Puppy and dog training

Puppies learn naturally. Dog training is very rewarding. They will start to learn the second their eyes open and are most open to new experiences in the first 4 months. Puppy training must start as early as 8 weeks. Many wait until the puppy are older because they think that puppies know but little or learn little while still young. Start you puppy training as soon as you get home. Dogs learn habits and by association. Creating good habits at a young age will make for a well behaved dog in the future.

Puppies thrive on mental and physical stimulation and introducing you puppy to new situations and environments will keep them interested in learning new things. Short walks or playing are great ways to stimulate your puppy and will help to strengthen your bond with your pet.

Try to stimulate your puppy in short but regular periods, a puppy left unstimulated will often turn to destructive or disruptive behavior which will get worse as the dog gets older. Remember, puppies learn habits, teach him from the very moment they set home! If you cannot teach them which you as a "puppy parent" must do, take them for puppy training classes! 

It is best to interact with your dog so toys should be kept to a minimum, allow for one chew toy that he/she will always have access to and doesn’t require your involvement. Keep another toy like a ball or rope that will only be used when you are playing with the dog. Once you are finished playing, remove the toy. This will create great excitement for the puppy and strengthen your bond. This will also teach the puppy to only play with or chew “approved” items  rather than the furniture or your brand new pair of shoe's! Understand puppy behaviour and why they do what they do. Puppies like babies like to chew on things for their growing teeth and one of the first things is puppy training biting - teach them not to bite you or chew things that is not permitted to chew.

Puppies need to be cared for. At 4 weeks of age, most puppies will begin to eat.

At 6 weeks puppies are almost able to eat on their own. Puppy food should be given till at least 6-9 months of age.

At 5-6 weeks (some even till 7 weeks) must be given some hot water on the food, making a paste. The Warm water must be left to cool down until it is eatable for the puppy.

Puppies must be fed at least 3 times a day. Clean Water must always be freely available to the puppy. A bowl of dry pellets can be left inbetween meals (where possible) to encourage the puppy to eat dry pellets. Puppies like to chew, it doesn't take long for them to learn to eat dry pellet puppy food!

The water must be slowly decreased so that the pellets will be harder, thereby learning the puppy to eat the harder pellets.

Learn Why And How To Crate Train Your Puppy

Dogs are den-dwelling animals. With that being the case, you can understand why a dog would find comfort and safety in a crate or small kennel. Puppies and dogs enjoy having a place to themselves where they know nothing can get at them, or is expected of them. Let's take a look at the following information to find out why you would want to consider crate training your puppy, and how you would proceed.

What is Crate Training?

Crate training is the process of getting a puppy comfortable with staying in a crate as a means of security and a safe retreat. That's why crate training is not cruel, but is quite the opposite, providing comfort and safety. Crate training may also be used to potty train a small puppy.

Some experts say that crate training is the basis for all further training. It sets the stage for good puppy behavior and gives them a level of confidence they may miss without crate training. Another advantage of being crate trained early on is it can help reduce anxiety in the event puppy needs to be crated, such as at an overnight stay at your veterinarian’s clinic or hospital.

Choosing the Crate

When buying a crate for puppy, you'll want to consider their size. The crate needs to be big enough for puppy to be comfortable but not too big that puppy no longer sees it as a den. If you get a crate that is small enough, puppy will greatly resist using part of it as a potty place, as they see their crate as their den and want to keep it clean. If you get a crate too large, puppy may use one side as their den, and the other for a potty.

Resist the temptation to save money by buying one crate for the life of the puppy. The crate you use to train your puppy should fit your puppy's size. Then, if you choose to have a crate for your full-grown dog, buy a new one to fit your puppy's adult size later. Some crates and kennels take this into consideration and offer a divider so you can section off a larger crate into a smaller den for your puppy.

There are many types of crates, some designed for stationary use and some designed for travel. Some crates are designed to be mini-kennels, with features like quick breakdown and folding easily for transporting. You'll find wire crates and plastic crates. Decide where you will be putting the crate and how you will be using it before you choose one.

Crate Training Basics

Once you have a crate that is the proper size, you'll need to begin to get your puppy used to going in it. Here are a few tips for getting puppy to explore and enjoy the new crate:

Leave the Door Open - Place the crate in a central location where you spend time and are close by. Then tie the door back so it's open and your puppy can go in and out. This will allow puppy to explore without feeling separated from you or trapped. Puppy won't understand at first that the door opens as well as closes, but will after further exploration and training.

Drop in a Few Treats - As puppy explores, the little treats you've left inside the crate will delight and encourage more exploration. This will allow puppy to associate happy feelings with the crate and become attached to using it quickly.

Make Crate Comfy - Add some comfortable bedding or towels for puppy to lie on. You can also put puppy's favorite toys in there. Give puppy all the comforts of home in the little den.

Short Intervals Only - Once you start closing the door, be sure to keep puppy's time in the crate short. Younger puppies cannot hold their bladder for very long so don't leave them in the crate too long or your crate training will backfire. Over time you can increase the intervals. Try crating puppy after a potty break for about 15 or 20 minutes. Set a timer and release your puppy when the time is up. And don't forget to praise puppy for the good work.

Crate Train Only While Home - When you leave for a few hours at a time, section off a safe area of the house for puppy to stay while you are away. Set the crate in the safe area with the door propped securely open so puppy can use it as a resting area within the play area. Closing a puppy in a crate while you are gone for a long period of time may cause puppy to form an aversion to the crate if associated with you being gone.

Crate Use For Potty Training - Once puppy is familiar with the crate, you can start potty training with the crate for short periods of time. As soon as you take puppy out of the crate, go right outside to the potty spot. If puppy goes potty, make sure you praise, offer treats, and play. If puppy doesn't go potty, then back to the crate for another short interval. Repeat this routine several times a day and puppy will soon understand and get to know his crate and his potty spot. Remember to be consistent if you choose this method.

If you stay the course with crate training you'll find the rewards are great. Puppy will love the comfort of 'home' and become more and more capable of controlling the urges to potty wherever and whenever. Puppy will also appreciate you for being such a determined and solid puppy parent when guidance is needed most

How to Build a Whelping Box for Your Dog

Your dog is pregnant and due to deliver her puppies in two weeks, so now is the time to begin preparations. A whelping box is a place for your female to deliver and raise the puppies, and it should be a place where she feels safe. Select an area familiar to your pet with minimum traffic and few temperature variations.

Materials Needed