Top Tips To Housetrain Your Dog Or Puppy

by: Marc Andresen
I brought Rufie up from a puppy, and believe you me, a strong willed dog can be hard to train! Here's what I found to be valuable when training a puppy:- 1) Toilet Training The best way is to teach the dog to only 'go' when outside. If this is impractical, you can buy commercial 'dog potty' products. Make sure you always use the same command, (such as 'Potty') and praise him highly when he gets it right. Remember - consistency is the key to ALL training! 2) Walkies! Get a rhythm going, so your dog knows when it is walkies time. A short walk after meals, and a longer walk in the morning and evening are best. Sometimes (especially when young, your puppy may NEED to go outside. It's smart to establish a signal so you can tell when he's desperate. Pawing the front door, or fetching the leash are good ones - you can't misinterpret them. Don't forget to use the 'potty' command when outside, and reinforce his behavior with praise when he gets it right. 3) Accidents Accidents happen - puppies in particular have less than perfect bladder control.If an accident occurs, be firm, and use the 'NO' word strongly, then take him to the designated area. Don't delay - if you do, he won't be able to understand why he is being scolded. 4) Clean up After the act, clean up. Use plastic bags (sandwich bags are good). Make sure you don't come into contact with it - use the 'inside out' bag trick, and deposit the waste as fast as you can in the nearest litter box. 5) Litter trays are for cats Unless your dog is a small breed, you will probably have trouble 'litter training' him. Even a medium sized hound can make more mess in a litter tray than you would believe. However, as an emergency measure, they can be valuable - at least you confine the mess to one area. Don't forget the praise reinforcement! Watch out your pooch doesn't start trying to eat the litter pellets - you will never know what your dog thinks is 'tasty'! 6) Territory! As your dog grows older, you may suddenly notice him starting to pee around the house again. This is his 'territory marking' behavior, and is natural, if undesirable. You can spot this because the spray will be only a small amount, and very pungent. If you catch him at it, let him know this is NOT OK. Afterwards, douse the area with a mix of vinegar and water - he will stay away from that area long after you can't detect the smell. 7) Consistency and immediacy. The key to all training is consistency. With a dog, you also need to be immediate - even 30 seconds and your dog will have no idea why you are praising or scolding him. I used these tips to train Rufie, and if you liked this article, I would appreciate it if you go cast a vote for him at http://petmillions.com - it doesn't cost anything! His number is 1049, and you can vote for him at http://www.petmillions.com/?vote=1049. Thanks, and good luck training your pet! Marc.
About The Author
Marc Andresen is the owner of Rufie, although sometimes you'd think it was the other way round! Vote for Rufie and make Marc a happy boy!

3 Essential Tips To Successful House Train Older Dogs

by: James Lee
House training older dogs is a more delicate process than with younger dogs. If you are looking to adopt an older dog that was not previously exposed to any house training at a young age, it is going to bring along its bad habits such as chewing, excessive barking, making holes in the yard or “marking” the territory. Furthermore, you will also experience more difficulties in house training older dogs as they tend to respond and progress much slower to most training methods and commands than younger dogs. Here are 3 useful tips that can help you in house training older dogs successfully. * First and foremost, a complete check-up at the vet is necessary in order to eliminate any existing health problems or complications such as urinary tract or flea infections. Older dogs may also experience some form of diarrhea if there is a sudden change from their previous dietary habits. Do not punish him for these "mistakes". Instead be patient and allow your dog a week to adapt to the changes gradually. If conditions did not improve, consult your vet. * Always establish a routine schedule for eating and drinking for your dog. This helps you to easily monitor your dog's toilet habits and decide when to bring your pet out for a walk every time he or she finishes its meals. Most adult dogs tend to eliminate 30 - 45 minutes after eating or drinking. Learn the signs and watch out for clues of circling and sniffing the floor. * Older dogs have shorter attention spans therefore more repetitions are needed during the house training process to reinforce the desired habits. Never use violence on them if they make a mess in the house. Scolding the dog is pointless unless you actually see it eliminating indoors. Use a firm voice command "No" and guide the dog to its designated spot. Praise or reward your dog when it relieves itself outdoors. Therefore, house training an older dog successfully depend a lot on your consistency, discipline and perseverance. Treating the dog with patience and understanding, using the appropriate house training methods are the main ingredients to developing a well behaved adult dog with good toilet habits.
About The Author
James Lee is a contributing member at http://www.DogTrainingClassroom.com. For more information on dog training tips, try visiting http://www.dogtrainingclassroom.com/dog-training-tips.html.

Dealing With Dog House Training Issues

by: Edwina Hanson
The best house training uses the dogs own instincts to avoid soiling its bed. That is the basis behind crate training, in which the dog is confined to its crate in the absence of the owner, and den training, in which the dog is confined to a small area of the home. In essence, the crate, or the room, becomes the dog’s den. Dogs are naturally very clean animals, and they try their best to avoid using their dens as toilets.

This type of training usually works very well, both for puppies and for older dogs. Problems with this type of toilet training are usually the result of not understanding the signals the dog is sending, not being consistent with feeding times, or trying to rush the process.

While the house training process can be sped up somewhat by consistently praising the dog and rewarding it for toileting in the proper place, some dogs cannot be rushed through this important process. It is always best to house train the dog properly the first time than to go back and retrain a problem dog.

If the dog continues to soil the den area after house training, the most likely reason is that the owner has left the dog in the den for too long. Another reason may be that the den area is too large. In this case, the best strategy is to make the den area smaller or to take the dog to the toilet area more frequently.

If the dog soils the bed that has been provided in the den area, it is most likely because the owner has left the dog there for too long, and the dog had an understandable accident. Or it could be that the dog has not yet adopted this area as the bed. In addition, urinary tract infections and other medical conditions can also cause dogs to soil their beds. It is important to have the dog thoroughly checked out by a veterinarian to rule out any medical problems.

One other reason for house training accidents that many people overlook is boredom. Dogs who are bored often drink large amounts of water and therefore must urinate more frequently than you might think. If you notice your dog consuming large amounts of water, be sure to take the dog to the established toilet area more often, and provide the dog with toys and other distractions to eliminate boredom.

Boredom is the root cause of many dog behavior problems, not only house training issues. Chewing and other destructive behaviors are also often caused by boredom and separation anxiety.

Other problems with house training can occur when the dog’s den is not properly introduced. In some cases dogs can react to the den as if it is a prison or a punishment. Those dogs may exhibit signs of anxiety, such as whining, chewing and excessive barking. It is important for the dog to feel secure in its den, and to think of it as a home and not a cage.

The best way to house train a puppy or dog, or to re-house train a problem dog, is to make yourself aware of the dog’s habits and needs. Creating a healthy, safe sleeping and play area for your dog, as well as a well defined toilet area, is important for any house training program.

House training is not always an easy process, but it is certainly an important one. The number one reason that dogs are surrendered to animal shelters is problems with inappropriate elimination, so a well structured house training program can literally be a lifesaver for your dog.

About The Author

Edwina Hanson runs a successful dog and owner training company. Go to http://www.k9-training-tips.com/free-dog-care-report.html for a free 73 page report entitled "Complete Dog Care".