house training a dog

Getting a New Puppy

February 10, 2010 · 0 comments

After a while, each and every parent is likely to hear: “Mammy..Daddy, can I please please please have a puppy for christmas – I promise I’ll take care of it, honest I will!”Initially, families will need to determine if they have the capacity for taking in a new puppy or dog and what impact this will have on the household.

Parents need to consider the pros and cons of bringing a new pet into the family home before agreeing to a child’s demand. Households need to deliberate over the following questions prior to making a decision on acquiring a dog:

  • How well will your dog be taken care of and who will look after it are some of the questions that mustbe answered in advance. Households should come to an agreement in advance who will be responsible for feeding, walking, bathing and cleaning up after the pet.
  • Do you have enough room for a pet? Families who live in flats or townhouses may possibly prefer a smaller animal like a hamster or goldfish as an alternative to a dog which needs more outer space to wander. Check the library or Internet to find out more about many types and breeds of dogs to figure out the one most appropriate for your home.
  • Having a dog is time consuming and may be costly – so can the household afford a new puppy? Households ought to acknowledge that they may have to relinquish other activities to suitably care for a dog. If the idea seems too challenging, parents may propose waiting until the kid is old enough to assist in the care of a new puppy.

There should be a family meeting to talk about how having a brand new dog would affect the home, and therefore if it’s a sound notion to proceed with it or not. Having a dog is a long-term responsibility, so think carefully prior to adopting a newborn dog.

When the decision to acquire a new doggie has been taken, then you can begin thinking about all the small things (and significant things) your new doggie will need to make its new life easier. Getting all the bits and pieces together in advance will make things easier for everyone concerned when the big day comes – the puppy’s crate, the bedding, the kennel, pooper scoopers, dog food, etc, etc, etc. – but don’t fret, it will be worth it!

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Dog Training Advice – Puppy Obedience Training

February 10, 2010 · 0 comments

Dog Training Advice 101: There are many reasons to train your pet, but the most important is obedience. If your dog is well behaved, he will be easier to handle. Dogs that are well trained will also have a lot more opportunities than dogs who are not. This is because it would be too dangerous to take a dog that is not trained, and does not obey, to a lot of places. So, it is very important that your dog has these skills, so it will listen and stay safe. There are several key dog training tips that can be used in puppy obedience training.

The most common commands for puppy obedience training are sit, stay, come, and lie down. Teaching your pet to sit can lead into a lot of positive behavior. If the dog will sit on command then it is less likely to jump on strangers and potentially hurt them.

It is a simple process to teach your dog to sit. Start by being ready with your puppy’s favorite kind of treat. Stand in front of your dog, facing him. Hold the treat above his nose and lift it slightly over his head. When the dog lifts his head, his shoulders will lift as well, causing his bottom to rest on the ground. When he gets into the sitting position, praise him, giving the “sit” command and give your pet a treat. It may take several times to get it right, and you may need to gently touch his bottom to give him a physical signal of what to do.

Teaching your dog to stay is an excellent lesson. This command can keep your dog from running into traffic or even following you were you do not want it to go. The stay command can be performed in any position, but it must be learned in each of those positions. Starting off easy with staying in a sitting position is one dog training tip for this command.

First, have your dog get into the sitting position put your hand in front of his nose, palm down. Step away from your pet, taking only a couple of steps, then turn, standing directly in front of him. Repeat the word stay several times. Then, wait a few seconds and return to his side. When you have finished, say “Okay” and get your pet to move while praising him.

Getting your dog to come to you on command can sometimes be difficult. It is much easier to teach this command when the dog is very young. The best method at the puppy stage is to play a game with your dog. Puppies like to follow people around. Using this behavior, you can teach your pet to come one command. Try running around the house or yard using the puppies name often. While doing this, use words that help teach him what he is doing, like saying “come” and praising. Remember to be enthusiastic.

Another recommended dog training tip is teaching your dog how to lie down. The easiest way to do this starts by having you dog or puppy sit or stand. Allow your dog to sniff at a treat that you are holding, but don’t give it to him. Slowly lower the treat and put it on the floor. As you do this action, your dog should be following it down. Make sure that you are enforcing the command by saying lie down while your pet lowers himself. Eventually your pet will be lowered to the floor and the treat should be held between his paws. Once your dog is on the floor, give the treat to him.

While you are training your dog it is always important to remember consistency. If you use a command for a specific action, make sure to use the same command every time. If you switch between multiple commands, it can confuse the dog. Also, the dog is learning. Be patient and do not punish him for not learning the tricks right away. It may take some time.

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Advanced Puppy Obedience Training

February 10, 2010 · 0 comments

Your puppy knows basic obedience commands like sit, stay and come, so all you need for the next level of puppy obedience training is an effective recipe for success. Here are some techniques you can use for more advanced puppy obedience training.

Go To Your Spot. Useful whenever you want a bit of space, Go To Your Spot could mean “go to your bed,” “go to your rug” or some other place you select. The first thing to remember when teaching this command is that it should never be used as punishment — going to his “spot” should be always be fun and rewarding. As with any type of puppy obedience training, Go To Your Spot should be taught step by step, with lots of repetition and reinforcement when your pup does well. Choose a nice, comfortable place as his spot, give it a name, and then simply follow these steps.

Stand with your dog just a short distance away from the spot you selected. While pointing at the spot, toss one of your pup’s favorite treats there and say “go to your spot” (substitute the name you picked). The treat is a lure and he’ll run right to it. When he does, lavishly praise him because he went to his spot. After you repeat this many times he’ll make the connection and you can gradually increase the distance, still using the treat as a lure.

After he masters going to his spot from a distance, begin using the treat as a reward instead of a lure: don’t throw the treat onto his spot before he goes there; instead, give him the treat and some affection after he obeys your command. The final step is to use this same method to train him to go to his spot from other rooms and while distractions are present. As with all puppy obedience training, repetition, persistence and patience are key.

Down. The “down” command is another handy lesson in puppy obedience training, but because it goes against a dog’s nature, it can take some extra repetition and practice. Some pups resist learning the down command because it puts them in a submissive and vulnerable position, but if you’re persistent and follow these steps you’ll eventually convince him.

Place your pup in a sit. Then hold a treat a short distance away from his nose. If you move it straight down to the ground, he’ll follow it and lay down. As soon as he’s in the down position, give him the treat and praise him. Repeat this exercise many times over a few training sessions. When your puppy reliably does well, he’s ready for the next step, which involves saying “down” or “drop” just before you move the treat down to the ground. Make sure you reward him when he drops on your command, and after many repetitions you won’t need the treat anymore.

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