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Behavior & Training
Theses are a few things to help train your dog. this page will be updated constanly so come back.
How to House trainning your puppy
Starting Inside: There are several ways to housebreak a puppy. With the first, you can put down papers or pretreated pads, encouraging them to use these areas for going to the bathroom. The pads are scented with a chemical that attracts the puppy to use them. Whenever you see them starting into their "pre-potty pattern," such as walking around and sniffing the floor, you gently pick them up without talking and carry them over to the papers/pad and then praise them when they go to the bathroom (Rule 2).
When all goes well and they are using the papers consistently, the papers are either moved closer to the door and/or another set is placed outside. The transition is made from concentrating the toilet habits to one spot inside the home to one spot outside the home. Finally, the papers inside are eliminated. The only problem with this method is that for a period of time it encourages the animal to eliminate inside the home. In our experience, house training may take longer when this method is used.
When an 'accident' happens One of the key issues in housebreaking is to follow Rule Number One: If you do not catch your puppy doing it, then do not punish him for it! We do not care what someone else may tell you or what you read, if you find a mess that was left when you were not there, clean it up and forget it.
Discipline will not help because unless you catch the puppy in the act, he will have no idea what the scolding is for. Your puppy has urinated and defecated hundreds of times before he met you. Mom or the breeder always cleaned it up. Nobody made a fuss before and the pup will not put the punishment, regardless of its form, together with something he has done without incident numerous times before. Especially if he did it more than 30 seconds ago! Puppies are just like our children. Unless something was really fun (and a repetitious act like going to the bathroom is not), they are not thinking about what they did in the past. They are thinking about what they can do in the future. At this point in his life a puppy's memory is very, very poor.
Anyway, let us face it. It was your fault, not the pup's. If you had been watching, you would have noticed the puppy suddenly walking or running around in circles with his nose down smelling for the perfect spot to go to the bathroom. It is just as consistent as the taxi cab driver behind you honking immediately when the light changes. The puppy will show the same behavior every time. It may vary a little from pup to pup but they always show their own "pre-potty pattern" before the act.
The COME Command
My method of teaching 'come' to a puppy involves the use of a collar and a long leash or check cord. However, your puppy needs to become adjusted to the sensation of the collar and the effect of the leash. Do not start training until this is done. We prefer a leash or cord that is at least 15 ft. long. Also, choose a training time when there are no distractions.
Stand with the pup several feet from you and gently pull him toward you with the cord. As he reaches you, give praise by gently reaching down to pet him, rubbing him across the shoulders a few times. It may also help to kneel down in a crouched position to encourage the pup to come to you.
You don't need to say anything at all yet because saying 'come' will just be confusing to the pup at this point. In all training, I believe that a dog should know and understand the action demanded of a command before you ever add human language to it. Dogs don't understand our words. They can be taught to understand but it is not a natural or instinctive process for them. Repeat the pulling-in and praise a few more times. The first lesson should only be a few minutes long; a pup's attention span is short and we want the lessons to be a fun time between pup and owner.
After a few sessions, you will notice that the puppy comes easier and easier until the slightest tug on the cord starts the pup right toward you. This is exactly what we want. Giving treats is not necessary, but since this is such a difficult command for some dogs to learn, it may assist in training.
Once you are confident that the pup will start coming to you with the slightest pull on the cord, say 'come' at the same instant you start to pull on the cord. Just say it once and don't repeat yourself. Do not raise your voice. The pup will soon associate the action of 'come' with the verbal command. Repeat this process until the cord, although still attached to the collar, plays no part in bringing the puppy to you. Rather, the pup comes on his own as a response to the verbal command. At this point in the training, the cord can be removed. Working in a controlled area, the command can be given and the correct behavior rewarded with mild praise. There will be instances when the pup challenges your authority. Then it is time to go back to using the check cord for a period of time to refresh and remind your pup.
Be careful how you use spoken commands around your pup. For example, the pup probably won't even hear you as he runs across the neighbor's yard, playing with another dog. Screaming 'come-come-come' at a time like this only tells a pup that he can get away with disobeying your commands. Use common sense when using the command and make sure the puppy always obeys. Also be sure that all family members use the same word for the same command. One person can't be saying 'here,' another saying 'come here Ralph,' and yet another 'over here' and expect the puppy to understand and obey.
'Come' is the most important command you'll ever teach your dog. It could save your dog's life. You and everyone around you will appreciate a dog that is obedient and under control.
How to House trainning your puppy
Starting Inside: There are several ways to housebreak a puppy. With the first, you can put down papers or pretreated pads, encouraging them to use these areas for going to the bathroom. The pads are scented with a chemical that attracts the puppy to use them. Whenever you see them starting into their "pre-potty pattern," such as walking around and sniffing the floor, you gently pick them up without talking and carry them over to the papers/pad and then praise them when they go to the bathroom (Rule 2).
When all goes well and they are using the papers consistently, the papers are either moved closer to the door and/or another set is placed outside. The transition is made from concentrating the toilet habits to one spot inside the home to one spot outside the home. Finally, the papers inside are eliminated. The only problem with this method is that for a period of time it encourages the animal to eliminate inside the home. In our experience, house training may take longer when this method is used.
When an 'accident' happens One of the key issues in housebreaking is to follow Rule Number One: If you do not catch your puppy doing it, then do not punish him for it! We do not care what someone else may tell you or what you read, if you find a mess that was left when you were not there, clean it up and forget it.
Discipline will not help because unless you catch the puppy in the act, he will have no idea what the scolding is for. Your puppy has urinated and defecated hundreds of times before he met you. Mom or the breeder always cleaned it up. Nobody made a fuss before and the pup will not put the punishment, regardless of its form, together with something he has done without incident numerous times before. Especially if he did it more than 30 seconds ago! Puppies are just like our children. Unless something was really fun (and a repetitious act like going to the bathroom is not), they are not thinking about what they did in the past. They are thinking about what they can do in the future. At this point in his life a puppy's memory is very, very poor.
Anyway, let us face it. It was your fault, not the pup's. If you had been watching, you would have noticed the puppy suddenly walking or running around in circles with his nose down smelling for the perfect spot to go to the bathroom. It is just as consistent as the taxi cab driver behind you honking immediately when the light changes. The puppy will show the same behavior every time. It may vary a little from pup to pup but they always show their own "pre-potty pattern" before the act.
The COME Command
My method of teaching 'come' to a puppy involves the use of a collar and a long leash or check cord. However, your puppy needs to become adjusted to the sensation of the collar and the effect of the leash. Do not start training until this is done. We prefer a leash or cord that is at least 15 ft. long. Also, choose a training time when there are no distractions.
Stand with the pup several feet from you and gently pull him toward you with the cord. As he reaches you, give praise by gently reaching down to pet him, rubbing him across the shoulders a few times. It may also help to kneel down in a crouched position to encourage the pup to come to you.You don't need to say anything at all yet because saying 'come' will just be confusing to the pup at this point. In all training, I believe that a dog should know and understand the action demanded of a command before you ever add human language to it. Dogs don't understand our words. They can be taught to understand but it is not a natural or instinctive process for them. Repeat the pulling-in and praise a few more times. The first lesson should only be a few minutes long; a pup's attention span is short and we want the lessons to be a fun time between pup and owner.After a few sessions, you will notice that the puppy comes easier and easier until the slightest tug on the cord starts the pup right toward you. This is exactly what we want. Giving treats is not necessary, but since this is such a difficult command for some dogs to learn, it may assist in training.
Once you are confident that the pup will start coming to you with the slightest pull on the cord, say 'come' at the same instant you start to pull on the cord. Just say it once and don't repeat yourself. Do not raise your voice. The pup will soon associate the action of 'come' with the verbal command. Repeat this process until the cord, although still attached to the collar, plays no part in bringing the puppy to you. Rather, the pup comes on his own as a response to the verbal command. At this point in the training, the cord can be removed. Working in a controlled area, the command can be given and the correct behavior rewarded with mild praise. There will be instances when the pup challenges your authority. Then it is time to go back to using the check cord for a period of time to refresh and remind your pup.
Be careful how you use spoken commands around your pup. For example, the pup probably won't even hear you as he runs across the neighbor's yard, playing with another dog. Screaming 'come-come-come' at a time like this only tells a pup that he can get away with disobeying your commands. Use common sense when using the command and make sure the puppy always obeys. Also be sure that all family members use the same word for the same command. One person can't be saying 'here,' another saying 'come here Ralph,' and yet another 'over here' and expect the puppy to understand and obey.
'Come' is the most important command you'll ever teach your dog. It could save your dog's life. You and everyone around you will appreciate a dog that is obedient and under control.
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, Jan 13 2008, 7:00 PM EST
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