Once you arrive home with your puppy there will inevitably be a period of adjustment, but even during the first week or two your new arrival can begin to learn what is considered acceptable behaviour in your home – where it is supposed to go to the toilet, what it is allowed to chew, where it can sleep and so on.

Some people do not mind having their dog on the couch. For others, a pet on the furniture would be unacceptable behaviour. The same holds true for begging at the table, jumping up at people, and other objectionable behaviours.

Decide at the start what your household policy will be, enforce it from these first early weeks and most importantly be consistent.

Failure to teach your dog the rules of the house when he is young can result in an unmanageable adult dog.

If you have decided that your puppy is going to sleep in a dog bed or crate, make sure you enforce that behaviour from day one. Your puppy might cry in response to separation from mother or litter mates. A hot water bottle and plenty of TLC should provide a little extra comfort.

Teaching your puppy where you expect him or her to go to the bathroom is probably the most critical part of training

The best method of toilet training is to take your puppy out within several minutes after each meal, after each nap, and after playing. These are predictable moments during the day when bowel and bladder are most full.

Feed your puppy at scheduled mealtimes and avoid snacks between feedings if at all possible. Allowing your puppy continuous access to food or water makes house training more difficult. Prevent “accidents” between meals by taking your pup out before the accidents occur.

The outward signs a puppy may show include circling, squatting, whimpering, sniffing the floor or sneaking off and heading for the door, and he must be taken outside immediately to perform. If you’re not quick enough, the puppy should still be taken outside to finish the act.

It is best to walk your puppy within 15 minutes or sooner after each meal. Take him out to the same spot each time. If your puppy is too young to walk on a leash, carry him outside to an enclosed, safe area. Stay nearby and play with or pet him.

Praise immediately once the task is completed. A few tasty treats offered when the puppy goes in the right place can encourage good behaviour. These then can be given intermittently and then stopped after training has been successful.

Don’t be fooled if your puppy happens to get it right for the first few weeks. Start now, and stick with it until your pup really has no accidents. Toilet training isn’t great fun, but it is crucial.

Chewing if often a headache with pups, and many a carpet or chair has suffered from the ravages of puppy teeth. Initially, a puppy will use his mouth to investigate his environment, and throughout the teething process, it gives a puppy relief to chew on all manner of items. Providing appropriate items for your puppy to chew on can sometimes be a simple way of solving the problem.

At a very young age puppies begin to learn how much pressure with their mouths is too much by the reactions of their mothers and litter mates. When puppies play, they bite each other’s ears and chew each other’s necks, until one bites down too hard. Then, the bitten puppy lets out a piercing cry, gets up and walks away.
This teaches the biting puppy that when it is too rough, play ends. If it is you that the puppy is chewing, the moment the pressure increases use a high pitched cry, leaving your hand in his mouth. Once the pressure is released, slowly remove your hand and praise him, offering a suitable chew toy in exchange.

Socialisation training is the other aspect of behaviour that needs reinforcing early on. Key experiences during the first three months of life will form the basis of how the puppy relates to and interacts with many individuals that they will come across in their future lives such as:

o Adults and children

o Other dogs and puppies

o Different types of pets, livestock and horses

o And not forgetting the postman!

Also during this period puppies get used to the every day hassles of life which include:

o Household noises and appliances

o Cars and traffic

o Crowds

o Periods of separation

Unfortunately the primary course of vaccinations for puppies will only be completed at about 11 to 12 weeks of age, which leaves only a small window during the last month of the critical ‘sensitive developmental period’ to achieve socialisation.

The aim of training is to achieve a puppy that is friendly and eager to meet people and other animals. You can then build on this by preventing bad behaviour, ignoring or distracting unwanted actions and rewarding and praising good behaviour. Hopefully, this will produce a dog that is a pleasure to own.

John Burns is a qualified veterinarian who for the past fourteen years has also been producing a natural, holistic and complete food for dogs and cats, Burns Real Food – free of artificial colours, flavourings and preservatives.

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House training is one of the most important things you can do for both you and your puppy. It is imperative that you begin your puppy’s housebreaking as soon as you bring him home.

It is natural for a dog to relieve himself where ever it is. You must teach your puppy to relieve himself outdoors. Keep in mind that the younger the puppy is, the less control he will have over his bladder and bowels. A very young puppy can seem like a pee and poop machine! Puppies can also mark and urinate when they are submissive or afraid.

Dogs are relatively clean animals and will typically want to eliminate in an area separate from the main living area. Keep an eye on your puppy for signs that he needs to go. You may notice him sniffing the floor, going into a room away from all the activity, or staring at the door. Some puppies will be more obvious, such as running between you and the door, jumping on you, or barking.

Designate a place in your yard specifically for your puppy to eliminate. This area should be kept clean of feces. Take extra care to keep the area clean from feces and safe from other dogs until your puppy is fully immunized.

Take your puppy outside to the designated area frequently. Develop a routine and take your puppy out on a regular schedule. Do not go more hours than your puppy is months old without taking him out. For example, if your puppy is three months old, do not go more than three waking hours without taking him outside. In addition, you should take your puppy to the designated area approximately twenty minutes after meals or long drinks of water.

If you see your puppy eliminating inside, immediately take him outside to the designated area. Don’t fall into the temptation of sticking his nose in it and telling him, “no!” This will not help. It will just confuse him as he will not understand why he is being yelled at and it will make him nervous and scared around you. Ignore the unwanted behavior and reward the good behavior.

Take your puppy outside on a leash. Give him five minutes to eliminate. If he doesn’t go in five minutes, take him back inside and put him in his crate. Ten minutes later, take him back outside again on the leash. Repeat if necessary.

When your puppy begins to eliminate, give him a command such as, “Do your business.” Say it continuously while he is going. Praise your puppy after he voids in the designated area. Reward him with something he likes. Many puppies are happy to be off the leash and have ten or fifteen minutes of play time outside with you.

It will take a few weeks to fully house train your puppy. Consistency is the key to success. When your puppy’s training is complete, he will eliminate on command when you tell him, “Do your business.”

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You should start your puppy’s house-training the moment you get your puppy home. Being able to successfully house-train a dog takes preparation, lots patience, praises, and a few items.

The basic goal of house training is to ensure that your puppy will always do his potty in his designated area outside and not inside of the house. The first thing you need to do is prepare. Select a designated area in your home where you will keep the puppy, weather it is his bed or crate. Purchase all of your puppies basic needs before he comes home such as: a kennel, crate or bed, puppy food for the proper age, as well as a good leash.

Potty Training:
Most puppies may need to go out every couple of hours, it is very important to get a daily routine. If this does not work for your schedule, then you can paper-train the puppy first, and work up to taking him outside. At this point you may want to think of options like litter box training your puppy. This is especially true if you are not home during the day. (If you get your puppy from a breeder sometimes they have already been paper- trained)

Keep the puppy confined to certain area during the night, perhaps his crate. (This way he will not have full run of the house while you are sleeping, and you wont find any surprises in the morning)

Every morning when the puppy is let out of the crate, he will need a bathroom break. Make sure that the puppy uses the paper. He will recognize the scent and choose the same area each time. Put paper down in close to the crate in order to teach your puppy that this is his bathroom area.

If you are home during the day, and you allow your puppy to roam around, keep a watchful eye. Your puppy will like to leave their scent in several places in the home to mark his territory. If you find that your puppy has gone to other areas other than in the designated area, clean the spot right away to dissipate the odor.

If you see that your puppy is about to pee somewhere other than in the designated area, pick him up and take him to the paper area or litter box. Repeat this process over and over this will help him learn and get the message.

Routinely take the puppy out for walks usually morning after feeding, and before bedtime. After a while, as the puppy will understand the routine. At a certain point your puppy will start to teach you. He will give you signals when he has to go it can either be from barking and walking to the door he goes out of, or a wagging of his tail.

Also keep in mind a puppy may eliminate when excited or when a stranger has entered his area. Both of these are normal and natural reactions.

Remember house-training a puppy requires lots of attention, patience and most of all don’t forget to praise your puppy. Once you get over the initial hurdle, things get easier and you will be able to give your puppy the freedom to go from room to room without worry.

Charlotte Mitchell owner of http://www.puppydogsplus.com Potty House training is just the start of your training for your puppy. Here at Puppy Dogs Plus I give you a great source of information on your puppy’s care. From great cooking recipes for your puppies to health tips. Are you in need of a crate or kennel for your puppy to start your training, you can find it here at http://puppydogsplus.com/puppy-toys

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