Housebreaking Your Puppy

Housebreaking a puppy is one of the trickiest parts of training dogs. You should start this when you take the dog home.
Younger puppies will need more patience as they cannot hold their bladders too long and they will most likely go whenever they feel like it.

There are a few ways to help your dog in housebreaking a little quicker.

One way is to set a schedule. Get up at the same hour every day. Take your dog out at the same hour in the morning. You can also feed him at the same hour of the day. You can then take the dog for a little walk after eating.

Dogs usually sniff the area they will be relieving themselves on. They walk in circles or back and forth. These are indications that your dog needs a “bathroom break”. Circling would usually mean that the dog would need to go poop. Taking him outside will help housebreak the dog. Punishment will generate fear in the dog and is not advisable.

Create a command for the dog. You need to establish your master-pet relationship as well. Give a word and use it often when the dog needs to go number two. The dog will then pick up the command and do the action when told. You have to use the word often for the dog to be able to pick up the command.

Keep your dog safe when unsupervised. You never know what exactly your puppy can do. So keep him in a kennel or a crate. But remember that the longest you can have the dog caged is at six hours.

Training pads are also a big help. They would teach the dog to pee in the right places at the right time. Dogs like absorbent materials, and they will go on anything except for their beds. In such cases, you may need to use training pads.

Just make sure that you are vigilant with the training of your dog. If you are consistent in your training you will be able to enjoy your time with your puppy much more than if you are lazy about training.

Keeping Dogs Off of Furniture

Perhaps you are thinking about whether or not you should allow your dog to sleep in your bed. You also might be thinking if you can allow your dog to snuggle with you on the couch.

Some people think that this should not be allowed as the dog will think that he is in control of the home because he sits in the same level as the master. Your pet might think that he is also a master of the home.

Dogs are pack animals. And in packs, there would be someone called the alpha. They usually are male. And there is only one alpha in the pack. The alpha serves as the leader of the pack.  Alphas lead hunts and also lead moves to new habitat or shelter.

At home, and if you have a dog, you would need to think of your house as a den and you would need to regard to yourself as the alpha. You need to establish this with your dog. If you’re going to give commands, make sure that they are always firm. Make sure that you do not budge on your dog. This will give the dog the signal that you’re not someone they can mess with. It will make him think that you are the boss and that he should follow the “alpha”.

Establishing authority over the dog will definitely make the difference here. It would be under your discretion whether or not you’ll let the dog sleep or sit with you. The important thing is that the dog knows that you are the master and that he is the pet. The master should be in command. And the pet follows.
Having a dog sit beside you on the couch does not necessarily mean that he will think that he is also a master at home. As long as you keep a firm hand on the dog, you will definitely keep him in line.

You may want to also try one of the many products you can spray on your furniture that would keep them off of the couch for quite a while. What’s best about these products is that they still keep the furniture smelling pleasant while repelling the dog.

Dog Safety: Kids and Dogs

There are  a few things that we should keep in mind when owning and handling dogs. These will not only protect the dog but will also protect your children.

First, you need to be gentle with dogs. Kids can be rough with dogs and dogs do not like this. You can show them how to gently pet the dog. Make sure that they don’t pull on the dog’s ears and tail or grab their fur. Try using a stuffed animal first before letting your child get in contact with real dogs.

Remind your child that there is a proper way of approaching a dog and it would always be best to ask for permission from the owner.

When the owner allows your child to approach the dog, tell them to walk to it slowly and not run. Let the dog sniff your hand by holding out hand with your palm facing down. Don not rush to cuddle the dog. Let the dog get near you. The first meeting with a dog will make or break the relationship.

Teach your child that not all dogs are mangy, scraggly, menacing and vicious. The important thing to teach the child is to respect dogs and not to fear dogs.

If in case you meet a dog without its owner or astray, firmly tell it to go home. Do not run. If he doesn’t, then try to see what the dog is trying to do by paying attention the dog’s body language. If a dog’s ears are laid back and his tail is tense and not wagging, most likely the dog is not in a good mood. If this is the case, try to walk away slowly. Don’t make any quick and sudden movements. If he attacks you, duck and yell for help.

Never ever run away from a dog. Prey runs away from the predator. So if you run away from the dog, it would mean that you are up for a chase. And it may not stop until you’re caught.

A dog may not be in its best when it’s eating. So don’t pat the dog while he is eating because some dogs are very protective of their food. If the dog is food protective, you can train him out of the habit.

Lastly, supervision is always the best way to keep your child safe. It would be best if you know where your child is and what he is doing to prevent any unwanted occurrences.

It is always better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to keeping your children safe!