Potty Training: When establishing boundaries and Potty Train Your Dog, the use of training tools will assist in making the process simpler and more manageable for both you and the dog. Crates, leashes, treat, clicker and toys will aid in the celebrity dog training process. An odor neutralizer is another important product to have on hand during potty training. Use it to take out the smell when there has been an accident, otherwise, your puppy will continue to use that same spot.
The crate can be used in two ways:
1. Utilize a crate to replicate the “den” environment that dogs need and feel secure in. If the puppy is given the opportunity to get out of the crate when it needs to go, it’s natural to desire to be clean and not soil the area it sleeps and spends the time it will keep it from relieving in the crate. The crate should only be large enough for the dog to stand up and turn around in.
2. The crate can also be used as a safe haven for the puppy when it cannot be supervised. This will keep the puppy out of harm’s way while you are too busy to look after the dog. It is crucial that the puppy is not successful in breaking the rules i.e. chewing, digging, or doing its business in an undesirable area. Start housebreaking your puppy with a simple feeding schedule. It should be fed twice daily. Free feeding is never recommended. If the dog will not eat right away, leave the food for 20 minutes, then pick up whatever food is left over. The puppy will have another opportunity to eat during its evening feeding. It may take a few days for the puppy to learn that it must eat when fed.
There are two reasons for the scheduled feeding. The first is that you will know when to give the dog a potty break (usually 15-60 minutes after eating.) The second reason is that food is not readily available in nature and it is important to mock that environment frequently. Everyone has a question regarding How To Train My Puppy, so have a look at my Dog Training Ecourse to know better. Despite the old rules of training a puppy, you should never hit or rub his nose in his messes, or yell at your puppy. In addition, most dogs respond negatively to aggressive and mean behavior and it has the opposite effect—they regress in their training rather than advance. Instead, while housebreaking the dog, take it straight outside when it has an accident. Be sure to praise good behavior! A new behavior that is being taught should include many high-value rewards. For my dog, it’s food because he desires food over a toy or praise. You don’t want to always reward good behavior, but have it become normal behavior. However, when teaching a new behavior, you want to reward frequently.
It may not be feasible to always have food or your pet’s favorite toy around, so when impressed, give verbal and physical praise. Please keep in mind, if you are training in an environment that may be stressful to your dog, avoid hovering over your dog’s head and body; that may stress them out even more. But, if you have a confident, happy-go-lucky dog, then there’s no need to worry about agitating it.
During this process, keep in mind that full control of the bladder and bowels won’t happen until 16 weeks of age, so don’t expect too much from your puppy in the beginning. It is also helpful to buy a stain and odor remover when housebreaking a new puppy. Dogs cannot smell household cleaners and sprays; only those made for animals will work. When an accident happens, clean the mess and spray immediately. This will cover the residual odor and your puppy will not try to mark his territory again. Remember, housebreaking a puppy is a big responsibility that can lead to you and your puppy sharing a special bond.
The use of toys can also be helpful when training puppies because they keep the dog motivated. An easy way to identify what toys are your pet’s favorites is to allow it to sniff two different toys. Then, hold a different toy in each hand, and with your arms extended from one another, watch your dog’s eyes. They will let you know which one it is most interested in. One common mistake pet owners make when trying to engage in play with a toy is throwing the toy too far. Keep it simple to complex, meaning the distance should only be a six-foot toss. Throw the toy and see how engaged the dog is. If it isn’t too interested, try making the toy come alive. For example, if you have a stuffed squirrel toy, wiggle it as if it’s a real squirrel. This brings out the animal’s instinctive prey drive, wanting to chase something, and it is an opportunity to have fun and bond.
Once you have had the chance to assess which toy makes your canine the most excited, use that one as a training reward. I find that putting the toy under my armpit is an easy place for quick retrieval when rewarding. It is never a good idea to put the toy behind your back. The issue I have with keeping food, toys or objects hidden (behind your back) is that it isn’t good for the trust of your dog and it sends a message that they are running the show and you are intimidated. I have seen this time and time again. It’s usually due to the handler feeling uncomfortable with the task they are attempting to accomplish.
