The early life of a puppy is extremely important. How the owner deals with this early period will have a huge impact on the characteristic and behavioral development of the puppy. Because the puppy is still young, it learns quickly. This is why we have to use this time to properly teach the puppy of what is allowed and what is not, how it should behave in particular situations etc. In this article I will write about some instructions about the most important things that a young dog has to learn during its first few months that will determine not just the puppy’s life, but its owner’s too.

The first thing a dog owner wants from his or her dog is not to eliminate inside the home. This is the first step in housetraining a pet. It is important for a dog owner to understand how to do it. Many people doesn’t know this skill give up their dogs eventually. This may take some time because we have to wait until the puppy is old enough to establish proper toilet habits. It’s a good idea to confine the puppy to a designated area until we can start this aspect of housebreaking. This does not mean that the dog needs to be isolated. Remember that a puppy is a social being and needs to be around people and other animals. There are great waterproof training pads available that we can put on the floor to minimize the mess a young puppy could cause.

Once the puppy is older, we should examine its daily routine so we can predict when we will have to take the dog outside for a walk. Usually puppies will need to go outside in the morning, shortly after eating and drinking, after waking up from a nap or before sleep. We need to feed the puppy always the same time so we can set up their daily routine.

Do not punish the puppy in case of an accident. Remember, it’s not their fault. On the other hand, always praise the puppy when he uses his designated potty area.

Another important thing a young puppy needs to learn is not to jump on people. To prevent this, the puppy must be caught in the act. Don’t punish the dog, just firmly tell him that it is a bad thing to do.

Socialization is another essential element in the life of a dog. If the dog is not well socialized during this time, it may become too shy or too aggressive later. The dog has to feel happy around people.

When teething, a puppy can be the source of a lot of damage in our house. While this is very annoying, and the owner can get angry easily, it is not the puppy’s fault. We must make sure that when we leave the dog alone, he won’t be able to access any furniture or other objects that can be damaged with chewing. There are cheap toys for this purpose and we have to teach the dog to chew on them instead of furnitures. Don’t forget to reward the puppy when he chooses his toy to chew on.

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Would you think me if I told you that there is such a thing as Dachshund anxiety problems? No? Dachshund Separation anxiety is more of an issuethan you may imagine. While it can be a trivial problem, Dachshund anxiety can be a major issue, changing your bond with your Dachshund. I used to believe I would have to give away my Dachshund; I now know differently

What Causes Dachshund Separation Anxiety?

Dachshunds are social dogs and depend on tight bonds with other family members. Dachshund separation anxiety can be triggered if they are left alone and consider they have been excluded from the family or conversely, if your Dachshund sees themselves as family leader and thinks you left without their consent. It is normally your lack of leadership that leads to Dachshund separation anxiety. It is vital that you prove you are the alpha member and will return to the group without fail. When your Dachshund sees that you are a good leader their separation anxiety will typically vanish.

A few Dachshunds become anxious when they believe you are going to abandon them . Something as straightforward as petting them as you walk out the door may be sufficient to generate Dachshund separation anxiety. Maintaining the precise identical schedule every day can exacerbate your Dachshund separation anxiety.

Dachshunds are wily dogs. If they get bored or have not enough exercise, they can become destructive as they are amusing themselves. This is not Dachshund separation anxiety.

How to End Dachshund Separation Anxiety

Four easy methods to reduce Dachshund anxiety:

1. Commence Slowly.
If your Dachshund anxiety centers around you leaving the home, you have tobegin by restricting the period of time you are away. Begin by leaving and right away coming back in. As their anxiety decreases you can leave your Dachshund for longer periods. Your Dachshund quickly learns that you will be returning and their anxiety reduces.

2. Mix Up Your Schedule.
Modify your routine if you see your Dachsund becoming anxious. Modify what time you get and as soon as you leave. Just minor changes in your every day routine can drastically lower your Dachshund separation anxiety.

3. Exercise.
Exercise your Dachshund properly, giving at least two 20 minute walks a day. A weary Dachshund will sleep. Don’t acknowledge your Dachshund as soon as you come home. Go about your usual business for 10 – 15 minutes. Only after that time should you pay attention to your Dachshund.

4. Do Not Strengthen Dachshund Separation Anxiety.
If you pat or even talk to your Dacshund as soon as you leave or return to the house can make Dachshund separation anxiety greatly worse. Take no notice of them for a few minutes as you abandon and as soon as you return, even if they bark or cry. Doing this breaks the association your Dachshund has made between receiving attention and you leaving or coming back

Doing What is Right For Your Dachshund

Some people think that this approach is cruel. This is false. Part of Dachshund ownership is making certain that your dog receives what it needs, be it food, exercise or medical treatment. This may not be what they want. The right way to reduce Dachshund separation anxiety is to show you are a solid group leader that will always return.. This is valuable both for your Dachshund and you.

If you have problems with Dachshund separation anxiety, barking, biting, digging or chewing visit http://www.dachshundtrainingtips.com to discover more about Dachshund puppy training and get great Dachshund training tips and a FREE e-book.

The post Stop Dachshund Separation Anxiety in 4 Simple Steps first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Dog separation anxiety can be a very worrying concern. While it is definitely gratifying to know that your dog has grown affection for you, it can be prove to be a traumatic experience for the dog. When separated with his most favorite person in the world, he will begin to display self-destructive behavior such as digging and barking. Other symptoms of this mental condition may include urination or excretion all over the place, despite the fact that he’s been housetrained. He may even harm himself when his anxiety is acting up.

Getting The Best Dog Training Advice is Fundamental if You Want to Have a Healthy Well Trained Dog.

What are the signs that your dog is suffering from separation anxiety? First, your dog begins to engage in the fore-mentioned acts shortly after you leave him. Second, when you return home, your dog seems to be overly euphoric and greets you excessively. There are three effective ways that can help curb dog separation anxiety.

Pretend to Leave the House
You need to let your dog get used to your absence. Pretend to leave your house and shut the front door after you. Return home a few seconds later. Repeat this action for a couple of times and remember to keep the length of your absence short. Progressively, your dog will begin to understand that he doesn’t have to worry about you being gone. After doing this for a few days, you should consider increasing the duration of your departure by a few seconds at one time.

Purchase a Crate
A well-furnished crate is the hotel equivalent to a dog. Most dogs will relish a quiet day in a comfortable crate where they can take a nap. Purchasing a crate can help with your dog separation anxiety. Be sure to place suitable toys in the crate so that the dog can entertain himself when you’re not at home. Do not latch the door as he may begin to think of it as a prison, which will exacerbate his anxiety. Of course, if you want to employ this method, you will have to crate train your dog before leaving him unsupervised and alone.
Keep the Radio On

Most dogs suffer from anxiety attacks because they feel lonely and afraid. Dogs are natural social animals, and they thrive well in packs. Thus, leaving a dog alone in the house can be a very daunting experience for him. If you need to leave him alone in the house, you should leave the radio on so that he will feel that he’s got companionship. You can also play some soothing music to calm him down. Make sure that the volume isn’t too loud so that he would not receive any unnecessary shock when the radio talk show segues into an advertisement.

Dog separation anxiety can be easily cured with these simple tips. However, if the condition persists, you should bring your dog to the vet for professional advice. It is not a problem to be taken lightly. Your precious dog may harm itself in the process. In severe cases, medication may be required.

The post The 3 Steps To Ending Dog Separation Anxiety Fast! first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Dog separation anxiety can be a very worrying concern. While it is definitely gratifying to know that your dog has grown affection for you, it can be prove to be a traumatic experience for the dog. When separated with his most favorite person in the world, he will begin to display self-destructive behavior such as digging and barking. Other symptoms of this mental condition may include urination or excretion all over the place, despite the fact that he’s been housetrained. He may even harm himself when his anxiety is acting up.

Getting The Best Dog Training Advice is Fundamental if You Want to Have a Healthy Well Trained Dog.

What are the signs that your dog is suffering from separation anxiety? First, your dog begins to engage in the fore-mentioned acts shortly after you leave him. Second, when you return home, your dog seems to be overly euphoric and greets you excessively. There are three effective ways that can help curb dog separation anxiety.

Pretend to Leave the House
You need to let your dog get used to your absence. Pretend to leave your house and shut the front door after you. Return home a few seconds later. Repeat this action for a couple of times and remember to keep the length of your absence short. Progressively, your dog will begin to understand that he doesn’t have to worry about you being gone. After doing this for a few days, you should consider increasing the duration of your departure by a few seconds at one time.

Purchase a Crate
A well-furnished crate is the hotel equivalent to a dog. Most dogs will relish a quiet day in a comfortable crate where they can take a nap. Purchasing a crate can help with your dog separation anxiety. Be sure to place suitable toys in the crate so that the dog can entertain himself when you’re not at home. Do not latch the door as he may begin to think of it as a prison, which will exacerbate his anxiety. Of course, if you want to employ this method, you will have to crate train your dog before leaving him unsupervised and alone.
Keep the Radio On

Most dogs suffer from anxiety attacks because they feel lonely and afraid. Dogs are natural social animals, and they thrive well in packs. Thus, leaving a dog alone in the house can be a very daunting experience for him. If you need to leave him alone in the house, you should leave the radio on so that he will feel that he’s got companionship. You can also play some soothing music to calm him down. Make sure that the volume isn’t too loud so that he would not receive any unnecessary shock when the radio talk show segues into an advertisement.

Dog separation anxiety can be easily cured with these simple tips. However, if the condition persists, you should bring your dog to the vet for professional advice. It is not a problem to be taken lightly. Your precious dog may harm itself in the process. In severe cases, medication may be required.

The post The 3 Steps To Ending Dog Separation Anxiety Fast! first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Who Else Wants to Know How to Stop Dog Flatulence Fast!

If you ever had the unfortunate experience to be in the presence of dog with gas, you know that it’s enough to knock you over. How did something so nasty and foul get inside your dog? I don’t know which is worst the silent squeeze or the noisy kind but in my book either one will momentarily stop you from breathing and cause you to bolt for some fresh air. The only problem with this is that your dog may think you are in a playing mood and follow you out the door, or It could be that the dog is looking for some relief as well.

You can try but you will not be able to sugar coat this action by your dog with your company. Oh yeah, it may be funny the first time but it soon wears thin especially if you are having dinner. By the way, have you ever noticed that after a dog breaks wind he’ll gently get up and leave the room? So what can you do to stop the dog from cutting the big one? The following will help address and provide solutions to solve dog flatulence. First we need to find out what is creating the gas.

What Creates the Gas?

Well good news! You can bet your dog is not too happy about this either. Gas issues are normally associated to a dietary imbalance that can be addressed and dealt with quickly, providing relief for both you and the dog. The breakdown of food by bacteria in their stomachs can be the main cause. It may also be caused by worms and or parasites. To start with, we just need to find out what the heck the dog is eating to create this turbulence of dog flatulence.

Stopping Dog Gas

You can’t train your dog not to pass gas or politely excuse itself, but there are measures you can take to ward off the gas attacks. The following solutions are easy and quick to administer.

Twelve Action Steps to End Dog Flatulence

1) Stop feeding the dog table food immediately.

2) This means no salsa and chips as well. No human snacks.

3) It’s not cool to give your dog a sip of beer once in a while either.

4) The kids may think that giving the dog ice cream is cool. Let the dog sleep in their room for a couple of nights. This will change their minds quickly.

5) No treats unless they are low in fat and of high quality dog treats, in addition no cheese, beans, hot dogs and scraps. Some people use table scrapes as treats to teach their dog new tricks. What is that all about?

6) It may be time to change your dog’s food with a more nutritious platter. Remember to introduce any new food gradually, a one to four ratio the first day and increase the amount every two days after that. You don’t want to upset that boiler any more than it is.

7) Give the dog a cup of papaya juice. It works wonders to settle the dog’s stomach and they love it.

8) Yogurt has similar qualities and dogs love it as well. Only do this until the wind dies down. Should be rather quick.

9) If you feed your dog once a day try feeding your dog less but more often. Dog’s in a hurry to eat will shallow air in the process. This causes air to get trapped in their intestines and stomach.

10) You can also try to improve their digestion by offering them a pro-biotic. Some foods come with pro or pre-biotics. Check with your local pet store for more information.

11) Visually check your dogs stood for tiny white worms or parasites. If you see any of these get your dog to the vet for the proper treatment.

12) Cooked plain white rice or pasta with some plain boiled chicken can provide relief from gastrointestinal upset.

The following is a list of items your dog should never eat. If you think your dog ate something toxic, contact the Animal Poison Control Center immediately. The call could save your dog’s life.

Here is the list; Chocolate, candy and gum, macadamia nuts, grapes and raisins, fruit pits and seeds, onions, avocado, fat scraps, coffee, tea and other coffined products, milk and dairy products, raw eggs, mushrooms, salt, sugar and sugary food and drinks, human medicine, nutmeg, other spices and alcohol. It’s good idea to make your food pantry dog proof.

Dog flatulence is rarely a serious problem. However, in severe cases of dog flatulence, it is recommended to confer with your vet to rule out any possible medical problems. With a mild to medium problem, the above suggestions will put you on the right track to dramatically reduce and end the unsuspected gaseous attacks.

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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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So you’ve just brought a new puppy into your house. Surely, one of the first things that will come into your mind is training her. Your puppy must feel that she’s very welcome in her new home. Doing this involves regarding her not as a toy, but as an important part of your family. You may notice that your puppy will act strange on his first week and this is due to the sounds and smells in your house that may seem unfamiliar to her. But she will get used to it after a period of time. There are three steps on how to train a puppy without much difficulty.

The first step you must try is to teach her the basic commands like sit, stay, heel and others. It will be easy for your puppy to learn these things if you will do them at least twice or thrice a day. Nutrition is also important for your puppy so be choosy when it comes to the brand of dog food. You must also teach the puppy where she should take her slumber. As mush as possible, never change this spot. Remember that it will be her new comfort place, so it must be in a peaceful place in your home which she can consider her own. Secondly, familiarize your puppy with similar words and phrases for the same expected outcome. One example of this step on how to train a puppy is the familiar “go potty” phrase. While saying this, bring her to the area which she can consider as her toilet.

Third, avoid shouting at your puppy or reprimanding her heavily no matter how much clutter she has made. Do show her your displeasure while remaining calm. You can scold her by avoiding cuddling her and saying some reprimanding words in lower tone. However, when she did something right, don’t fail to praise and reward her. It’s so easy to follow these steps on how to train a puppy. Just let your common sense do the work and if you need help, read some books or visit some dog training websites. Moreover, don’t forget to have fun while training her and keep your sessions short. Try also to have short but productive sessions between you and your pet.

The post How To Train A Puppy – Try These Three Simple Steps first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Dog training can be both very enjoyable or very aggravating. What I try to focus on is the enjoyable part of training. If you know the basics and follow them, training your puppy will be an enjoyable experience for you and your puppy.

The first step in training should be to crate train your puppy. I have found that crate training has many benefits. The first benefit is that because of a puppy’s natural instinct not to soil his living area, there shouldn’t be any accidents in their crate. This will help tremendously in housebreaking. Just remember a puppy can only hold his bladder for so long, so don’t keep him in there for more than a few hours at a time unless it is bedtime. It might take a little time for your puppy to get used to his crate.

Let him know it is a nice place to be not a punishment spot. Feed him a few meals in his crate with the door open. After about 1 week close the door while he eats, this should make the crate seem like a reward place for him. After a week with the door closed put his food bowl wherever you planned on feeding him. We have a boxer puppy that we did this with and now any time we grab a treat she runs right to her crate. Just make sure you get the right size crate for your puppy.

The next step should be house training. Always take your puppy out after eating, drinking or sleeping. Praise him and give him a treat when he does go outside. Watch for the signs that he’s getting ready to go. One key sign is when he is sniffing and walking around in circles. This is telling you that he’s trying to find his scent on where to go potty. If you see him doing this just grab him and take him outside to the spot you want him to go. Accidents are bound to happen, have patience but never punish your puppy for going inside. He won’t understand why he’s being punished, he’ll just think going potty is what your punishing him for. Find a cleaner that gets rid of scents, you can find these at most pet supply stores. With patience your puppy will be trained in no time.

To me, crate training and house breaking are the two most important steps in training your puppy. After these you can work on sit, stay, heel and all the other commands. One other important factor in early training is finding a training class. I like a class that has 6-8 dogs in it. I have found that a smaller class has less distractions and because of that it will be easier to train your puppy. See if your trainer offers play groups. This is a great way for your puppy to learn valuable social skills with other dogs. Just remember to have patience but more importantly have fun.

The post Training Your Puppy – The First Steps first appeared on Puppy Blog.

The Golden Retriever has been a favorite choice of families for many years. Their sociable attitude and calm temperament make them an ideal family dog. They do require training. Golden Retriever puppy training begins when you bring your puppy home.

The first step in Golden Retriever puppy training will be teaching your puppy potty manners. You can simplify that with a crate. If you have a crate for your puppy, you can train them to hold things until you let them out. Dogs do not usually have ‘accidents’ where they sleep. By taking the dog out of the crate and to a designated area outdoors, you will have an easier time training your puppy. Once he does his business outdoors, reward him with a lot of praise and a treat if you desire to reward with treats. Be sure you take him out of the crate frequently.

It is possible to train your dog not to chew on things that should be left alone. Dogs learn with their mouths, much the same as human children do. This does not give your puppy the right to nip and chew on things such as their owner or their owners clothing or household items. This applies to play time or any time at all.

Golden Retriever puppy training will teach your puppy that it is okay to chew on a tennis ball but not on your favorite piece of furniture or those new shoes you didn’t put in the closet. When your puppy is left alone, the desire to chew and chew becomes even more apparent. Separation anxiety can run rampant when your puppy is left alone. It is important to provide chew toys and lots of them. By keeping him busy with toys, you may be able to save your shoes.

If you see your puppy going for your shoes, take the shoe away and give the puppy a toy or a ball in place of the shoe. If you give words of praise when you swap the items it will soon see that he will be rewarded for chewing on his toys.

Golden Retriever puppy training is easier than many other breeds. You still need to have patience, exhibit consistency and patience to have it be a successful venture.

Socialization is very important. Part of your Golden Retriever puppy training should include a basic behavior class and socialization with a variety of people and dogs. Dog parks can also be beneficial. One thing to remember is to keep control over your puppy at the park. Until the basic commands such as stay, sit and come are followed every time the words are used, keep your puppy on a leash.

Golden Retriever puppy training is an enjoyable and rewarding task. If you cover each step of the plan, you can be sure that you and your puppy will share a long and productive life together. If you choose to take your puppy into the show ring, consultation with other owners and the AKC can help you get on the right path to being winners. It doesn’t have to be conformation; it can be relay or agility. Golden Retrievers are good at all of them.

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Clicker dog training is widely considered to be one of the most effective methods used today in controlling and managing a dog’s behavior. When it comes to teaching them basic commands, it really takes very little time to grasp the principles and techniques of clicker training, and when utilising a good quality clicker, you will be able to see results in a very short time, regardless of the kind of dog you’re training.

How Clicker Training Works

The general principle behind clicker training involves creating an association between the clicker sound and a particular command, and teaching your dog to recognise this association. When the dog responds correctly to any given command, they are rewarded with the sound of the clicker. The result is that specific, desirable dog behaviors are then marked.

Obviously, you first need to teach your dog that the clicker symbolises a reward for their good behavior and this can be helped along with the use of dog treats, and of course, a clicker purchased from your local pet shop.

An important note to mention here is that your dog should not hear the noise of that clicker except to let them know that they have done a good job and that they are about to receive a treat. In the early stages of training, if you use a verbal command at other times without use of a clicker, they may not respond as quickly because the association is not as strong between command and reward as it is between command, clicker and reward.

Clicker Dog Training – How It’s Done

Clicker dog training comprises of 3 basic steps. Initially, you need to get the dog to perform the correct behavior, in other words, convince them to do what it is you want. This may involve getting them to either sit, stay, come, roll over, or whatever trick you know will be easiest to get them to do first. As soon as they perform this behavior, immediately mark it with the clicker and their favourite reward.

Usually, you will see results after only 2 or 3 markings. Your dog will understand quickly what it was they did, and will start to repeat that correct response whenever you use the clicker. Clicker dog training is so successful because the dog’s immediate response to your command means that you can reward them straight away, reinforcing the association in the dogs mind. Using a verbal command on its own, without the use of a clicker, will take longer for the dog to grasp.

In the following days and weeks, continue this process to reinforce your dogs correct responses as much as possible. Making sure to always use the clicker, you can substitute the use of treats as rewards from time to time with lots of praise and petting. Your dog will appreciate this just as much and will eventually forget to expect a treat for their behavior.

Making the Transition to a Command

Once your dog is an A-Grade student and has mastered good behavior, you can make the transition to a verbal command that you can use anytime, anywhere, with or without a clicker. Whenever you choose to use the clicker, make sure to say the command, followed quickly by a click, and finished up with a reward. Your dog will very quickly learn to associate these 3 steps.

Progressing on from good clicker dog training, your dog will readily respond to verbal commands and praise at the drop of a hat and will simply learn the command.

There will be no further need for either the clicker, dog treats or praise, as your dog will instinctively know what the correct response is to any given command, and that it pleases you.

As you can now appreciate, there are many applications for clicker dog training. With a simple, sharp command, you will be able to mark and reinforce practically any behavior you want.

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