at your house and keep training him so that this is all he knows.
The main reason most people buy a crate for their dog is because they can’t physically supervise their dog every second of the day and when the dog is left alone they mess the house up. The other great benefit from crate training a dog is that you use the crate to help with toilet training them.
People also use them for puppy crate training however a little more supervision is required as a puppy hasn’t fully developed the awareness of owning its own territory yet, they just like to play… all day. When crate training puppies I would advise that you use the crate for shorter periods of time and you give your puppy plenty of opportunity to go outside to the toilet.
When deciding on what to buy when crate training a dog especially very large dogs you need to make sure that your dog can stand up fully inside, can turn fully around and lie down comfortable, with a puppy I’d recommend you think long term and buy a crate which will be big enough for when they are older. Ask at your local pet shop or Vet on how big they think your dog is likely to grow and following the guide above buy a crate to match this size. Any one can start crate training a dog and you can at any time in the dogs life, their never too old to learn.
Click HERE to learn how to house train your dog in a week
Feb 12, 2010 | | Crate Training Dogs
One of the worst dog behavior problems most owners face is having to deal with an aggressive dog. If you’re unlucky enough to find yourself in the situation where your dog’s personality has turned into an aggressive one there is still hope for you and there are ways in which you can still lead a happy life with your dog.
Dog behavior probelms can cause headaches and arguments in any relationship and to deal with this form of bad dog behavior you will need to start to look at your dog ownership from a different perspective and start to look at your why your dogs behavior is like it is. For example what is your dog aggression aimed at; is it the vacuum cleaner, the TV, do they show dog to dog aggression when outside or even aggression towards other people? Try to analyze your dog and look for signs of how his posture and interest changes when different things are around him.
This is the first thing you should do if you find you have dog behavior problems and one of the first things any expert dog behaviorist will do themselves when dealing with dog behavior problems. Analyzing and finding out what the problem could be is the first step to take to help you figure out what strategies to put in place to deal with the aggressive dog behavior.
Here are a few tell tale signs of dog behavior problems before they get out of control you should watch out for these signs in your dog and then try to tie them to what is happening around him:
• Watch the Ears – Does your dogs ears twist inwards or stand on end when something new comes into his environment. This is a sign of your dog been interested in something which means he will start to focus on what that distraction is.
• Does the hairs on his back stand up – Also known as hackles, the hairs along the dogs spine stand up when a dog gets nervous or when their ready to fight.
• Do they show their teeth – This is a sure sign that they will bite, usually accompanied by a growl which turns into a snarl. If this happens watch out as your dog will likely snap.
These are just a few signs that your dog is warning whatever is happening around them that they don’t like it and you should be on the look out for theses signs before you begin with any dog behavior problems training. Once you identify these signs try to tie them into what has just happened that caused your dog to flare up with these warning signs. For example you’re walking down the street and you walk past another dog and its owner on the other side of the street, you think nothing of it and don’t even notice them however your dog has just seen a potential threat and wants to make sure it comes nowhere near them. Dog behavior problems usually come out of your dog when they see and start to show severe dog aggression towards other dogs and they do this by lunging towards them barking, growling, snarling and trying to get off the leash. This all happens in a split second and your dog could potentially become uncontrollable.
Once you start to tie these identifiers to a cause in your dog’s environment you can then try to take action to help avoid any dog behavior problems from these situations. In the example above you could be a little more vigilant and keep a watch out for people coming up with other dogs and then use the parked cars or other obstructions to stand behind so that your dog doesn’t see the other dog and whish would normally trigger the aggressive dog behavior.
This is just one example of the many ways of dealing with really bad dog behavior problems and all I can say to summarize is that if you have an aggressive dog and there seems to be no sign of resolution just try to identify the triggers and try to help your dog avoid the causes. Watch out for these triggers before the reaction and you’ll find you’ll have less dog behavior problems and you’ll own a less stressed out, less aggressive, happier dog.
‘Snarling? Biting? Growling? Want to stop your dogs behavior problems? Click here!’
Feb 12, 2010 | | Bad Dog Behavior
