Training

Just like a child, your puppy can develop either positive or negative behavior. All of the development, training and nurturing given to your puppy are essential to giving him the kind of life you want him or her to have.

Train according to his or her pace. Don't try to push a puppy beyond what he or she is ready for. All puppies respond best to patience and single word commands instead of shouting or spanking. With lots of understanding and proper training, every puppy and its owner should be able to form a close bond of companionship that will only grow over the years.

Housebreaking:

Before your new puppy enters your house, introduce him to the specific area of the yard you want him to associate with bathroom breaks.

While he's training, take your new puppy outside about every two hours as well as upon waking, after playing and feeding and before going to bed. Also, be alert to signals like sniffing and circling that may indicate he has to go.

When you can’t be home, crate your puppy. He will respect his space and will avoid soiling it. If you purchase a crate large enough to accommodate his adult size, you can partition off part of the crate so he won’t go in a corner of it.

Accidents will happen. Remember that shouting, scolding and punishment serve no purpose and will only confuse your puppy. Even if you catch him in mid-act, simply say “No!” and immediately take him outside.

A new puppy needs lots of positive reinforcement during housebreaking. Praise your puppy each time he goes outside in his assigned spot. Speak in an upbeat voice, smile and reward him with treats after he does his business.

Please Remember they are still BABIES!!

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Teaching Your Dog to Sit and Stay

Choose an identifiable landmark and have your dog sit down at that particular spot. It is important to remember where your dog is sitting and the direction in which he is facing. When teaching your dog to stay, it is very important to be able to return him or her back to the exact spot and direction to begin all over again. If you give in a little bit on the location of where he or she sits back down, the dog is likely to push limits and locations over and over again. The original spot will already be marked with his or her scent, so they will know they are returning to the exact location.

When you have your dog sit, hold the leash vertically above his head. Keep the leash tight, but allow just a little slack. Standing up straight, simply say “stay” (do not say the dog’s name or any other words). Be sure to make eye contact with your dog. Step in front of him or her while maintaining eye contact. Continue holding the leash over his head. If he tries to move, say ‘No’ and give the leash a gentle tug. After just a few seconds, you can slowly return to his side the same way you originally moved. Be sure to praise!

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Crate Training

Some dog lovers look at putting their pets in crates as a form of punishment or denial of freedom. On the other hand, many feel that it's a place where your dog can feel safe, as well as have his own personal space.

Crate training can be a safe haven for your dog in any kind of emergency. The same is true for car travel. Each year hundreds if not thousands of dogs get loose during car accidents. A strong crate can improve the chances that he'll survive and won't become lost.

When you choose a crate make sure it's the right size for your dog. The dog should be able to stand, turn around, stretch, and have some movement. Your vet or person at the pet supply store can help you figure out the correct size.

The main idea is for your puppy to love the crate, so you need to introduce him to it as a happy place. Let your puppy explore it on his own. Put some nice soft bedding inside, but don't make it too absorbent. You don't want him to think of it as a great place for a bathroom. Put some of his favorite toys inside, especially the ones he likes to chew on. Just make sure that they're safe for him to be alone with.

Next, put his food just inside so that he has to stick his head in to eat. In the beginning just let him wander in and out when he feels like it. The goal is to not force him, or he might think of it as scary or intimidating.

As he adjusts to the idea and starts going inside on his own, reinforce the behavior with a treat and use the command you'll be associating with going to the crate. For instance 'bed' or 'kennel'. Pick a short word or phrase and be consistent about using it so he won't get confused. Give the command in a friendly and somewhat excited voice so that he associates going into his crate with praise.

As soon as he acts comfortable in his crate, close the door for short periods of time. Continue with the treats and the command word. Never use the crate as punishment or he will quickly learn to hate it.

If he ever does have an 'accident', don’t make a big deal out of it. Take all the bedding out and wash it. Thoroughly clean the inside of the crate to eliminate the smell. Unless an adult dog is in there for too many hours, he or she won’t want to soil the space. If you have a puppy, the older they get, the longer they can hold their bladders and bowels.

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Jumping on family members or visitors

Your dog believes that by jumping on you or your friends he is showing you how much you are loved. But if you believe a visitor to your home will be bothered by your dog's well-meaning attention, a good option is to place your dog on a leash before people enter your home. Say "off" as the visitors approach. If your dog jumps, gently jerk him or her back. Repeat until the dog is obeying and offer praise.

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Barking

A little bit of barking isn't something you can control and is quite natural, but excessive barking is a habit that can be dealt with. Simply say (not shout) "quiet". If he or she continues to bark, hold your dog gently but firmly by the scruff of its neck with both hands, look into his eyes, and say "quiet" in a firm but not threatening way. As with all training, repetition is the key.

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