Dog Training Tips

Housebreaking Dog Tips for Peace of Mind

Housebreaking a dog usually means getting the dog to use the bathroom in the right place and at the right time. This is certainly important. But housebreaking is a lot more than just potting training. It includes all of a dog’s behavior in the house. This includes their understanding of where they can go and when.

No one wants to find out their dog urinated on the carpet. Of course, pups can’t help it if they are indoors and need to go. They don’t have the knowledge or capacity to wait. They do what is natural. Therefore, it is important to start the training process on day one.

Ideally, you got your pup at about eight weeks old. The problem is, the dog can’t control the muscles to hold the urine until they are about twelve weeks old. This means it is important to take your dog outside or to the designated place often during the first days of ownership. This is especially important shortly after a meal. Take them out every hour at first, and when they go, give them lots of praise.

Praise Is Important:

Positive reinforcement is crucial. Your dog will understand a pat, a dog biscuit, kind and encouraging words. This assures your pet that they are pleasing you and most dogs want to do that. So, opportunities to go and much praise when they do, will reinforce their acceptable behavior.

Are there places in your house you don’t want your dog to go? For example, a black shedding dog may not be welcome on the white couch! The pup not yet potty trained may not be welcomed in the carpeted floors. How do you get your new dog to understand these rules?

Consistency Is Crucial:

This kind of training requires consistency and patience. So, if the dog goes into the forbidden area, then instruct them with words and remove them from the room or off of the furniture. Do this every time they trespass so that tthey know this is never allowed. If you make exceptions, it will only confuse them.

If you suspect your dog is trespassing when you are not watching, but not when you are, then it is obvious they like the place but know it is wrong. One family made it clear their dog was not to get on the living room furniture. But when they came home and felt the warm spot on the softest chair, the dog was caught. To correct this, try tricking the dog into thinking you are not watching when really you are. Then when you catch them disobeying the rule, discipline and scold them so that it’s clear this is never allowed, watched or not.

Dogs generally like to please their masters. Therefore, when you’ve succeeded in housebreaking your dog and they follow the rules without being told, words of praise should be poured on. Let them know they have done very well to control their urge to do what feels good but is against house rules. If you give in, or give up, then remember the dog won and has really trained you.

Tips on Training Your Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever is the 7th smartest dog breed (according to one list) as well as one of the easiest dogs to train. Because the breed is intelligent, training your Labrador Retriever should go quicker compared to other breeds. Because the Retriever loves to please, they have a motive to obey clear commands the best they can.

History of the Labrador Retriever

Labradors should be called the Newfoundland Retriever for that is where they were bred. Actually the first of this breed was a cross between a Newfoundland and a small water dog. It was called the St. John’s Water Dog. The breed was first called Labradors by the Duke of Malmesbury in the early 19th century. Finally in 1878, after the Water Dog was mixed with other Retriever breeds, we have the Labrador of today. Labradors were officially recognized in 1903 by the UK Kennel Club and then in 1917 by the American Kennel Club. Today they are one of the most popular breed of dog.

Qualities of the Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retrievers (or simply Labs) will not suit every need for a dog but they have many wonderful qualities. We have already mentioned a few. Labs are also playful, alert, and loveable. Labs are good dogs with children and famous for their hunting skills. The breed is also used for rescue dogs, police dogs, and even seeing-eye dogs. Labradors aren’t good watch dogs but they will defend their master. They are large dogs so may frighten small children without proper training first. They also shed.

Labradors are often chosen as show dogs in fairs or dog shows because they are so easy to train. There are advantages of training older dogs but, in general, it is better to start training when he is 6 to 8 weeks old. This way you can train without first having to undo wrong habits.

You will want to train your dog to respond to words alone. Therefore, train your Retriever for a specific action always using the same words and the same tone of voice. At first, you may want to accompany this with an action to demonstrate what you mean. For example, say you want to train your dog to sit. As you say, “Sit,” push your Retriever’s rear end down. When they do it, reinforce the word as you praise and pat them. Soon, they will respond to just the word. But be consistent - same word and same tone. If you keep this up, in no time your Labrador Retriever will sit with your word and no gesture.

Training Tips for the Labrador Retriever

Use positive reinforcement. Since your Labrador wants to please you, praise them for correct conduct and add patting, hugging, and perhaps a food treat. Negative discouragement or correction may be needed at times but first be sure they understood what you meant. If you feel your dog refused to do what they know, then a tug on the leash, or a scowl, or sad words are enough. Use a newspaper pat sparingly, only when positive encouragement isn’t working.

Keep your training sessions short and concentrated. An intense fifteen minute training time once or twice a day works much better than an extended time or a few sporadic commands. Also, focus on one, or at the most two commands during a training time. Later you can review these as you add others. Repetition (same words and tone) is the key to making the connection in your Labrador’s brain.

The final point: be sure your dog is fed properly. Avoid over feeding or underfeeding, or junk food feeding. Remember, food is the fuel for their brain and body. If you follow these points consistently, you may be surprised how quickly training your Labrador Retriever will go. Soon they’ll have a whole list of impressive tricks they can do for you and your friends. You will be a proud owner, and the training may just keep them safe and save a life. 

Easy Steps to Housebreak a Dog

No one wants their dog to soil their carpet. Yet some dogs are purchased as indoor pets and being outside all the time isn’t an option. The answer, of course, is to train the dog to do their business in the proper place, either outdoors or in a designated area. If you follow these steps, you should be able to train your dog in no time at all.

The speed at which your dog learns this important pattern will depend on several things. First it will depend on the intelligence of the dog. Check online for a list of the smartest and most easily trained dogs. If your dog isn’t on it, they can probably still be trained. It will just take a little longer. Second, it will depend on the maturity of the dog. An older dog may have better bladder control, but a really old dog is hard to teach new tricks. Third, it will depend on your consistency with the training. You have to keep at it consistently until your dog won’t want to go in the wrong place. This article centers on a consistent method.

If your dog could understand English, you would simply sit down and say, “When you have to relieve yourself, wag your tail or whine or stand at the door until I get the message, OK?” Since your dog doesn’t know English, you must convey the same message through words, praise, gestures, voice tone, and rewards.

Dogs usually need to relieve themselves within twenty minutes of eating a meal. Therefore, do not feed them until you can take them out after they eat. If you want your dog to do their business outside, you must either send them out or take them outside to do it. At first, it is good to take them so that you can reinforce the good behavior when it occurs.

Success will be achieved through consistent praise for doing what you want, and showing disapproval when they don’t. At first your dog won’t know what you want. So when they mess, be patient and instruct. As your dog gets the message, disapproval can be more overt when the dog doesn’t do what they know they should.

If you got a puppy at eight weeks old (the ideal age experts say), then it is time to begin training at once. But don’t expect miracles from such a young pup. After they have eaten, put a leash on your dog and go for a walk. (Be sure to take a pooper scooper with you.) Talk to your dog. Say things like, “OK, time to do your business.” If the dog goes, praise them, pet your dog, and show strong approval. Exaggerate it as you would to a child. You might even give them a special food treat they only get when they eliminate in the right place. Do this after every meal consistently until a pattern is formed.

In the meantime, you don’t want to sacrifice your carpet for the lesson. So you may want to restrict your dog to a floor that is easy to clean. If the dog whines at the door, or in the night, get them outside quickly! Do everything you can to provide the opportunity for the dog to go when they need to.

If your dog likes to be outside, don’t punish them by taking them inside when they does go. Instead, heap on the praise and do whatever you can to convey to them the reason for your praise.

Most importantly, build a relationship with your dog. Any dog worth his salt will want to please their master. As you play with them and take them with you when you go places, they will experience the bonding and be motivated even more to want to please you.