 |
Puppy House Training Essentials
Author: John Burns  | Posted: 30-07-2007 | Comments: 0 | Views: 2 | Rating: (50)  (?) 
 Once you arrive home with your puppy there will inevitably be a period of adjustment, but even during the first week or two your new arrival can begin to learn what is considered acceptable behaviour in your home – where it is supposed to go to the toilet, what it is allowed to chew, where it can sleep and so on.
Some people do not mind having their dog on the couch. For others, a pet on the furniture would be unacceptable behaviour. The same holds true for begging at the table, jumping up at people, and other objectionable behaviours.
Decide at the start what your household policy will be, enforce it from these first early weeks and most importantly be consistent.
Failure to teach your dog the rules of the house when he is young can result in an unmanageable adult dog.
If you have decided that your puppy is going to sleep in a dog bed or crate, make sure you enforce that behaviour from day one. Your puppy might cry in response to separation from mother or litter mates. A hot water bottle and plenty of TLC should provide a little extra comfort.
Teaching your puppy where you expect him or her to go to the bathroom is probably the most critical part of training
The best method of toilet training is to take your puppy out within several minutes after each meal, after each nap, and after playing. These are predictable moments during the day when bowel and bladder are most full.
Feed your puppy at scheduled mealtimes and avoid snacks between feedings if at all possible. Allowing your puppy continuous access to food or water makes house training more difficult. Prevent "accidents" between meals by taking your pup out before the accidents occur.
The outward signs a puppy may show include circling, squatting, whimpering, sniffing the floor or sneaking off and heading for the door, and he must be taken outside immediately to perform. If you’re not quick enough, the puppy should still be taken outside to finish the act.
It is best to walk your puppy within 15 minutes or sooner after each meal. Take him out to the same spot each time. If your puppy is too young to walk on a leash, carry him outside to an enclosed, safe area. Stay nearby and play with or pet him.
Praise immediately once the task is completed. A few tasty treats offered when the puppy goes in the right place can encourage good behaviour. These then can be given intermittently and then stopped after training has been successful.
Don't be fooled if your puppy happens to get it right for the first few weeks. Start now, and stick with it until your pup really has no accidents. Toilet training isn't great fun, but it is crucial.
Chewing if often a headache with pups, and many a carpet or chair has suffered from the ravages of puppy teeth. Initially, a puppy will use his mouth to investigate his environment, and throughout the teething process, it gives a puppy relief to chew on all manner of items. Providing appropriate items for your puppy to chew on can sometimes be a simple way of solving the problem.
At a very young age puppies begin to learn how much pressure with their mouths is too much by the reactions of their mothers and litter mates. When puppies play, they bite each other's ears and chew each other's necks, until one bites down too hard. Then, the bitten puppy lets out a piercing cry, gets up and walks away.
This teaches the biting puppy that when it is too rough, play ends. If it is you that the puppy is chewing, the moment the pressure increases use a high pitched cry, leaving your hand in his mouth. Once the pressure is released, slowly remove your hand and praise him, offering a suitable chew toy in exchange.
Socialisation training is the other aspect of behaviour that needs reinforcing early on. Key experiences during the first three months of life will form the basis of how the puppy relates to and interacts with many individuals that they will come across in their future lives such as:
• Adults and children
• Other dogs and puppies
• Different types of pets, livestock and horses
• And not forgetting the postman!
Also during this period puppies get used to the every day hassles of life which include:
• Household noises and appliances
• Cars and traffic
• Crowds
• Periods of separation
Unfortunately the primary course of vaccinations for puppies will only be completed at about 11 to 12 weeks of age, which leaves only a small window during the last month of the critical 'sensitive developmental period' to achieve socialisation.
The aim of training is to achieve a puppy that is friendly and eager to meet people and other animals. You can then build on this by preventing bad behaviour, ignoring or distracting unwanted actions and rewarding and praising good behaviour. Hopefully, this will produce a dog that is a pleasure to own.
Rate this Article:
Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/puppy-house-training-essentials-190196.html
About the Author:John Burns is a qualified veterinarian
who for the past fourteen years has also been producing a natural, holistic and
complete food for dogs and cats, Burns Real Food - free of artificial colours,
flavourings and preservatives.
As a practising Veterinary Surgeon, John became increasingly concerned about the
quality of pet foods on the market, and how nutrition was playing a part in the
poor health of the pets that he was seeing in his surgery.
Burns Pet Nutrition are known for being an ethical company with excellent customer
service and nutrition support which can be accessed via their website www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
I have germen shepheard puppy 70 days old but find ...
By: LOIUS | 16-09-2007
i have germen shepheard puppy 70 days old but find that his 1 ear is completely standing but the other one not tell me what needs to be done
How to introduce good eating habbits in children
By: rrboo7 | 21-08-2007
how to introduce good eating habbits in children
Child support from military fathers
By: AmberTyler | 13-08-2007
I have recently posted this question before but have not gotten any answers and its very important to me and I really would like to know. If you have one child with a man in the military do you get 60% of everything he makes or do you make the amount they show you on paper ? Because I have heard both. PLEASE HELP ...
Puppy chewed on tree frog...help
By: KADEN | 10-08-2007
my puppy was chewing on a tree frog. will this make him sick? he didn't actually eat it. I know toads can make a dog sick...can frogs?
Who can teach me some simple things about star ...
By: Charity Wilkins | 08-08-2007
who can teach me some simple things about star gazing?
American Girl
By: yeddascott | 02-08-2007
Is American Girl good for girls' self-esteem?
Q&A Powered by: 
Latest Pets Articles
Some Facts About Mountain Lions
By: Omer Ashraf | 29/08/2008
Mountain Lions are skilled predators and adaptable creatures. Here are some facts regarding these fascinating creatures.
Information Regarding the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
By: Omer Ashraf | 29/08/2008
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is a pathogen that is often recorded in cats. It causes an AIDS-like chronic illness in felines.
What To Look Out For When Shopping For A Pet Health Insurance Plan
By: Kritthaphat N. | 29/08/2008
Pet health insurance is the latest buzz word in pet care today. However, for all the hype that it's making, it can't magically make all your expenses go away. Before purchasing a pet health insurance plan, there are many aspects that need to be examined. This article outlines the most...
Six Ways To Lessen Pet Care And Vet Expenses
By: Kritthaphat N. | 29/08/2008
Keeping pets in the house could do serious damage to your savings account. A pet entails almost as much responsibilities as taking care of a small child. You need to feed them, groom them, and take them out for walks and regular check ups to the vet. Most people endure...
Who Else Wants A Good Dog?
By: Kritthaphat N. | 29/08/2008
Everyone wishes for a well behaved pet dog that wouldn't chew on their favorite shoes, or leave half-eaten newspapers on the lawn. We all long to find our own version of Lassie, but it's difficult when we don't know where to start. Training your mutt to be a Class A...
Do You See The 3 Signs Of Cat Heat Stroke?
By: Kritthaphat N. | 29/08/2008
If you were wearing layers of clothing the whole year round, you'll get a heat stroke too. Your feline friend is prone to heat exhaustion as much as any furry pet in town. Most cat owners neglect to check on their fur balls during the summer because cats are generally...
Fluffy Gets a Bath
By: Debbie Foster | 29/08/2008
Tips on how to safely and effectively bathe your cat.
Terrier Basics - Training Your Silky Dog
By: Max Young | 29/08/2008
Reiteration is the name of the dog training game. In here, dogs are expected to do a task over and over again to attain mastery. Trainings with obedience classes can be intensely beneficial in caressing your silky terriers. Most people think that disciplining a dog is laborious and expensive.
More from John Burns
An Introduction to Holistic Pet Care
By: John Burns | 30/07/2007 | Pets
Much of modern thought is geared to seeing the individual as a series of separate systems which function independently of each other. We have specialists for skin, kidneys, nervous system, bones, heart and so on.
Food companies produce whole ranges of veterinary -only diets, each food designed to treat or manage a specific health problem. Diets are developed containing supplements to promote healthy joints or immune systems, clean teeth, avoid hairball and so on.
Growth and Development of Puppies and Kittens
By: John Burns | 30/07/2007 | Pets
As a new pet owner you are naturally anxious to make sure the new arrival receives the right amount of nutrients in their diet for healthy growth and development.
Basic Nutrition for Dogs
By: John Burns | 30/07/2007 | Pets
Just like ourselves, our pets need a regular supply of food in order to stay healthy. The foods that we eat contain components which are involved in the very complex processes that take place in the body's cells, provide the building blocks for growth and supply energy to keep the body warm.
Our pets have several requirements that have to be met by the diet that we provide
What not to Feed your Pet This Christmas!
By: John Burns | 30/07/2007 | Pets
Christmas is a time when it is easy to overfeed a pet or give it inappropriate food - there are certain foods which we as humans enjoy but which are not good for pets
Raw Feeding of Dogs - Barf
By: John Burns | 30/07/2007 | Pets
The BARF (“Bones and Raw Food” or “Biologically Appropriate Raw Food”) diet is a system of holistic nutrition which is championed by Dr Ian Billinghurst who is an Australian vet. Dr. Billinghurst has published several books on health and nutrition. The best known of these is called “Give Your Dog a Bone”. The BARF Evolutionary philosophy is at first glance an attractive one; it seems to be truly natural because it tries to emulate the lifestyle of the dog in the wild.
But, after due consideration I am of the opinion that the BARF theory, like the emperor’s new clothes, does not stand up to critical inspection.
The Overweight Dog
By: John Burns | 30/07/2007 | Pets
Many owners are surprised when they are told that their dog is overweight. The easiest way to tell is by feeling the ribcage. The ribs should be easily and clearly felt with little flesh between the fingers when you pinch the skin.
Looking After a New Puppy
By: John Burns | 30/07/2007 | Pets
Deciding to buy a puppy should be a careful, well-thought out decision. A dog can be the most rewarding of pets, but also one of the most demanding. Before you buy a puppy, please think first. Is there really time for a dog in your life, and can you give a commitment that might for 12 years, possibly more?
Puppies need lots of time, care and patience. Follow these guidelines and your efforts will be positively rewarded.
Kitten Development
By: John Burns | 30/07/2007 | Pets
A kitten is not totally independent until about 6 months old. In the wild it would remain with its mother until then, if not longer. A kitten can be fully weaned at about 8 weeks old. It should not leave its mother until then. Pedigree kittens suckle for two weeks longer than non-pedigrees and are not fully weaned until 12 weeks old.
|
|
Home and Family 
