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| Training Your Puppy |
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR PUPPY
Before you can begin to successfully train your puppy or adult dog, you
need to keep a few things firmly in mind:
A dog is a pack animal: her ancestors ran with a pack and followed an
"Alpha" leader of the pack. So she's genetically programmed to be both a
social creature and follow a dominant "Alpha" leader.
It’s your duty, as Master, to insert yourself into that "Alpha" leader-
position immediately. If you don't, your dog will make himself the "Alpha"
leader to fill the huge void in his life. The result is a dog who will not obey
and a master who is not very happy.
While you're at work or away, it's a good idea to keep him confined to a
small area or his crate. Make sure that he has something to chew on, as
this will keep the puppy occupied. You might also want to leave the radio
on, as dogs are social animals and crave company.
You should teach your dog as early as possible to get used to wearing a
collar and leash. Follow him around at first without a leash and then call
him and get him to follow you. Add a collar and leash and do the same
thing. Do not let him get away with chewing on his leash and treating it
like a toy. Try and do all your training with a collar and leash. Why? So
you're always in control. Whenever possible during your everyday
activities, take your dog along with you on his leash... while watering the
flowers, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, etc. This will serve to
develop a strong bond between you and your dog. Your aim is to
constantly reinforce your position as the "Alpha" leader.
Always remember that dogs are extremely perceptive of body language.
They know when you are : afraid, mad, happy, sad or indifferent.
You should definitely use this to your advantage in the training process.
This, along with your tone of voice when speaking to your dog, and
pulling on his collar with the leash are all you really need to get your point
across.
HOUSE TRAINING
When it comes to house training your puppy or adult dog you have 3
options: Crate Training, Paper or Puppy Pad Training or Litter Box
Training. The following pages will get you started on your way to potty
training success.
Should you use food as a reward in your training? Your dog would
answer yes, but his mommy would know better... A mother dog doesn't
use food as a reward. She uses her voice and touch for reward and
punishment. Food breaks your dog's concentration on the task at hand.
It's much better for you to use your tone of voice, facial expressions, and
touch to reinforce and train. And don't forget the absolute must have - a
collar and leash.
Here are a few examples of good dog behavior:
Answers to his or her name.
Obeys a command when given.
Potties in the proper area.
Some examples of bad behavior:
Nips or Bites
Doesn't respond to his or her name
Doesn't obey your command
Chews on furniture or off-limits property
Potties in the wrong area
Here are the essential words that you will need to teach
your dog:
Sit
Stay
No
Heel
Up
Out
OK
Good Dog
Bad dog
Come
Down
Go
Stop
You should begin training with the "Sit" command.
To start the training: say "Sit" while gently pressing her rump down and
holding a toy above her head. Go over this with her several times a day
for 5 or more minutes. Soon you won't have to use the toy or press her
rump down. Practice, practice, practice. And do be patient, some dogs
progress faster than others.
Use the "Stay" command to get your dog to Stay in place while sitting.
When he doesn't Stay, say "NO" and try again. Don't get over-excited
when he either does or doesn't obey. Always keep on an even keel.
Practice this command at each "Sit" command training session.
You should use the "OK" command to break the "Stay" command. Never
let her break the "Stay" command without your permission. If she breaks
without your "OK" command, then start all over again. She has to learn
that there are consequences to her actions.
"Down" is another important command.
Say "Down" and get him to lie down and Stay in place until he hears the
"OK" command. When just beginning, you may need to pull his front legs
out from under him. This is a good command to use when you want your
dog to stay in place for extended periods of time. You may want him to
Stay in place for an hour or more. The down position is much more
comfortable than the sitting position. Remember, no break allowed until
you give the "OK" command.
"Come" is another important command to teach her. You may have to tug
gently on her leash at first. Give her praise when she obeys and be stern
and practice longer when she disobeys.
"Heel" is a command to teach after he has a pretty good grasp of "Sit"
and "Stay." The beginning position is him sitting next to you on a leash.
Begin walking and when he lags behind or moves ahead say "Heel" and
pull on his leash until he is beside you again. Remember to practice,
practice, practice. It will definitely pay off.
"Enough" is a command to use when acceptable behavior has run its
course. It is different from "No", because it is acceptable behavior.
"Off" is a natural command to use. In the beginning, you may need to use
the "Off" command and physically move her away at the same time.
Teach your dog to only eat when you give her permission. That way, she
won't snap at other dogs or people when they come around while she's
eating. Another benefit is this... She won't eat anything and everything
she comes across. She'll be trained to look for your "OK" first.
Put her food bowl down and say "OK". The next time wait a little bit
longer before saying "OK." If she starts to eat without your "OK", then
say "No" and take her bowl away. Put it down again and wait before
saying "OK." Do this on a regular schedule until she gets the idea to wait
for the "OK" before eating anything.
Do not ever allow your dog to nip or bite. Say "No" sternly and put him in
a timeout in his crate if necessary. It does no good to hold his mouth
closed, he will take it as a game and a challenge.
Other Helpful Puppy Training Tips:
Whenever your dog misbehaves, you can put him in his crate for a time-
out.
It's perfectly normal for a dog to need to bark every once in a while. As a
social animal he needs to be able to express himself. But it should not be
excessive.
Practice your "Enough" command whenever it gets out of hand.
It is normal for a dog to sometimes eat his feces. This is his attempt to
keep his area clean. It is your responsibility to help him keep his area
clean.
Some small breeds are really nervous and submissive and may urinate
when excited. Take this into consideration and reduce loud noises and
over-excitement on your part.
Try to get down on their level physically and verbally.
Be patient with your dog and don't expect him to obey overnight.
Remember that you have to always show that you are the "Alpha" dog.
Think of your dog like a child. He is constantly trying to test his
boundaries. He expects leadership from you. If he doesn't get it, then he
will put himself in the place of leadership.
Don't just do these exercises occasionally, practice them often and have
special blocks of time set aside for training sessions.
HOW TO CRATE TRAIN YOUR PUPPY
Be consistent in your training. When you use one method stick to it.
Consistency will be rewarded.
The basic idea of crate training is to use a dog's natural instinct to your
advantage. Her natural instinct is to keep her den (crate) clean.
Keep your puppy in his crate and only let him out to:
Use the potty
Eat
Drink
Play
Walk
Tough love is sometimes necessary. Remember, you are the leader and
your tough love will pay off in the long run. You can also use a crate to
train an adult dog.
Her crate should be made of wire. Why? So that she will be able to see all
around her. Try not to buy one any larger than is necessary, as she will
use one end for her potty. You only want her to have enough room to
turn around and lie down. If you do buy a larger one, use a board or box
to take up any extra space at the end.
What you feed your dog will affect:
How solid his stools are
How often he needs to potty
How much control he will have over his urge
Try and stick to quality, dry food. It makes his digestive system and stools
consistent.
Quality, dry food is also good exercise for his jaws and helps to keep his
teeth clean.
Eating table scraps can really mess up your dog's stools (as well as giving
him health problems) and therefore wreak havoc on your housebreaking
plans. Decent quality, dry dog food is you and your dog's biggest ally...
table scraps are not.
You will need to maintain a strict schedule concerning:
What you feed your dog
When you feed her
When you give her water
When you take her out for a walk
When a puppy, she will require 3 or 4 feedings and waterings a day.
When 6 months and older begin to cut her feedings down to a couple of
times a day, but continue to give her water 3 or 4 times a day. The last
watering should be no later than a couple of hours before bedtime. Also,
in very hot weather, more frequent waterings may be required.
Try to feed your dog in a nice, quiet spot and don't interrupt her during
her feeding and watering time. The feeding and watering time shouldn't
last over 15 minutes. She'll soon learn not to dawdle over her food.
The last feeding should be as early as possible (around 5 or 6) so that
she will eliminate on the last walk and will not have to go overnight.
Do not leave food and water in the crate with her. And feed and water
her on a strict schedule so that you will be in control.
Remember, 8 hrs is about the limit of a puppy's endurance as far as
elimination is concerned. If you're gonna be at work for 8 hours, then
you need to get home and let him out of his crate for a walk... or arrange
for someone else to do it.
Up until 3 months old, a dog needs about 5 walks a day.
From 4 - 6 months old, he needs about 4 walks a day.
6 months old, he needs about 3 walks a day.
At close to a year and older he only needs 2 walks a day.
In the beginning there are going be some messes, be prepared. It takes a
little while to figure out your dog's digestive rhythms. Patience is very
important. Remember that if you stick with it, your dog will sooner or
later be housebroken.
It's absolutely imperative that you clean up any mess in her crate ASAP so
that she won't get used to being dirty. Use ammonia-free cleanser when
cleaning up a mess, as a dog's urine contains ammonia. He'll recognize the
ammonia and want to go in the same place. Use vinegar as a neutralizer
after you clean up. Just put some in a spray bottle for convenience. You
can dilute it partially with water.
When you take your dog outside to potty, stay with her. Take her exactly
where you want her to go with her leash. She should go within about 20
minutes, if not bring her in and keep and eye on her. Take her out when
she looks like she needs to go.
Praise your dog when he potties on the designated papers or area. Do not
go overboard in your praise though. In the wild, his mother would not.
Whenever he has the inevitable accidents, give him a stern look and say
"Bad Dog." Immediately take him to your preferred potty area. Don't ever
shove his nose in the mess or hit him. This does no good at all. His mother
wouldn't do it. She would correct him with her voice, or shove him with
her muzzle or body.
After a walk and business done, she can get 15-20 minutes of play time
and then back to her crate. You're probably thinking that this is cruel and
unusual punishment... This is not cruel. Here's why... Dogs are den
animals and remember that she is gradually earning more and more
freedom. You can gradually increase her time outside the crate. But
always supervise this free time. You want to catch any accidents when
they happen. If you find an accident after the fact, take her over to the
scene of the crime and let her smell it. Do not shove her nose in it. Sternly
tell her "Bad Girl" and then take her to the proper potty area.
Other tips:
Make sure that all other sources of water are eliminated during training so
that you will have control over when and therefore where he urinates.
Possible sources where he might sneak a drink of water: toilets,
flowerpots, puddles, etc.
A dog's sense of smell is thousands of times keener than ours, so
believing that an odor is gone by using your own sense of smell is
useless. Always use a neutralizer.
Your dog always needs to be observed any time that he is out of his crate.
Even an adult dog can be crate trained. Confine him to his crate as you
would a puppy with scheduled walks, feedings and waterings, and play
times. Gradually allow more free time as he earns it.
Before you can begin to successfully train your puppy or adult dog, you
need to keep a few things firmly in mind:
A dog is a pack animal: her ancestors ran with a pack and followed an
"Alpha" leader of the pack. So she's genetically programmed to be both a
social creature and follow a dominant "Alpha" leader.
It’s your duty, as Master, to insert yourself into that "Alpha" leader-
position immediately. If you don't, your dog will make himself the "Alpha"
leader to fill the huge void in his life. The result is a dog who will not obey
and a master who is not very happy.
While you're at work or away, it's a good idea to keep him confined to a
small area or his crate. Make sure that he has something to chew on, as
this will keep the puppy occupied. You might also want to leave the radio
on, as dogs are social animals and crave company.
You should teach your dog as early as possible to get used to wearing a
collar and leash. Follow him around at first without a leash and then call
him and get him to follow you. Add a collar and leash and do the same
thing. Do not let him get away with chewing on his leash and treating it
like a toy. Try and do all your training with a collar and leash. Why? So
you're always in control. Whenever possible during your everyday
activities, take your dog along with you on his leash... while watering the
flowers, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, etc. This will serve to
develop a strong bond between you and your dog. Your aim is to
constantly reinforce your position as the "Alpha" leader.
Always remember that dogs are extremely perceptive of body language.
They know when you are : afraid, mad, happy, sad or indifferent.
You should definitely use this to your advantage in the training process.
This, along with your tone of voice when speaking to your dog, and
pulling on his collar with the leash are all you really need to get your point
across.
HOUSE TRAINING
When it comes to house training your puppy or adult dog you have 3
options: Crate Training, Paper or Puppy Pad Training or Litter Box
Training. The following pages will get you started on your way to potty
training success.
Should you use food as a reward in your training? Your dog would
answer yes, but his mommy would know better... A mother dog doesn't
use food as a reward. She uses her voice and touch for reward and
punishment. Food breaks your dog's concentration on the task at hand.
It's much better for you to use your tone of voice, facial expressions, and
touch to reinforce and train. And don't forget the absolute must have - a
collar and leash.
Here are a few examples of good dog behavior:
Answers to his or her name.
Obeys a command when given.
Potties in the proper area.
Some examples of bad behavior:
Nips or Bites
Doesn't respond to his or her name
Doesn't obey your command
Chews on furniture or off-limits property
Potties in the wrong area
Here are the essential words that you will need to teach
your dog:
Sit
Stay
No
Heel
Up
Out
OK
Good Dog
Bad dog
Come
Down
Go
Stop
You should begin training with the "Sit" command.
To start the training: say "Sit" while gently pressing her rump down and
holding a toy above her head. Go over this with her several times a day
for 5 or more minutes. Soon you won't have to use the toy or press her
rump down. Practice, practice, practice. And do be patient, some dogs
progress faster than others.
Use the "Stay" command to get your dog to Stay in place while sitting.
When he doesn't Stay, say "NO" and try again. Don't get over-excited
when he either does or doesn't obey. Always keep on an even keel.
Practice this command at each "Sit" command training session.
You should use the "OK" command to break the "Stay" command. Never
let her break the "Stay" command without your permission. If she breaks
without your "OK" command, then start all over again. She has to learn
that there are consequences to her actions.
"Down" is another important command.
Say "Down" and get him to lie down and Stay in place until he hears the
"OK" command. When just beginning, you may need to pull his front legs
out from under him. This is a good command to use when you want your
dog to stay in place for extended periods of time. You may want him to
Stay in place for an hour or more. The down position is much more
comfortable than the sitting position. Remember, no break allowed until
you give the "OK" command.
"Come" is another important command to teach her. You may have to tug
gently on her leash at first. Give her praise when she obeys and be stern
and practice longer when she disobeys.
"Heel" is a command to teach after he has a pretty good grasp of "Sit"
and "Stay." The beginning position is him sitting next to you on a leash.
Begin walking and when he lags behind or moves ahead say "Heel" and
pull on his leash until he is beside you again. Remember to practice,
practice, practice. It will definitely pay off.
"Enough" is a command to use when acceptable behavior has run its
course. It is different from "No", because it is acceptable behavior.
"Off" is a natural command to use. In the beginning, you may need to use
the "Off" command and physically move her away at the same time.
Teach your dog to only eat when you give her permission. That way, she
won't snap at other dogs or people when they come around while she's
eating. Another benefit is this... She won't eat anything and everything
she comes across. She'll be trained to look for your "OK" first.
Put her food bowl down and say "OK". The next time wait a little bit
longer before saying "OK." If she starts to eat without your "OK", then
say "No" and take her bowl away. Put it down again and wait before
saying "OK." Do this on a regular schedule until she gets the idea to wait
for the "OK" before eating anything.
Do not ever allow your dog to nip or bite. Say "No" sternly and put him in
a timeout in his crate if necessary. It does no good to hold his mouth
closed, he will take it as a game and a challenge.
Other Helpful Puppy Training Tips:
Whenever your dog misbehaves, you can put him in his crate for a time-
out.
It's perfectly normal for a dog to need to bark every once in a while. As a
social animal he needs to be able to express himself. But it should not be
excessive.
Practice your "Enough" command whenever it gets out of hand.
It is normal for a dog to sometimes eat his feces. This is his attempt to
keep his area clean. It is your responsibility to help him keep his area
clean.
Some small breeds are really nervous and submissive and may urinate
when excited. Take this into consideration and reduce loud noises and
over-excitement on your part.
Try to get down on their level physically and verbally.
Be patient with your dog and don't expect him to obey overnight.
Remember that you have to always show that you are the "Alpha" dog.
Think of your dog like a child. He is constantly trying to test his
boundaries. He expects leadership from you. If he doesn't get it, then he
will put himself in the place of leadership.
Don't just do these exercises occasionally, practice them often and have
special blocks of time set aside for training sessions.
HOW TO CRATE TRAIN YOUR PUPPY
Be consistent in your training. When you use one method stick to it.
Consistency will be rewarded.
The basic idea of crate training is to use a dog's natural instinct to your
advantage. Her natural instinct is to keep her den (crate) clean.
Keep your puppy in his crate and only let him out to:
Use the potty
Eat
Drink
Play
Walk
Tough love is sometimes necessary. Remember, you are the leader and
your tough love will pay off in the long run. You can also use a crate to
train an adult dog.
Her crate should be made of wire. Why? So that she will be able to see all
around her. Try not to buy one any larger than is necessary, as she will
use one end for her potty. You only want her to have enough room to
turn around and lie down. If you do buy a larger one, use a board or box
to take up any extra space at the end.
What you feed your dog will affect:
How solid his stools are
How often he needs to potty
How much control he will have over his urge
Try and stick to quality, dry food. It makes his digestive system and stools
consistent.
Quality, dry food is also good exercise for his jaws and helps to keep his
teeth clean.
Eating table scraps can really mess up your dog's stools (as well as giving
him health problems) and therefore wreak havoc on your housebreaking
plans. Decent quality, dry dog food is you and your dog's biggest ally...
table scraps are not.
You will need to maintain a strict schedule concerning:
What you feed your dog
When you feed her
When you give her water
When you take her out for a walk
When a puppy, she will require 3 or 4 feedings and waterings a day.
When 6 months and older begin to cut her feedings down to a couple of
times a day, but continue to give her water 3 or 4 times a day. The last
watering should be no later than a couple of hours before bedtime. Also,
in very hot weather, more frequent waterings may be required.
Try to feed your dog in a nice, quiet spot and don't interrupt her during
her feeding and watering time. The feeding and watering time shouldn't
last over 15 minutes. She'll soon learn not to dawdle over her food.
The last feeding should be as early as possible (around 5 or 6) so that
she will eliminate on the last walk and will not have to go overnight.
Do not leave food and water in the crate with her. And feed and water
her on a strict schedule so that you will be in control.
Remember, 8 hrs is about the limit of a puppy's endurance as far as
elimination is concerned. If you're gonna be at work for 8 hours, then
you need to get home and let him out of his crate for a walk... or arrange
for someone else to do it.
Up until 3 months old, a dog needs about 5 walks a day.
From 4 - 6 months old, he needs about 4 walks a day.
6 months old, he needs about 3 walks a day.
At close to a year and older he only needs 2 walks a day.
In the beginning there are going be some messes, be prepared. It takes a
little while to figure out your dog's digestive rhythms. Patience is very
important. Remember that if you stick with it, your dog will sooner or
later be housebroken.
It's absolutely imperative that you clean up any mess in her crate ASAP so
that she won't get used to being dirty. Use ammonia-free cleanser when
cleaning up a mess, as a dog's urine contains ammonia. He'll recognize the
ammonia and want to go in the same place. Use vinegar as a neutralizer
after you clean up. Just put some in a spray bottle for convenience. You
can dilute it partially with water.
When you take your dog outside to potty, stay with her. Take her exactly
where you want her to go with her leash. She should go within about 20
minutes, if not bring her in and keep and eye on her. Take her out when
she looks like she needs to go.
Praise your dog when he potties on the designated papers or area. Do not
go overboard in your praise though. In the wild, his mother would not.
Whenever he has the inevitable accidents, give him a stern look and say
"Bad Dog." Immediately take him to your preferred potty area. Don't ever
shove his nose in the mess or hit him. This does no good at all. His mother
wouldn't do it. She would correct him with her voice, or shove him with
her muzzle or body.
After a walk and business done, she can get 15-20 minutes of play time
and then back to her crate. You're probably thinking that this is cruel and
unusual punishment... This is not cruel. Here's why... Dogs are den
animals and remember that she is gradually earning more and more
freedom. You can gradually increase her time outside the crate. But
always supervise this free time. You want to catch any accidents when
they happen. If you find an accident after the fact, take her over to the
scene of the crime and let her smell it. Do not shove her nose in it. Sternly
tell her "Bad Girl" and then take her to the proper potty area.
Other tips:
Make sure that all other sources of water are eliminated during training so
that you will have control over when and therefore where he urinates.
Possible sources where he might sneak a drink of water: toilets,
flowerpots, puddles, etc.
A dog's sense of smell is thousands of times keener than ours, so
believing that an odor is gone by using your own sense of smell is
useless. Always use a neutralizer.
Your dog always needs to be observed any time that he is out of his crate.
Even an adult dog can be crate trained. Confine him to his crate as you
would a puppy with scheduled walks, feedings and waterings, and play
times. Gradually allow more free time as he earns it.
DON'T FORGET TO EXCERCISE ME!!
