Eight week old puppies just waiting for their new homes and to be properly puppy trained.

Housebreaking your puppy is one of the most important lessons he will learn.  Basically housebreaking is the foundation on which the future training of the puppy is built.  The reason for this is because housebreaking requires the owner and puppy to be together indoors on a daily basis, usually for the whole day.  With this intense and constant interaction, the relationship will be formed during the house training period between the owner and his dog.  If all goes well with this process, than it will become easier for the puppy to learn the sit, stay, stand and heeling exercises, since he has already formed a bond with his owner.  Of course he still can learn some of these exercises before he is completely housebroken.  www.cratetrainingyourdog.info

The mistakes some owners use in the housebreaking training period is, not spending enough time on the training, starting too early, and giving the puppy inconsistent praise or punishment.  Also, the owner shouldn’t expect too much too soon and should keep the puppy’s area clean.  The puppy also should be restricted to a small area of the house, not the entire run of the house!  It should be no more than a couple of square yards of space.  You can also use the crate to confine him when you are absent.

Crate training is probably the quickest and easiest way to housebreak a puppy.  The crate will become the puppy’s safe haven and his own little territory, and since he instinctively won’t eliminate in his bed the crate is an excellent tool for this training.  Some people may think that confining a dog to a crate is cruel to the dog.  But this is not true.  The dog will soon consider his crate his own “home”.

Choose your crate carefully.  For housebreaking, the sturdy plastic ones with the wire door and ventilation holes make a great choice.  When you buy your crate, make sure that it is only big enough for the dog to stand up, lie down and turn around.  If it is too big, he may just lie down on one side of the crate and eliminate on the other!  As the puppy grows into a dog, especially if he is a large breed, you will have to purchase a larger crate, but using this technique is definitely worth the expense since the second crate you purchase will be his “home” for life.

Start crate training your puppy at 8 to 12 weeks.  First, let him get acquainted with the crate by encouraging the puppy to go into it using encouraging words and treats.  When he does go in, calmly close the door and praise him.  If he whines tell him “No”.  Don’t let him out when he’s whining.  When he becomes quiet, open the door and praise! Only leave him in for 1-2 minutes at first.  Repeat several times working up to 5 minutes.  Soon your puppy will go into his crate on the command you choose such as “crate” or “kennel”.  When your puppy accepts his crate as his “home”, you will have half your problems solved!

Now choose a potty site, whether on paper or outside.  After he finishes his meal, take him out for a “potty break”.  Give him a verbal command such as “go potty” and then stand still.  Do this with his collar and leash on.  As he starts to eliminate praise him gently so he won’t stop!  When he finishes, praise lavishly!  A small treat and a play period is a great reward.  Then put him back into his crate.  Repeat this process several times a day.  Also remember that a young puppy can’t hold his bladder all night until he’s about 6 months old.

If your routine is consistent and done on schedule every day, you’ll soon have a housebroken, crate trained dog that will be a great home companion for many years to come.  Don’t forget, always praise the puppy when he’s done something right, and be consistent!  You will be well rewarded by your obedient dog!

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by Diane Gray

The much anticipated time has come.  Today, you’re finally going to bring your new puppy home!  You’ve spent many hours joyously waiting to bring your cuddly, furry little ball of fluff into your life.  You’ve done your homework into what breed of dog would fit into you and your family’s lifestyle.  You know how big he will get, and the basic temperament of the breed.  You took into consideration how much yard space you have, and whether he will be a house dog, an outside dog, or somewhere in between.  But before you actually bring your puppy home, you will need to make preparations and establish some guidelines.

The good care that you take of your puppy in the first 48 hours he is with you is very important.  Don’t forget, he will be alone for the first time in his young life.  His needs have been taken care of by his mother, and he sought his puppy mates for play and comfort.  All of these things will be gone from his life when he comes home to live with you.  But puppies are resilient.  He will soon adapt to his new home, family and surroundings.  Here’s a guide line for the first 48 hours of your puppy’s new life with you.

The first thing you need to do is puppy-proof your home and create a safe and friendly environment.  Take all of your household poisonous cleaners out of the reach of your puppy.  Do the same with any houseplants that are toxic to dogs.  And lastly, look around in your house with a puppy’s perspective and remove any hazardous items, or any family heirlooms that you don’t want destroyed.

Next, make sure you have the appropriate supplies such as food and water bowls, a leach and collar and a brush and comb.  Safe puppy toys such as stuffed animals can be found in your local pet store or Walmarts.  Make sure that the toy is not too small.  (If it can fit into his mouth comfortably then it is too small and the puppy could be endangered if he tries to swallow it.  Choking can result.)  A puppy crate with a bed is ideal to have in your home.  This area will be his own little safe “cave”, where he can go to feel secure.  You might also consider purchasing a puppy or baby gate to restrict your new puppy to certain
areas in your home.

The transition your puppy will experience when he comes home to you can be made easier and more pleasant if you follow theses helpful tips:

Choose a name for you puppy and use it all of the time when addressing him.  He will soon learn his name this way.  For the first 2 days, try to limit visitors.  Always watch over your puppy when he’s out of his crate or pen.  This will keep him from harm and start to establish good social behavior.  When your puppy is sleeping, don’t wake him!  He needs all the rest he can get to grow properly.  Do not leave your puppy unattended with small children or other pets in the beginning!  Finally, to make the most out of your puppy and your relationship, you will want to start him on a puppy training program.  There are many books and helpful tools on the market today.  Find one you like, and stick to it religiously.

Using these guidelines and helpful hints, you should have a successful start with your new puppy.
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6 week old pups getting a good start in life!

A beautiful, healthy, (but muddy pup!) in her new loving home.

Now go ahead and start establishing a fun and happy relationship with your new puppy!

A new puppy ready to start his training!

Training your dog to show in the ring is easy when he's had basic training.

The "stand" command is rather easy once your dog is comfortable and willing to please you.

Summertime is the best time to be outdoors and have fun. The beach, hiking and camping beckon us all to the great outdoors. And of course vacations are on everyone’s list for the summer. But what about our canine pal? Of course we want to include him in all of our summer outdoor activities. But can he be trusted to behave in public? He can if you teach him to be a good canine citizen! You will be able to enjoy all of your favorite activities with your favorite pal with a little training on your part.

Training your dog doesn’t have to involve a whole lot of work. It can be fun and satisfying for both you and your pet. Training your dog to behave properly in society doesn’t require much equipment, but you do need to set up a training program for both of you. You’ll get better and faster results if you train and practice with your dog every day for 20-30 minutes.

Since you’re not going to teach him formal obedience, you should be able to complete his good citizen training in a couple of weeks. Of course this depends on the dog’s temperament and the frequency of your training sessions. After his training, he’ll be ready to join you in just about every one of your outdoor activities this summer! The equipment you’ll need is a six foot leather leash and a slip chain collar. You may also want to purchase a few tennis balls for games, and a bag of doggy treats.

When you’re ready to start training, make sure you wear comfortable shoes and a watch. A couple of treats in your pocket is also a good idea. The first thing you need to teach your dog is to walk nicely on a loose leash. In public, dogs have to be on a leash, so this is very important. Your dog doesn’t need to be as exact as in regular obedience training; he just needs to learn not to pull on the leash, balk, or jump around wildly.

Put the slip collar on your dog’s neck correctly, (slip the chain inside itself to make the form of a “P”. Make sure it slips easily back and forth). Next, clip the leash on, and with the dog on your left side, happily call his name with “heel” after it. Hold the leash in both hands, jerk it, release quickly and start walking. If he lunges ahead, jerk the leash to put him back by your side, praise and continue walking. Make circles and turns. Praise your dog and talk to him often. Every minute or so, stop and make your dog sit by pulling up on his collar and pushing down on his hindquarters while telling him to “sit”. When he does so, praise him immediately and give him a treat. Have fun!

Continue with this routine for about 15-20 minutes. Praise him all through the training! At the end of the training session, play a happy game with him. If you train your dog every day with this routine, he should be walking and sitting nicely for you in a couple of weeks.

The next important exercise to teach your dog is the “come”. This command is especially important if you’re out hiking or at the beach. Put your dog in the sit position, stand in front of him and run backwards while calling his name happily with “come”! If you have to jerk the leash to encourage him to come to you, do so. Make him sit in front of you. Praise him and give him a treat. Practice this lesson along with the heeling and sits every day for no longer than 30 minutes. He soon will be running to you whenever you call him.

A fun game to teach your dog is the “fetch” using a tennis ball. With the dog off leash, get him excited about the ball. Toss it up in the air, bounce it etc, and talk excitedly about what a good dog he is. When he has his eye on the ball, toss it about 10 feet away in front of you and give him a command such as “fetch” or “go get it”! If he runs and picks the ball up, immediately praise, and call his name with “come”! You can run backwards, clap your hands and squat down to encourage him to come to you with the ball. Praise him and take the ball from his mouth. Keep on tossing the ball further and further away. Repeat the exercise until he gets the idea. Most dogs find this game easy and fun to master. This game is especially great on the beach, and is good exercise for your dog.

After you teach your dog to heel nicely, sit, come and fetch, you will be able to take him with you on your fun summer activities! Always make sure to take bottled water and his bowl with you, and be sure he travels either restrained in a seat with a special dog belt, or is in a crate in your vehicle. And of course remember to never leave your dog in a closed car! You can now enjoy all of your favorite summer activities with your behaved canine pal.

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Simple and Economical Tips to Keep Fleas and Ticks off of Your Dog

There are so many flea and tick medications on the market today that it just boggles the mind. Which ones really work and which ones may even be harmful to your pet? And the prices on some of these medications are through the roof! So what’s a caring and concerned pet owner to do? I have used a simple and relatively less expensive way to keep my dog’s flea and tick free. This easy regime will probably work for you too.

We all know that ticks and fleas are unhealthy and that it’s imperative to keep these pests off of our dogs. If a household has more than one pet, the problem compounds. I have five adult Australian Shepherds and it’s a challenge to keep these pests off of my dogs! But it can be done successfully.

Fleas and ticks are known as external parasites. They can transmit dangerous diseases and also cause blood loss. It is important to know that early treatments for the prevention of flea and tick infestations are critical in keeping the pest population from developing into a major problem. Severe flea and tick infestations, especially in the home, are difficult to treat effectively.

Whenever you use a flea or tick medication it’s imperative that you read the instructions carefully. Some products (especially the newer ones to the market) can be harmful to pets if they’re used improperly or in the wrong combination. It’s also very important that if you see your dog having any kind of adverse reaction to the medication, to discontinue it and contact your veterinarian.

The best way to treat your four-legged friend for these pests is by treating both the dog and his environment and also your house (if he’s allowed to come into the house). This way, the fleas, eggs and ticks won’t have a safe haven to live and breed. You should treat your dog, his environment and your house at the same time. For treatment I use a combination of flea and tick drops, Sevin Dust (5%), flea and tick spray, foggers and a dog shampoo.

To start your flea and tick treatment, first bathe your dog with a dog shampoo. There are many different kinds to choose from on the market, including moisturizing shampoos and flea and tick shampoos. After he is clean and dry, you can apply his flea and tick drops. The most common drops are Frontline, Advantage, and Hartz (Hartz is the least expensive). Be sure to buy the medication appropriate for your dog’s weight. Read the instructions carefully! Some drops instruct you to just squeeze the medicine between the shoulder blades, while others tell you to start at the shoulder blades and continue to the base of the tail. In any case, make sure that you apply the medication on the dog’s skin, and not just on his fur.

Next, wash all of your dog’s beddings and vacuum your house. (Be sure to dispose of the vacuum bag). Use a hand held flea and tick house spray to spray in the corners, closets, on baseboards, and throw rugs. Foggers won’t penetrate these places. Depending on the size of your house and the number of rooms, buy enough foggers to treat the entire home. You should place one fogger in each room and close the door. Be sure to follow the directions!

Your dogs outside environment, including runs and the yard where he occupies should be sprayed with a yard and kennel flea and tick spray. Make sure that the “rest areas” are kept clean. I like to use the 7Dust about once a week as it is effective and not very expensive. You can make an easy homemade “shaker” jar to dispense the dust onto both the dog and all of his indoor and outdoor beddings. Simply find a clean glass jar with a lid. Take a nail and hammer holes into the lid. Fill the glass jar with the Sevin Dust and screw on the lid. You can shake the dust on your dog and his bedding about once a week or when needed.

I hope these tips were helpful for you in solving the summer flea and tick invasion. Remember, prevention is a lot easier than trying to combat an ongoing infestation. Your dog will thank you in return by staying happy, healthy and bug-free!

There are so many flea and tick medications on the market today that it just boggles the mind. Which ones really work and which ones may even be harmful to your pet? And the prices on some of these medications are through the roof! So what’s a caring and concerned pet owner to do? I have used a simple and relatively less expensive way to keep my dog’s flea and tick free. This easy regime will probably work for you too.

We all know that ticks and fleas are unhealthy and that it’s imperative to keep these pests off of our dogs. If a household has more than one pet, the problem compounds. I have five adult Australian Shepherds and it’s a challenge to keep these pests off of my dogs! But it can be done successfully.

Fleas and ticks are known as external parasites. They can transmit dangerous diseases and also cause blood loss. It is important to know that early treatments for the prevention of flea and tick infestations are critical in keeping the pest population from developing into a major problem. Severe flea and tick infestations, especially in the home, are difficult to treat effectively.

Whenever you use a flea or tick medication it’s imperative that you read the instructions carefully. Some products (especially the newer ones to the market) can be harmful to pets if they’re used improperly or in the wrong combination. It’s also very important that if you see your dog having any kind of adverse reaction to the medication, to discontinue it and contact your veterinarian.

The best way to treat your four-legged friend for these pests is by treating both the dog and his environment and also your house (if he’s allowed to come into the house). This way, the fleas, eggs and ticks won’t have a safe haven to live and breed. You should treat your dog, his environment and your house at the same time. For treatment I use a combination of flea and tick drops, Sevin Dust (5%), flea and tick spray, foggers and a dog shampoo.

To start your flea and tick treatment, first bathe your dog with a dog shampoo. There are many different kinds to choose from on the market, including moisturizing shampoos and flea and tick shampoos. After he is clean and dry, you can apply his flea and tick drops. The most common drops are Frontline, Advantage, and Hartz (Hartz is the least expensive). Be sure to buy the medication appropriate for your dog’s weight. Read the instructions carefully! Some drops instruct you to just squeeze the medicine between the shoulder blades, while others tell you to start at the shoulder blades and continue to the base of the tail. In any case, make sure that you apply the medication on the dog’s skin, and not just on his fur.

Next, wash all of your dog’s beddings and vacuum your house. (Be sure to dispose of the vacuum bag). Use a hand held flea and tick house spray to spray in the corners, closets, on baseboards, and throw rugs. Foggers won’t penetrate these places. Depending on the size of your house and the number of rooms, buy enough foggers to treat the entire home. You should place one fogger in each room and close the door. Be sure to follow the directions!

Your dogs outside environment, including runs and the yard where he occupies should be sprayed with a yard and kennel flea and tick spray. Make sure that the “rest areas” are kept clean. I like to use the 7Dust about once a week as it is effective and not very expensive. You can make an easy homemade “shaker” jar to dispense the dust onto both the dog and all of his indoor and outdoor beddings. Simply find a clean glass jar with a lid. Take a nail and hammer holes into the lid. Fill the glass jar with the Sevin Dust and screw on the lid. You can shake the dust on your dog and his bedding about once a week or when needed.

I hope these tips were helpful for you in solving the summer flea and tick invasion. Remember, prevention is a lot easier than trying to combat an ongoing infestation. Your dog will thank you in return by staying happy, healthy and bug-free!

For a great site on the best dog training courses out there, please visit www.cratetrainingyourdog.info