Housebreaking A Puppy – Training The Newcomer!

Although it does not sound like the appealing job of the universe, housebreaking a new dog will play a vital part in blending with the most new member of the family. It teaches you patience and leaves you with good knowledge of what your dog wants once he has taught. Also, he will learn good behaviors and things that are expected of himher, to live very comfortably and happily in his very new home.
It is important not to forget that, it’s just like a child, the puppy’s attention time is very short. While you teach a child not to beat, he won’t learn it the very first time, but, gradually after you have shown him often that it is not okay. Likewise, you should be very consistent with your puppy while training. Also, while housebreaking the puppy, don’t forget that he isn’t being a bad puppy intentionally; he just hasn’t learned acceptable behaviors!
Begin housebreaking your dog with a very simple feeding module. Give him food at the right time, just like you would have yourself. By doing like this you’ll be helping him in being regular with his movements of bowel. Once he eats, wait for 20-30 minutes, and then take him somewhere outside. Note how long it’s taking before he voids. This would give you a picture of how long should you wait from then you take him outside. (Within a week, you should’ve his module.) Never let him to eat at his will, by leaving some food in his plate all day, as it’ll cause him to meet with accidents and make the housetraining more difficult.
In spite of the old conditions of training a dog, you should never beat, rub his nostril, or in hisher messes, or yell at him. By doing like this, you will tell him it’s faulty to relieve himself! Also, many dogs respond very negatively to mean and aggressive behavior and it will have the opposite effects-they regress during their training instead of advance. Rather, while housebreaking your dog take him outside while he has any accident. Also, don’t forget to praise! Every time when he “goes” where he should, praise him, and soon he would begin to know exactly what all brings praise, and which brings that very dejected face. During this process, remember that full control over the bladder and bowels will not happen till the dog is 16 weeks old, so do not expect much from your dog in the beginning.
In addition, a tip while housebreaking a new dog is to get a stain remover/ odor relief spray. Household utilities like cleaners and sprays can’t be smelled by any dog; only those which are made for animals would work. When any accident happens, clean it and do spray immediately. This would cover the odor left and your dog won’t try to mark his area there again.
Don’t forget that housebreaking a dog is a very big responsibility which will lead to you sharing a very special bond with your dog. Giving encouragement & loads of love would make all spent time worthy!

Puppy Training is Easy if you Follow the Basics

The Golden Retriever is truly one of the most beautiful dogs on the planet.

They have a beautiful coat, an amazing face, a strong, sleek, and muscular body, a fantastic personality, a tail that never stops waging, and they are a joy to watch at work, when flushing a pheasant, swimming in the water, or chasing a Frisbee.

The Golden Retriever was originally bred as a hunting dog in Scotland, around 1908, but is now very popular as a house pet, a therapy dog in convalescent homes and children’s hospitals, and is used by law enforcement for drug detection.

Although they do not make very good guard dogs, they will bark loudly if a stranger approaches.

If you have children the Golden Retriever can be the perfect pet. Because of their natural nurturing instincts, and very gentle nature they make the perfect companion.

In 1974 President Gerald Ford made the First Family dog a Golden Retriever named Liberty.

If you are considering getting a Golden Retriever puppy, you need to find a reputable breeder that specializes in breeding Golden Retrievers.

There are plenty of pet shops and back yard breeders that are selling Goldens, that may have serious breed problems ranging from aggression, to hip and eye problems, and a host of other problems that may not be noticeable at the puppy stage.

A reputable breeder will check the blood lines of the parents carefully to make sure they do not have a history of these problems, before breeding. This will be your best chance at having a trouble free pet.

Training your Golden Retriever is not as hard as you may think. These are very intelligent dogs, and eager to learn. They want to please you, and hate to be scowled.

The first thing to remember is that puppies will be puppies, so don’t expect too much too soon.

You can start to bathroom train right away, but if there is anything around you care about within the puppies grasp like shoes, or your favorite slippers, I would put them away, because your puppy’s going to chew them if he gets them.

Give your puppy something of his own to chew. They are teething, and want to naturally chew things because their gums hurt. Make it clear early on that he or she is to chew what you gave them, and nothing else.

If you expect your Golden to respond to your commands, then you want to avoid confusing him. It’s easy to forget that they do not understand the English language.

They respond to certain sounds, or words, based on your body language, and tone of voice. The trick to making the training as simple as possible is to use a few basic words and stick with them.

If you want your Golden to get out of the trash, and you say “no” one time, and “stop” the next time, and then “hey” the next time, they never really get what you are telling them.

The six words that I have found over the years that work best are “NO” “SIT” “DOWN” “COME” “HEEL” and “STAY”. I find they work best if said without the dogs name. These are discipline words, and are better left by themselves.

It’s important that you show your Golden Retriever that you are the boss. You must establish that you are the leader to be successful with his training.

If you give one of your commands, and he does not comply, reinforce the command with a little different tone of voice until he complies.

If that still doesn’t work, don’t just walk away. That will send a bad message. Stick with it until you get the desired results. It will happen.

Never yell at your pet or hit them, or raise your hand in a gesture to do so. You also never want to use anything like a rolled up newspaper, or a belt, or any object of this type to discipline them.

This will only scare and confuse them, and loose their trust, which will make it much harder to achieve the results you are looking for.

If you use the word “No” Firmly, to stop him from what he is doing, or gently show him you want him to “Sit” or lay “Down”, or use the word “Come” when you want him to come to you, or say “Out” when it is time for her to go outside – I think you will be very surprised at how fast he or she learns.

Whatever words work for you are fine, as long as you keep them simple, and stay with the same words all the time I think you will get surprising results.

And don’t forget the most important word of all, GOOD. Using that word combined with boy or girl, or the dog’s name such as “Good Sammy”, can work wonders.

They learn to like that real fast. Saying Good Boy, or Good Girl, or What a Good Girl, with the right tone in your voice, combined with a pat on the head, a biscuit, or a rubbing of their belly, will practically send a Golden Retriever into orbit.

They are beautiful animals. Just be patient, and you will have a great friend for many years.

Dog Shedding

Dog shedding can be a big pain in some households, and depending on how disciplined you are about your dog clambering around the furniture the fur mess can be more than expected sometimes, and can get absolutely everywhere.

Dog shredding happens as a result of a few different situations, the first and common in all breeds of dogs is to make way for a new shiny coat every now and again, and to get rid of dead hair that is no longer needed. Another cause for shedding is seasonal changes like some breeds are used to in their natural habitat, in theses situation there can be lots of hair being dropped at an almost worrying rate twice a year, but it is actually quite normal for this to happen.

If you are worried about how much hair your dog is loosing, then do some research or go to the vets and find out the different types of dogs that get affected by this seasonal change. In rare cases loosing large amount or fur can be caused by a poor diet and insufficient amounts of vitamins to keep the fur alive. All these can be answered by your local veterinarian.

If you are tired of all this fur and the effects of your dog loosing its coat, keeping your dog well groomed will help to stop the spread of hair and keep your dogs coat healthy at the same time and is always recommended to stop knots or matted hair along with keeping your dog healthier and happier.

To summarise, if you are worried about your dogs shedding and have looked to find the shedding habits of the breed of dog you have then visiting a vet is the best option and they will be able to give you a more in-depth analysis of the situation after an examination of your dog and keep your mind at rest about the health of your dog.

3 Important Tips to Remember on Puppy Training

There are as many ways to raise a puppy as there are to raising a child. In fact, one way per family in general! But most of us agree that when it comes to children, certain things are universal and undisputed. Here are three things that a lot of people just do not think of when it comes to raising their dogs, however. How many times have we heard, “My dog just won’t listen to me”, or “He just won’t behave!”
1. Dogs do not understand English until we teach them.
The thing we all love about puppies the most is the way they live for us, the way they focus all they have on us, the way our lives become theirs. in the beginning, they study us to learn our body language, our facial expressions and our language. Until we teach them the English language, it’s all they have. If we say, “Wanna go out?” one day, “Have to go potty?” the next day, and, “Hafta pee?” the third day, if they DO figure out what we want, it is because we have picked up the leash and moved toward the door with a happy face! If you want to speed up his training by three-fold, teach him YOUR language. Pick a command for EACH behavior and stick with it. Tell all in your family to use the same words and commands, and your puppy will amaze you at how much faster he learns.
2. A young puppy’s metabolism is racing along faster than we think.
The younger your puppy is, the faster he is growing, the more food and water he needs to fuel his metabolism, and the more often he has to go potty. Do not punish your puppy when he makes a house-breaking mistake. These are YOUR fault. Your puppy’s age in weeks and his breed size determine how often he must go out. Once an hour is not too often for a large 6-week old puppy, especially if it is summertime. Dogs love the exciting smells outdoors, so there is no excuse to not have him housebroken by 7-8 weeks of age. Right after a nap, after he eats and after grooming are the key times, and he will signal you. If he is happily chewing a toy and gets up suddenly with his nose to the floor, move quickly! And every time he goes potty outside
, praise him to high heaven! “What a good BOYY!”, “GOOD go potty!” and the like. Dogs love our happy faces, and they will do anything to get it.
3. Dogs live for our facial expressions and body language.
Because of this, the worst punishment you ever need to give your dog is a scowl and to turn away from him. You can see his tail fall down and his face get so sad. He will learn the lesson, I guarantee it. But his attention span is only 3-5 minutes, so do not scorn him any longer. Love him up and give him your happy face again. Physical punishment is never necessary. Use consistent commands and loving praise and he will know what you want of him before you know. He will become a master of your body language and facial expressions in no time at all.
Naturally there are many aspects of training your puppy well. Loving kindness works just as well for puppies as it does with children, creating a happy, well-adjusted and obedient dog for life. These three important tips, used consistently with confidence, will start him well on his way.

Must Know Puppy Training Tips

Whatever your pup’s pedigree and whatever your goals for him, any puppy is still an emotionally immature animal. At the same time, no two pups are exactly alike and what works for one puppy is not necessarily best for another.
You must constantly be aware of your pup’s personality and of how you can get him to pay attention to you. However, there are some general characteristics of Puppy Training that are important to working with all puppies. These are basic principles which should be adapted by you as the basis of working with your puppy.
Do not get tough: Emotionally and psychologically, the puppy is still extremely sensitive. This means that learning takes place quickly, but also that fears can easily occur and inhibit learning.
Pups cannot take pressure or harsh treatment. Repetition is the key to Puppy Training. Never punish him if he does not do what you want him to do. This will defeat the purpose of the training and cause him to dislike the entire procedure.
Bad behavior during training sessions is more often than not a sign of the pup’s lack of confidence or understanding of what you want him to do. Therefore, many repetitions will be needed.
Keep it simple: A puppy learns to do things in a step-by-step manner. For example, in teaching him to stay, do not expect him to stay put for several minutes at a time while you are off someplace away from him.
You must first teach him to stay while you stand toe-to-toe in front of him, then to stay when you are standing a couple of feet out in front of him, then to stay while you walk around him, then to stay while you are standing several feet away and not holding on to the leash.
Many pups will take several weeks to progress through these steps, but they are necessary if you want to teach “Stay” effectively. If you tell him to do something before you have properly trained him to do it and then scold him for not doing it, you are
asking for trouble. The pup will lose his confidence and will learn not to try.
Be brief: Puppies have a very short attention span. A pup learns only while he is paying attention to you, so it does not accomplish anything to keep on training when he is mentally tired even though physically he is still very lively.
Five minutes at a time is long enough. With many puppies, two minutes is long enough to begin with, gradually moving up to five minutes.
Build confidence: Your puppy needs confidence-building as well as discipline and he will constantly be telling you by his body language which one he needs more at any particular time.
Relax while you are with him; smile; speak in a pleasant voice; play running games with him. In puppy training, building confidence means knowing what you expect from your pup.

Sick Dog Symptoms

Every dog has to go through it, every dog most probably hates it as much as anyone else does, but the fact of the matter is that your dog will show sick symptoms once in a while and will become ill. This is natural for a dog or any other animal, they all get sick and there’s nothing anyone can do to prevent it.

On the other hand there are ways in which you can ease the suffering a bit for your dog and help them get the fast paced recovery they deserve. There are probably many different home remedies for helping you dog get better, but often if any are going to work then it will be the suggestions or medication your vet will give your after a diagnosis of your dog, so when you fear your dog is ill you should take them to the vet as soon as possible.

Ok, so let’s now look at some of the more popular of the hundreds of symptoms that your dog may be feeling.

Not wanting to move

Many dogs when ill wont want to move very far, have pain in moving, refusing to exercise, limping or has signs or injured paw/leg, or just general decreased agility. Theses can all be signs of illness or injury and should be watched out for.

Discharge

This may seem an obvious choice but many dog owners fail to notice discharge from eyes, nose, and ears. These should only normally be a worry if the discharge is coloured.

Appetite

A dog’s loss of appetite is a good well recognised symptom of illness as well as over eating without weight gain, sudden weight loss, or diarrhoea. Keep an eye on your dog’s diet and food habits to make this easier to recognise when it happens.

Itching and Scratching

Itching or scratching and trying to rub themselves up against furniture can be symptoms of bad skin or new pests on the scene. At this time your dog may be feeling ill or unwell or have it to come.

Mouth Problems

Bleeding or soar looking gums, along with discoloured teeth or teeth loss all need to be diagnosed properly by a vet and could be due to a more serious illnesses.

Puppy Training: Tips And Tricks

Puppies and dogs are such caring and loving beings; their biggest goal is to make you, their master, happy. By nature puppies want to do what you want them to do. The biggest problem with this is the communication barrier. Dogs can not speak nor can they understand our spoken language. However, through body language, observation, our attitude, and the sounds we make (or words) he will begin to understand what it is we want him to do.
So how do we use this to our advantage? We must do the same things over and over. Repetition will of the same words, body language, and action will help your puppy understand what it is you want him to do. Plus if you reward him with anything ie lots and lots of praise, a belly rub, a scratch on the head, or a small biscuit he will begin to want to do those things for your attention.
Now how to we take this and apply it to our training? Simple, decide on a plan and STICK to it. I am amazed at how many pet owners decide on a Puppy Training plan only to dismiss it and begin another repeatedly, until the puppy is so confused that it will take longer and a lot harder work to train him.
Does it matter what technique or plan we choose? Yes and no. It does not matter because as long as you choose one and stick to it you will be able to train your puppy. However, it does matter because if you decide on one that requires you to be home 24/7 but you work 8 hours a day, then that plan will not work for you or your puppy.
What are some different techniques I can use? Let me share some basic training techniques with you that should help train your puppy. But remember not all of these techniques will work for all of you. You must take a look at each plan and then at your own personal situation and see if it matches well.
Technique #1: potty training
This technique does not actually refer to training your dog to use the toilet (we wish) but is actually teaching him where to go potty. First you need to decide on where you want him to potty, I am a big fan of outside, but if you are in an apartment you can choose elsewhere. Then all you need to do is after you pooch eats or drinks, and I mean every time, you need to take him to this designated area until he relieves himself. Then give him lots of praise and release him.
Technique #2: Sitting
This one is a favorite of mine to teach, it does not take too much work and just about anyone can do it. Your puppy probably already knows that certain things taste better then others, so for this you will need a few tasty treats for him. Then you let him sniff the treat for a second. Then you lift the treat about 6 inches over his noise and say sit. Most of the time your puppy will sit in the process of following the treat, then you want to praise him making sure you mention sit again and give him the treat. After doing this a few times a day, for a week or so, your puppy should be ready to sit without a treat and will eventually sit for you when ever you ask.

Come Dog Command

One of the most important commands for dogs in their early years or as an untrained dog for safety is the ‘come’ command. If your dog breaks the leash and runs free, this command could save your dog from running in front of a car or into any other of the many dangers untrained dogs face.

In this article I will guide you through the different steps needed to control your dog using the ‘come’ command and how to do it in the easiest and least confusing way for your dog and you. This command is best learnt when the dog is a puppy or very young and has not yet picked up too many bad habits or actions.

To start you should get someone else weather it is a friend or neighbour to lightly restrain your dog from being able to run after you as you show it one of their favourite treats and show them you have something of interest that they will want.

Start this exercise by keeping yourself not too far away from your dog or puppy to start with until they get the idea of the game. Once you are the correct distance get your friend or neighbour to let go of the dog so they come running at you, as they do this you should say the command ‘come’ and move back slightly so they have to travel slightly further.

When the dog gets to you, reward him with the treat or ‘good dog’ and a hug. After the first success it should get easier as you retry the game from further and further away. After a few times of playing this game your dog will get familiar with the way things are done.

When you feel comfortable with this training method, try playing hide and seek with your dog and let them find you when you shout ‘come’, rewarding still after every success. When your dog is comfortable with this method your training is complete and ready for the next time your dog darts for the road.

Puppy Training: What It Does It Entail?

Did you just buy a new puppy? Are you thinking about doing so sometime in the near future? If so, you will also want to become familiar with Puppy Training. The fact of the matter is that if you do not train your puppy you may end up with a problem on your hands. Luckily, with a bit of Puppy Training you can get past all of this and be well on your way to living a happy life with your new pooch.
Most people who do not look into puppy training fail to do so because they are not aware of what it entails. Although each obedience school has a different way of doing things, most of them touch on the same basics. For instance, your puppy will learn the basic commands. This includes sit, stay, lie down, heel, and come among others. When you teach these commands to your puppy at an early age they will remember them for the rest of their life.
Additionally, training will help to get your puppy used to being around other people as well as other dogs. And as you can imagine, this is quite important. When your puppy is trained to socialize with anybody that they are around, you will have a much easier time keeping it under control.
As you can see, puppy training is well worth the time and money. Many people do not move forward with the puppy training process and end up regretting it in the end. Remember, when you train your dog at an early age you have a much better chance of getting through to it.
So before your puppy gets too old, find a training class in your area. For a minimal amount of money you can teach your puppy the basics of behaving and socializing before they are too old.

The Five Easy Methods of Successful Puppy Training. You Can Easily Train Your Puppy Before it is Three Months Old

It used to be the case that Dog Training courses didn’t begin until a dog was 6 months of age. Twelve months, as believed by some trainers, was soon enough. Most people now believe that the first few months of a puppies life are the most valuable and important time to start training.
• Puppies are always learning new things.
• Puppies are learning each and every day.
• They will learn whether we formally train them or not.
• Puppies learn quickly since they have no prior experience in any situation.
• Because puppies are so open-minded, they can be molded into wonderful, obedient pets.
Though there are several training methods, I prefer the one kindest to the dogs.
We can’t cover everything in one short article but here is the big picture.
One: Opportunity Training – This type of training introduces the puppy to training without him realizing it.
Two: Attention Training – When introducing a brand new command, I wait until the puppy is doing that command before I give it. I introduce the command “Watch” as the puppy is awaiting his reward. Because the dog has a very short attention span, you must praise him immediately.
Three: The Sit – Kneel on the ground and get the puppy’s attention by allowing him to sniff the treat in your hand. Place your hand above the puppy’s head. Because it is easier to look up at the treat while sitting, it will naturally go into the sitting position. Only when the pup sits can you use the sit command and give praise. Repeat this about 9 or 10 times.
Four: The Down – This begins in much the same way as the sit. However, this time your open hand is used to cup over the treats. The puppy will use different methods to try and get the food. He can smell the food but he cannot see it. He will attempt to move your hand out of the way using his nose. Then, he will realize it is much easier to simply lay down. Reward him and give the command “down” as soon as he lays down, while his is still in the down position.
Five: The Recall – The recall or “come” command is crucial for the behavior and safety of the dog. This command can be taught at the same time as down, sit, and stay. Have someone kneel on the ground and hold the dog. Kneel or sit a short distance from the puppy. Get the dog to look at you by placing both hands in front of you. Immediately give the “come” command. After your have the dog’s attention, ask the helper to release him. Speaking the command, “come” with lots of excitement and praise as the dog runs toward you. Give him a tidbit in reward and praise upon his arrival. Do not try to make the puppy sit or lay at the same time. Until he understands the one exercise, repeat it again and again.
Remember that even young puppies can be taught quite a bit. The little ones can learn quite quickly when good technique and a great attitude are present. Keep in mind that the idea behind training is to build confidence and a bond between owner and dog. Training exercises should be done in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. This will encourage the puppy to want to learn.

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