Showing posts with label puppy crate training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label puppy crate training. Show all posts

Thursday, 24 September 2009

Is Puppy Toilet Training Becoming A Pain?

Puppy toilet training doesn't have to be a pain. If you plan carefully beforehand and decide on the method you are going to use to toilet train your puppy then things should go pretty smoothly.

First of all you should bear in mind that your new puppy will need to go to the toilet very frequently. Your puppy wont be able to tell you when he wants to relieve himself, so you will have to plan his routine carefully and watch out for the signs that he wants to go to the toilet. If you puppy starts sniffing the ground and turning around in circles, that is a sure sign that he wants to go to the toilet. So take action fast and take him to his toilet area. Remember to praise him when he goes.

You should decide where you want your puppy to go to potty and take him there frequently throughout the day. When your puppy is very young you will need to take him outside to his toilet area around every half hour to an hour. Also take him out to potty first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

Always give your puppy lots of praise when he does his business in his toilet area and you could also use special keywords, such as "potty" and "wee wee". In time you could get him to eliminate on command.

With young puppies accidents are bound to happen so be prepared. Always clean up accidents thoroughly and make sure you use a cleaning fluid that will get rid of any lingering smells. If any odour remains, your puppy will smell this and is bound to use the same spot again.

If you find your puppy has had an accident and left a puddle (or worse) on the floor, please do not scold him after the event. Your puppy will have long forgotten about it and will not understand why he is being scolded. If you catch your puppy going on the floor, simply remain calm and scoop him up and take him to his toilet area.

If you decide to crate train your puppy, this be very helpful when toilet training your puppy. When your puppy has got used to his crate and is comfortable being in his crate, you can put him in there for the night. Make sure he has a comfortable blanket or bed to sleep on and if at first he cries during the night, you can place a ticking clock wrapped up in a towel in beside him. This will remind him of his mother's heartbeat and will soothe and comfort him. You can also put your puppy in his crate when you have to leave him unattended for short periods of time. Anyways make sure he has toys and dog chews to keep him occupied while you are away.

If you follow my advice, puppy toilet training doesn't have to be a pain. It will take time, patience and persistence but it will be well worth it in the end when your puppy is toilet trained.

If you would like some further help and advice you can visit this website for more Puppy Obedience Training Tips

Sunday, 30 August 2009

3 Important Puppy Crate Training Tips You Should Know

When you get a new puppy you may want to consider puppy crate training. Crate training your puppy is a good way to help with toilet training your puppy and if done correctly. the crate will give your puppy a place of his own where he can feel safe and secure.

1. Choose The Right Size Crate For Your Puppy

It is important that you choose the right size crate for your puppy. The crate should be large enough so your puppy can stand up, turn around and lay down comfortably. If the crate is too big your puppy will soil in one area of the crate and sleep in the other area. So do not choose a crate that is too big. If the crate is on the large size you can always partition off part of the crate and then remove the partition as your puppy grows. If your puppy is of a breed of dog that will grow very large it may be a good idea to purchase a large crate and partition it off. You can buy crates that will have a partition and this will save you from having to buy a larger crate at a later stage in your puppy's growth.

2. Never Use The Crate To Punish Your Puppy

It is a very bad idea to send your puppy to his crate as a punishment. If you use the crate as a punishment you puppy will associate his crate with negative emotions and will resist going into the crate. The purpose of crate training your puppy is so that he enjoys going to his crate, sees it as a safety zone and also it is a puppy proof area where you can leave your puppy unsupervised. But please do not keep your puppy in his crate for prolonged periods of time. 2 hours is the maximum time you should leave your puppy shut in his crate, except for when he is sleeping in it overnight.

3. Do Not Force The Crate Onto Your Puppy

You should introduce the crate to your puppy gradually and do not force it onto your puppy. First of all just place the crate in a quiet corner of the living room and leave the door open. Let your puppy explore the crate if he wants to. Encourage him by placing a nice tempting puppy chew or treat just inside the crate to make him curious. Gradually put the chew or treat further inside the crate so in the end your puppy has to go right inside the crate to retrieve the chew or treat. When your puppy is used to going inside the crate and is comfortable being inside, close the door for a minute or two, then open it again. If your puppy panics and starts crying or barking, wait for him to calm down and then reward him for being quiet. Gradually increase the time your puppy is inside the crate with the door closed. When you feel your puppy is ready, let your puppy spend the night in the crate with the door closed. Remember to let him out of the crate and take him outside to go to the bathroom first thing in the morning.

With time and patience your puppy will come to love his crate. It will be his own special place where he can feel safe and secure.

Your can visit this website for some further puppy obedience training tips