Toilet training your puppy will make life much easier and more pleasant for the both of you. It will make you stop having the accidents that make you clean up after him several times in the day. Start potty training immediately the puppy arrives in your home. The following training tips will help you get your puppy toilet trained in no time.
Before you start, understand that your puppy is a baby that has not learned much about controlling bowel movements. He could urinate or defecate without restraint. Therefore, you should be as gentle as you can. Praise him when he gets it right for reinforcement but do not punish or be harsh when accidents happen. Punishment when he goes in the wrong place will make him associate it with punishment and he will learn to start hiding the evidence.
The first thing is to know the signs to look for when he wants to “go”. He could start running in circles, sniffing the floor, scratching at the door or whimpering. Puppies go to the toilet mostly after eating or immediately they wake up. They like to ‘go’ on surfaces like grass, wood, or soil.
Start by placing a placing a wee wee pad or some newspapers in the place you want him to use as his toilet. It should be far from where you keep his food. Choose a word like pee pee or poo poo that he will associate with ‘going’. As soon as he shows signs of going, take him to the spot and stay with him until he goes. Praise him as he is doing it so that he knows he is doing the right thing. With some persistence, he will know and accept that spot his ‘going’ spot and you will not need to take him again.

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Despite their cute appearance, English bulldog puppies can sometimes be aggressive, and this needs to be nipped in the bud as early as possible, preferably before those big jaws and teeth do any real damage. English bulldogs act aggressive out of fear or because of their perceived dominance in your family. Bulldogs who fear strangers or your handling of them will bite out of fear. Those who perceive themselves as top dog can bite if you come near their food, toys, or objects that they are not supposed to have.

An English bulldog that has not been socialized will tend to fear strangers, so puppy training. should include socialization. Taking your puppy walking through the neighborhood or to a dog park or shopping center that allows dogs will help him or her see that strangers are not threatening. Try to expose your puppy to as great a variety of people as possible so that he or she will get used to people of various ages and ethnic groups. Classes in puppy training, in which puppies are taught basic commands such as sit, stay and leave it, can give your English Bulldog puppy a good chance to be around other people and dogs.

A dog who is fearful of you will also bite out of fear, so train your English bulldog using rewards rather than punishments. Instead of punishing your puppy for making a mess on the carpet, praise him or her for doing the right thing in the right place.

In nature young dogs jockey for positions as pack leader, second in command, and so on. It is natural for your English bulldog to try to become pack leader in your home, and if he or she feels like the alpha dog, it can lead to biting if you approach too close to your dog’s food dish or toy, or try to take your sock out of your puppy’s mouth. Good puppy training involves teaching your English bulldog that you are the pack leader. Eating your dinner before feeding your dog will show that you have dominance, because in nature the alpha wolf eats before the rest of the pack. Sleeping in your bed and having your English bulldog sleep in a smaller bed next to it also will demonstrate to your pup that you are the dominant member of the family. Training your English bulldog commands and giving rewards for good behavior will put you in the position of boss. Teach your English bulldog commands such as sit and down, and have the puppy sit or lie down before he or she is fed. If your puppy refuses to obey the command, withhold food until he or she obeys. Be sure your dog gets plenty of water during the time he or she is not eating.

Grooming can be a problem with an aggressive dog. Be sure to give your puppy lots of affection early in his or her life, so that touching will not be seen as aggression. When you groom your English bulldog, speak to him or her in a gentle, reassuring tone of voice so that your pup will not be fearful. If aggression during grooming continues to be a problem, a professional groomer might be the solution. Be sure to warn the groomer about your dog’s behavior.

Puppies go through a teething phase in which they will chew your socks, paper, furniture, and even you. Chew toys are available from your local pet supply store, and should be given to your English bulldog to satisfy his or her craving. When your puppy starts to chew the wrong thing, say, “leave it,” and offer the chew toy instead. Praise your pup when he or she chews the chew toy.

If your dog is still acting aggressive, biting and chewing the wrong things, then see a veterinarian or dog trainer for more advice. English bulldogs can be good pets with the right training and handling.

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The best time to begin training your puppy is at the very beginning. It is easier to learn the right way to do things the first time than to have to unlearn bad habits first.

The first thing you will need to do after buying your puppy is to take it home. The safest way to carry your puppy is by using either a harness that attaches to the seatbelt or to use a dog carrier. A puppy who is unused to those devices might feel uncomfortable at first, and cry, or express a desire to sit on your lap. This is a dangerous practice and should not be encouraged. Use the doggy seatbelt or car seat in the beginning and your pup will soon get used to it.

When you reach home, the all-important puppy house training should begin. Fortunately, in most breeds there is an inborn instinct to eliminate away from where they live. Even the youngest of pups will often take some steps away from its mother before doing its business. Dogs are creatures of habit so as soon as you get home, begin taking the puppy to a spot where you want it to eliminate. Give it some time to walk around and explore its new environment. When it does its business, praise it for doing the right thing. Eliminating outside can be frightening at first, because that is when a dog is at his most vulnerable. To a puppy who is used to being inside, the great outdoors can be overwhelming at first, so don’t be surprised if it runs for cover. Gently take your puppy back to the right place, and reassure it that you are there for it. Take it back to the same place frequently, and give it time to sniff around. When it smells the odor of its last elimination, it will feel inspired to repeat its earlier performance. Again, supply plenty of praise.

Do not punish you pup for making mistakes. That will only make it afraid of you. Pushing the dog’s face into its feces is a dangerous practice. It can make it impossible for the animal to breath or cause an infection. When it has an accident, clean up the urine, or pick up the feces and take it outside, showing the dog where to put it. (After your demonstration, of course, you will want to throw the waste away). The use of dog repellants is not recommended because they can cause nausea and vomiting.

When walking your dog you will want to use a leash to keep it safe. This puppy training should begin with a six feet long leash attached to a collar or harness. The use of a choke collar is discouraged, because it causes discomfort. You should be able to get two fingers between your puppy’s neck and the collar. The width of the leash depends upon the size of the dog. A small breed such as a shih-tzu or Chihuahua can probably use the narrowest leash your neighborhood pet supply store has to offer. A German shepherd or a Great Dane would obviously need a much thicker one. First attach the leash to the puppy’s collar (choke collars are not necessary) and have the puppy stand to your left.

Say “Sit,” and gently push down the puppy’s rear end until it is sitting. Reward the puppy with praise or a treat when it is sitting. The next command to teach is “down”, and it is taught in the same way.

Say the command and pull the puppy’s front paws until it is in a “Sphinx” position. Reward with a treat or praise. This is puppy training is especially good for large breeds, since it can be used when smaller dogs are around to reassure them that your large dog will not harm them.

To teach the pup to walk with a leash, say “Come on.” Then gently pull the dog along, on your left side. Reward the puppy with praise or a treat when he does walks along beside you without pulling. This kind of leash walking can be used where there is a good amount of room around.

When you are walking your dog in a crowded place, such as an outdoor fair, you will want your pet to know “heel.” Say the command and gently pull the puppy next to your heel. Reward the dog when it obeys.

The last command on our agenda is “stay,” which is useful when you have guests over who are afraid of dogs, or if you want to open the door to bring in the groceries and don’t want your dog to run off. Give the command and then walk off a few feet. If the dog tries to follow you, put the puppy back to the same place, give the command again, and walk off a few feet. Start by staying away only a few seconds, return, and give the dog a reward. Gradually increase the time as the dog learns.

Remember, puppy training should be a good experience for both of you, because you will be this puppy’s caregiver for the rest of its life and it will be your companion and friend. When you are both comfortable with the basics, you might want to teach your new friend some tricks. That puppy training will be the subject of future articles. Have fun.

Learn more dog training tips at Dog Training MD

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