Potty Training

Puppies in particular have small bladders and will need frequent trips to the outside world to relieve them.  Older dogs that have not been fully house-trained may relieve themselves unpredictably as they have not yet learned what is expected of them.  Lucky for us, dogs are den animals that are easily house-trained.  They do not want to live in or close to their own excrement.  Dogs from puppy mills can often be difficult to housetrain due to the unnatural upbringing they experience. The following is a list of helpful tips:

• Set up your new puppy/dog for success.  Keep him in a secure confined area where you can have your eye on him at all times.  This allows you to reinforce him for good behaviour and interrupt and redirect him when he has an accident.  Shutting doors and using baby gates can be excellent ways to supervise him during the training period.

• Be consistent.  Take him outside at regular intervals (every 1-2 hours).  Some larger breed puppies can hold their bladder longer.  Take him to the place you wish him to go. 

Praise him profusely when he does go.

• Puppies urinate frequently for example: after waking up from a nap, after drinking water, after playing, when overexcited, etc.  If you see your puppy sniffing the ground and beginning to circle, getting him outside for a potty break is a good idea.

• If your catch your puppy having an accident, interrupt him by clapping your hands or interrupt him with a loud "outside".  Try to get him outside where he can finish eliminating, and you can once again praise him.  If he has already gone and you missed it, there is nothing you can do.  Dogs live in the moment and will not connect something that happened three minutes ago with what you are telling them now.

• Be sure to clean any soiled areas thoroughly. Dogs go where they smell urine and a urine smell will encourage them to relieve themselves again.  There are plenty of products at local pet stores that can safely remove the smell of urine.  Vinegar and water can also be effective but may stain rugs.

• Putting your puppy on a regular feeding schedule can help predict when he will go next.  Young puppies usually eat three meals a day and will often defecate between 5-15 minutes after a meal.  Knowing this you can plan their walk or bathroom breaks accordingly.  Be sure to put the food away thirty minutes after mealtime, as eating sporadically throughout the day can cause unexpected bowel movements and picky eaters.

• Crate training is highly recommended as it helps the puppy develop better bladder control and gives you some time to relax from being a puppy parent.  A puppy may pee in his crate if it is too large, so ensure it is the appropriate size.

• If your puppy pees frequently and you are having trouble catching him in the act, try umbilical cord training.  Secure a six foot leash to your waist through your belt and have the puppy follow you around the house.  This way the puppy is unlikely to go into "pee position" with the leash restriction and is more likely to indicate to you when he needs to go.  Your puppy may whine or become anxious letting you know he needs to eliminate.  Take him out and then praise him when he does go.

Chewing

Chewing is a natural process for both puppies and dogs and serves many purposes.  It is an opportunity for puppies to explore the world, and it is normal for them to want to taste and test new objects with their mouths.  Puppies and young dogs also often chew out of boredom and to relieve the pain of the teething process. Puppies go through a teething stage between 4-6 months and then a second stage at 6-10 months after their

adult teeth come in.  The following are some important factors to consider with chewing:

• When your puppy or dog is going through a chewing stage, be sure to puppy proof the house to eliminate any hazards, such as: electrical wires, poisonous plants, breakable items, choking hazards, etc.

• Baby gates are excellent for supervising and confining your puppy to safe areas only.  Boisterous puppies may try to jump over or knock down baby gates.  You may have to teach him to respect the boundaries of a gate first. 

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  Providing appropriate chew toys during this critical chewing period can prevent damage to your treasured belongings.  There are many bones and chewing products on the market developed specifically for teething puppies.  Chew toys which contain hidden food are great for encouraging your puppy or dog to chew on the toys and not on your furniture and belongings.  

• If you catch your puppy chewing on something he is not supposed to, the best thing to do is to redirect him to something he can chew on.  Clap your hands or say “Hey” in a calm voice and he should momentarily stop chewing.  This gives you an opportunity to show him the toy you want him to chew and you can now lure him over to toy he can have.

• You may find your puppy seems disinterested in the toy after a while and no longer wants to chew it.  You should only have 3-4 toys around him, and be sure to rotate them.  Withdraw toys he is especially attracted to for the times when he is in a real chewing mood.  

• It is also beneficial to teach your puppy or dog to drop objects.  It is also crucial that he is comfortable with people around him when he chews toys and bones, and

any early signs of object possession are immediately recognized and dealt with.

Nipping

It is natural for puppies to want to explore the world with their mouths and nipping is a part of social interaction for young puppies.  At a very young age, a mother dog will teach her puppies how hard they can bite.  She is also quick to enforce the rules if they do bite too hard.  As puppy parents, it is important we take on this role and communicate to our puppies what the boundaries are.   Puppies must learn that human skin is very delicate and that their mouthing can cause us pain.  The following are some ways to curb nipping and biting in young puppies:

• If your puppy mouths or nips you too hard say “ouch” in a calm firm voice and immediately shut down from all play.  Do not attempt to interact with him, and ignore any attempts he makes to solicit play from you.  You are actually playing the role of one of his litter mates who would stop playing with him if he bit too hard.  This teaches the puppy that he must be careful with his mouth in order for you to interact with him.

• When puppies start to use your hand for a chew toy, you can also make the same “ouch” sound or even yelp and then re-direct them to a toy that they can chew.

• Children and women are most often victims of puppymouth sessions, while men are often left alone.  This is because children and women often use a higher pitched excited voice when interacting with the puppy.  Be sure to be calm yet assertive with your puppy if he gets in a rebellious mood, and refrain from any exuberant noises or movements that may edge him on.  

Believe it or not puppy mouthing is not all bad and serves an important social purpose.  Your puppy will learn the power of his teeth at a young age.  When interacting with people and other dogs throughout his life, he will maintain bite inhibition.  Bite inhibition means he knows how to control the force of his bite so if he ever does bite a person or another dog he can do so with minimal force.   Of course, you want to be sure to socialize your dog too so he is comfortable around people and other animals and any desire to bite is eliminated.  The following ideas may be helpful:

• Providing puppy play-dates with other young pups can help curb your puppy’s tendency to mouth you.  This will also help him learn appropriate social etiquette.  If you do not have many pups around, some cat toys can make for great play sessions.  Look for toys with a rod and a toy attached at the end.  Now you can instruct your puppy to chase the toy and catch it.  This is also a good opportunity to teach your puppy an off command and to enforce your leadership skills.

• Enroll your puppy or dog in a dog obedience class where he gets an opportunity to socialize with other dogs off leash.  Some training schools do not offer off-leash socialization so be sure to ask.

• If you notice your puppy or adolescent dog is using nipping and mouthing to control you, be sure to seek advice from an expert training school, such as, “The Pack Way”.  He should never use nipping and mouthing to control you or get you to do something for him.

Crate Training

Crate training is highly recommended for young puppies and new dogs and can be a vital tool for potty and house-training.  Done appropriately, crate training should never be abusive or unpleasant for the puppy.  In fact he should learn to like the

crate and will often go in there to sleep or rest by himself.   Crate training can provide relief from some of the chaos of puppy training.  The following are some points to consider when crate training your new puppy or dog:

• The crate must be big enough that the puppy can stand up and turn around with ease but not so big that the dog wants to eliminate in one end.  Purchase a crate with a divider so you can adjust the size of the crate as the puppy grows.

• Always create a positive association with the crate.  Whenever you put your puppy into the crate, lure him with a treat to encourage him to go in there by himself.  Also, you can feed your puppy in the crate and provide affection.  Your puppy will enjoy the crate and see it as a den he can quietly rest in.

• If you crate train your puppy properly, future travel and vacations will be more enjoyable for your puppy as you can now bring him.  He will learn to rest quietly in the crate and can be brought almost anywhere.
• Start crate training your puppy in small increments, a half hour, then an hour, then an hour and fifteen minutes.  You will need to work this up until you end up being able to leave your puppy in the crate for a few hours.

• When introducing your puppy to the crate for the first time, make sure he is calm and tired.  It would be ideal to walk and play with him before putting him in the crate.  When he is in the crate, shut the door and wait for him to relax.  Do not leave him if he is whining and barking as he will stay in that state of mind for some time.  Wait patiently until he relaxes and then leave.

• If the puppy starts barking or crying do not let him out.  This will only teach him that he can manipulate you to get out of the crate and he will continue to bark in the crate in the future.  If you suspect he may need to relieve himself, take him out for five minutes and then return him to the crate. When he is quiet, let him out of the crate, calmly. 

• Crate training can help teach your puppy to relax when he is alone and can help prevent the development of separation anxiety.

Socialization

Socializing your new puppy or dog is perhaps one of the most important things to consider when bringing home your new pet.  It is crucial that you give him the necessary social skills to cope with the

requirements he will have as a member of the human world.  Socialization is one of the most important steps to take in order to prevent your puppy from developing anxious or aggressive behaviours towards people, dogs, new things, etc.  The following is a list of tips to follow to ensure your new puppy develops into a balanced social dog:  

• It is crucial that you socialize your new puppy or dog to all types of people, dogs, cats, and new environments as early as possible.  Knowing how he may react to new and different things is key to preventing future temperament issues, including potential dog bites.

• Use food, treats, and toys to create positive associations for your new puppy or dog.  Ensure he is comfortable being handled by gently massaging him all over his body, including his head, neck, mouth, belly, tail, feet, etc.  Take notice of any areas he becomes tense or anxious about and work on these areas.  This is crucial in developing him as a social dog.

• Socialize your puppy around his food dish, ensuring he is comfortable having people in and around him when he is eating.  Provide food treats when people are near him and when he is eating.  This helps ease any anxiety he may have about people being near his food dish.

• Remember to socialize your puppy or new dog to the peculiarities of human life, such as: Halloween costumes, fireworks, men’s beards, funny hats, bicycles, children playing, etc. 

• Enroll your puppy or new dog in a socialization/obedience class with a reputable dog training school, such as, “The Pack Way”.