Training a Golden Retriever puppy can be easy when you know the four P's!

Do you know the four P’s of training a golden retriever?  If you have a new golden retriever puppy, here are the four things you must know to be successful in training your new pet.

Patience

Patience is a necessary ingredient in any dog training program.  Your golden retriever puppy isn’t really out to drive you crazy, even though it may seem that way at times!  The key is to never lose your temper.  Always end your training sessions on a good note, no matter how badly it may have gone that day.  You want your puppy to look forward to the training sessions, not dread them.

If you feel yourself getting angry, stop the session and play with your pup for a few minutes, until you calm down.  Anger can scare your puppy, which will make training him even harder.

Persistence

Don’t give up!  Commit to regular training sessions, and you’ll see progress.  It make take some time, especially if you have an older or stubborn dog, so it’s important to stick with it.

It’s better to have several short training sessions each day, instead of one long one.  Four ten- or fifteen-minute sessions every day are much more effective than a weekly marathon session lasting an hour or two.  Take advantage of teachable moments whenever you’re feeding your pet, playing with him, or walking him.

Practice

Practice, practice, practice.  Remember the old saying, “practice makes perfect”?  Well, it’s true, especially when it comes to dog training.  For example every time you feed your pet, use the sit-stay command.  He has to sit quietly until you put the food dish on the floor and release him to eat.  Doing this reinforces the command in his mind.

When you go for a walk, have him sit and stay quietly when you meet someone.  You can think of dozens of ways to incorporate practicing what you’re teaching him into your daily routine.

Praise

Praise is the most powerful “P” of all.  Your dog lives for your praise, so praise him liberally when he does what you want.  Ignore him when he doesn’t.  He’ll soon stop the bad behavior and focus on obeying you so he can get that praise.  Slipping him a treat is also a great way to reward your golden retriever when he does what you want.

Keeping the four P’s in mind will make training your golden retriever a fun experience for both of you!

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Yorkshire terriers often fall victim to "Small Dog Syndrome"

And what, you may ask, is “Small Dog Syndrome”?  Well, we’ve all seen those annoying little dogs that yap non-stop, show aggressive behavior, jump up on people, snap at kids, and the list goes on and on.

In fact, most people really don’t care for small dogs because they have a reputation for just being unpleasant to be around.

Why is this?  Are small dogs like yorkies really that bad?

It all comes back to the owners.  People will accept behavior from a small dog that they would never tolerate from a big one.  Why?  Because they think it’s “cute.”

What Are The Symptoms Of Small Dog Syndome?

• Jumping up on people
• Growling, both at people and at other dogs
• Yapping non-stop
• Jumping up on your lap uninvited
• Jealousy if someone else gets too close to the owner
• Pulling on the leash during walks
• Nervousness and jumpyness
• Persistently getting up on the couch when told not too
• Becoming aggressive when you try to get him off the furniture
• Always running to go out the door ahead of you

These, and many other behaviors, are symptoms of a dominant dog who believes he’s the pack leader.  If your dog weighed 80 pounds, you certainly wouldn’t be putting up with this kind of behavior.

But people think it’s “adorable” when their little five-pound yorkie does it.  Before you know it, your sweet little pet has transformed into a yappy, nervous demanding little monster who snaps at people for no reason.   This is why small dogs have such a poor reputation.

How To Prevent Behavior Problems In Yorkshire Terriers

Resist the urge to let them get away with bad behavior just because they’re cute.  What’s cute when your Yorkie is an adorable ball of fluff won’t be so cute later on, when he’s aggressively charging that rottweiler or snapping at the neighbor’s child.

Start obedience training right away.  With any of the terrier breeds, it’s important to set boundaries right at the start and stick to them.  Terriers were originally bred as hunting dogs who would dig into burrows and drag out animals like rats and foxes.  They are very strong, intelligent, and determined animals who can very easily take over the house before you know it.

Don’t let your yorkie become a victim of “Small Dog Syndrome.”  Start training him today, and he’ll become a well-behaved, much-loved member of your family.

Related articles

• So You Want a Teacup Yorkie? (therealowner.com)
• Small Dog Syndrome

1.  Good Communication With Your Dog Is Essential

Have you ever wished your dog could talk to you?  It would make training him so much easier!

Dogs use body language to communicate, both with people and with each other.  There’s a big difference between a happy, tail-wagging dog, and one that’s slinking around with his tail between his legs.

Pay attention to what your pet is telling you with his body language.  When your dog knows you understand what he’s trying to tell you, he’ll develop more trust and respect for you, which makes training him much easier.

2.  Keep Training Sessions Short and Fun

Dogs have a short attention span, so it’s best to keep training sessions short.  Actually, you may not realize it, but you’re training your dog every time you feed him or take him for a walk.  Use the sit-stay command to train him to sit quietly until you put his food dish on the floor and release him to eat.  When walking, use this same command to keep him calm when you meet another person or dog.  Train him to heel during your walks, too.

Spend five or ten minutes working with your dog many times during the day.  Make it a game, and he’ll enjoy learning.  Your labrador retriever really does want to please you, so make it easy for him to do so!

Avoid a marathon training session once a week, or once a month.  Your dog won’t remember what he learned the last time, and both of you will be bored and tired.

If  you or your dog isn’t feeling well, or you’re both upset over something, end the training session right away.  Always end on a good note.

3.  Be Consisent

Be sure everyone in the household is on the same page when training your lab.  If one person is encouraging behavior you don’t want, it will be extremely difficult to train him. Labs are very intelligent, and they notice inconsistencies in training.  If he doesn’t know what you want, he’ll be confused.

Always use the same tone of voice when giving commands.  If you give a command in a happy voice one day, and use an angry tone the next, he won’t understand that it’s the same command.  Make it easy for your dog to learn.

Training a labrador retriever is a long-term process.  Correct mistakes as they happen, and make sure he understands exactly what you want him to do.

Following these training tips will result in a happy, well-trained, and well-loved pet.

Related articles

• What are some interesting facts about Labrador Retrievers (wiki.answers.com)
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Eight Tips For House Training A Weimaraner

When you bring home your new weimaraner puppy, there are three things you should start working on right away.  The first is puppy socialization.  The second is basic obedience training.  And the third, and probably the most important, is house training.

Nobody wants a housepet that leaves messes behind wherever it goes.  In fact, many dogs are euthanized every year, simply because they have never been properly housetrained.

It’s up to you, as the owner, to teach your weimaraner good bathroom habits, right from the start.  Here are eight tips that can help.

1.  Puppies Can’t Hold It For Very Long

Remember that puppies have immature bladders.  They just aren’t capable of holding their urine for very long.

Give your puppy a break, and make sure you take her outside or set her on her training pad at least once every hour.

Sometimes dogs have trouble holding their urine because they have canine urinary tract infections or canine diabetes.  An older pet who suddenly becomes incontinent should have a vet check-up as soon as possible.

 2.  Keep An Eye On Your New Pet

Whether your pet is a puppy, or an older dog, be sure to keep an eye on her for the first few days.  It may take her a week or so to settle in, and you want to be sure she understands where she’s supposed to go potty.  You don’t want her slipping into a bedroom or closet to do her business, so it’s best to keep doors to other rooms closed for a few days.  Once the habit of going in the house is established, it’s very hard to break.

 3.  Watch Out For Signs That She Needs To Go

All dogs will do certain things to tell you that they need a bathroom break.  If she’s acting restless, walking in circles, or just sniffing around, take her outside immediately.  If she’s already started to go, get her outside right away so she can finish up out there.

4.  Take Her Out Regularly

You should let your weimaraner out as soon as she wakes up, either first thing in the morning, or after a nap.  Also take her out after she eats or drinks, or if she’s acting nervous or excited.  Let her out after a rousing play session, as well.

As mentioned above, don’t expect a puppy or an older dog to hold it too long.  You’re just asking for an accident.

Establishing a routine will make house training a weimaraner much easier.

5.  Feed Her On Schedule

Most animals need to go right after they eat.  If you feed your weimaraner at the same time every time, she’ll need to go out at the same time every day too, which makes it easier for both of you.

6.  Train Her To Let You Know When She Needs To Go

Your pet can be trained to tap your leg with her paw when she needs to go.  Avoid training her to bark as a signal, as excessive barking can become a big problem with dogs.

7.  Don’t Bring Her Back Inside Too Fast

Weimaraners and other dog love being outside.  Spend some time outside playing with her after she does her business.  She won’t delay going potty in order to stay outside longer because she’ll know that you’ll be playing with her instead.

8  Reward Her When She Does What You Want

When your weimaraner puppy urinates or defectates where you wanted her to, praise her and slip her a tasty treat.  She’ll figure out pretty quickly that doing what you want has a great payoff, which will make her want to do it again.

Repetition and consistency are very important when house training any dog.  A little effort now will pay off for years to come.

Related articles

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Yorkie puppies are so cute that it's tempting to spoil them.

Yorkshire terriers are highly sought after as pets.  But is a yorkie puppy right for you?  Here is some yorkshire terrier information that can help you make an informed decision.

Are Yorkie Puppies Easy To Train?

Yes.  However, small dogs tend to get a bad reputation as being snappy and yappy, simply because their owners tolerate behavior from them that they would never put up with if the dog was larger.

Terriers were originally bred as hunting dogs.  They were used to dig into burrows and drag out animals such as foxes and rats.  Terriers had to be smart, brave, determined, and strong in order to do this.

Yorkies weren’t ever used as hunting dogs, but they still have that same terrier attitude.  They may be tiny little dogs, but they won’t hesitate to take on a much larger animal.  And they won’t hesitate to try to run your house either, if you let them.

With any terrier breed, the owner really does need to take charge as pack leader right away.  Otherwise your yorkier puppy can grow up to be a demanding, unpleasant little creature that nobody really wants to be around.  Begin obedience training right away, and don’t let your new pet get away with bad behavior just because he’s cute.

Are Yorkshire Terriers Good With Kids?

Yorkie puppies are very friendly little animals.  They love being in the center of things.  However, because of their small size, they run a high risk of being stepped on and injured, especially when small, active children are around.  A small child may also think the puppy is a toy, and accidentally injure it by squeezing it or poking at it.  If you have young children, you may want to consider a larger dog.

Yorkies often do better with older children and teenagers.  They make a great pet for older folks who may be enjoying a slower-paced lifestyle.  Keep in mind that a yorkshire terrier may not get along well with the grandkids when they visit, especially if they’re not used to having kids around.  If your pet gets scared or nervous around small children, they could snap or bite, especially if a child is bothering them.

Yorkshire Terriers Require Lots Of Grooming

Since yorkies have beautiful, long, flowing coats, they do require daily brushing to prevent mats from forming.  You’ll want to spend time grooming your yorkie puppy right from the start, so they get used to being handled.

You can take your pup to a groomer, but this can get expensive over time.  Be sure to find a good groomer who knows how to handle yorkies.

Yorkies Are Great For Apartment Living

Because these dogs are so small, they do well in apartments.  If your pet spends most of his time inside, be sure you play with him often and take him on daily walks.  He needs exercise to burn off his energy and keep him in good shape.  Yorkies are very inquisitive creatures, and a daily walk will also stimulate his mind, as he loves to explore his surroundings.

Because yorkies are small, it doesn’t take a lot to feed them.  But don’t spoil your pet by feeding him too much, or giving him the wrong foods.  A yorkie needs a high-quality balanced dog food,  just like any canine.

Are Yorkies Prone To Health Problems?

No, unless you feed them junk and neglect to exercise them.  All dogs need exercise and a healthy diet, along with regular vet checks.  Yorkies can be prone to dental problems, so your vet will probably want to clean his teeth at least once a year.

Yorkies aren’t for everyone.  But with the right person, a yorkshire terrier can be a healthy, happy, long-lived addition to your family.

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