Archive for September, 2008

Secrets Of Puppy Potty Training Tips

Focus On The Way You Want Your Pet To Behave Not How You Don’t Want Him To Behave

If you’re not sure what you want, how are you going to get it? This is the case with everything you do in life, particularly when it comes to dog house training also

It’s human nature to think about things that we don’t want to happen to us. This happens a lot with dogs! Not wanting our dog to pee anywhere inside our house is right up there, or chew our shoes, or run away when we call, or bark like a guard dog when we have guests or visitors come to stay.

But think about it. Assuming you’re looking for new dog or puppy to bring into your family. Would you actually relish the thought of relinquishing the next ten to fifteen years of your life chasing your dog around saying, “No no no”? Do you agree it’s a better approach to channel your dog towards acceptable behavior from the start?

A prime example springs to mind is when we think, “I really do not want the dog to chew the furniture,” try, “I want my dog to chew his toys.” Instead of, “I don’t want the dog to embarrass me when I have guests,” try instead, “I would like my dog to sit to greet people.”

Simply by wording your aims in a positive manner, you’ll know exactly what is you are aiming for. I can’t think of a better way to get started with training your new dog.

Is Rewarding Your Dog Good Practice?

One of the best things to happen in house breaking puppy in the past few years is a move in focus from highlighting corrective action, or penalties, to rewarding obedience and favorable actions.

The practice of rewarding your dog’s good behavior is a smart one, especially for potty training tricks. A fundamental reason for using rewards is that whenever you scald you dog for making a mistake, the upshot are likely to be quite disheartening for your pet. It’s not overly common, but your dog might respond with aggression to being overly punished. Some dogs, especially timid breeds, may close off completely. They lose their sparkle. Some may even appear completely broken spirited.

Many people also find that reward-based training feels better. It’s nice to be a source of praise and treats, instead of a constant disciplinarian.

But the icing on the cake is that rewards based dog behavior training works a treat. It’s due to the fact that this approach to behavior training builds confidence and reassurance. When he learns that a particular behavior gets rewarded, your pet will want to repeat he behavior as often as possible. By figuring out how to apply that simple rule, you can use rewards to reach virtually any training goal.