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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Keeping your dog cool during the summer months is extremely important. It can prevent heat stroke, dehydration or even death. Dogs not only need to drink plenty of water to keep cool, many of them like to swim in it as well. While it is a great form of exercise and will help to keep Fido from overheating, many dogs drown each year from pool accidents that could have been avoided.

If your dog loves the water and loves to jump into the pool, make sure he knows how to get out safely. If a dog falls into a river or lake, its instinct will tell it to turn around and try to get out from the point at which it fell in. This may work well in a lake or a river, but in a suburban swimming pool the dog may drown if it adopts this instinctive action. Therefore it is important to teach your dog where and how to get out of the pool regardless of where he went in.

To teach a dog how to exit a pool, first attach a recall leash to its collar. Gently place the dog into the pool from the steps. The dog will instinctively turn around and get out from the point of entry-the steps. Place the dog in the pool from the steps several times. Once it realizes that it can scramble out via the steps, move to the other sides of the pool and again gently place the dog into the pool. Use the recall leash to guide the dog to the step area, giving as little help as possible to the dog.

“Once the dog has oriented himself to the steps in relation to the house and understands how to use the steps to exit the pool, the danger of it drowning in the pool will be reduced,” stated Liam Crowe, Bark Busters’ president, CEO and master trainer. “Practice as much as possible with your dog, especially with pups, but make certain your dog does not become exhausted. The most you will be able to achieve at any one time is three or four entries and exits.”

With regards to exhaustion, it is also important for you to keep an eye on your dog while in the pool because swimming can be very tiring for a dog. Just like many dogs will chase a ball or Frisbee again and again until they nearly collapse, many dogs will continue swimming without any thought as to how tired they are. And unlike chasing a ball on land, they have no solid ground on which to rest.

If a dog has year-round access to the pool area, you should conduct pool safety in all weather, hot and cold. Try to keep the pool’s water level as full as possible, as the dog has a much greater chance of being able to get out the closer the water level is to dry land.

If you don’t have access to a pool that allows dogs but still want to take him swimming, nature offers other enjoyable options. However, be aware of the surrounding area if you take your dog to the beach, lake or pond. Watch for trouble and make sure your dog will come to you as soon as you call. Recall is one of the most important lessons you can teach your dog. It can literally save his life.

With a little planning and forethought, you can help your dog swim without incident in most any environment during the hot summer months. We love our pets and want them to be with us for as long as possible, and the above tips will go a long way to ensure their safety.

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One of the most important components to your pups house training is control. Regardless of your life style there will always be times when you’ll need a place where your dog can stay and be happy and content by himself. Crate training is the best option for dog owners whom want well trained dogs.

There are six important steps to accomplishing your crate training goals.

1) Tell the puppy “its crate time” and place him in the crate with a small treat. Leave him in the crate for five minutes while you’re still in the same room, than let him out and praise him lavishly.

2) Repeat step #1 several times daily. Never release the pup early because he’s fussy, make him wait until he’s calm and excepts his situation.

3) On the second day start leaving the puppy in the crate for 10 minute intervals, same as day number one.

4) Everyday increase the time by 5 minutes until the puppy will stay in the crate for 30 minutes.

5) Go back to 5 minute time periods but leave the puppy in the crate while you are out of the room. It’s important not to skip any steps or alter the time periods, to properly crate train your puppy you will need to invest the right amount of time, which will pay off in the end.

6) Once again build up the crate time in 5 minute increments with you out of the room. When the puppy will stay willingly in his crate (he will probably start to use it as nap time) for 30 minutes with you gone he will then be ready to stay for several hours by himself.

It is very important to build up the new puppy’s crate time slowly over the course of a few days so as not to frighten the dog or make him feel like he’s being punished.

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A dog’s breed and temperament, combined with your lifestyle and personality, all play an important role in determining what kind of dog is the best fit for you. For instance, a slight or shy person could find a large-breed dog-especially one that is boisterous or hyperactive-difficult to control. On the other hand, a timid, little dog may not be a suitable match for an adventuresome, outgoing, or loud person. So with all the choices available, how do you go about selecting the right dog for you? Deciding Between a Puppy and a Full-Grown Dog If you are considering adopting a dog, first determine whether you want a puppy or an adult dog. Adopting a puppy has certain advantages-you will be able to choose one with the best temperament for you and ensure it gets a proper education before behavioral problems or bad habits develop. But puppies bring added responsibilities, too. During the first few months, a puppy requires more of your time than an older dog.

• Puppies should not be left alone for extended periods of time.
• They need to be fed several times a day, constantly monitored, and handled with care.
• Owners must fill the void created when they take a puppy away from its mother and littermates.
• Attention is required to properly house-train the puppy.
• Other training is required with goals suitable for the puppy’s age. (Training goals will change as the puppy matures.)

If you do not have the time required for a puppy, consider adopting a full-grown dog that has already gone through the puppy stage.

• Usually an older dog will be housebroken and less likely to chew anything and everything within reach.
  • More advanced training can begin immediately.
  • As a newcomer to your family, however, even older dogs require attention and understanding while they become oriented to a new environment.

Before adopting an older dog, learn as much as you can about its background, such as details of its diet so you can be sure any change in diet will not be abrupt. If adopting a dog from another home, ask for a favorite item, such as a toy, a blanket, or a pillow that the dog can take with him. This will help in the transition. Understanding the Importance of TemperamentTemperament has nothing to do with a dog’s size, breed or upbringing-temperament is something innate in a dog. A dog’s temperament has a lot to do with how easily it can be trained and, while good training can improve certain traits in a dog, training cannot change the dog’s temperament. There are a variety of temperaments in dogs, and some dogs can have a combination of temperament traits, but generally speaking, dogs have four basic temperament types:

1. Nervous – This bottom-of-the-pack dog requires more effort and perseverance on your part to train. An older, nervous dog can act in a variety of ways around strangers. It might bark but then back off, or circle while barking and growling. Another nervous type might settle down when the stranger is seated but bark and possibly try to attack when the visitor gets up to leave. Its fear of strangers makes a nervous dog a challenge to train.
2. Timid – Also a bottom-of-the-pack dog, a timid dog will hold its ears back, squirm, put its tail between its legs, or roll onto its back. You can easily train this type of dog once it recognizes you as its leader.
3. Dominant – This top-of-the-pack dog requires owners to demonstrate their own dominance through a consistent and committed effort to train the dog, no matter how long it takes. When around strangers, this dog stands its ground and, under some circumstances, attacks. It will not relinquish its leadership position easily and, if you move too quickly with training, it might bite you. With professional help and a lot of determination, even the most dominant dogs can be trained.
4. Middle of the Pack – This dog is easy to train because it wants to please its owners out of respect for them as the leaders of the pack. Usually friendly toward strangers and not aggressive toward other dogs, this type of dog is delightful to own.

Spotting a Puppy’s Temperament Even if the puppy is very young, you can tell its temperament. Within the litter, watch how the puppies run and play to determine where each puppy stands in the litter’s pecking order. More dominant puppies act bossy by standing over the other littermates. Less dominant puppies act submissive by rolling over or lowering their heads. Then, observe the individual puppy you are considering adopting when it’s alone with you. A well-adjusted puppy will follow you freely when you lead it. Then drop a soft glove or cloth near the puppy and watch its reaction:

• A confident puppy will approach the object immediately to investigate. While this puppy could grow up to be a well-adjusted dog, it is likely to be strong-willed and might be a challenge for a soft-natured person.
• A less-dominant pup will jump and move away when the object is dropped, but it will usually return fairly quickly to investigate. Less bossy than the more confident puppy described above, this puppy will make a great pet.
• The puppy that takes longer to approach and runs around the object acting as if it is alive and might attack is a little timid but still will make a wonderful pet with proper, gentle training.
• The puppy that barks at the object, runs away and crouches down or refuses to return to the spot has a more nervous temperament and could be a difficult pet. More patience will be required during training.

Finally, lift and hold the puppy in your arms. A pup that settles in and sits still is far more acceptable than one that wriggles and tries to escape. Choosing the Best Breed for Your Personality In addition to recognizing an individual dog’s temperament, you would do well to investigate the breed that best suits your needs. Listed here are some of the most popular breeds and, based on our experience with hundreds of thousands of dogs worldwide, how their personalities and characteristics might match the requirements of different types of owners. While some breeds do have tendencies toward a certain temperament, keep in mind that this is not absolute. Use the information as a guide, but we recommend you make your final decision based on background information and observation. Sociable Dogs with Soft, Even Temperaments These breeds are typically less demanding and more docile, making them perfect for elderly people and families with children. They are loving and respond well to lots of attention, and prefer to not be left alone.

• American Cocker Spaniel
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Golden Retriever
• Lhasa Apso
• Poodle
• West Highland White Terrier
• Whippet

Dogs that Require More Discipline Often exuberant, many of these breeds require more discipline and exercise-but are great for people with lots of energy. Their loyal, loving natures still make them wonderful family pets.

• Afghan Hound
• Boxer
• Bull Terrier
• English Cocker Spaniel
• Dachshund
• Dalmatian
• Doberman Pinscher
• German Shepherd
• Great Dane
• Miniature Schnauzer
• Rottweiler

One-Person Dogs

Protective of their homes and owners, these breeds are perfect for people who live alone. Not in all cases, but these breeds tend to be less suitable for families.

• Chihuahua
• Chow Chow
• Maltese
• Pekingese
• Shih Tzu

Mixed Breeds

Generally hardier and less prone to hereditary faults, mixed breeds can be pets that are just as good-and sometimes better-than purebreds. Still, some are better than others. As a basic guideline, a pup is likely to inherit its size from its mother but be slightly smaller than its largest parent.

Designer Dogs

Designer breeds, a cross between two purebred dogs, were developed to create a mix of the best characteristics of each breed. For instance, the Goldendoodle combines the family-friendly traits of the Golden Retriever with the non-shedding, hypoallergenic traits of the Poodle. Some of the more popular mixed hybrids are the:

• Puggle (Pug / Beagle)
• Schnoodle (Schnauzer / Poodle)
• Labradoodle (Labrador / Poodle)
• Chorkie (Chihuahua / Yorkshire Terrier)

Just like people, dogs come in all shapes, sizes, and temperaments. A dog’s breed and temperament, combined with your lifestyle and personality all play an important role in determining what kind of dog is best for you. Do a bit of research first, then visit your local shelter. There is a dog with the perfect temperament for everyone.

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Training your Retriever should begin right away, with good puppy training. This article will show you how to begin.

Golden Retriever pups are adorable and love to play. In this young and wiggly phase of your puppie’s daily life, you should begin training. Your puppy is a baby, and although he may be distractible, but he can learn quickly at this time. This is the time to build well known exercises that will assist you throughout your instruction, as your puppy matures.

Buying Baby.

Golden Retriever instruction must start once you get the pet home, by making sure he knows where his food and water are, where he’ll visit the bathroom, and where he will snooze. This is also the ideal time for you to start educating your dog exactly what times of day are appropriate for taking a nap. If your own daytime and evening routine is a steady plan, there’s a better possibility that you can train your dog to be energetic mainly when you are.

The Entire World is a Chew Toy.

Your Golden Retriever puppy training will have to address your pup’s natural love of biting. Offer appropriate toys for your dog to chew, make certain he isn’t ripping all of them apart and eating any dangerous material, and try to puppy-proof your house as well as possible. In case your puppy sets out to chew anything inappropriate, handle bad conduct immediately — often a sharp “No!” will do throughout your obedience training, as long as you are consistent in dealing with any difficulties. Compliment good habits right away with pats and hugs. Your dog may give in to temptation several times during this period, but if you keep up your constant teaching, he’ll understand quickly.

About the Leash.

You can also commence leash training at this time of your Golden Retriever puppy instruction. Begin around the home, to make certain your dog is accustomed and comfortable with the leash prior to taking him out in public. You may let him get accustomed to his training collar and leash in the house or in the backyard. As soon as he is used to these new objects, try selecting the leash up and calling your dog’s name. Whenever he comes, praise him immediately so he will know he’s being a good boy! Should you start in the house and then take him into the garden, soon he will associate the leash with his outside time, and be eager to obey.

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