How to Make Puppy Potty Training Easier

Puppies are the inherent definition of cuteness. Whether they are snoozing or playing, it is hard to look at a puppy and not want one. However, sometimes cuteness is in limited supply. Puppies grow up, after all, but there is a more pressing issue. Once you get the dog home, it has to be domesticated.

Also, nothing can kill cuteness more than finding excrement all over your home.

 Still, it is not the puppy's fault. He or she does not know any better. Scooping poop is just a routine part of dog ownership. Effective puppy potty training is also part of responsible pet ownership. How to train a puppy correctly may sometimes depend on the dog's breed. There are, however, a few things that will work most of the time.

Traditionally, puppy potty training consisted of layers of newspaper and a rolled up magazine. If the puppy defecated in an undesirable place, the owner would use the rolled up magazine and smack the dog on the nose, all while shouting.

 That may or may not work, but it hardly seems ethical. Plus, young animals are easily impressionable, and borderline abuse is something a dog can and will remember for a lifetime. Still, in some cases, a system of rewards and punishment may be needed. Still, there are other ways to more effectively train a puppy.

Many retailers sell puppy pads. These are items that were meant to take the place of newspaper on the floor. Essentially, these pads resemble large, flat diapers. They have a plastic covering, and the pad itself is made of an absorbent material. These make for easy clean up, as urine and liquid wastes are absorbed into the pad itself. Sometimes, waste can actively soak through a layer of newspaper.

Using pads remains relatively simple, but there are a few general guidelines to follow. You should set up the pads in a seldom trafficked part of your home.

There are practical reasons for this. You will likely not want to see them as you frequently mill about your house. Even more, the pads need to be in a place that gives the puppy a sense of comfort, safety and security. Make sure you feed the dog only on a set schedule.

In essence, you are trying to instill a routine into the animal. Save the treats for later in life, because spoiling the puppy early will remove the value of treats as a motivational teaching tool. While you are housebreaking a puppy, keep him or her to a select part of the house.

There will be mishaps, and if you have an expensive rug or other furniture, you're likely asking for it to become ruined.

That said, puppy potty training is a small price to pay. Puppies will usually grow into loyal, loving pets. Once you train a dog and get them on an internal schedule, you will not have to go back and reteach those habits.

Are you looking for helpful information for effectively training your dog? Be sure to visit my site to learn more about how to housebreak a puppy and dogs health.

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How Do You Stop Dogs From Digging?

One of the most frequently asked questions from dog owners is, "How do you stop dogs from digging?" It may sound surprising, but it's something that affects just about every dog owner.

 If your yard is kempt, or has a garden, the thought of your beloved four legged friend destroying it with his seemingly unnecessary holes, is enough to make anyone crazy.

 Not to mention, digging under fences can lead to a daring escape. The last thing anyone wants to do is spend their Saturday afternoon searching for Fido. So, how do you stop this problem?

First things first, you need to determine why your dog is digging in the first place. Dogs dig for many reasons, but not one of them is for spite.

 Let's take a look at why your pup is turning your yard into crater city and how you can stop the behavior.

Your Dog is Terribly Bored 

Boredom seems to be the culprit with most bad doggy behaviors, doesn't it. If you've left your dog in the yard for a long period of time alone, expect that he will do some digging - especially if he has no toys. Dogs are active, social animals that don't take well to loneliness.

 When you were a child, you probably dug through dirt a few times. Why? Because it's fun! This activity keeps your dog busy and releases some of his pent up energy.

Solution: Get rid of all that energy! The saying is true, "a tired dog is a good dog."

• Take your pup for a walk at least two times a day.
• Try spending more time with your dog. Play fetch with a ball or Frisbee.
• Teach your dog some new commands, and practice them everyday.
• Give him interesting toys to play with.

He's Hunting For Prey 

Dogs will dig if there are burrowing animals, or insects around. If your dog is digging in specific areas that are not along the boundaries of your yard, this is probably why.

Solution:

 Check for any signs of burrowing animals, like groundhogs. If you wish to keep them away, please use humane methods to fence them in, or exclude them. Remember, using any toxic or poisonous materials could potentially harm your dog as well.

He's Looking For Protection 

Dogs may use digging as a means of protecting themselves from the elements.

 A big hole in the dirt provides relief from the heat. It may also provide protection from the cold weather, wind or rain. Some dogs also dig to find water. If your dog is lying in the holes he digs, it's a good indicator that he is digging for protection.

Solution:

 Provide your pup with everything he needs if he's going to be left outdoors. If the weather is extremely hot or cold, please bring him indoors.

 A dog house will provide shelter from the wind and rain. Don't forget to leave him with a nice, big bowl of water.

He's Just Trying to Escape 

If your dog is digging along the perimeter of the yard, there's a good chance he's trying to escape. This could be because something outside of the yard has caught his attention, he really wants to try and get somewhere outside of the yard (the park maybe?), or he may be trying to get away from something inside the yard.

Either way, the plan is to get out of dodge.

Solution:

 Provide a safe, interesting environment for your dog while he's in the yard. If he has more incentive to stay in the area, he will.

• Try burying chicken wire along the fence. Make sure all of the sharp edges are facing away from the yard, so that your dog does not get hurt.
• Place heavy stone along the perimeter of the fence and partially bury them. The greater the distance your dog has to dig, the less interested he will become.

It's never an easy task to stop your dog from digging in the yard. As the behavior is part of their natural instincts, it can be difficult to break those ties.

 If your dog is a persistent digger, consider setting up a "zone" in your yard that is dedicated to his digging. Let him go to town there! This will keep him out of your garden, and still allow him to act out on his instincts.

Digging is just one of the problems that a dog owner might face.

However, there are a lot of dog training guides that are available to help a new dog owner teach their animals how to stop their bad habits.

There are even dog training tips that will help you get on the right track to training your pooch.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rene_Emery

How to Calm a Dog

If you're the owner of a hyperactive dog, you're already well aware of how frustrating even the simplest of tasks can be with your pup. Obedience class?

 No way! He's way too hyper and loves to chase the other dogs. How about the dog park? Nope! He won't stop jumping up on other owners. How about having some friends over? Forget it! He'll just jump up on those people too. Oh, and he just might have a run around the house once or twice for good measure.

At the end of the day you still love and adore your furry friend, so you grumble and accept the fact that your dog is nuts. Certifiably insane. Maybe he even suffers from ADD or ADHD.

 It's totally possible! Or, maybe he just thinks we don't see him, so he has to ensure we know he's around at all hours of the day/night.

"Hello! I'm here! Look at me! I know how to jump!" At first I really just blamed myself because, after all, your dog's manners are often a reflection of your own behavior. Maybe I'm the one who's nuts?

The truth is, you and I are not nuts. Neither is your dog. He may just be in his puppy or adolescent stage where this kind of behavior is quite common.

 Certain breeds are also prone to be more active, so there are a couple of different factors involved. One thing's for sure, it would be really nice to learn how to calm a dog, right? Try these quick fixes to help break Fido's "sugar rush" behavior.

Keep Calm and Be Gentle With Your Commands 

Remember, your dog will feed off of your energy, so it's good to remain clam. When it's time to go for a walk and he starts acting like he's just ate a couple bowls full of sugar, it doesn't help to scramble around trying to attach the leash to him. Trust me, I've fallen right on my tuckus a few times trying to do this! Yelling, or scolding him won't help either.

 He just sees this as reinforcement for his behavior. While you're thinking, "Fido, sit down and quit being a maniac!" he's thinking, "Oh great! Mom or Dad likes it when I jump around at walk time!"

Instead, try standing still with the leash in hand and calmly ask him to "sit." If he continues to run around, or jump about, ask him again.

 Do not give in to his rambunctious behavior and attach his leash while he's fidgeting. Eventually, he'll get the hint that you're just going to stand still until he sits.

 Once he's sat down calmly for a few seconds, then attach the leash and be on your way. You may find that when you actually go to hook on the leash, he'll start acting up again. If this happens, stand back up and stay still until he sits calmly again.

My dog got the hang of this during our first session and after a few days he stopped acting up altogether when it was time to go out.

Ignore the Behavior 

If you're quietly trying to get a few pages of reading in and your dog suddenly feels the urge to pretend he's a circus dog, your first reaction might be to yell, "Stop it!" Do your best to refrain from this. Instead, try ignoring the behavior.

 No yelling, no touching - nothing! Don't even look at him. Stand your ground and he's going to quickly realize that acting this way will get him no attention from you. Once he settles down, give him praise.

Exercise! 

Lack of exercise is probably the biggest reason why your dog is so hyperactive. Dogs need daily exercise, just like humans do. Otherwise, they will get bored and with boredom often comes chewing problems, incessant barking, anxiety and a whole slew of other problems.

 How would you feel if you drank 10 cups of coffee, but had to stay in one room for the entire day? You might start jumping around yourself just to burn off some of that energy.

They often say a tired dog is a good dog! If they've exhausted all of their pent up energy, they'll feel content and relaxed. Take him out for a vigorous walk, let him run in the yard for awhile, or play a game of fetch and you'll soon find yourself with a calm pup.

Remember, puppies and adolescent dogs tend to have more energy, so they'll need a lot more from their owners during this time. German Shepards, Border Collies and Golden Retrievers are just a few of the breeds that tend to be more energetic.

They will need a lot of exercise throughout all the stages of their lives.

 Setting up a routine that includes playtime and exercise will give your dog something to look forward to. He'll soon learn the proper time to let out his energetic behaviors and when to settle down and relax.

Calming a dog down is one of the most important aspects of dog training. Oftentimes dog training tools can help the process move along smoothly, but calming a dog is something that takes time.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rene_Emery

How to Start Protection Dog Training

A good Protection Dog is a truly fantastic way of securing your home and for many is the single most effective form of defence against a break-in.

The first part of training is for the owner to understand the difference between a guard dog and an attack dog. Attack dogs are trained to stand guard and hold back until they received the command from their master to attack whilst guard dogs will attack if they feel threatened.

This is a common misconception made by many as the word 'attack' implies that the dog will attack in any conflict situation. The word 'guard' however is a far more passive one and has no suggestion of violence or attack.

Although very similar, there are distinct differences between the training that the animal undergoes to be a guard and one which undergoes training to become an attack animal. Here we will explore some of those differences.

One of the biggest differences between guard and attack or protection dogs is with their owners and trainers. Guard animals are used by many homeowners to ensure that their property is safe when unoccupied.

Very much like an alarm system, the dog will bark if they feel there is a threat to the property. It is essential that a guard dog can recognise the difference between a potential intruder and an innocent passer-by.

Again the way to prevent any accidents is to ensure you provide the best protection dog training.

Without this understanding, the animal will spend all day barking, tiring itself out, annoying neighbours and creating endless false alarms.

 Ever heard of the boy who cried wolf? This is exactly the scenario that is created by a dog which has not received the correct guard training and barks at anything and everything!

Whilst guard dogs are associated with homeowners and the protection of property, attack or protection dogs are primarily used within a professional capacity by law enforcement, armed forces and security firms.

Attack dogs require a great deal more training than a guard dog. Every attack dog will have had intensive training in a whole range of disciplines. Most attack dogs are purely attack or protection dogs, and are housed, fed and worked in purpose-built training centres.

Guard dogs can be trained within the home. One way this can be achieved is by following a book or manual on protection dog training. In addition to this, dogs can also attend professionally run guard dog training courses at specialist guard dog training schools.

Guard dogs can also be trained once they have reached adulthood whereas an attack animal is trained from being a puppy.

To become effective at what they do, it is essential that both guard and attack dogs are trained well in their respective discipline and from the right age You cannot underestimate the importance of the right protection dog training.

 Whilst both disciplines have differences, there are still some similarities, starting out with how the dog perceives and show respect for, their trainer/owner.

Regardless of their 'type', there is no doubt that each of the two categories of protection animal discussed within this article can be an extremely effective force against crime if the correct protection training has been implemented from puppy hood.

For more information please visit Guard Dog Training

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danny_E_Moore