Bringing home a puppy and introducing her to your home is very exciting for everyone. The only one who may be anxious about the situation will be the puppy. If you handle your puppy properly when she arrives, she will quickly relax and want to settle into her new home.

Prior to bringing your new puppy into your home, you should puppy proof it. Take a look at your home from the puppy’s viewpoint. Does that potted plant sitting in front of the glass door look tempting? You may want to consider moving it to a higher place. What about your favorite collection of teddy bears, or magazines you have in a basket by the sofa? They will most certainly raise the curiosity of your new puppy. As you move these things out of your puppy’s reach, remember it is only for a short time. Once your new puppy has learned her place in the family, you can put your things back where they go. Your life should never be dictated by your puppy. However, by removing these curiosity objects from the start, it will allow you to work with your puppy on the basic training she will need to learn.

It is important to understand that as much as you want your new puppy to be a part of your family, your puppy is still an animal. She will take her cues from her environment. If she is allowed to have free run of the home and access to everything, you are teaching her that she is in charge. Dogs have instincts. The main instinct of dogs is to live in a pack. Your new puppy will assume her new family is her pack. If she picks up the clues that she is her own boss and she can do what she wants, whenever she wants, she is being taught she is the leader of her pack. It is much easier on everyone, including the dog, if she learns from the moment she enters the home that she is not the leader and dictator of the family.

One mistake people make is letting their puppy sleep in a utility room, or kitchen. Dogs are from the wolf family, and really prefer to have a den all their own. Some people assume placing a dog in a crate is cruel. On the contrary, if crates are introduced properly, they will be much loved by the puppy. When planning for a new puppy, do not go out and buy the biggest crate you can find for your puppy thinking she will grow into it. This is the worst mistake owner’s make. A crate should be large enough for your pet to stand up and turn around in. Puppies usually learn from their mothers to not soil in their bed area. If the crate is too large, your puppy may designate a portion of her crate for sleeping, and the other half for soiling. You should also never place your puppy’s food and water in her crate.

When your puppy is first introduced to the crate, do not simply put her inside and lock the door. This will greatly disturb her. (You should place the crate in a room in your home where the family gathers. You should not expect the puppy to walk through the entire house to the back guest bedroom to nap. By having the crate in close proximity to the family, the puppy will feel as if she is still hanging out with her pack, even if she is inside her crate sleeping.) Place the crate where it will stay, and simply open the door. You can place a towel in the bottom, and a chew toy inside if you want. Some puppy’s are very curious. They will simply walk inside. Others may be a little more shy with the crate. Give your puppy time to warm up to the crate. Once she does enter the crate, praise her. You may want to give her crate a name. When she enters the crate, you can repeat the crates name, and give her a treat.

After your puppy has warmed up to her crate and has entered and exited it a few times, you can close the door. She may whine and paw at the door. She may even start yelping and barking. This is okay. Do not let her out. After about ten minutes, you can open the door and pick her up. Walk her directly to the area designated for pottying. You should never let your puppy out of her crate and allow her to follow you through the house to go outside. Most puppies will simply squat and go where they please. Once you are outside, set her down. You would then encourage her to potty. Choose a couple of words such as, Go potty, of Do your business. She will not have a clue as to what you are saying, at first. But, after repeated attempts and with being given a puppy treat and praise, she will learn what those words mean. Most puppies will need to go out at least every hour during the first few days to familiarize them with their potty area. This is a chance for you to catch them doing their business where they need to. Lavish them with praise.

The first few nights may make you wonder why you even brought the puppy home. The repeated yelping and whining coming from the crate can seriously upset many adults who need their sleep. You should look at your new puppy as the baby in the family. Puppies less than four months of age may need to go out once during the night. When she does, pick up your pup and take her to her designated spot. After she has relieved herself, place her promptly back into the crate. You should never play with your puppy during the night time hours. This will only encourage her to keep the yelping up. After a few days, your puppy will adjust to the night time patterns of her pack and everyone will get more rest. Most dogs are able to make it through the entire night without a potty break around 18 weeks.

Some individuals may think it is harsh to scold a puppy. These individuals may be the same people who have a dog running wild in their home within a year. Dogs which aren’t disciplined can wreck havoc on a home. You may return to find a shredded couch, chewed up shoes, and garbage strewn all over the place. If there are other pets in the home, you should also consider their feelings. They will most likely be intimidated by such a tyrant, and fights could commence while you are away.

If you catch your puppy chewing on something she shouldn’t, a firm no is usually enough to stop her antics. As with other forms of training, this may take a few days for her to learn. This is why you were advised to move precious things away. Some people have a rolled up newspaper to swat the puppy with if they refuse to heed a no. The rolled up newspaper does not hurt. It is simply loud, and it teaches the dog you are the alpha in the family, and not her. If she were truly in a dog pack, her alpha would nip her soundly. So, don’t feel as if you are mistreating her. In fact, most puppies seem to feel more secure when they know their place.

The most important thing you can do with your puppy besides introducing a crate immediately, instilling a potty routine, and teaching her what no means, is to build the relationship with your new puppy. Get on the floor and play with her. The bond will grow between you and she will love you. This will make your puppy want to please you and be obedient as well. This goes a long way when you start teaching her other basic commands such as stay and come.

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When a dog is shown before a judge, not only must he show how he moves but he must learn to stand both naturally and when placed in position without moving. This activity is called stacking the dog and it is an art that is learned by the handler and taught to the dog. The purpose of this stance is to allow the judge to see all parts of the dog’s structure to determine if he follows the standard of his breed and also for the judge to lay hands on and examine the dog to feel his bone structure and muscular condition.

The Show Dog usually appears to come to a natural well-balanced halt in front of the judge and this looks effortless. In reality, it is not effortless and usually the handler has spent many hours training the dog to come to this well positioned halt. Each breed has a standard, which defines how the feet and front and rear legs should be structured. When the dog comes to a halt, his front and rear feet should be placed correctly according to the standard for his breed. If his toes are to be pointed to the front, it would be considered a fault for his feet to be splayed outwards. If his rear legs should have straight hocks, it would be a fault for him to have the appearance of cow hocks. Therefore, it is important that the handler train the dog to come to a clean and perfect stop, correctly setting his feet in the proper position so as to show a correct stance. Often the handler needs to mask a fault that a dog may have and often this can be accomplished by training him to come to the right stop. There is no perfect dog, there is an ideal standard by which the dog will be judged.

The Show Dog is trained to come to a natural stack in front of the judge after he has performed the down and back, a pattern in which he is gated away from the judge and back towards the judge, at the end of which he must come to a naturally correct stand without the handler positioning his feet or head in any way. He must also learn to be stacked by having the handler position his feet and head for the examination by the judge. Sometimes, in the case of the smaller dogs, he is stacked on a table for the ease of the examination, so that the judge can get an appropriate picture of the structure of the dog without having to kneel down to see or touch the animal.

The judge must have the dog stand quietly while he performs his examination of the dog. The dog must learn not to flinch or draw away or move his head or feet while the judge runs his hands over his body, looks into his mouth, checks all the structure of the head and neck, shoulders and back and fore and hind legs, feels his muscular condition and, if he is a male, checks whether he has both testicles. All of this is done for the purpose of insuring that the animal is in good physical condition and meets the standard requirements of his breed, for the original purpose of the Dog Show was to determine the best breeding stock. All of the judging at a Dog Show must lead to this final determination of which dog is the best animal for breeding purposes and so all of the presentation of the dog to the judge should allow for this purpose to be accomplished.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Dog Training

If you are lucky enough to get a 7-week-old puppy, there is no excuse for any bad habits to develop over his lifetime. Puppies learn INSTANTLY when they are that young, and if you use the proper training methods, gentle but consistent, he will behave like an angel his whole life through.

The most important training, of course, is housebreaking. Boys are easier than girls because exploring outside is their favorite thing. They just cannot get enough of all the new smells out there!

The main key to housebreaking is watching. Watch your puppy AND the clock. Once every hour is not too often on a day he is active and the weather is good. The younger the pup, the more often he needs to go out, mostly because he is growing so fast. He must drink more water to fuel his metabolism than he does as an adult. Also, since he eats three or four times a day, you know what that means.

Watch him for subtle changes. If he is happily chewing his toy, and gets up suddenly with his nose to the floor, move quickly! He is ready to squat! If he has had a nice nap, get him out of his crate and outside right away. If he has just had a good grooming, it stimulates his circulation and guess what? Time to go out again. And of course after a meal, watch him extra close.

Things to remember:

—Do not punish him for mistakes. They are YOUR fault. Every time you take him out he will go, and praise praise and praise! Happy face, laughter, happy noises! He loves your happy face. When he makes a mistake, your frown and your face turned away from him is all the punishment he needs. He will get the point.

—He is learning English, you must use the same phrases over and over. Good go potty! Hafta go potty? Wanna go potty? He can learn in one afternoon that go potty means a jaunt outside and your happy face. Whatever phrase you choose, stick with it.

—I cannot recommend strongly enough getting a crate. They truly help with all phases of his training. They make him more secure, provide him with his very own private space and a place for him to hide his favorite toys and chewies. This is even more important if you have other adult dogs in the house.

—Be consistent, always be kind and gentle, and be patient as he learns your language, and your puppy will always look forward to his training sessions. Dogs love to work!

D. Witt has shown, bred and trained standard poodles for 25 years. Vets and groomers of her pups send word back of how wonderfully happy and easy to handle they are. Gentle and consistent techniques produce a dog that is well-adjusted, happy and obedient his whole life through. For more on her training techniques, visit http://www.DogTraining15MinsADay.com

Now that your dog has mastered all of the necessary commands to be well behaved, it’s time to have some real fun! It’s easier to teach your dog tricks once he’s learned how to respect you and you’ve earned his trust. Those necessary commands help him to do that.

Try these tricks to entertain both of you!

1. Fetch. It’s no fun to play ball with a person or an animal that won’t give the ball back. Teaching your dog how to fetch will make you both wish playtime would never end.

If your dog is a retriever, you’re ahead of the game. Your dog is hard-wired to want to fetch. But other breeds catch on quickly, too. You just have to be more patient and consistent. Train with your dog just a few minutes a day to be the most effective.

To teach your dog to fetch, you need a retrieving training tool called a dumbbell. You can buy it at the pet store. It will be a wooden or plastic tube with flanges on both ends to keep it from falling out of your dog’s mouth. Be sure to buy one that your dog can pick up easily and one that will allow him to close his mouth around the middle, not the flared edges.

You start training a dog to fetch by teaching him to open his mouth. Say Take it and offer him a food treat. Once he starts opening his mouth in expectation when he hears you say, Take it, slip the dumbbell inside his mouth. Leave the dumbbell there for a second, then praise him and give him a treat. Try this about four times, and then stop. Do this part of the training for a few days until your dog gets used to having the dumbbell in his mouth.

Now, start putting the dumbbell in your dog’s mouth and command, Hold it. Gently hold his mouth around the dumbbell for a few seconds. Then say, Give, and let him spit the dumbbell out. Be sure to praise him and give him a treat. Do this exercise for a few days until your pet will hold the dumbbell in his mouth.

Next, hold the dumbbell in front of your dog’s mouth and command, Take it. Pull his head toward the dumbbell if you have to. Be sure to praise and give him a treat, even if he just moves his head toward the dumbbell. Practice this until he’s used to taking the dumbbell in his mouth. All you have to do now is increase the distance slowly. Continue working on Hold it, and Give. It might be a good refresher course for Come, too. Before too long, your dog will put it all together!

2. Speak. This is usually a simple trick for your dog to learn if he’s vocal already. The trick is to entice him to do it on command and from distances.

First, choose a hand signal – some trainers make a twisting motion with a closed fist; others open and shut their hand using their fingers and thumb. Using your hand signal, command your dog to speak. When he barks, reward him and praise him. If your dog doesn’t bark automatically, continue to give the command until he gets frustrated and barks, then quickly reward him. Keep practicing and he’ll soon understand.

3. Shake hands or Gimme five. This is perhaps the easiest trick to teach your dog. Give your dog the Sit command. While you gently hold his paw with one hand, say Gimme five and hand him a treat with your other hand. You shouldn’t have to do this more than a few times for your dog to get the hang of it.

4. Give me a kiss. This is another easy one. Most dogs will kiss you whether you want them to or not! All you have to do is get them to do it on your terms. Command your dog, Give me a kiss, and then put your cheek in front of his mouth. When he licks your cheek, praise him and give him a treat.

5. Roll over. Start by giving your dog the Down command. Kneel beside him and gently roll him over on his side and command, Roll over. Keep rolling him until he’s upright again, and then give him praise and a treat.

A couple of caveats about this trick:

- Don’t keep trying it if it’s obvious your pet doesn’t like being on his back. Some dogs have stronger backs than others, and if you are successful in teaching your dog to roll over, it’s probably a trick you want to retire when he’s middle aged. Most elderly dogs have back and hip pain, and there’s no point in making your pet suffer.

- Be sure to only perform this trick on grass or carpet. Asking your dog to roll over continuously on a hard surface could hurt him.

6. Play dead. This trick produces gales from laughter from school-age boys, so if you have one of those, you might want to get him involved with training the dog on this one. A good time to practice this trick is you’re your dog has just exercised and is ready to rest. There’s a prerequisite, too – your dog must know the Down command.

Give your dog the Down command and notice what side he’s leaning on. Gently push him on over as you command, Bang. As he rolls over, praise him and rub his tummy. Repeat until you don’t have to use pressure to force him to roll to his side. Use the Stay command to stay dead. Add the hand signal, a pointing forefinger, as you command the Bang.

Most Important Is that you have fun with your dog. A happy dog will always be the dog that responds to your every command. Have a fun day with your dog!

Marilyn Burnham

Author: ‘Dog Owners Boot Camp’
The How To Guide, Dog Training Secrets Professional Dog Trainers Don’t Want You To Know!
For More Information On Dog Training

Marilyn Burnham was the owner operator of 4 successful dog grooming stores in British Columbia, Canada for more than a decade. To spend more time with her children Marilyn made the decision to sell her business in the mid 90′s. Get a copy of her book: ?Dog Owners Boot Camp? The How To Guide, Dog Training Secrets Professional Dog Trainers Don?t Want You To Know!

One night I slept off without locking up, Maisky kept watch at the door. Then about 3 AM I was roused from sleep by his loud barking under my bed. I opened my eyes to behold a man right inside my room, and I acted instinctively throwing my reading chair, which was by the bedside, at the intruder. He jumped out the room, and I quickly rushed and pushed the jam-lock-door to.

Then my heart started to dance to Maisky?s frenzy barking. I was almost going into cardiac arrest trying to quieten my dog who by now was bent on not leaving the security of the room. He was very afraid of the intruder whom he believed was out there waiting to get him.

Maisky?s barking was so intense, my heart beat synchronized it, sweat poured from my pores like leaking plumbing pipes. Under very severe cardiac pressure, I opened the door and quickly took Maisky?s chain, jammed the door back to and then began the labour of getting Maisky out from under the bed. I did eventually, chained him, and the fight to take him outside was not an easy one. My heart beat speed was killing me as it danced to the machine gun rhythm of Maisky?s barking.

Then I got the idea of a saving grace. Maisky loves me so much, so I feigned and slumped to the floor, and immediately Maisky?s barking turned to whining, its tail wagging as he came licking me all over compassionately, my heart beat slowed down, and soon normalised.

Maisky saved my property from the thief, and I saved myself from heart attack by dropping the panic induced aggression against a dear friend. Come to think of it, why should Maisky have agreed to be taken outside when the intruder was also out there in the dreadful night? Consider the fact that he was the one who had a good look at the intruder and knew how mean the intruder was or had actually acted during their confrontation.

For the first time we lay together in the same room that night wondering about the intruder and what his intentions had been, with Maisky intermittently growling ?honnnng!? And I was very proud of him.

ADVANTAGE OF DOG TRAINING

It should be noted that had Maisky not been trained he would definitely have wondered away since he was unchained before I slept off. But the sense of responsibility inculcated into him through training kept him securing my place for more than 4 hours till 3 AM when the intruder happened. For this honourable act I rewarded Maisky with a sumptuous meal of stewed bones, rice and yoghurt the following day.

Neshah is the CEO of Dog Obedience Road Map

Introduction

A long time ago, before evolution turned the primate into the businessman carrying a brief case, the topic of ethical considerations concerning animals was as talked about as an episode of Barney at a dog trainer?s convention. Why is this? I believe that this is because nobody bothered to decide to give the issue any thought. And how could they? Back in the day of the cave man, people spent their days? hunting, and looking after family. Whatever animals they owned were used for hunting purposes, or food. Today we as society still use animals for hunting and food purposes, however I am sure that we have a more animalistic view now than the cave man did back years ago.

Over the years, as we have evolved into what we are today, ethical and principle considerations have evolved right along with us. What I can not understand, is why it took so long for people to start considering the feelings of animals!

In today?s society, many animals are abused, neglected and tortured in various hideous ways. Back in the day of the cave man, I am sure that similar behavior took place. Is it a case of evolution installing a sense of compassion towards our animals, or is it something deeper? I do not know the answer to this, but I do know that values and ethics are passed down from generation to generation, and it is up to us today to instill our values on the next generation so that we can continue to provide the optimum environment for our animals to live in and enjoy.

In the following paper, I will analyze key ethical principles that I have, and relate them to some of society?s most talked about animal related issues. In doing this I will discuss issues from both sides of the fence however, emphasis will be placed on my own beliefs as this is afterall a reflection paper. Some issues being discussed in this paper include: Views on service dogs, animal rights, and animal-master bond just to name a few.

Service Dogs

?Dogs that have been specially trained to assist a disabled person with certain daily tasks.? (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language)

This definition given by the above source is the best way that I could ever describe a service dog. Having the ability to further one?s independence is an amazing feeling that is not felt until one is in the position to do so; yet in a lot of cases, people have a negative outlook on the use of dogs or other animals as providers and assistive partners for those who need them.

I myself, am a huge service dog advocate. Being able to witness first hand what a dog can do for a disabled person has made me wonder why there are people out there who disagree with the service dog concept; however, There are people out there who simply view the dog as ?man?s best friend.? These people have the belief that a dog is a pet, and should be pampered, and not forced to be given the responsibilities that service dogs are given. I can totally understand why these people would be against service dogs based on their own values, however what I do disagree with is the way that these people go about degrading the work put in by thousands of dedicated individuals to ensure that a successful dog/handler team is formed. Rallies against the use of dogs for service needs are held now and again, and you can not get away from people staring or yelling ?slave labor? as you pass them. What these people do not understand, is that service dogs live more productive, healthy and fulfilling lives than most family pets.

Because of the work that these dogs willing and happily perform, they are subjected to very high quality care, (e.g.) top of the line dog food, ample exercise and against popular belief, a lot of normal doggie activity. The aim in a dog?s life is to please, and I wish those people against the use of service dogs could be there every morning when I ask Luther if he is ready to go to work!

Animal Master Bond

The saying dog is a man’s best friend? is one that I hold a lot of respect for. First of all unconditional love from a dog to a master is incomparable to that of another human being. Second, dog’s do not blab secrets that you tell them! All kidding aside, the dog has and will be one of man’s best comrades, because they have what we all want and need, this being an ability to put up with us, understand us better than we think they do, and the ability to make us feel better when we are sad.

On a personal level, I love spending time with my dog, and would rather his company to the company of most people. No he can not talk to me or give me advice on problems that I tell him about, however he is always there for me with a lick and a tail wag, letting me know in his own way that he loves me and wants to be with me.

I do believe that I may have an unhealthy relationship with my dog. When spending the majority of your day in close proximity with an animal I have found it impossible not to grow used to the constence of him being there. On an ethical level, people may view this as unethical due to the fact that it may look to them that I need my dog to function as a human being. This is not the case. I need my dog to assist me in day to day activity that could be performed minus the dog, however is greatly enhanced with the assistants that he provides me.

Of course you will get the ?oh he?s so smart,? or ?Oh he is so well behaved in public,? kind of people, however others again may view the fact that the dog is so in tune with what I am doing as a negative. I have talked with people in the past about my dog’s willingness to be with me and why he travels everywhere with me instead of lying in the corner 24 hours a day or chasing cars like normal dogs. The animal bond works two ways: them being, the dog bonding to the master and the master bonding to the dog. I never knew the feeling of a human dog commensal relationship until I got to know my own dog, and it is a feeling that I will not trade for the world, and I would say that Luther feels the same as I do. We both respect each other, we both know what is expected of each other, we both know what buttons to press and not to press, and we definitely know how to have fun either with each other or apart. However going back to the unhealthy bonding issue, this is where I believe I may have gone wrong with my dog.

By spending so much time together, we have become used to each other’s company, and when we are apart, I miss him terribly and I know he feels the same way I do. Dogs wear their emotions on their paws, and I can tell when he is stressed or upset as I’m sure he can tell if I am feeling different than normal. This said, I would not trade or relationship for the world. Luther makes my life easier, and in return, I provide him with love, a stable home, and everything else that a big slab of lab needs to enjoy his life to the fullest.

Animal Rights

Being an animal lover, it is hard to understand the difficulty over the years to ensure animal rights are afforded to our animals. We as humans have the power to control a lot of external powers that may confront us, however our animals don?t, and for the longest time we have ignored this fact and focused on fending for ourselves. This puzzles me because I am sure that over the years, we have noticed that human rights issues have become more and more prominent. People fighting for their rights is a great thing, however why is it so hard to believe that animals shouldn’t have rights also? Just because the common dog can not stand up and say, I have the right to pee on any patch of grass that I want, does not mean that that right should not be given to him/her does it?

I am not a huge animal rights advocate, however I do believe that they do need to be prominent in society so that people know that they can be held responsible if a right to an animal is withheld, the same way that some one can be held responsible if a right to a human is denied.

Do We As Humans Have The Right To Make Decisions For Animals?

The answer to this question I believe has changed over the years. Years ago before the cat and dog were domesticated, I share the belief that these animals had the ability to fend for themselves without any human interaction. Now that we have taken steps to domesticate the common dog and cat as well as numerous other types of mammals, reptiles and birds, I believe that we do play and need to play a role in the decision making process that these creatures go through.

When we domesticate an animal we suppress its natural instincts that it is born with. This sounds harsh, but it is so true. Take for example the undomesticated dog. The undomesticated dog kills for its food as today?s domesticated dog is fed from a bag or a can. I would like nothing better than to delve into the mind of a dog to find out which he prefers, however that component of science is unfortunately yet to be developed.

Being able to modify such an important aspect to the dogs life pattern scares me because it shows me how much mankind can dominate basically anything living that it chooses; this said, I do believe that humans do need to play a big role in the lives of today?s pets. Suppressing an animals instincts is quite different from eliminating them. Stray dogs will still form packs and can be cause for concern if not delbt with. Your cute little guy could be all hunkie dorie in the daytime, and turn into Wolf Dracula at nighttime while you are sleeping, returning to curl up by your fireplace the following morning. The pray drive of the common dog is what can get him/her into trouble and this is why I believe that human, master bond is so important.

Speaking from experience, having a good relationship with your dog or cat helps to eliminate bad decisions that your pet can make. Sometimes, your furry pet is triggered by primitive instinct, the same instinct that mankind has tried so hard to suppress due to its unwantedness in human society. This is an excellent example of why I believe that we need to play a part in the decision making of our pets. I think ethical beliefs need to be modified when discussing domesticated or non-domesticated animals. Thanks to the effort of mankind, we need to assist our domesticated friends because they do not have the capability to fully function by themselves. I do not mean to sound derogatory by this last statement. I am 100% thankful for the work that our predecessors have put in to allow us to enjoy the company of a non-human companion. My belief is that most domesticated animals live better lives than they would?ve led in the wild so how can domesticating an animal b unethical? I?m guessing the response to this question would very depending on the person answering it, and that is ok. People?s opinions will be different based on their ethical beliefs and I would never try to push my beliefs on to some one else, however I think I speak for the majority of the population when I say that without domesticated animals in our lives, life would just not be the same.

Conclusion

I wish I could say that both nondomesticated and now domesticated animals have thrived on evolution as we as humans have, however I do understand that a significant component of animal evolution is due to man?s interference. Whether we like it or not, mankind was and is responsible for a large aspect of the animal kingdom as we see it today. Clearing land, expansion and willingness to befriend, has greatly altered natural evolution and has imposed the will of mankind on to our co-habitating non-human species. In today’s world I am grateful to have the option of walking up to a dog or a cat and petting him/her, an option that I would not have before domestication became prominent. In today?s society, animals play a huge role in the lives of millions of people worldwide. Whether it be by fulfillment, labor related or just company, it is very evident that life would not be what it is today without the domesticated animal along side us. These animals provide us with friendship, love, protection, a good laugh, and stress relief and it is because of all these positive factors that make me selfish as well as very thankful that evolutionization has occurred to the level that it has.

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Every dog is trained to his owner?s level of comfort. If it doesn?t bother you that Fido likes to watch television sitting next to you on the couch, you?re not going to make an issue of keeping him off the furniture. If it makes you crazy when Spot barks at the vacuum cleaner, you?ll be more willing to put in the effort to teach her not to.

One absolute for us is that dogs must be housebroken. It?s not the most pleasant topic of conversation, but it?s essential to us. We even teach them to urinate and defecate on command. It takes work, patience and absolute consistency, but any healthy dog can be taught to keep her house clean and be a welcome guest wherever she travels.

Puppies under six months old should not be expected to be ?good? all day while you?re at work, the kids are at school and no one?s there. If someone can?t get home at mid-day to take the puppy out, exercise it and give it some lunch, it may not be the right time for a dog.

Years ago, before crate training became the norm in housebreaking, most dogs were ?paper-trained? as puppies. I don?t really advise it unless you intend to make it the last stop in dog training. It?s hard to transition a dog from the paper to outside.

Small dog owners may like the option of a permanent, indoor toilet area for their dogs, a ?litter box? for dogs. It solves the issues of walking the dog in inclement weather, keeping the dog warm in winter and works well for many apartment dwellers without immediate access to the outdoors. Since small dogs seem to need to eliminate more often, continuous access to a litter box may be ideal for some small dog owners.

Wherever you decide you want your dog to ?do its business,? take it there at regular intervals, give it whatever command you choose to use for the behavior and be patient. I even recommend carrying the dog to the toilet area first thing in the morning, or any time you know it really has to go.

When your dog produces the behavior you want – don?t forget the praise. Let your dog know you?re happy with her. And when your dog does ?mess up,? remember it?s your fault. It?s always your fault. You weren?t paying attention, you didn?t see the signs, you didn?t get the dog outside in time.

If you catch FiFi in the act, make a loud noise to distract it (I tend to scream ?No,? or drop a heavy book on the floor) and hustle the dog outside. If the dog finishes its business outside, praise him to the skies; ?What a wonderful, clever puppy you are!? Ideally, someone else will have cleaned up while you?re outside. If not, don?t let the pup watch you do it.

There is no punishment for messing in the house. If you don?t catch the dog in the act, it?s your fault. Just clean up and forget about it. If you take a page from prehistory and ?rub his nose in it,? your dog will learn that it?s bad for him if you find messes. So he?ll hide them. Dogs don?t have a ?cause and effect? memory.

A friend of mine has heard my housebreaking lecture many times and after four years his Dachshund Charlie still urinates in his dining room. Why? My friend won?t commit to paying attention to his dog, and won?t put in the effort needed. He thinks Charlie ?knows? he?s bad, because Charlie runs the other way when Sam goes into the dining room. Charlie knows he gets in trouble when Sam goes into the dining room. Charlie has no idea that dried puddle is the source of Sam?s anger, and certainly has no memory of producing it. Don?t be like Sam. It?s easier to teach the behavior you want than fix mistakes later.

Hope Saidel is the co-owner of GollyGear, a bricks-and-mortar and online small dog shop featuring fun, affordable and practical products for small dogs. She has trained and competed in Obedience with small dogs for over a decade and is on the Board of Directors of the North Shore Dog Training Club. Check out her blog: GollyLog.

Bark Collars

Many pet owners become lost as to what to do when their dog is barking and nothing seems to stop him. Maybe it doesn?t even bother the pet owner himself, but the neighbors are complaining. What can be done? A bark collar is one method to help control a dog?s barking. Bark collars are used to stop a dog from barking, but should be used as a last resort.

While it may be inconvenient to the dog?s owner, bark is part of owning a dog. It comes with the territory, so to speak. Understanding why your dog barks may help you realize what needs to be done. Often, the only thing that can be done is to use a bark collar. Here?s how they work.

Suppose that while a dog owner is away from home, neighbors complain that the barking is unbearable. Perhaps a dog barks quite a bit at night and this leads neighbors to report the owner. Using a bark collar can help eliminate this. The collar is placed on the dog either all the time or during certain times that the pet owner wishes to stop the dog?s barking. When the dog barks, a very small amount of electric stimulation which is similar to static shock is sent through the bark collar to the dog. While it is uncomfortable, it is not harmful. The dog barks again, and again, the collar sends the stimulation. The dog starts to relate the stimulation to the bark and will eventually stop barking.

A bark collar is a bark collar. It will do its job and eliminate or lessen the amount of barking a dog does. Deciding when to use a bark collar is the decision only the pet owner can make. A recommendation to use a bark collar is not bad, but it may be necessary. Should the dog keep barking and causing the pet owner?s neighbors to report it, can lead the animal to being removed. If a bark collar can stop this, it may be necessary. But, before resorting to this level, a pet owner should try to find out why his dog is barking. Using a bark collar sparingly or only during specific times may also lessen the effects on the dog. While a great tool, the decision to use a bark collar should be thought about first.

http://www.dogtrainingcollars.net

Byron Pappageorge

Dear friends of mine have an adorable 10-month Old English Sheepdog who loves to jump up on houseguests. My friends tolerated this habit until the dog jumped on a 78-year-old woman and slammed her against the wall.

Fortunately, she was only shaken up, but it convinced my friends to ask for help. Here are the tips I gave them.

1. Try to stay calm yourself

When the doorbell rings, don’t leap up or let your children start running to the door. Keep the family calm and walk to the door in a relaxed manner.

2. Prepare visitors

Most people finding a puppy jumping up on them are going to say good boy and start petting him. Ask them instead to turn their back to the dog and ignore him. Only acknowledge him when he responds to his owner’s command to sit. Then praise him or give him a treat.

3. Use a short lead

I don’t like a leash on a collar for small dogs but put him in a body harness attached to a leash when you’re expecting company. Make him sit behind you while you answer the door. Step on the leash if he tries to move ahead of you or jump on your guest.

4. Control yourself and your family

The most effective tool I’ve found to stop jumpers is to turn your back on them. Teach your children this as well.

If you or your child are in a position you can’t do this, make fists with both hands, cross your arms over your chest and look up. Do not make eye contact with the dog or talk to him.

Dogs, the social pack animal they are, crave our attention and withholding it is the best correction we can give them.

Note ? some goofy advice is still out there to try to knee a dog when he jumps up. This can be harmful and furthermore, for a small dog that is only 4 to 6 inches off the floor, it isn’t even feasible.

Remember ? withholding attention is the best correction. Be consistent in your training and soon Fido will keep all paws on the floor.

Louise Louis is a certified canine specialist and creator of the popular website on small dogs, http://www.ToyBreeds.com

Coming when called is a vital skill that every shih tzu must learn, both for its own safety and that of those around it. A disobedient shih tzu that refuses to come when called could easily be hit by a car, get into a fight with another shih tzu, or suffer a variety of other bad experiences. A well trained shih tzu that comes when called can safely be taken out to play in the local park, at the beach, on the hiking trail, or anywhere else the owner and shih tzu may wish to go.

Basic training to come when called is relatively easy and straightforward, and involves providing praise, treats and other perks when the shih tzu does as his owner wants. After these basic come when called training exercises are mastered, there are a number of fun exercises that can be introduced to challenge the shih tzu and pique its interest.

Making training into a fun game is one of the best ways to motivate shih tzu and handler alike. It is easy for training sessions to become routine and boring, and it is important to keep them from degenerating into this state.

Before beginning any food based training exercise, it is important to make sure that the shih tzu is properly motivated and ready to respond to treat based training. Testing the shih tzu is simply a matter of taking a piece of his regular food and waving it in front of the shih tzu?s nose. If the shih tzu shows great enthusiasm for the food, it is ready to start the training. If not, it is best to wait until the shih tzu is in a more receptive mood.

The treats that work best for treat based training games like hide and seek are cut up quarter inch or smaller pieces of chicken, cheese or liver. In other words, something your dog will love. It is best to use very small pieces to avoid overfeeding the shih tzu during the training sessions.

One great game for you and another family member or friend to play with your shih tzu is simply back and forth recall. This is a great exercise for teaching your shih tzu to come whenever it is called by a member of the family. Shih Tzu often learn to only respond to one person, and this can be a problem when other people are watching the shih tzu. That is one reason why professional shih tzu trainers always insist on working with the owner as well as the shih tzu. A well trained dog must learn to respond to whoever is in charge, not just the owner or usual handler.

In the back and forth recall game, two or more people stand approximately ten yards apart, in a safe place like a fenced in yard. One person calls the shih tzu and asks him to sit and say until another person asks the shih tzu to come. When the shih tzu responds to the command to come, it is rewarded with a treat. Most shih tzu respond wonderfully to this exercise and love playing this game. When playing the back and forth recall game, it is important that only the person who called the shih tzu be allowed to give the shih tzu a treat.

After the shih tzu has mastered the back and forth recall game, the humans in the game can start to spread further out, thus turning the back and forth recall game into a fun game of hide and seek. The hide and seek game starts with two or more people in the center room of the house. Every time they call the shih tzu to come, they spread out further away from where they started. As the game continues, one person will be at one end of the house, while another may be at the opposite end. What makes the hide and seek game so much fun for the shih tzu is that he must seek out the person to get the treat, instead of simply running up to a person in plain sight. This type of seeking behavior appeals to many of the shih tzu?s natural instincts. After all, dogs are naturally hunting animals, and seeking out food is second nature to them.

Connie Limon is a shih tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com