| Crate Training is one of the most efficient and effective ways to train a puppy or dog. Watch our Free Videos on Crate Training a Puppy or Dog The single most important aspect of dog and puppy training is that you reward and praise your dog or puppy each and every time she does the right thing. For example: praise her when she chews her own toys instead of the couch or eliminates outside instead of in the house. The more time you spend with your puppy or dog, the quicker and easier it will be to train her. The key to house training is to establish a routine that increases the chances that your dog will eliminate in the right place in your presence, so that she can be praised and rewarded; and decreases the chances that your dog will eliminate in the wrong place so that she will not develop bad habits. It is important that you make provisions for your dog when you are not home. Until your dog is housetrained, she should not be allowed free run of your house. Otherwise, she will develop a habit of leaving piles and puddles anywhere and everywhere. Confine her to a small area such as a kitchen, bathroom or utility room that has water/stain resistant floors. Confinement is NOT crate training. What is Crate Training? Crate training can be an efficient and effective way to house train a dog. Dogs do not like to soil their resting/sleeping quarters if given adequate opportunity to eliminate elsewhere. Temporarily confining your dog to a small area strongly inhibits the tendency to urinate and defecate. However, there is still a far more important aspect of crate training. Crate Training Video's |
| INDOOR HOUSETRAINING Housetraining is one of the most important skills your puppy will learn. Most information on house- training is related to teaching a dog to go outside when nature calls. But there are some situations, particularly with city dogs, in which you’ll want to teach a puppy to use papers or an indoor “puppy potty.” With many puppies, the indoor set-up will serve as a safety net until the puppy can be transitioned to the outdoors. Remember that even when puppies are using papers, they still need plenty of socialization and opportunities for outdoor exercise. 1. Choose an area with a floor surface that is easy to clean (such as a tile doorway, kitchen or bathroom). Cover the floor with plastic. You can use a piece of an old shower curtain. Put the newspapers on top of the plastic. 2. Alternatives to newspapers If you don’t want to use newspapers, pet stores sell “puppy pads” that are specifically designed for housetraining. In addition to puppy pads, a number of companies have a product called a “dog potty.” To decide if you’d rather use a commercial dog potty instead of papers, go to www.google.com Type “dog potty” in the search box and you’ll be able to look at a number of commercial products. 3. Keep the area clean When your puppy uses the papers, replace the dirty papers (or clean the potty) as soon as possible. If you catch your puppy using the papers, be sure to praise the puppy. White vinegar or special cleaning products from your local pet store can be used to remove odors. 4. Accidents happen If you catch your puppy eliminating somewhere other than the paper, quickly pick the puppy up and rush to the paper. Don’t yell at or scold the puppy. Praise the puppy for going on the paper. 5. Transitioning to the Outdoors As they grow older, puppies will be able to control their bladders and bowels for longer periods of time. This will make it possible for you to get down the hall of a city high-rise, onto the elevator, and outside in plenty of time. Praise your puppy and give a treat for eliminating outside. If it is your goal to have a dog who does not use papers indoors, begin the housetraining process with frequent trips outside. For more |