House Training Your Puppy is not a small task, but one that can be achieved rather quickly, as a dog will instinctively choose an area away from where it sleeps to defecate and urinate at quite an early age.
By using a puppy training pad, you will provide an appropriate area as his toilet. Dogs will seek out a surface such as soil or grass, which is different than their bedding. Keep this pad clean or have several to change, and move it slowly away from where he sleeps until you have it where you want it.
Choose a time each day and be consistent with this when you begin leash training a puppy. There is one technique that works exceptionally well, and it will only take 30 – 60 seconds at a time. Remember to make this a fun game for him, and see how easy it is.
Tie a long, (4 ft is good) lighter lead to your dogs collar, and while calling your pup, encourage him to drag it around. Always remove the lead after this exercise to avoid injury. Do this for the short duration mentioned above.
As you encourage the pup to follow your left side, now and then pick up the lead and hold it loosely, so he feels slight tension. Drop it and repeat the process. Increase the tension slightly each time over this first week period. You will see how to train your puppy the fast, easy way.
Your pup is being taught to take a leash without even knowing it, and within this short period it will become second nature to walk on the proper side for up to 3 minutes at a time. Now is when to introduce a reward program for each time he does something correctly.
There are two rewards you can offer for good behavior. They are food and retrieves.
A food reward should be something he especially likes. He will be highly motivated to obey when he knows there is a delicacy on the way.
Only offer a small food reward when he obeys a command, and make sure to use lots of high praises to reinforce his good behavior. Most dogs are food motivated, so this means of training almost never fails.
Another of my fun puppy training techniques is using retrieves. Use a favorite toy or some other article he enjoys playing with. Throw the object and when he picks it up, walk backwards, calling his name and saying “come”. Slap at your knees or whistle to get him to approach you.
When the pup does make his way back to you, keep talking to him and gently take the toy, or whatever it is from him and give praise. If he refuses to “give it up” (You can use that command) Then offer up a treat in exchange. I am sure he will oblige!
In a successful learning week, your pup should be able to walk on a lead, retrieve an article and come when called, all with very little effort on your part, as it is mostly a game for him. By the time he matures to 4 months, at least 80% of his basic training has been completed.
Remember: Be consistent, keep his learning periods short but fun, and end the session when he has completed the objective.
copyright by Danny Taylor
