How To Train A Dog

Potty accidents will happen and sometimes they happen because you didn’t stick to the housetraining schedule or weren’t watching your dog close enough. Maybe you allowed your puppy too much freedom and it snuck down the hallway to urinate in the guest bedroom. But your dog might also have had an accident because it didn’t understand what you wanted it to do ? or where.

It’s important to keep these accidents in perspective and to understand that they are not directed at you personally. They are simply part of the housetraining process and part of your dog’s learning curve.

When an accident happens, handle it carefully. After all, urination and defecation are not wrong; your dog must do these things! What is wrong is where the actions took place. If your dog senses that you are angry at the urination and defecation then it may become sneaky and never relieve itself in front of you.

You may then find puddles and piles in odd places, such as behind the sofa and under the bed. Instead, teach your dog the correct places to go and make sure you praise him enthusiastically when it cooperates.

If you find a pile or puddle in the house with the dog nowhere in sight, do not punish him, yell at the pup, hit him with a rolled-up newspaper, rub the pup’s nose in the pile or puddle, or otherwise reprimand the dog in any other way. Your puppy is not at fault here; the owner is ? because the owner, not the pup, has the ability and obligation to prevent accidents.

Successful housetraining is based on setting the pup up for success by limiting him to the fewest possible accidents, then praising the puppy whenever it has done the right thing. That means praising every single time the dog goes out to the correct spot ? every time!

Some accidents may happen because your dog doesn’t feel good. If your pup has diarrhea, for example, don’t treat this as a housetraining accident. Instead, call your veterinarian. If you begin finding several puddles of urine when your pup had been doing well with housetraining, again, call your veterinarian. If could be the sign of a serious health problem.

A Quick Word About Submissive Urination

Some puppies will pee a few drops when they become overly excited, most often when greeted by those he is close to, like family and friends. Many dog owners consider this a housetraining problem, but it really isn’t.

The urine that your dog is letting out is simply a matter of submissive urination. This is a reaction that is 100% physical and happens with both males and females. In time most puppies will grow out of it.

Get the FREE report about Potty Training Your Puppy. This information works because I used it myself on my stubborn pound puppy who was really an older dog.

How To Stop A Dog Barking

Dogs are not born as problem dogs. Instead, they become problem dogs as a result of human dog owner interactions that send the wrong messages to dogs. The inexperience of dog owners are to blame as the real culprit for misbehaving dogs. And although most serious canine problems tend to develop during the most critical period of a dog’s life, which is during the first 8 weeks of puppyhood, many issues can develop at any time as the dog grows into an adult.

One of the most common dog behavior problems that many of you can relate to is excessive barking. This is the dog that makes all of your neighbors regret having you live nearby! This annoying barking habit will keep people awake at night, severely get on people’s nerves that are within hearing distance, and floods police lines with neighborhood complaints of noise.

You wouldn’t like that either, a neighbor with a continuously barking dog.

The scary part about having a dog that barks excessively, especially if he is kept outside during the daytime, is that they can be the target of abuse or poisoning by sick-minded individuals living in your neighborhood. I’m not trying to scare you or anything but the truth is that every day dogs are reported to have been poisoned from an unknown substance which usually results from a disgruntled neighbor.

Dogs Are Bred To Bark

First of all we have to understand that dogs were bred to bark. When dogs became domesticated their level of barking went up. I think this is because the very first people that domesticated dogs wanted an animal to alert them to intruders. What better than a barking dog! So if a dog was a good barker then he was allowed to breed again.

You don’t hear wild canids – wolves and foxes barking much. They don’t want to be discovered. Dogs were bred to bark. So remember you are dealing with an innate behavior and you’ll need to train your dog when it is acceptable to bark and when not to. Understanding the reasons why he barks is a good first step.

Is Your Dog Lonely?

Most dogs that are guilty of excessive barking have developed this behavioral issue for no better reason than that of loneliness. Of course there are other reasons, and to be certain we will discuss them later, but canine loneliness has been proven to be the number one culprit for excessive barking behavior.

Dogs are just like children when it comes to the need for companionship. And when these animals have nobody around for long periods of time, sheer loneliness will cause them to invent games and make toys out of whatever is available. From the start of these invented games comes habits that progress and create a problematic dog.

Inside Your Dog’s Mind

What goes on inside your dog’s mind as he is barking excessively? What does he do when he is lonely? What is it about being alone that gets dogs all excited and noisy?

Your dog’s world consists of everything within his reach. For those of you that keep your pet at home during the day while you’re at work, the entire house is his domain. If you keep your dog out on a rope that is securely tied to your backyard, everything within the circumference of his paws are fair game. And when he reaches the end of that rope, loneliness can set in, and quick!

Your dog may spot a bird or a cat outside the window or on top of the backyard fence. All of a sudden he is in a frenzy as he sees a potential playmate. He starts to cry, then scratch at the door, window, or the fence. Then the barking sets in, becoming louder and louder as he wants to play with any moving object he sees outside, but cannot seem to get to it.

Woof! Woof! Woof!

…Barking away as he attempts over and over to see what is going on and to find somebody or something to play with him. Woof! Woof! Woof! – louder and louder the barking becomes, matched with frustration and eventually barking at anything he sees. A plane flying over, a bird swooping too close, the bushes that are moving in the wind, all of which your dog begins to bark excessively at, trying to get its attention. Nothing seems to help and your dog only knows one thing: BARK! BARK! BARK!

If he barks long enough, he figures that something will happen, somebody will play with him, or one of those neighborhood animals will join in a game of chase. As you can imagine, this is the type of experience that no house dog should have to go through, and then be punished because of its barking problems.

How To Stop A Dog Barking

The fastest and most efficient way to train your dog to stop barking excessively is by using two methods. One method is by using a squirt gun, of which we discussed a simple 3-step training plan previously, and the second is called the Tin Can Method.

When it comes to the Water Gun Method, it may not work because some dogs thoroughly enjoy being squirted with water. The enjoyment or humiliation of that treatment isn’t determined by the particular breed as one might at first suppose. Rather, it is determined by the individuality of the dog; that particular dog’s personality. Thus, a Water Spaniel may enjoy the water gun game, while another Water Spaniel next door would consider it humiliating.

Training With Loud Noises Instead Of Water

For the dog who enjoys the antics with the water gun, an alternative method must be selected, while continuing to keep in mind that dogs learn by associating their actions with pleasing or displeasing results.

One such alternate method which has proved successful is that of using tin cans tied together on a string. All you need is about four or five tin cans, a touch of sneakiness, and an accurate throwing arm. And for extra measure, throw a few pebbles inside the cans to add some additional shock to your dog’s ears.

Most dogs absolutely hate loud noises. The procedure for using the cans is the same as the water gun. When you hear your dog barking for no reason at all, the cans should be thrown as near to him as possible without actually striking the animal. Remember, it is the noise that will do the job, not hitting or physically harming your dog.

As soon as the cans land near your dog, you should immediately give a loud firm command such as STOP or NO. Within a few days, your dog will then respond to your loud firm command by immediately stopping his barking as opposed to needing the experience of loud noise from the tin cans.

Using this method, your dog will discover right at the beginning that there is no reason to go through the catch me if you can routine. He will discover that the noise from the tin cans will locate him wherever he may go.

Prepare Ahead Of Time

Since it won’t take long for the intelligent dog to discover that once you have launched your ammunition, you are powerless to repeat the operation without walking to where your cans landed in order to reload for your next mission. So it would be to your advantage to have several sets of cans ready for immediate use.

Think Outside The Box

A kennel operator who wasn’t too happy about the prospect of going downstairs and out into the yard to scare his barking dogs, purchased a package of balloons. He carefully filled each with water, his ammunition, and placed it next to the upstairs window. By the second night he had the quietest kennel in town! His aim was so precise and the barking dogs never knew from where the water filled balloons came. What they did know is that one bark and the sky was raining water filled balloons.

I wouldn’t throw a large water balloon on a small dog. That could injure him. Just toss the balloon near the dog.

How To Stop A Dog Barking

Training your dog to stop barking excessively, whether in or out of your absence, is a fairly simple process. With a little creativity, a squirt gun, and approximately 7 days of devotion, you can have your dog quiet in no time, giving both you and your neighbors a break from all of the noise.

Most dog owners who have followed the simple step-by-step dog training procedures discussed in our articles on ridding excessive barking have done just fine. Other owners, however, I’ve requested the advice on dog bark collars.

Dog Bark Collars Work?

Bark collars are designed to emit an electrical shock each time a dog barks. Such callers do not actually train, they punish! A prime example of the torture that a dog must go through when wearing such a tormenting device can best be described as follows:

There was once a Chihuahua named Chu Chu that lived in an apartment complex of which the rules stated that no dogs were allowed. In order to keep this Chihuahua quiet, its owner affixed a bark collar around Chu Chu’s Neck.

One evening, Chu Chu was curled up next to the fireplace, cozy, warm, and sleeping as sound as a baby, when suddenly the telephone rang and the vibration of the buzzing sound activated the bark collar. A sudden electrical shock traveled right into the dog’s throat. Before that moment, Chu Chu had never been much of a barking dog, however, the surprise feeling of the voltage caused him to go into a panic.

The dog’s screams continued to activate the bark collar as he ran from room to room in a scared frenzy. He literally rammed into wall after wall in his frantic attempts to escape this strange ?monster? that was attacking his throat. He finally plunged himself through a glass window and unfortunately, Chu Chu’s owner had them living on the top floor of the apartment complex, causing the little guy to plunge to his death.

If You Truly Love Your Dog, Train Him, Don’t Punish Him

Forget about bark collars or any other dog training devices that inflict pain and surprise on your pet. Instead, simply set aside 4 to 5 days of your time to properly instruct your dog with good manners. Think of your pet is your child and give him the best attention you have to offer.

By using proper barking prevention techniques, you will teach your dog to stop barking for no apparent reason, while at the same time maintaining his protective prowess. He will still bark to let you know that an intruder is on your property, but he will not bark for the sheer joy of hearing his own noise.

After about five days of proper schooling, he will respond to your verbal commands, know when to bark, and of course, know when to keep quiet, all without having to resort to shocking and painful bark collars.

Although a dog crate is a wonderful training tool, that’s not all there is to housetraining your puppy. You also want to teach your dog where you want it to relieve itself and a command that he will respond to in order to go potty, something that will get to do his business when you ask, and more importantly, where you ask.

You can begin teaching both of these concepts right away. Take your pup to the place where you wish it to relieve itself. Let him sniff and circle but do not interact with the dog. This is not the time to play games. Instead, let your puppy concentrate on what it should be doing.

After your dog has begun to relieve itself, tell it softly (so as not to interrupt), Go Potty! Go Potty! (You can use whatever vocabulary you like. Barbara Woodhouse used “Hurry Up” and so did I, so you wouldn’t sound goofy telling you dog to go.) When the dog has completed his business, praise even more, Good Boy… Go Potty.. Yes!

Take your pup to this spot each time the dog needs to go, and repeat the process every time, for as long as the process takes. For some dogs this may mean several weeks of going outside before it understands that this is the potty spot.

You cannot simply send the dog outside alone. If you do, how do you know whether the dog has actually relieved himself? It may come inside and immediately use the bathroom on the carpet, or worse yet, sneak off down the hall and go under the bed. If the dog goes outside alone, you cannot teach it a command, either, nor can you praise it.

During walks, if you come to a spot where it would not be annoying to other people, such as a vacant lot or specified doggie potty area, tell your dog that it can relieve itself here, too. When your dog does, praise it and of course clean up after it. A big part of responsible dog ownership is choosing wisely where your dog should relieve itself. Don’t allow your dog to soil your neighbor’s front lawn or the lawn in front of a business.

It’s important to practice housetraining in varied locations. Don’t make the mistake of having your dog relieve itself only in your backyard. Some dogs take this message so seriously that they will not relieve themselves on walks. Should you ever travel with your dog, he may try to go without relieving himself for too long.

As your pup learns the routine, begin asking him if it needs to go outside as you walk toward the door, ?Do you need to go outside to potty? Potty? Potty outside? Good dog!? When you use words your dog understands in a happy tone, he should begin bouncing and dancing toward the door. When he does, praise enthusiastically!

By doing this, your dog will learn to let you know when it has to go outside. On the day your pup comes to you, making eye contact, bouncing and dancing… pay attention! He’s finally saying, ?Hey, I have to go potty, I need to go potty! Please take me to my potty spot!?

Get the FREE report about Potty Training Your Puppy. This information works because I used it myself on my stubborn pound puppy who was really an older dog.

A Dog Barking: What Could The Neighbors Do?

Most dogs are usually not born as “trouble dogs”. Instead, they grow to be trouble dogs as a result of human dog owner interactions that send inappropriate messages to dogs. The innocence of pet owners are to blame as the true culprit for misbehaving pet dogs. And although most crucial canine problems frequently arise in the most crucial period of a dog’s years, which is during the first eight weeks of puppy hood, a lot of issues can increase at any time as the dog matures into an adult dog.

One of the most ordinary dog behavior problems that many of you can relate to is too much barking. This is the dog that makes all of your nearby neighbors regret having you live in the neighborhood! This infuriating barking tendency can keep neighbors awake at night, severely grow on people’s nerves that are within hearing distance, and floods police lines with neighborhood complaints of dog barking.  You wouldn’t be fond of that either, a neighbor with a incessantly barking pet dog.

The scary part regarding possessing a dog that barks way too much, particularly if he is kept out throughout the day, is that they can be the target of cruelty or poisoning by sick-minded persons that live in your area. I’m not trying to scare you or anything but the truth is that each day dogs are reported   poisoned from an unknown substance which more often than not originates from a irritated neighbor.

Dogs Are Bred To Bark

First of all we should realize that dogs were bred to bark.  As canines became domesticated their degree of barking went up.  I think this is for the reason that the very first people that domesticated dogs sought an creature to announce them to invaders.  What better than a barking dog!  Therefore if a dog was a good barker then he was allowed to breed once more.

You do not hear wild canids – wolves and foxes barking to a great extent.  They will not mean to be revealed.  Dogs were bred to bark. So bear in mind you’re dealing with an instinctive behavior and you will want to coach your dog at what time it is okay to bark and when not to.  Grasping the factors why he barks is a worthy initial step.

Perhaps Your Pet Dog Is Bored or Lonely?

Most dogs that are guilty of extreme barking have developed this behavioral concern for no better reason than that of loneliness or boredom. Needless to say there are other explanations, and to be certain we will talk about them later, but animal loneliness can be established for being the number one reason for excessive barking behavior.

Dogs are just like kids when it comes to the necessity for company. Also while these animals have nobody nearby for extended intervals of time, complete isolation will trigger them to create games and create toys from whatever is available. As of the inception of these “made-up games” arrives habits that grow and produce a problematic dog.

What Your Pet Dog Is Thinking

What goes on inside your canine’s mind as he is barking excessively? What will  he do once he is lonely? What is it in relation to being solitary that gets dogs very excited and boisterous?

Your dog’s environment consists of all within his reach. For those that leave your pet at home through the day while you’re in the office, the entire home is his domain. If you leave your pet dog outside on a rope that’s firmly tied to your backyard, everything inside the edge of his feet are fair game. And when he gets to the last part of that line, seclusion can overcome him, and fast!

Your pet dog may catch a glimpse of a bird or a cat outside the window or on top of the backyard fence. All of a sudden he is in a rage since he recognizes a prospective playfellow. He begins to whimper, after that scratch at the door, window, or the gate. At that moment the barking begins, becoming louder and louder as he wants to have fun by means of whichever moving entity he sees outside, but can’t seem to reach it.

BARK! BARK! BARK!

…Barking away as  he attempts repeatedly to see what’s going on and to uncover somebody or something to play with him. Roof! Roof! Roof! – louder and louder the barking gets, matched with frustration and eventually barking at anything he sees. A jet flying over, a bird swooping too close, the shrubbery that are moving in the wind – all of which your dog srarts to bark way too much at, attempting to obtain its attention. Nobody would seem to help and your pet dog only is sure of one thing: BARK! BARK! BARK!

If he barks long enough, he figures that something will materialize, somebody will have fun with him, or one of those neighborhood pets will meet in a game of chase. As you can see, this is the type of experience that no house dog should have to go through, and subsequently be reprimanded on account of its barking problems.

If your dog is barking unchecked and you want to stop dog barking in a hurry, you will find a few techniques which will work in seven days or fewer (if you follow through). To pick up an eleven page instruction guidebook on “How To Stop A Dog Barking”, with zero to buy, you need to get this bark stopping program immediately:

How To Stop A Barking Dog

Stop Barking Dogs! More information can be found at the Stop Dog Barking page. here at How To Train A Dog.

Dog Poop Catcher

Sure you can scoop it, you can bag it, you can even compost it ? but can you catch it? Yes, you can! A dog waste catcher allows you to catch the poop before it hits the ground.

These units usually consist of a collapsible frame that folds out to create a circular shape onto which you can wrap a plastic bag. Simply put it beneath your dog as she’s doing her stuff and wrap it up when she’s done. If you want to go a little lower-tech, you always can use a paper plate.

Port-a-Potty

If you live in an apartment or have a terrace or small yard (or if you just want your pooch to potty in a specific area), try a portable potty. All kinds of these potties are cropping up on the market. You can even get them with real sod-replacement service.

Some models come with fake grass and a litter system beneath them; some include a built-in fire hydrant and white picket fence; others have clear walls for males that like to life a leg when the tinkle.

When choosing a potty, it’s critical that you choose one to match the size of your dog. Even if you have a small space, try not to skimp on size. Your medium-sized dog may not want to use a Chihuahua-sized patch of grass!

Litter Box Decisions

Small-dog owners may be interested in litter training their dogs, and indeed, this has proven successful for some. Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether or not to use a litter box.

1) Do you have a small dog? It is much easier for a small dog to use a litter box than a large dog, and to scoop out their smaller feces.

2) If you have a small dog, do you travel a lot with her? If so, litter boxes are great ways to avoid extra stops, and they provide your dog with a familiar place to eliminate once you arrive at your destination.

3) Do you have a health reason for wanting to litter train? Is your mobility restricted in any way by physical limitations that would make it easier for you to litter train your dog than to walk her?

4) Do you live in a city – in an apartment on a high floor, which makes it difficult for you to get your dog outside in time to eliminate?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, consult your veterinarian to make sure there are no health roadblocks for your dog – then get to training!

Crate Training A Puppy

All dogs are born with the instinct to keep their beds clean and as soon as their legs are strong enough to support them, puppies will toddle away from their littermates to relieve themselves. Before that, momma dog stimulated the puppies to relieve themselves and cleaned up after them. You can use a crate to housetrain puppies.

Using a crate as a training tool takes advantage of the puppy’s instinct to keep its bed clean, and helps the puppy develop bowel and bladder control because the pup will make an effort to hold it when he’s all relaxed in his cozy den.

Several types of crates are available for puppy owners. Some, like the soft-sided fabric carriers, are strictly for traveling. However, the plastic or wire crates can be used both for traveling and for housetraining. Plastic crates have a wire door and are usually made of two pieces ? a top and a bottom that fastens together with bolts. Wire crates look more like a cage and are open all around.

The kind of crate to use is a personal preference. Plastic crates provide more security for the puppy; open wire crates allow more air flow. Wire crates often fold up for storage and make a compact (although heavy) bundle, whereas the plastic ones are quite bulky, but lightweight. Weigh the pros and cons of each and choose the crate that will fit your lifestyle and puppy best.

Choose a crate that is big enough for your pup but not big enough for an adult-sized dog. Make sure your puppy has enough room to lie down, get comfortable and move around, but no more. If the crate is too big, your puppy will be able to relieve himself in a back corner and still have enough space to get away from it.

Remember, the purpose of the crate is to capitalize on your dog’s instinct to keep its bed clean. If you already have a crate, and it’s big enough for a full-grown standard sized breed, use a piece of cardboard or a thin plank of wood to section it off so that your puppy doesn’t have access to the entire crate.

Introducing your pup to the crate is not difficult. Simply open the crate door, propping it open so it won’t swing closed accidentally, then toss a treat or toy inside. Encourage your dog to go get the treat or toy with a personalized command, which you’ll want to continue using.

For instance, say, ?Sweetie, go to bed!? When the dog goes inside, praise ?Good Dog!? Do this several times throughout the day. At feeding time, place your dog’s food bowl inside the crate so that it must enter the crate to eat. After two or three days of this routine, begin closing the door behind your pup as it’s eating and open the door when he is done.

Once your dog is comfortable staying in a closed crate, you can begin using it at night. Place the crate in your bedroom so the dog can hear you, smell you, and to close to you all night. This is eight hours of closeness you couldn’t find time for any other way. With your dog close to you, you can also hear it should it become restless and need to go outside.

Get the FREE report about Potty Training Your Puppy. This information works because I used it myself on my stubborn pound puppy who was really an older puppy dog.

For any new dog owner, handling a loud barking puppy can be quite an unnerving experience. Most new dog owners are not prepared for the intense amount of barking and yelping that young puppies start doing the minute they arrive in their new home. Although it is totally natural, some puppies do not give their owners the luxury of quieting down, especially at night.

One of the biggest phases that a puppy will go through is the fear of being alone. And I’m not talking about being alone in the sense of you leaving the house. Some puppies will go absolutely nuts even when you only leave the room for a split second. They just can’t bear to be alone because they are used to having their mommy or littermates around non-stop.

When faced with this situation, what you do? If you run to your puppy to sooth and caress him every time he cries, then you are only feeding the behavior and creating a spoiled dog. On the other hand, if you ignore him and let him bark his brains out, the rest of the family (especially your spouse) will become very annoyed with you for letting the barking go on.

It’s like being stuck between a rock and a hard place, however, we do have some tips to help you deal with your puppy barking situation:

1. The first step is to try to ignore your puppy’s barking if at all possible without yelling at him. Yelling will either scare him from wanting to come near you or will further add to his anxiety levels that and he will continue barking.

2. There is a product called a ?teaching lead? which will enable your puppy to be around you at all times in the house. Use these types of tools so that your puppy can be around you while he is getting used to his independence.

3. When you leave the house, try to refrain from long and drawn out departures. Although it’s understandable to want to pet your puppy and talk sweet to her before leaving the house, it only creates more stress because she will start to associate your behavior with you leaving her side. The same advice goes when you arrive home. Avoid big and exciting welcomes after walking through the door.

4. Try using a simple training aid to get your puppy to quiet down immediately when she is barking. A water bottle that sends a quick burst of streaming spray is a perfect idea. Or you could use a small tin can filled with a few pennies in it. When you go to leave her side and she starts barking, simply throw that can in her area. It will create a startling noise while at the same time diverting her attention. Follow up with the command “no bark” or “quiet”. Pick one and stay with it.

5. When my dog barks I first find out what she is barking about. Maybe there is a axe murderer behind me! Then if it seems she’s bored or wants more treats than she needs I tell her “quiet” in a firm tone (no yelling) then get very close to her face and talk softly to her. She always stops for me. This may calm your puppy down also. You’ll need to stay consistent and your barking puppy will learn when it’s OK to bark and when to be quiet.

Image by colorblindPICASO via Flickr

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Source:When Pets are More Important than Dates