Puppy Training 101

Puppy training can be difficult for both you and your puppy, but it’s ultimately a rewarding experience. It’s important to have a well-trained puppy. Not only does it make you look good in your friends’ and neighbors’ eyes, but it also means fewer accidents for you to clean up. Not to mention, a well-trained puppy means a well-trained dog.

Training a puppy successfully takes preparation, praise and consistency. You want to be the most interesting thing in your puppy’s world. That way you’ll always have the little guy’s attention. Here are some important tips that will make training a little easier and a whole lot more successful.

Start with crate training

You should have a crate ready the first day you bring your puppy home. Because dogs naturally don’t want to soil their sleeping area, a crate will help house train your new friend by establishing a routine for their bathroom breaks. Crates also provide a den-like enclosure. A puppy can be overwhelmed in a new house, especially if you’re gone. A crate, like a den, makes them feel safe; they don’t have to worry about what’s behind them or in their peripheral vision, just what’s going on in front. Another great thing about a crate every dog owner can appreciate is that it keeps your house safe from chewing when you’re out.

Find a distraction-free location

Like kids, puppies aren’t going to have the longest attention span. So to prolong it, try teaching a new command at a location that is free from distractions for no longer than 20 minutes. This will allow your puppy to focus on learning. Once the command is learned, then go ahead and slowly introduce distractions.

Reward good behavior

We’re talking bribery here, plain and simple. When your puppy does something good, reward the behavior immediately with lots of praise and a delicious, healthy treat. If it makes you feel better, you can call the bribery “positive reinforcement.” The point is, your puppy will remember what happens when it does something good, and will continue doing it.

Ignore bad behavior

Puppies believe the entire universe revolves around them, and one of the best things in life is all the attention they get (and treats, of course). If your puppy does something naughty, do not yell or reprimand; good or bad, it is still attention. Simply move away and ignore it. This method is very effective and is used to show the pup what you consider to be unacceptable behavior.

Be consistent

Developing a training routine is key. Make sure you are consistent with everything you do so your puppy doesn’t get confused. The more your puppy does something the easier and more fun it becomes.

Be patient

If you’re calm, your puppy will be less excitable. And please, no yelling—your puppy is just a baby. Remember, you are teaching your pup how to do things correctly because it does not know any better.

Pet Friendly Places

Right around this time of year, we’re all thinking that summer went by a little too fast, especially for those who spent it working. But before you get too depressed, all’s not lost; Labor Day is almost here! What better time for a quick get away than holiday specifically created to give you a break from work? So pack up your bags, ask your neighbors to pick up your mail and set off on a much-deserved weekend get away. Oh, and don’t forget to bring your pet along!

Nowadays more people than ever are vacationing with their pets and as a result, more businesses are accommodating four-legged travelers. The days of being limited by pet restrictions are coming to an end. Thankfully there are tons of pet-friendly hotels out there, as well as activities like walking tours, water parks and hiking trails. But there has still always been one issue. What about dinner? Or any meal for that matter? The hotel doesn’t allow you to leave your pet in the room unattended, so how about taking your travel buddy with you to grab a bite?

Did you know that more and more restaurants are allowing guests to bring their pet along? Many websites like dogfriendly.com and petfriendlytravel.com list restaurants and bars throughout the country that allow pet owners to bring their furry travel buddies along for every meal of the day. These sites also include other pet-friendly businesses and travel listing, from camping to lodging to pet stores.

Health laws usually limit pets to outside dining areas only, so most of the pet-friendly restaurants and venues that allow animals offer outdoor or patio seating. Pet are also not allowed to eat or drink out of restaurant glasses or dishes, therefore remember to bring your dog’s own food dish or ask the waiter for a disposable bowl.

Some restaurants even have special menu items for pets like the “Dog Days Burger” at Bully Ranch in Colorado and the “Ham Barker Helper” at the Tin Shed Garden Café in Portland, Oregon.

So this year, take a break and send summer off with a bang by enjoying some relaxing time with your loyal pet!

Peepee time!

One of the most common questions new dog owners ask is how often they need to take their precious little puppy for a walk. Well, actually, you don’t really need to take them for a walk at all…if you’re willing to share your toilet! Okay, so you’re probably not going to be willing to do that. But if you do succeed in not only teaching your dog how to use the toilet, but how to put the seat down after they’re done as well, then by all means let us know your secret!

First, the frequency with which you need to walk your dog greatly depends on your breed. Typically, smaller breeds need to be taken for peepee breaks more often. And while larger dog breads can hold their bladder for upwards of eight hours (so you don’t have to worry while you’re at the office), it’s nice if you can walk them two to four times a day. And once your dog is old enough, they’ll learn to let you know one way or another when they need to relieve themselves, usually pawing at the front door, whimpering, or sniffing around in the corners of your home.

Beyond bathroom breaks, your dog will love you all the more even if you just have time to take them out for 10 or 15 minutes at a time for exercise (45 minutes to an hour is ideal). Any additional outside time they get is very refreshing for them. Believe it or not, dogs can get bored, so by letting them sniff everything in sight for even just a few minutes outside will make them significantly more happy!

Before Your Dog Is too Old for New Tricks

Teaching your dog tricks can be one of most fun and rewarding activities. Here are some tips to teach your dog how to turn around.

First, have your dog begin this exercise on all fours, facing frontward. While you do this, it’s imperative that your dog is able to see that you have one of their favorite treats. Now, make sure you eliminate any extra movement to avoid confusing your commands and tell your dog in a calm and clear voice to “turn around.” You will use the treat in your hand to guide your dog’s nose around to his left or right so that they end up walking in a circle. Upon completing their circle, you will then applaud them verbally, “good dog!”, and then reward them with the treat you had in your hand.

Thinking of putting cologne on your dog?

That’s probably not the best idea. Just in case you were thinking of that, don’t! Perfumes and colognes can contain chemicals harmful to dogs! Instead, when your dog starts to smell less than wonderful, then you should consider shampooing your playful pup.

And since most dog owners will agree that bathing their dogs tends to be a difficult task, you’re probably wondering how often you should bathe and shampoo your doggie. For starters, due to differing chemical make-ups, skin types and hair types, every species is different and requires a different bathing schedule. Plus, the environment you live in will obviously make a big difference too.

As a result, you will need to keep close observation of a few things in order to know when they need to receive some TLC in the bath. One of the most obvious signs is if they are just plain muddy and dirty. Dogs do clean themselves to an extent, but won’t really be bothered if they stay lathered in mud—it’s up to you to take care of that. Another obvious factor is if you witness flee activity, ranging from actual flees hopping around on your dog, reddish-black flaking on fabrics and constant scratching by your dog. If you see any of these signs, wash your dog with special flea shampoo immediately!

And as was mentioned, if your dog is just plain stinky, then feel free to go right ahead and shampoo them back to cleanliness. As a general rule of thumb, you can wash your dog once a week to help them stay clean and healthy. But make sure you don’t bathe them too often as this can actually dry their skin out.

Do I need to put a muzzle on my dog?

That all depends on what type of dog you’ve got. Chances are if you’ve got a wiener dog, then you probably don’t have much need for this type of dog accessory. One of the main reasons to have your dog wear a dog muzzle is if they are a larger breed. The larger they are, the larger the bite they are capable of. Even if your dog has never bitten anyone before, you never know what may provoke them in a crowded area. Sometimes dogs just get scared and overwhelmed in crowed situations, and will snap suddenly without thinking when they’re prodded by strangers; strictly due to panic. Especially if your dog gets skittish in foreign environments, a dog muzzle can help you avoid unfortunate incidents.

Dog muzzles are also used for training, traveling, patrolling, guarding and definitely for visiting their not-so-favorite place, the vet! They are also helpful devices to use if you have a newborn that you’ve introduced to the family. It’s a smart idea to let your dog get acclimated with a dog muzzle to make sure they act properly around your little one.

Dog muzzles are extremely humane as they are made to fit comfortably on your dog, often featuring inner felt linings which prevent uncomfortable rubbing. In addition, today’s muzzles are designed to offer your dog ample ventilation for comfortable breathing.

Are choke collars safe?

Choke collars, sometimes referred to as pinch collars or prong collars, tend to be a controversial dog accessory. Some people see them as overly constraining or abusive. However, if they are put on your dog correctly, they can do wonders for training your dog to be extremely obedient, in an extremely safe manner.

Traditional choke collars feature interlocking steel links which pinch into the skin of the dog when pulled back on with force. However, these prongs are never sharp enough to actually puncture the dog’s skin. They simply provide a reminder to the dog as to who’s boss. They may be your best friend, but they still need to learn not to constantly pull on their leash when you take them for a walk. Actually, the pinch created by these choke collars is designed to imitate the pressure that a mother applies to her pups when they are carried around as young ones. As a result, the pinch that is created is quite natural.

Remember, even though you love your dog, the best training and obedience is achieved through loving discipline.

What are the Benefits of a Durable Collar?

Harnesses are not necessary all the time.  Sometimes a collar will do you just fine.  However, like most dog accessories, you’re going to need a durable collar.

Dog Harness in Training

by contributing writer, Walter Brumbough

So I was thinking about Luka again.  I have been considering getting a pit.  I probably won’t get one right now considering my current state of affairs – my lifestyle is no lifestyle for a dog.  But in the future yes, I’d like to get a dog.

If I do get a dog, I would want to at least attempt to do most of the training myself.  To do this I’ll need a good strong harness, because pits are strong dogs who can pull a person around like nobody’s business.

With a harness I will be able to exercise control while walking.  I won’t have to tug on a collar that could snap off (a good harness is nearly impossible to snap off without some effort), or hurt the dog’s neck if I jerked too hard (that’s not likely to happen with an adult pit, but with a puppy who is more fragile). It will control most of my beautiful beast’s movement.  A harness combined with a good strong leash will do me well in our walking adventures.

The most important time I would need to be able to control my dog’s movement would be when encountering another dog.  Especially in the case of a pit bull, a lot of owners would be afraid to let their dog be around such a misunderstood breed.  I would need to be able to show that I could exercise control over my dog.

So if you have a dog, get yourself a harness.  If you have a harness… good for you!

I’m interested in hearing what harness you’ve purchased and how you feel about your purchase.  You can comment below.

Poor Doggy

As proud owners of our dogs Dean and Tyler, we’re familiar with the infinite amount of love that our dogs give us. And it simply breaks our hearts to think of all those dogs out there without proper care or homes—we’re constantly looking for ways to help less fortunate animals. As of May 15, 2009, we would like to offer massive discounts and specials on our products to all Humane Societies in the U.S.