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Posts Tagged ‘how to train a puppy’

Clicker training is a method of training dogs that has come on the scene only in the past couple of decades. It’s used to train show dogs to do special tricks, but it can also be used to train your family Labrador retriever to sit or lie down. Clicker training starts with the knowledge that dogs want to please their masters.

Dogs enjoy training. They like to have their “pack” around them. It’s hard for them to succeed because we have trouble communicating what we want from them. The clicker tells the dog, “What you did THEN was great!” and rewards the behavior. The dog says, “Hey that was fun! What did I do?” and tries to get the human to repeat the click and reward behavior. So we end up training each other.

Clicker training works with a ratio of almost all reward and no punishment (when there is negative reinforcement, it has to come immediately at the dog’s undesirable action and the response doesn’t cause the dog physical pain). A clicker trained dog is happy and cheerful and never afraid of you. Here are five tips for clicker training your dog.

1. Do get the kids — and whole family — involved in the training. It’s not necessary to have enough strength to jerk a strong dog into submission, because you don’t use a leash. All you have to have are clicker, treats, and time. You’ll want to supervise little ones, especially with big dogs, but the clicker training will get the whole family on the same page with regard to expectations, words and rewards.
2. When you’re starting out, click anything that approaches what you want. The dog learns to do the behavior and then learns the word for it. So if you’re teaching your puppy to sit, then you click and reward any time its rear end gets close to the floor. As time goes by, you’ll get pickier with your clicks, and the dog will keep playing the game for rewards.
3. Practice clicker training with your dog every day. Pick a behavior to concentrate on, and click and reward anything that approaches that behavior. Dogs are so social that we forget they don’t understand them. So the word “sit” doesn’t mean anything to them until we teach them to connect it to the action of putting their rear end on the floor.
4. Once the dog understands that “butt on floor” means click and treat and associates that behavior with the sound “sit,” then you can refine the behavior. You can use the clicker to say that a good sit gets a reward and a sloppy sit gets a “try again” (not punishment, just no reward). The progression moves naturally, and eventually you can put the clicker away until the next time you want to teach something.
5. Make sure that both you and the dog enjoy training. Dogs are social animals who love to interact with their pack in the wild or their family in a home setting. With a cheery voice and happy bearing, you can persuade them to do astonishing tricks.

Clicker training is a great way to raise a dog to expect good things from people. A confident dog is friendlier and more loving than a fearful dog, and they love to learn to do what you want from them.

Click here for more information about clicker training.

potty training puppies

Potty training puppies can be a lot of fun with an attitude of healthy helpfulness. Take a look at a new puppy's mental health. Try to imagine what it is like for a puppy to be exploring in the world they call home. As far back as puppies remember may only be a few minutes ago. When training your puppy, remember this when they have an accident. Puppies want to please and when that memory gets around to charging back they will amaze the most skeptical human. Meanwhile, keep shoes up along with anything else that is not a chew toy. Give positive reinforcement and praise in a happy voice they will love. Keep a small treat on hand as a reward for proper potty power.

Accidents seen while the puppy is in the act only need a 'no' and a tap of the shoe on the floor." Any yelling will make potty training for puppies a nervous experience. It does not do any good to correct a puppy after the fact. Just quietly clean up. Be sure to use puppy pads or newspaper in an area indoors where the puppy is allowed to go to the bathroom. It is always good to have this alternative to outdoors just if there is a delay in getting home. If your puppy does its business on your carpet be sure to scrub well to eliminate any lingering scent.

Crate training works well for new puppies and can help provide a sanctuary. Some people keep their new puppies in a crate, while at work. While this might work for some types of dogs, puppies may have a difficult time holding on. It may be better to allow them to be in an area where it is okay to go potty. It is best not to put newspapers or puppy pads next to a crate when doing potty training puppies. This is because of the smell factor, resulting in the fact that they do not want to sleep next to bad smells.

Try to keep puppies on a schedule as much as possible. When potty training puppies they should go outside after meals and naps. Spending time outdoors on a daily basis also gives puppies and their people much needed exercise. It's a good idea ncorporate trips out with puppy time. One last little tip for single people is that a puppy can attract people. Why not have a little fun with that?

Yorkies are known to be more difficult to housebreak, so a little extra TLC may be in order. Commit to investing the time and effort required for house training puppies, and you will be rewarded with a wonderful relationship with your dog. Developing proper potty habits can take a bit more time with the smaller breeds.

First thing to determine is inside or outside. Yorkies are a favorite breed of apartment dwellers due to their need for minimal space. Some Yorkies don’t like to go outside during bad weather, so you might consider an indoor potty spot if this applies. Little dogs have little bladders, and this is a big part of the reason why it takes them longer to potty train, as you have to watch them that much more! if you are regularly out of the house each day for more than a few hours, you cannot expect your dog to be able to control his bladder for extended periods of time. In this case, choose a discreet area of your home for the puppy training pads. All you need is a small area of grass or patch of dirt, just remember that spot and always go right to the same location.

Starting and ending the walk with an opportunity to go potty is the best approach until you begin to understand your little one’s potty schedule. The scent of urine is an indication to your dog that this is the potty spot, and by using the same area this builds a strong habit. Keep your neighborhood clean by always taking litter bags (baggies work just fine) to clean up any little messes left behind. Do not worry if your Yorkie happens to go along the walk, this is fine as long as he doesn’t go inside.

One common problem is that dogs may refuse to go outside in cold weather and end up having an accident on your floor. A sweater is a great way to address that situation and make going out in poor weather more tolerable. If this is the case, you might want to think about an indoor alternative for these situations.

Don’t be afraid to heap lots of praise and affection on your puppy in order to help him learn proper potty habits quickly. When your pup has done his business, offer him lots of verbal praise and affection. Do not be afraid to offer a delicious treat as a training incentive!

House Training a dog can take anywhere from a few days to a few months, and Yorkies are known to be on a longer learning curve, so remember to be patient! Learn how to train a puppy properly and you will be rewarded with a wonderful relationship between you and your Yorkshire Terrier.

potty training a puppy

Old newspapers are one of the staple items you need to keep in stock when potty training puppies. Newspaper is absorbent enough to take care of a little excrement, tough enough to prevent solid waste from seeping to the floor, and soft enough not to hurt the puppy or damage the floor as the puppy settles in to do its business. All of this from recycling yesterday's news.

Old newspaper then has quite a few roles to play when it comes to the potty training a puppy. It can serve these unique roles as:

Potty-training material
Because of newspaper's inherent absorbency and toughness, it does a pretty respectable job of holding and keeping excrement. You typically put the stuff under a puppy's potty grill to catch the urine and/or dog droppings. Once it has done that, you can toss out the soiled stuff in the garbage can at the end of the day. You could even lay out the newspapers on the floor in a cinch if you have to, but try not to use this method of potty training for long. It's possible that a puppy could grow up to be a dog that will do its business on any kind of papers left on the floor, so you must be very careful if you choose to potty train a puppy using old newspaper.

Material that can be used for cleaning
The very same qualities that make newspaper a good potty training material also makes the newspaper excellent for cleaning up after your puppy's accidents. All you need to do is simply place the newspaper on wet spots to soak up the pee, while you can actually pick up solid fecal matter with the paper while wrapping it up in the process. One thing to remember is not to wipe away using newspaper, because this will result in you spreading the mess all over the floor. Use it to absorb moisture and pick up fecal matter, and you won't have any problems in the soapy cleanup.

Material that can be used for bedding
You could even use old newspaper as a sleeping surface for your puppy. Soft and insulating, it makes for a pretty comfortable bed for the pup. Cover the newspaper with an old sheet or cloth to protect the newspaper from claws, and you have an affordable but effective place for your beloved puppy to sleep at night. It's a good idea replace the newspapers once a month for a fresher and less smelly surface.

And, there's one more thing to keep in mind about using newspaper for bedding material: make sure you do not to use the old newspaper for potty training your puppy, since dogs do not like to do their business on their sleeping surfaces. If it's your choice to use old newspapers for potty training your puppy and for bedding material for it's crate, it's a good idea to separate one from the other and to not use them again for a different purpose.

From potty-training material to cleaning material to bedding material, old newspaper is indeed a very versatile item to use when potty training puppies. Newspaper is cheap and plentiful so you don't need to spend lots of money while training your puppy the right way to do its business. When you remember all of this, you may just save some money

potty training puppies

Old newspapers are one of the staple items you need to keep in stock when potty training puppies. The stuff is absorbent enough to handle a little excrement, tough enough to prevent the solid particles from seeping to the floor, and soft enough not to damage the floor or hurt the puppy as it settles in to do its business. All of this from recycling yesterday's news.

Old newspaper then has quite a few roles to play when it comes to the potty training a puppy. It can serve these unique roles as:

Potty-training material
Because of newspaper's inherent absorbency and toughness, it does a pretty respectable job of holding and keeping excrement. You typically put the stuff under a dog's potty grill to catch the urine or feces. Once it has done that, you can toss out the soiled stuff in the garbage can at the end of the day. Another thing, you could place the newspapers on the floor in a pinch if you have to, but try to not use this method of potty training your for long. A puppy may grow up into a dog that does its business on any papers left on the ground, so be very careful if you choose to potty train your puppy on old newspaper.

Material that can be used for cleaning
The very same qualities that make it as good potty-training material also makes it excellent at cleaning up after your puppy's accidents. You simply need to place it on wet spots to absorb the pee, while you can actually pick up solid fecal matter with the paper while wrapping it up in the process. One thing to remember is not to wipe away using newspaper, because this will result in you spreading the mess all over the floor. Use newpaper to absorb moisture and pick up dog droppings, and you won't run into any problems in the soapy cleanup.

Material for bedding
Another thing you could use old newspaper for is as a sleeping surface for your puppy. Soft and insulating, it makes for a pretty comfortable bed for the pup. One thing you can do is cover the newspaper with an old cloth or sheet to protect the newspaper from puppy claws to create an affordable and effective place for your puppy to sleep. It's a good idea replace the newspapers once a month for a fresher and less smelly surface.

And, there's one more thing to keep in mind about using newspaper for bedding material: make sure you do not to use the old newspaper for potty training your puppy, since dogs do not like to do their business on their sleeping surfaces. If you decide to use old newspapers for potty training and bedding material for your puppy, be sure to separate one from the other and to never use them again for another purpose.

Old newspaper is indeed a very versatile item to use when potty training puppies because it can be used for cleaning material and bedding material,. Newspaper is cheap and plentiful so you don't need to spend lots of money while training your puppy the right way to do its business. When you remember all of this, you may just save some money

Being consistent in all you do is one of the key rules to train a puppy efficiently with good results and an understanding of puppies training and the way puppies react will make it easier on you and your puppy. Puppies training is used to teach your puppy obedience, that is,  to act and behave in a way that makes your cohabitation a pleasant experience.

How unwavering you act as a “pack leader” will determine your success in your puppies training efforts. Training a puppy is not at all such a demanding effort if you repeat the same clear and uncomplicated commands and focus the attention on the desired actions you want your puppy to perform. In the event where the puppy act in the right and well-behaved manner, a reward is always a good idea to encourage future good behavior.

The way you act and the attitude you present towards the puppy during training sessions will have a significant impact on the way the puppy will act out towards you. Negative and destructive behavior from your side will only be detrimental to the whole process. However, a friendly but firm approach will encourage the animal to react positively towards you and the training.

The way you modulate your voice need to make it clear to the puppy whether you approve or disapprove of the actions he took on your command. A firm strict or decisive tone will send the message that you are serious and does not accept his way of behavior. On the other hand, an enthusiastic or happy tone will give the impression that what ever he was doing is acceptable and you are content with you puppy obedience or behavior.

A short training session filled with fun and some kind of challenge with short and precise actions are most likely to keep the puppies interest, which will in return execute your commands in an approving way.

if you want your best friend to remain committed to his training, good behavior and obedience, make sure he makes a positive and pleasant resemblance to it and reward him for good and correct behavior with a snack or an energetic play session after the puppies training.

It is essential to conclude every puppies training session in an encouraging way and to make your puppy aware of your approval and satisfaction. This way the puppy will make a pleasant resemblance to the training and are encouraged to act out in a positive and well-behaved manner.

Learning how to train a puppy can be simple when you know some basic tips to practice.

Here’s a little advice about how to train a puppy. Puppy training doesn’t have to be difficult. It may take a little patience, but dogs are smart and their goal is to make you happy. If you get angry, always remember that and walk away.

There’s heaps of books about how to trian a puppy the right way and there’s any number of websites dedicated to the subject. First of all, you need to learn to reward good behavior and not to reward bad behavior. Ensure that you provide loads of attention to a dog exhibiting desired behavior and put him in a “time out” when he’s been bad. You can use a crate, or a basket for a smaller dog. Crates are very helpful when housetraining, as well.

Puppy training begins with teaching him his name and a few simple obedience commands. Dogs don’t automatically understand “sit, stay or down”. They won’t learn to respond to their names, if you don’t use it regularly.

Most owners find that a dog will respond best to a short name with one or two syllables. That’s why the names Rover and Fido are popular. To teach your puppy his name, say it when you are petting him, grooming him or feeding him. It is particularly important when you place his food dish on the floor. Say, “Here Rover” or something similar. This will ensure that your puppy has a positive association to hearing his name.

Other than his name, the most important command that you can teach during puppy training is “down”. Down becomes even more useful as the dog grows. If you allow them to jump up on you when they are young, it is more difficult to break the habit when they get older.

Your puppy will have a natural tendency to jump up on you and your guests. So, when you see this behavior, take their paws. Place them on the floor and say “down”. Be consistent and repetitive. That’s how to train a puppy in the right manner whatever the training situation may be.

Teaching commands is one of the fundamentals of puppy training. Basically, you show the dog what you want and then you say the command. For example, when teaching “sit”, take a treat and hold it right up to his nose, but not close enough that he can take it. Raise the treat up and above his head, this should put him in the right position to push his bottom towards the floor. Once his bottom gets close to the floor, say “sit”. He will learn to associate the word with the action of planting his butt on the ground.

All other commands are taught in a similar fashion. You see, how to train a puppy isn’t as hard as you thought it was. All it takes is a little know-how, plenty of repetition and of course, some patience.

training puppies

Learning to train a puppy will be much more effective if you track and test your progress along the way. As simple as it sounds don’t just pay it lip service, as it’s a very useful record of what has worked, and will highlight what approaches worked best in the past. The information you record is an instant tips sheet of what worked for your dog, along with areas that either need improvement or a completely different technique. In puppy training and dog training – as in life – planning and preparation are paramount to getting it right a lot more frequently than doing it wrong or the hard way. You know it makes sense.

Looking to the future needs to be at the top of your priority list when preparing for train a puppy, because it can only improve the process of relocating a young dog or puppy from his familiar surroundings to the new and strange world you are providing for him. A young pup can suffer separation anxiety when he is taken away from his mother and siblings, and then is suddenly moved to strange and confusing habitat with a whole range of new and unknown faces and scents.

And it’s not just puppies and young dogs. Even adult dogs are somewhat bewildered by everything new that happens to them when they get relocated. Don’t forget your dog will need lots of reassurance when you take him away from his old home; he just sees a new and quite worrying place with none of his friends.

If you have the time, try to get to know your new puppy before he moves in. He’ll get to recognize your face and smell and make his move a lot less stressful. This will mean that when you start, training your puppy your training program will be more effective as he’s more comfortable with you from the start. If this is not practical, you could ask the old owner for something from the dog’s bed, like a blanket or toy of some kind or pretty much anything with the smell of his old home and help reassure him and adjust to his new home.

Without doubt, the ideal time to bring home a new dog or puppy is when you will be at home for a few days on the trot. This way you’ll always be there while he’s finding his feet. During the holidays is ideal – providing of course you’re at home and not on vacation. Please don’t move you dog in, then home him in kennels while you go on vacation. Being there for him in those first few days will help him settle in and help the newcomer get over his homesickness blues.

When we bring a new baby home, we make heaps of preparations and fill the home with everything we think the baby will need for a happy and healthy start, training a puppy needs to be given the attention to detail. As a new dog carer, you need to prepare your home in just the same way. After all, your new puppy is a new member of the family.

Section off a specific area for your new pup when he moves in. This will help him settle in, as your puppy house training regime will go much smoother as well because any accidents are easier to clean off hard floors. A kitchen or living room is an ideal location because there is normally a good deal of traffic and noise, which helps to accustom the newcomer to day-to-day living in your household.

Don’t forget that a young puppy is accustomed to the companionship of his littermates. Without them, he will be lonely – so one of your new jobs is to make up for his loss of friends and keep him happy. But don’t overdo it because he can’t be allowed to live by his own rules for his first few days in your home then try to train him out of those habits once your training routine begins. Puppy house training is something you start from day one – just start with the easy stuff.

Being permissive in this respect is not being kind, for the simple reason that he needs consistency to fully understand what is expected of him. All the techniques and tips used to training a puppy works in the just the same way when used with adult dogs too. All dogs can experience loneliness and separation anxiety. It’s up to you to help them through it. All dogs entering a new living arrangement will need discipline, patience, and comfort. But you’ll get your just rewards with a happy and well behaved dog.