Table of Contents
Foreword
Pg. 1
Housebreaking Pg. 2
Socialization Pg. 5
Obedience
Pg. 9
Good Habits Pg. 13
Health and Well-Being Pg. 18
FOREWORD – Thinking Like a Dog
“What’s in
it for me?” When it comes to a dog’s attitude, this phrase pretty
much sums it up. Contrary to popular notions, a dog's mentality isn’t dominated
by the desire to please you. Remember, we are living with predators. While they are extremely social, and can certainly bond to us, they are not motivated by guilt, revenge,
or the desire to "be good". Dogs do not have morals!
This canine mentality,
however, makes them highly trainable. Everything your dog does
is a reflection of behaviors that you have rewarded. This means you have
a big responsibility on your hands, but it also means that, thankfully, you can mold your dog into behaving just as you want
him to.
Along with your dog's
physical needs, you’re responsible for filling his emotional needs as well. Your
dog needs to be challenged, daily. Being a predator, he is loaded with energy. This will come out inappropriately (jumping, digging, chewing, barking) if you do
not give him constructive, positive direction. This is especially important as
he is growing, while habits are establishing themselves.
Luckily for us, a dog’s
needs and motivations are very simple. If you keep in mind what your dog really
likes, you can use these things to your advantage. Food, toys, attention and
playtime all can be used as rewards for behaviors that you like. By the same
token, you can withhold these things following behaviors that you don’t like.
This book contains a few simple suggestions on how to raise the best puppy you’ve ever owned.
You will find that the basic premise is very simple: Ignore or divert behavior you do not
want, reward behavior that you want. A reward can be anything a dog likes. You may have to change your way of thinking a little.
That's okay, because it will lead to a greater understanding of why your dog behaves the way he does, and what you
can do to change or reinforce it. As you learn this humane, effective, scientific
way of communicating with your dog, you will find that he can be a wonderful companion, and you can have a great life with
him.
Housebreaking
1)
Stow Your Puppy
Long acknowledged to be the “only”
way to house train a puppy, a crate (or travel kennel) is a valuable tool and can become a safe haven for a dog of any age. A crate trained dog can travel anywhere, be contained easily at a veterinarian or
a grooming facility if necessary, and always has a “home away from home”.
Imagine if you could take your own bed with you to any overnight destination!
I envy my dogs this comfort zone.
Since most dogs have a natural aversion to soiling their beds, confinement in a crate is the best tool for bladder control.
The space in the crate should be just enough for the dog to stand, turn around and lie down. Teaching a young pup to be quiet in the crate is easy. The
first rule is, never ever let him out if he is crying and scratching at the door! Freedom
is a strong reinforcement, and releasing him when he cries will quickly teach him to
emit a volley of escalating noise when he is confined.
Start “quiet training” by confining
your dog at a time when you can be awake and alert. Be ready to reinforce his
periods of silence, however brief they may be, by using the word “yes” or a click as an event marker, and then
giving him some small treat such as frozen bits of hot dog or chicken. The puppy
can quickly learn to be silent for longer and longer periods as he begins to understand that this is what’s expected.
Small, frequent periods in the crate, permeated with praise and treats, and eventual release
when he is quiet, will quickly teach the puppy that a crate stay can be a pleasant thing and doesn’t have to be a long
period of stressful isolation.
It is good to have a soft bed for the pup, perhaps
fleece, and two of his favorite toys; one soft and one hard. A crate becomes his den, his own space. If the door is left open and he goes in of his own accord, other family members should be taught that he
needs to be left alone, and the crate can be his refuge.
2) Practice Commercialism
The most common cause of accidents in the house is… You. Most accidents happen because, quite simply, you weren’t watching the puppy! A young puppy has
to relieve himself A LOT, especially while eating or playing or moving around. If
you can’t keep an eye on the pup, crate him. It’s best to avoid accidents
if at all possible, to make it easier on him and give him a chance to succeed.
If
the puppy urinates inside, don’t make it a big deal. Just clean it up and
be more aware next time. If he starts looking around or sniffing a lot, take
him out.
One thing I like to do is leave the TV on. When I hear a commercial, it’s time to take the puppy out. This insures that the puppy gets outside every fifteen or twenty minutes, whether he seems to need to go
or not.
This may seem excessive, but if you put the
energy into this, housetraining will take less time in the long run.
3) Stay
on Schedule
It’s best to feed the pup at the same
time each day, so that his system is regulated and you’ll know what to expect.
Also, remember to not give him water for at least two hours before he goes to bed at night. I expect my puppies to sleep through the entire night. I don’t
get up in the night and let them out, because I will have no peace as they get older.
Instead, I remove water to ensure that they are comfortable, and then I take them out late in the evening and then
first thing the next morning.
4) X
Marks the Spot
Select a spot outdoors that will be the puppy’s
“potty spot”. Take him there consistently, every time you take him
out. He will recognize the area and very soon learn what is expected.
I live on a farm and always teach my dogs to
go in tall grass. This has made it nice in so many ways, because they naturally
gravitate to tall grass when camping or traveling, and these are usually areas with the least amount of foot traffic.
The “potty spot”
if used consistently, will hasten your dog’s comprehension of what you
expect. Be sure to praise him and treat him for using the spot! Pretty soon you’ll notice that, once he arrives at the Potty Spot, he relieves himself immediately. Won’t that be nice? There will
be no more standing around on those cold early mornings, shivering and pleading, “Go potty! Go POT-TEEEE!” while the neighbors stare at you from across the road.
