How to Housetrain

Housetraining is perhaps the most important aspect of managing your dogs behavior and often the most difficult. Too often, not housetrained is the reason a dog is relinquished to an animal shelter or otherwise loses his home. While many dogs seem to be magically housetrained from the get-go, others have a harder time with the concept. Whether…

Housetraining Your Puppy

Human history offers many instances of great ideas that could not be fully realized until a complimentary idea evolved. One example of an invention that looked good on paper was, literally, on paper. Paper was first made in China in A.D. 105 during the reign of Emperor Ho Ti. Rumor had it, by A.D. 106, courtiers used…

Housebreaking Your German Shepherd Dog

You can train a puppy to relieve himself wherever you choose. For example, city dwellers often train their puppies to relieve themselves during walks because large plots of grass are not readily available. Of course, these people must be prepared to clean up public deposits. Suburbanites, on the other hand, usually have yards to accommodate…

Golden Retriever House Training

HOUSEBREAKING You can train a puppy to relieve itself wherever you choose. For example, city dwellers often train their puppies to relieve themselves in the gutter because large plots of grass are not readily available. Suburbanites, on the other hand, usually have yards to accommodate their dogs’ needs. Outdoor training includes such surfaces as grass, dirt and cement. Indoor training…

Prepping for puppy time

So, you are on your way to pick up your new puppy…but wait! Have you prepared your home and family for your new arrival? Taking these first steps before bringing home your new pup can put you both on the path to a great relationship.

Covering the basics You and your family most likely met to decide the…

Raising a puppy: Preventing object guarding

Object-guarding, a common problem with family dogs, will develop throughout puppyhood if owners allow it to. Owners may fail to notice their adolescent dog becoming increasingly possessive and protective. Some may actually encourage their puppy’s protective displays, thinking they are cute.

It is natural for dogs to protect their possessions. In the wild, a wolf would hardly pop next door…

Mental and physical fitness

In order to be well-adjusted pets, dogs need both mental and physical stimulation on a daily basis. The desire to “keep busy” is deeply ingrained in the majority of dogs.

Working, hunting, herding and guarding breeds are not the only ones with this need. Even small breeds of dogs retain a certain amount of work ethic–for example, a Yorkie…

Training your puppy to be home alone

All owners find it occasionally necessary to leave their puppydog at home alone. So before leaving your puppy for long periods, you should teach him how to amuse himself appropriately when left alone, such as by chewing stuffed chewtoys, and learning how to enjoy his own company without becoming anxious or…

Dog training:Follow me

Right from the outset, teach your puppy the notion of following you around the house and garden and in other fenced or safe areas. The principle of following is simple in theory; the owner leads, and the puppy follows. However, in practice the ‘following’ exercise is a little more involved and extremely amusing to watch. During the…

Dog training:Down

Teaching your dog the ‘down’ command With your puppydog sitting, say “Rover Down.” Let it sniff another food treat, and then quickly lower the lure to the ground between the pup’s forepaws. Most dogs assume a ‘playbow’ posture – forequarters lowered with sternum on the ground and hindquarters stuck up in the air as if they are mooning…

Dog training:Come

Call your puppy, “Rover, Come Here,” praise it each step of the way, take hold of its collar and scratch its ear with one hand, and give it a treat with the other. It’s as easy as that! Most puppies will approach their owners at the drop of a hat. Ordinarily, most three-month-old pups will approach virtually anything that…