Starting puppy training the right way

Bringing home a new puppy can be both fun and tough.  There are so many house rules that you must teach him; and, similar to a child, sometimes you think he’s just not listening.  Training a puppy can be a long process, but it’s always a bit easier when you start from the first day you bring him home.  He may have no clue what you are doing at first, but he will learn pretty quickly.

You should have a crate ready for your pooch long before day one.  If you know what kind of breed you are getting, then it’s easier to choose a crate.  If you don’t, then you may need to start with a small crate, and buy a more fitting one at a later date.  Either way, the crate should be large enough where he can move around, but small enough where he can’t urinate on one side and still be comfortable.  You can buy an “eventually” crate, and use dividers to make it small in the beginning.  Along with the crate, you need a food and water bowl; and, of course, bedding to make the crate comfy.  When you get the crate setup, it’s a good idea to place a small stack of newspapers in one corner.  Understand that young puppies can’t necessarily control when they urinate, so accidents inside the crate will happen, hopefully on the newspaper.  Place the crate in a quiet, comfortable area; it will be the place where your pooch eats and sleeps.

The second you step out of your vehicle with your new family addition, you should head straight for the yard.  Choose a designated area where you don’t mind your puppy doing his business.  Take him there, sit him down, and tell him to “do his business.”  No, he will not understand anything that you are trying to get him to do, but it’s important that you start a routine early on.  Wait on him to use the bathroom before you take him inside.  It could take a couple of minutes or it could take forty five, but it’s definitely worth the wait.

You need to immediately start a schedule with your puppy and follow it.  Once the schedule is set, it will be easier for you to figure out his bathroom schedule.  Generally, a dog will want to do his business when he wakes up (in the morning or following a nap), a half hour or so after eating, and right before bedtime. So, as an owner, you need to be able to take him out at those times.  As mentioned before, a puppy won’t be able to control when and where, so you need to pay close attention to his actions.  If he starts circling the floor and sniffing things out, then he’s probably looking for a place to go.  If he whines when he’s in his crate (you’ll have to put up with a little whining for the purposes of training), then he may just need to potty.

The method you use to crate train is completely up to you.  However, there are a few extra suggestions that I can give.  Feed him in his crate, and leave him there until it’s time to do his business (remember the half hour rule of thumb).  When you think it’s time for him to do his business, then take him out of the crate and straight to his designated area.  He will eventually associate the feel of the designated area beneath his paws with doing his business.  If you let him roam around your house when it’s that time, then he’ll probably associate your tile or carpeted floor with business time.

Great advice for any training is to never get angry with your pooch.  Remaining positive and rewarding him for his good behavior are better ways to get results.  If you don’t catch him in the act, then you might as well not catch him at all.  Punishing him tonight for what he did this morning will not prove successful.

Be prepared when you bring that new puppy home!  Yes, it will be a wonderful and crazy experience (both at the same time), but it will be much easier if you are ready to train.  Have the crate ready, and keep the puppy on schedule.  It may take a little while, but he will eventually realize what it is you want.  An extra treat or two is never a bad idea, either.

This article was provided by Pet Super Store an online pet shop carrying pet crates and dog crate pads.