The basics of puppy potty training

Who can resist the adorable gaze of an eight week old little puppy? They can give you such a cute stare with their little neck tilted to the side and tiny eyebrows looking at you with an excited gaze. But they also use your house as a huge permanent bathroom.

Training your puppy increases your joy of having a dog, and makes the relationship with your dog much stronger. An untrained dog is an invitation for disaster. It doesn't matter if its a four pound Toy Poodle or a 100 pound German Shepard, a dog who doesn't listen is always in danger.

Here is what to expect each day:
6 to 14 weeks old: 8 to 10 bathroom breaks
14 to 20 weeks old:6 to 8 bathroom breaks
20 to 30 weeks old: 4 to 6 bathroom breaks
30 weeks to a year: 3 to 4 bathroom breaks

CRATE TRAINING

Crate training works on the principle that puppies are instinctively clean animals. I recommend a crate large enough to shelter your full-size dog, and simply partition it off, moving the divider as the pup grows.At all times, the crate should be just large enough to allow the puppy to stand comfortably, turn around. and lie down. Otherwise, he just might go to the rear of the crate and do his business there.

A DAILY ROUTINE

You must make a schedule and stick to it . It doesn't matter what your schedule is, your puppy will adapt to it as long as it is the same time EVERY day. For example: 9 to 9:30 A.M. take the puppy from the crate and immediatly outside, always to the same spot. Bring him in and feed him.Twenty to thirty minutes later, take him back outside.

Make sure to give your puppy both quality time and crate time before you rush off to work. By noon you will want to repeat this routine of food, outside time, and crate time, then again at 5 or 6 P.M.

And of course let your little friend outside before 11 P.M. and you retire for the evening. And don't forget to get up at 3:00 A.M., thats right - three o'clock . This is important only for the first few weeks due to a tiny blatter.

A CATCHPHRASE

Each time you take your puppy out of the crate , repeat a catchphrase such as "Want go poddy?" Use the same door everytime you take your puppy outside. After just a few weeks stop carring your little dog and say "Want to go poddy?" He will make the connection, and run out the door.


SIX STEPS TO REMEMBER

1. Outside toilet time is no fun. Keep this very serious business (distiguish playing time with toilet time).
2. Don't blame your dog. Remember they are only animals.
3. Use only one command. Then reinforce. (NO! SIT?)
4. A training collar will help you guide your dog and "check" your dog if needed.
5. Teach "STAY" ( for his protection).
6. Understanding your puppy and knowing what he needs both physically and emotionally will help a great deal.

If you've been hoping to finally discover exactly what it takes to get your puppy to be completely potty trained, then I recommend Jonathan Bass's Potty Train Your Dog In Seven Days that is easy to follow. You'll have dozens of specific ideas and strategies tofinally house train your puppy. Click here to learn how to train your puppy in 7 days now.

The Do's And Don'ts Of Canine Training

Everyone has "hand-me down" traditions. Getting to bed early on Christmas, trick-or-treating on Halloween, even serving dinner at a designated time; these are traditions past on from generation to generation. Training of your puppy is one of these traditions. Clarification of these techniques needs to be made more evident.

DO'S
- important to ALWAYS be kind to your dog EVERY time he comes to you.
- get into the habit of using one command.
- if they don't respond, keep reinforcing that one command.
- use your dogs name to get his attention and then tell him what to do-trust me they do the difference.
- use a normal tone of voice when giving commands- a dogs hearing is very acute.
- be consistent in your actions in your actions, much like a child, he will get confused from mixed signals and commands.
- provide an outlet for your dogs energies. Like walking him every morning and evening.
- keep your dog mentally stimulated, by training him everyday.
- socialize your dog with other people and other dogs. They need friends too.
- become your dogs parent. Lead him. Guide him.
- make learning fun. Give your dog rewards and treats when they do something right.
- spend plenty of time with your dog.

DON'TS
- don't nag your dog by repeating commands when he's tired it teaches him to ignore you.
- don't use your dog's name and then expect him to read your mind. Communicate.
- don't expect your dog to know what "NO" means automatically.
- don't yell and scream at your dog. He's not deaf.
- don't confuse your dog with mixed signals.
- don't try to suppress behaviors that need and outlet.
- don't let your dog stagnate.
- don't lock your dog up or punish him because you haven't trained him how to behave.
- don't isolate your dog for long periods of time.
- don't get to serious in your training.
- don't expect your dog to obey if you are not parent/leader.
- have some fun while training your dog.
- never reward undesirable actions.
- don't make him neurotic by neglecting him or hitting him.
- don't blame the dog.

Canines are just little furry children. They take love and attention and most importantly time. With proper training your puppy will be your most loyal and best of friends. Proper care will keep your dog from getting hit by a car or bitten by a raccoon.

It can save you from getting mad and disciplining your dog every day.