Crate training your puppy can make house training much easier.

Puppy house training doesn’t have to be a long-drawn out, messy process.  In fact, it may be easier to train your new puppy than it is to train your teenager!

Puppies have an instinct to be clean.  They don’t want to eat or sleep in the same area where they potty.  Use this inborn instinct to your advantage when house training your puppy.

Your New Puppy Has A Lot To Learn

A puppy who has just been brought into your home will normally go through an adjustment period.  He’ s just left his mom and his litter mates.  Instead of having playmates constantly available, he’s suddenly an “only child” who has to wait for you to pay attention to him.

On the other hand, if you have several children, you puppy may be overwhelmed with the amount of attention he’s getting.  It’s easy for him to get overtired and stressed out.

Crate training is a good way to provide a puppy with his own space where he can rest and recharge his batteries.  It also takes advantage of his instinct not to make messes where he sleeps.

Consistency Is Important When House Training A Puppy

It’s best if one adult in the home is in charge of caring for your new pet.  You may find that you need need to train your family right along with your puppy!  Everyone must be working together, or it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to  house train him.

Only one person should be letting him out of his crate.  When he’s released, you need to take him outside or to his puppy training pad right away.  If he’s turned loose with no supervision, the inevitable result will be a mess.  And you’ll be missing out on a valuable training opportunity.

Put your puppy on a schedule right away.  A young dog should have a potty break at least once an hour.  He can’t hold it for too long.  If he you (or someone else) leaves him in there too long, he’s liable to potty in the crate.  Once he loses the instinct to stay clean, house training him will be more difficult.

Pet stains and odors don’t have to be part of life with your new puppy.  Be consistent with your training right from the start.  And take advantage of his natural instincts to make house training him easier.

Don’t you wish it was this easy to train your kids?

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Puppy socialization is an important part of training your puppy.

Part of training a new puppy is taking the time to get him used to being around new people, places, and animals.  We’ve all seen shy dogs who are scared of their own shadows.

Puppy socialization is an important tool for preventing this dog behavior problem.  Since a fearful dog is much more likely to bite a someone or attack another animal, it’s important not to neglect socializing him.

Prevent this problem with these five puppy training tips.  Time spent now will help your new friend to grow up to be a happy, friendly pet.

1.  Don’t Bring Him Home Too Soon

Avoid the temptation of bringing that little ball of fluff home as soon as he hits six weeks of age.  Puppies learn manners from their mom and from their litter mates.  A couple of extra weeks spent learning how to be a dog can make all the difference in your pet’s behavior as he grows up.

2.  Stay In Control When Introducing Him To New Situations

You need to show your puppy that you’re the one in charge, especially when meeting someone new.  If someone gets close enough to make your puppy hide behind you and  growl,  nicely ask that person to back off.  This teaches your pup that you are the pack protector, so that he doesn’t try to take on that role.

3.  Ask Permission Before Letting Your New Puppy Greet Someone

Walking with your pup on a leash is a great way for  him to experience new people and new places.  Most people love puppies, and are more than happy to stop and pet one.  But remember that everyone loves dogs, so don’t allow your pup to just run up to somebody and jump on him.

This is also a great training opportunity for teaching him the sit-stay command, as well.  He doesn’t greet anyone until you release him.

Watch out for small children.  A small child may squeal or chase your pup, which may terrify him.  Always be in control of the situation.

4.  Don’t Soothe Him Or Coddle Him When He’s Scared

All you’re doing is reinforcing his fear.  Talking to him soothingly or holding him makes him think there’s something to be scared of.   If a little kid’s bothering him,  make the kid stop.   Your pup needs to know that, as the alpha dog, you will protect him.

5.  What Signals Are You Sending?

Your companion is watching how you react to every situation, and he takes his cues from you.  If you tense up whenever another person or dog approaches, he’ll tense up as well.  Instead, show him how much you enjoy meeting new people, going new places, and doing new things.

Puppy training is going on all the time, whether you realize it or not.  Be sure you’re teaching him good habits, not bad ones.

Stop puppy chewing before it becomes a major dog behavior problem!

If your  new puppy chewing up everything in sight is getting old, here are ten training tips for puppies that can help you end this problem.

1.  Puppy-proof Your Home

Make life a lot easier for both you and your new puppy by putting away stuff you don’t want him to chew on.  Remember you can put them back later on, when he outgrows this behavior.

Put your plants into protective custody, tape down the electrical wires, pick up any throw rugs.  Put your clothes and shoes into the closet and SHUT the door securely.  Hide the trash cans in a closet, along with the toliet paper and household cleaners.  And if there’s anything heavy in your home that a puppy could pull down, secure it so he can’t hurt himself.

2.  Keep Him In One Room

Use a puppy gate to confine him to one room in your home that has been well puppy-proofed.  A wire-reinforced puppy gate that he can’t chew through is best.

3.  Too Many Toys Are Overwhelming

Two or three at a time is plenty.  He needs to learn what toys are his, and what belongs to you.  If he has too many toys out, it’s harder for him to learn this important distinction.

Plus he’ll get bored with them after a few days.  It’s best to swap them out every few days to keep them interesting for him.

4.  Start  Obedience Training Right Away

A young puppy can’t concentrate for too long, so keep the sessions very short.  30-second mini-sessions several times a day are best.  Take advantage of those teachable moments as they arise.  Correcting small behavior problems as they happen is much better than trying to deal with ingrained dog behavior problems later on.

5.  Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

Every puppy needs one to two hours of rousing exercise every day to burn off that excess energy.  Playing fetch, running,  jumping, and long walks are a great way to keep him tired out.

6.  Playmates Are Fun

If you have a dog park nearby, take him there everyday to run and play with other puppies.  This is also a great way for him to learn how to get along with other dogs.

7.  Agility Training

This is a win-win situation for both of you.  These classes are a great way to channel your pup’s energy in a positive way.  He’ll also become more coordinated and confident as well.  And both you and your puppy will enjoy working together.

8.  A Bitter-Tasting Spray Can Stop Discourage Puppy Chewing

If your pup just won’t stop gnawing on the chair leg, try spraying it with a bitter apple spray. This is an easy way to make your companion wonder why he ever thought that chair leg tasted good. Plus you’re not being the bad guy by yelling at him to stop all the time.

9. Don’t Punish Him After The Fact

Puppies live in the present.  Punishing him for something he did a couple of hours ago is fruitless.  He doesn’t understand what he did to upset you unless you catch him in the act.

10.  Teach Your Puppy What Behavior Is Acceptable Right From Day 1

Puppy chewing might be cute when you first bring him home, but it will quickly become a major problem if you let him keep doing it.  Start working with him right from the start to prevent this dog behavior problem from ever becoming an issue.

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Crate training a puppy is an easy way to house train your pup.

Like all animals, a dog won’t go to the bathroom in the same place where he sleeps or eats.  Which is why if your have your puppy’s training pad right next to his food dish, he’s probably not using it!

Crate Training A Puppy

The idea behind crate training is that you are teaching him to be ready and willing to go when you say so.  A puppy who’s been in a crate for a short time will more than likely need to potty when you let him out.  That’s when you either take him outside, or set him on his training pad.

Keep in mind that you can’t leave your pup in the crate all day.  He won’t be able to hold it, and will go in the crate.  If this happens on a regular basis, he’ll lose his inborn instinct to go potty in a different place from where he sleeps.  Then you’ll really have problems house training him.

When crate training your puppy, you must be at home so you can keep an eye on how long he’s in the crate.  45 minutes is long enough between potty breaks when you start house training him.  As he begins to get the idea, extend the time he’s in the crate by about 15-20 minutes each time.

Keeping a log of how long he’s in the crate, and how often you take him out will help you monitor his progress.  You’ll also learn what time of day he needs to go, and how long he can go between potty breaks.

What Happens If He Has An Accident In The Crate?

If he makes a mess in his crate, always clean it up before you put him back in there.  Otherwise, as mentioned above, he could lose the instinct to be clean.

Never punish him for having an accident.  Just shorten the time between potty breaks.  If your dog doesn’t potty after several breaks, make it easy on yourself, and keep him in the kitchen or bathroom.

Be consistent about the time between potty breaks.  Don’t expect a puppy to go more than an hour and a half to two hours.  You want to reinforce the idea that he goes when you take him out of the crate, not while he’s in the crate.  When he does his business quickly, give him lots of praise.  Your dog wants your affection and approval, and when he gets it, he’ll respond quickly.

More Puppy Training Tips

You can combine house training your new puppy with leash training, as well.  When you take him out on his leash, give him five minutes to do his business.  This isn’t the time for aimless wandering.

You puppy will learn that short potty walks have a purpose, and that a casual walk is for fun.  Believe me, you’ll be happy you taught him this lesson when he wakes you up at 3 AM on a frosty morning needing to go out!

Don’t distract a dog with a full bladder by playing with him, or getting him excited.  This is a sure recipe for an accident.  Instead, after he potties successfully, give him the run of the house for a short time.  He’ll learn that when he goes where you want him to go, he’ll be rewarded by having fun with the family.

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Nuisance barking annoys your neighbors!

If your dog is a barker, you need some help, fast.  Excessive barking is a fast way to escalate disagreements between neighbors into full-blown feuds.

Here are some tips for dealing with nuisance dog barking before it gets out of hand.

Why Do Dogs Bark?

If you’re really serious about ending nuisance barking, you need to figure out why your dog is barking in the first place.  Check out this list, and see what applies to your pooch.

• Attention-seeking:  puppies will often do this in a bid for your attention.  Ignore a barking puppy.  Otherwise you’re teaching her that barking will get her what she wants, which is your attention.  If your pup can’t get good attention from you, she’ll be happy with negative attention, which includes yelling at her to shut up.
• Warning:  to let others know that an intruder is approaching.  The barking will get faster as the stranger gets closer.  If the bark is low-pitched and combined with growling, this is a sign of canine aggression.  Pay attention to this one.
• Separation anxiety:  the barking gets higher-pitched as your dog gets more upset at your absence.  This is self-reinforcing because your dog thinks that her barking is what’s bringing you back.  You may not even know your dog is doing this until someone complains.
• Boredom:  barking is something to do.  Make sure she has toys to play with, and stuff to keep her occupied.
• Excitement:  a short, sharp bark while playing.
• Identification:  your dog barks in response to another dog barking nearby.  It seems like there’s always at least one dog in the neighborhood who keeps the rest of the dogs stirred up.
• Startle barking:  a sudden loud sound or movement sets her off.

Tips To Make A Dog Stop Barking

Teach your dog to come to you when you call her name.  Train her to lie down on command.  This helps because dogs don’t bark as much when they’re lying down.

Don’t get angry and start yelling at your dog.  She may think you’re barking right along with her, which she would think is really cool.  Besides, all you’re doing is giving her attention, which encourages her to bark even more.

Ignore her if she’s trying to get your attention by barking.  Turn around and walk away.  Come back when she stops barking.

Be consistent.  Use the same word, like “enough” when you want her to stop barking.  Make sure everyone in the household uses the same word every time.

When she obeys the “enough” command, reward her with a treat.  If she makes even one little “woof” after you say “enough,” don’t reward her.  And make sure she sees what she’s missing out on.  She’ll figure out pretty fast that she has to be quiet if she wants that treat.

The worst thing you can do is to try to soothe an anxious dog when she’s barking.  This only makes her more anxious because now she thinks you’re worried about the situation too.

Click on any link in the article for more dog training advice.

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Dog socialization is important to prevent fear aggression

Do you want to know a simple way to prevent aggressive dog behavior?  Learn what dog socialization is.  Some dog owners have never heard of this, but it’s a very easy way to prevent many dog behavior problems in the future.

What Is Dog Socialization?

It’s a fancy name for getting your dog used to meeting new people and new animals.  It also includes taking your dog just about everywhere with you so that going someplace new is fun, not scary.

We’ve all seen dogs that are scared of strangers.  And a scared dog can very quickly become an aggressive dog.  Don’t neglect to socialize your dog.   It’s easy, and it’s probably the most fun you can have while training your dog.

There are two types of fear aggression:  aggression towards strangers, and aggression towards other animals.  The first can lead to your dog attacking people he doesn’t know, and the second is a major cause of dog fights.

Fear Aggression Towards Strangers

A puppy that’s scared of new people has an excellent change of become a fear aggressive dog as he grows up.  He needs to be exposed to lots of new people and places, especially between the ages of three and twelve weeks.  Otherwise he may be very suspicious around someone he doesn’t know.

A dog should be happy to meet new people.  On my daily walks, I meet many dogs.  Most come bounding up to say hi, and are overjoyed to see me, even though they’ve never met me before.  These are the dogs I enjoy meeting.

The dogs I’m not too crazy about, though, are the ones who sit and stare at me.  Sometimes they even back away, while barking at me.  These are the ones that I’m glad are on a leash!  If your canine companion is shy and mistrustful around new people, you really need to work on dog socialization.

Dog Aggression Towards Dogs

If a dog doesn’t learn how to behave around other dogs when he’s a puppy, it can lead to dog aggression problems later in life.  This is sometimes seen in dogs who were taken away from their litter mates too early.  And it’s seen a lot in smaller breeds whose owners spoil them.

It’s important to watch your own cues, too.  It’s very easy to tell your dog you’re uneasy around strange dogs, especially if you tighten the leash and pull him closer to you every time you meet another canine.  You’re unwittingly teaching your dog that other dogs are a threat.

The result?  Your pet gets tense if another dog approaches.  He want to keep the other dog away, so he barks and growls at him.  If he gets too close, your dog may attack him, especially if you’ve pulled the leash tight.

What does the leash have to do with it?  Your dog can’t run away, which is what he really wants to do.  So the only option he has left is to defend himself.  Plus, pulling back on his leash makes him pull away from you and lean on his front feet.  This may threaten the other dog, causing a dog fight.  And all you were doing was trying to defuse the situation!

Prevent Dog Aggression Problems By Socializing Your Dog

Take your pup to as many different places as you can.  A daily walk is a great way for him to get out and about, meeting new people and new dogs in your neighborhood.  If you live near a dog park, this is an ideal way to get him used to meeting and greeting other canines.

And watch your own behavior, too.  It’s very easy to communicate your own unease to your pet.

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Puppy training tips include getting your dog used to being touched

You may think puppy training isn’t important.  That little furball is just so cute, especially when he’s chewing on your fingers!

Even though most people enjoy puppy antics, bad dog behavior does get old after a while.  It’s important to remember that your cute little ball of fluff will be an adult dog before you know it.  And you probably won’t think his behavior is so cute then.

Here are four puppy training tips that will keep your dog lovable and happy as he grows up.

1.  Get Him Used To Being Handled

Vet exams and grooming will be a lot easier on the people involved, and much less stressful for your dog if he’s used to being handled.

This is a very easy thing to teach your puppy.  Wait until he’s relaxed and calm.  Then pet him from head to toe.  Remember to keep things calm and low-key.  This is not playtime!

Every day you should look in his ears, check his teeth, and handle his paws.  Pet and handle him, while making this a pleasant, soothing experience for your pup.  You want him to look forward to this special time with you.

2.  Hey, Baby, What’s Your Name?

Teaching your little friend his name is one of the most important parts of training a new puppy.  When he hears you say his name, he should immediately look at you and pay attention to you.

Always call his name in a happy, enthusiastic tone.  Give him a little treat when he comes to you.  Pet him and give him lots of praise.  Do this many, many times during the day.

Don’t make the mistake of saying his name in an angry tone.  You wouldn’t want to go to someone who is obviously unhappy with you, and your puppy won’t either.  And don’t use his name if you’re going to give him a pill, or do something else unpleasant to him.

Only good things should happen when you call his name.  Remember that you’re laying the foundation for him to come to you willingly for the rest of his life.

3.  Nip The Jumping Habit In The Bud

Jumping up on people is a really bad habit.  And it can be dangerous, especially if he jumps up on a small child, or an elderly person and knocks them down.

The best way to stop this problem right away is to never let anyone pet your puppy when he’s standing on his hind legs, even once.  When he does jump up on you, walk off and ignore him.

Remember that all four legs must be on the ground before he gets any attention from you or anyone else.  Make sure everyone in the household is on the same page here.  If one person is not cooperating, you’re going to have a hard time preventing the puppy jumping habit from getting established.  And once established, it’s very hard to break.

4.  Is Your Puppy Biting You?

Play biting is a natural behavior for puppies.  But your puppy needs to learn right away that biting you or any other person is never acceptable.

If your puppy nips you while playing, make a loud “yip!” so he knows he hurt you.  Stop playing with him, walk away, and ignore him.  This is what pups do when they get bitten too hard, so your puppy will understand what you’re telling him.

Never let him chew on your hands or fingers.  This is what chew toys are for.  Teach your pup to chew on them instead.

Avoid rough play.  Your puppy should see you as his leader, not his equal.

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Puppy house training is essential!

House breaking, house training, what’s the difference?  They mean the same thing, right?

Well, not exactly.  There’s a big difference in attitude associated with these two words.  Think about it.  “Housebreaking a puppy” is starting with the idea that you have to force your pup to learn to do his business outside.  You can do it that way, but it’s always best to keep things positive to prevent dog behavior problems later in life.

Start off on the right foot with the attitude that you’re going to train your puppy.  Instead of forcing your new companion to fit into your household, you’re going to teach him the best way to get along with everyone in your home.  And of course, getting along with everyone includes house training.

Puppy House Training Tips

Bringing your new puppy home is a great moment.  But now is not the time start paper training your puppy.  And swatting him when he messes up is a big mistake, too.

Look at this from your puppy’s viewpoint.  Suddenly he’s alone in a whole new place.  His mom and litter mates are nowhere to be seen.  There are new people, maybe small children squealing and jumping around, maybe a mean old cat, or another dog in the home.  That’s a lot for a young puppy (and even an older dog) to take in.

Your new puppy doesn’t have a clue where it’s okay to potty and where it isn’t.  Your job will be to teach him what areas are acceptable for this activity, and what areas are off-limits.

House Training A Puppy Takes A Lot Of Time

Keep your puppy close by, so you can keep an eye on him.  When you see him sniffing around, looking for a place to go, pick him up gently and say “no” without raising your voice.  Put him on his house training pad, or take him outside.  When he goes in the right place, give him lots of praise.

You’ll need to repeat this process in every room in the house.  Don’t allow him free run of the house yet.  You need to be able to keep an eye on him until he gets the idea.

Patience is the key.  You’ll probably be picking him up and taking him outside or to his potty area dozens and dozens of times before he gets the idea.  But he will.

Expect A Few Accidents

Even an older dog who is scared of a loud noise like a thunderstorm may have a potty accident.  So your puppy may break his training if he’s scared and alone.

Be on the alert for puppy bladder infections too.  A puppy with a urinary tract infection may find it impossible to hold his urine.  Female puppies are especially prone to this problem.

A sudden change in bladder habits can indicate a health problem, especially as your dog ages.   Canine diabetes is another condition that can cause incontinence in dogs.

Changes In Routine Can Cause House Training Accidents

If you have house guests, of course your routine changes.  And if you start a remodeling project, everything is a mess.  Now is when you really need to keep reinforcing those puppy potty training lessons.

Keeping a positive attitude, along with lots of patience, will lead to success in house training your puppy.

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