The #1 challenge new puppy owners face is potty training (or as it used to be called ‘house training’) their puppy. 8 week-old puppies have no control over their elimination and that can be a real nightmare for the new owner. No one likes cleaning up pee or poop and it can be extremely frustrating if there are carpets in the home. Training your brand new puppy to enjoy spending [...] Read more »
The Easy Way to Crate Train Your Puppy
Puppy crate training is easy especially if you begin training your puppy the day you bring him home. Buy a crate big enough to allow puppy to lie down, stand and turn around inside it, but not so big she will be inclined to use it as her toilet (Dogs do not like to toilet in a small living space.) If your puppy will grow to be a big dog, [...] Read more »
Your Pup’s Safe Place…How to Crate Train Puppies
Crate training puppies is as easy as 1—2—3… 1) Buy a crate 2) Put puppy in crate 3) Shut the crate door That’s it, right? I sincerely hope NOT! Puppy crate training is easy. Buying a crate is Step One. Let’s start there. The crate needs to be big enough for puppy to stand up and turn around in but not so big that he’ll be inclined to use it [...] Read more »
Easy Steps to House Training a Puppy
It used to be that puppy training was a haphazard affair until puppies reached five or six months of age. In fact, from time to time, I still hear that theory promoted. New puppy owners grumbled about in-house accidents but accepted them as part of bringing home a new puppy. About thirty years ago, Dr. Ian Dunbar ( his website is: http://www.dogstardaily.com/ )developed new ideas and methods of training puppies. [...] Read more »
Puppy Socialization… Outings
It may be too soon for puppy class and the dog park but outings are still important. Using the crate in the car is important too, for his safety and yours. Once Bozo has learned a reliable ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and ‘settle’, you can teach him those cues in your stationary car (more on that later). Starting with short rides, a quick trip for milk or a hop to pick up [...] Read more »
Your Pup’s Safe Place… The Crate Part 2
Back in the post “He’s Here. The Early Days”, I suggested getting half a dozen or so stuffable chewtoys*. These are specific purpose toys. With these you will develop Bozo Pup’s acceptable object-chewing habit. Chewing is a natural behaviour for puppies. You will want to indulge that behaviour and enable him to form acceptable chewing habits. Squeaky toys, stuffed toys and balls are other use toys. Stuffed chewtoys are always to [...] Read more »