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SOME GENERAL
TRAINING TIPS FOR DOGS
The Three P's - PERSISTENCE, PRAISE, PATIENCE

PERSISTENCE
Start teaching your new pet the rules of the household right away. You must enforce the rules everytime a behavior occurs. For instance, the dog jumps up on people or furniture. You must correct this behavior each and every time it occurs or the animal will be confused as to what is acceptable and what is not.

Every member of the household must agree on the rules. CONSISTENCY is the key to success. If a pet is scolded by one member of the family and not the rest, the training will not be successful.

PRAISE
You cannot overdo praise. Praise immediately after a pet does the right thing or even begins to do the right thing.

The TONE of your voice, not the VOLUME, is what counts. You will never establish a satisfactory relationship with your pet if you make the animal afraid of you by yelling.

PATIENCE
Be prepared to repeat commands and corrections. NEVER HIT YOUR DOG. If you have persistent problems, think through what you have done. Have you and other family members been consistent? Are you communicating your wishes to the pet or making the pet afraid?

It is highly recommended that you enroll your dog in an obedience class in order to establish your authority with the dog. Obedience classes will not only give you more control over the dog, but will also make future disciplining more effective.

You must remember that dogs are naturally pack animals and your dog considers you and the family his or her pack. Many behavior problems occur because the dog feels frustrated, lonely and bored at being isolated from his or her pack for long periods of time. PLEASE include your dog in you family activities.

HOUSETRAINING:
Confine your dog to a small easily-cleaned area until you have established housetraining. DO NOT LET YOUR DOG HAVE THE RUN OF THE HOUSE. A puppy must be fully developed before it is able to control his elimination. This takes up to 4 months.
Establish only one area to be used as the toilet area.
Place food and water bowls near the door used to reach the toilet area.
Feed your dog on a regular schedule.
Agree on a method of training that all family members will use consistently. Take your dog to its toilet area on a frequent and regular schedule.

A puppy's need to urinate or defecate is frequently stimulated after each of the following:

EATING
DRINKING
CHEWING
PLAYING
UPON AWAKENING

During these periods take your dog outside and urge it toward the toilet area. Stand next to it and offer profuse praise when it eliminates at the designated spot. Most dogs learn the spot in a few days and will begin to move toward it on their own.

Once this behavior is learned, proceed to train your dog not to eliminate in the house. Keep your pet inside with you. Watch carefully for signs which precede elimination as follows:

Distract the dog by immediately taking it to the toilet area. Praise it for eliminating there.

When you find an accident you may show your disapproval by speaking in a stern, deep voice and taking the dog out to the toilet area. Clean up the mess in the dog's absence and place the waste in the toilet area.

Your presence and praise immediately following elimination is essential. DO NOT punish by rubbing the dog's nose in the mess or swatting with a newspaper. This is negative reinforcement and ineffective. Make your expectations clear and reward desired behavior. Newspaper training is not recommended unless you plan to establish paper in the home as a permanent toilet area.

Do not take pups outside to play until housebreaking is well established. You want them to associate outside with eliminating, not playtime.

A dog suffering from diarrhea can't control bowel movements and will have accidents.

If you have adopted an adult dog with a history of being housetrained, it may still need some refresher training. Expect a few mistakes in the first days in a new home. Stay with your dog when you take him or her out in the yard. Praise highly when the "MISSION" is accomplished.

ACCIDENTS:
It is important to make sure you deodorize the area in the house where the dog has had an accident. Animals will continue to return to the same spot if it is not deodorized. There are many commercial products that will remove the ordor and stain. One part vinegar to 4 parts water works just as well.
Patience, love and understanding are the keys to successfully training your new pet. Like any living creature, behaviorial patterns learned in early stages of development are the most important throughout the rest of the pet's life. If you have questions concerning your pet's behavior or health, please call us. We are here to help.

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