The number one fear of any Havanese owner is that their dog will get out the front door and immediately run into the street where they will get hit by a car. It’s a horrible fate and one that even the best behaved dog is in danger of if you’re not careful.

So, how do you stop your dog from running off and getting hit by a car? There are a few specific training exercises that will get your dog in line. But, be prepared to pour a bit of effort into the process. After all, they want out that door.

Keeping Them in the House

Number one, and always most important is to keep your Havanese in the house. Most dogs that get away and hit, are ones that managed to sneak out the door to enjoy the great outdoors. You can’t blame them. It’s all they want – a chance to get outside and see everything the world has to offer.

But, simply sticking your foot out when you go out the door isn’t going to get the job done. You need to teach her that the door is yours and they cannot go through it. To do this, train them to sit and wait whenever you go near the door.

You’ll need to set a boundary near your door and not let your dog ever pass this boundary without your leave. Everyone in the family will need to abide by the same rules – something that can often be hard to control.

As you train her, provide treats whenever she sits and waits successfully for you to open the door. Eventually, if you can go to the door, open it and step foot outside without your dog trying to go with you, you’ll be able to worry far less when someone else opens that door.

Leash Training and Curb Control

Another important way to protect your dog is to properly train them on a leash. A dog that has proper respect of the leash and the space they have available to them outside is far less likely to run away if the leash falls.

To do this, never let your dog pull ahead of you. Additionally, don’t let your dog sniff anything without getting your go ahead. I like to control the pace of the walk for 15 minutes before letting my dog sniff anything. Then, the sniffing becomes a reward that you offer up for their good walking.

Additionally, always have your dog sit and wait patiently at curbs and corners. Your dog should never be permitted to cross the street without your express permission.

This creates the same effect as not letting them near the door. They will eventually recognize that the street is something they do not have leave to pass without you. Ideally, if all else fails, they will then stop at the curb if they do get outside, instead of running openly into the street.

Keeping a Close Eye on Your Dog

With all the precautions in the world, it is impossible to ensure your dog never gets out the front door or pulls the leash out of your hand. That is why training is so incredibly important. As you can see, it is not just for your convenience – but for the dog’s safety.

The second you start letting your dog run off down the street without you or giving them free reign over the yard, you teach them that they have no boundaries outside. Cars become a much more enticing target when this happens. Your goal should be to protect them, keeping them away from threats like the street.Practice the points stated above and you’ll never need to worry about this terrible event from happening.

The post Ways to Prevent Your Havanese From Getting Hit By a Car first appeared on Puppy Blog.

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

The post How To Begin Puppy Training first appeared on Puppy Blog.