Sunday, May 10, 2009

House Training Your Puppy Using A Crate

Crate Training:

As far as house training goes, crate training is generally accepted to be the most effective and efficient means of house training a puppy in a short space of time.
What Is Crate Training?Crate-training is essentially the use of a small indoor kennel (the crate) to confine your young puppy when you’re not actively supervising her.



How Does It Work?
Crate training is based on all dogs’ inherent dislike of soiling the area where they sleep. Because you’re restricting your puppy’s movement to her sleeping space, she’ll instinctively “hold it in” until she’s let out of the crate (provided you don’t leave her in there too long, of course!) This is why it’s important that the crate is sized properly: if it’s too big, she’ll be able to use one end as a bed and one end as a toilet, which defeats the whole purpose!



How Do I Choose A Crate?
As a general guideline, it’s more cost-effective for you to choose a crate that’s big enough for her to grow into. It should be big enough for the adult dog to stand up comfortably without crouching, turn around in, and stretch out – but no bigger (so that she doesn’t choose one part as her bed, and one part as her toilet!)Because the adult dog is likely to be considerably larger than the puppy, it’ll most likely be necessary for you to use a barrier to reduce the internal size of the crate. A wire grille or board will do just fine.



Crate Training Works Like This:
Your puppy is in that crate at all times unless she’s sleeping, eating, outside with you going to the toilet, or being played with (active supervision.)You’ll need to be consistent, or else it won’t work: you can’t let your puppy wander off through the house unless you’re focusing your complete attention on her. If you allow your puppy access to the house before she’s thoroughly house trained, you’re basically encouraging her to relieve herself inside – and remember, each time she does this, it’ll be easier for her to do it again (and again…and again …)



How Long Does It Take:
Crate training generally takes one to two months (depending on the breed of your dog and how much time you spend on the training process.) As the puppy grows older, you can begin to reduce the amount of time spent in the crate – but beware of doing this too soon!



Other Crate Training Facts:
- Your puppy probably won’t be too happy to go in the crate the first couple of times she uses it. She wants to be outside, being showered with affection and attention, and hanging out with you (of course!) But it really is for her own good – in a surprisingly short time, she’ll come to accept the crate as her own personal haven where she can go to relax and get a couple hours’ uninterrupted sleep. It’s important to persevere: do not respond to any whining or crying.



- The best place for the crate to be is the hub of the household: usually the den or the kitchen, anywhere where people tend to congregate. Just because she’s in the crate doesn’t mean she can’t still feel like part of the household; it’s important for her not to feel isolated or excluded.


- The crate should be a welcoming, inviting place for her to go. Lay a couple of thick blankets or towels on the floor, and place a few toys and a chew or two inside it as well. The door should be invitingly open at all times (unless she’s in there, of course, in which case it should be securely shut.)


Some Toilet Facts About Puppies That Will Come In Handy:


- Puppies’ bladders and bowels are so small and weak that they have only a very small window of opportunity between knowing that they need to go, and having that need become an immediate reality.
Because of this, it’s imperative that you take her outside as soon as she wakes up (she’ll let you know she needs to go out by pawing the door and whining), and within ten minutes of eating or playing.



- Behaviors that indicate she needs to go outside include sniffing the ground and circling. Again, because she’s only little, she won’t exhibit these warning signs for very long – so as soon as she starts, take her out straight away. Better an unnecessary trip to the yard than an unnecessary wet patch (or pile) on the carpet!


- The maximum amount of time that a puppy can be crated at one time is figured out using the following equation: her age in months, plus one. So, a three-month old puppy can be crated for a maximum of four hours. However, this is likely to be physically pretty uncomfortable for her (not to mention hard on her emotionally and psychologically: it’s tough being cramped up with nothing to do), so you should really take her out at least once every two hours during the day. If she’s sleeping, of course, just let her sleep until she wakes up naturally. The greatest value to you, however, is the lasting peace of mind that an effective and efficient house training program will bring, to you and your pet. At the end of the day, your dog WANTS to please you – but it’s up to you to learn how.


House Training your Dog: Getting it Right the First Time, in No Time.You Don’t Need the Stress, and You Sure Don’t Need the MessJust Click Here To Learn More

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Leash Train Your Puppy

When you start to leash training your puppy you want to instill in them a sense of calm before the leash ever goes on. The sight of the leash signals that they are going out on a grand adventure. They become very excited by the prospect and it can be difficult to even get the leash affixed to their collar let alone control the puppy. If you allow your puppy to set the mood for your walk as a nerve racking frenzy of movement and excitement, then they will continue the walk at the same pace.

Now your are almost ready. You might have noticed your puppy trembling in excitement She is ready for the walk and just can’t wait. Hold on to the end of the leash tightly. Your puppy may bolt madly around the room in a renewed frenzy of excitement . Just stand still until your puppy calms and comes back to you praise her profusely.


Then walk around the room with her a bit. If your puppy repeats the pulling behavior, again stand still. She will quickly learn that a frenzy of activity is not rewarded and will be much calmer at the end of the leash. Again praise her for being a good dog. Keep repeating this activity until you feel confident that your pet is ready for the added stimulus of being outdoors.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Choosing A New Puppy For Your Home

Selecting the right puppy for your family home is very significant to everyone. Will the puppy be able to get along with your children? Will the puppy get along with other pets you may have in your home? Does the puppy have a good temperament? These are some of the questions you should think about and answer when making your decision to bring a new puppy into your home.What type of puppy are you looking for? A purebred, mixed breed or just a plan old mutt. Mixed breeds can be less expensive, whereas purebreds can be quite costly. Mutts can be as lovable,energetic, and loyal as the purebred or mixed breeds. Size is also a consideration. Think about the size the puppy may grow to due to it's breed. Is there room for the puppy to run and play inside of your home? Will it be inside a lot because you don’t go outside a lot. For outside play do you have an outside fenced area or do you need to think about dog parks? A puppy develops his personality about seven weeks of age. Take the time in making the selection for your puppy and you both will be rewarded. Make sure the puppy likes to be picked up and cuddled. Drop a book or clap your hands during a quiet moment and see if the pup runs and hides. Get on your hands and knees and play with the puppy to see if he responds to you. Is the puppy aggressive towards you or does it wants to play? There are lots places to start your search. Ask your friends or your veterinarian are great places to start. Don’t overlook the adopt-a-pet option from the local humane society. To Learn More Click Here!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Welcome to my blog

Welcome to blog about puppy and dog care and training.