Puppy training can and should begin the day you bring your puppy home, but only if it's approached in a safe manner for your puppy and his sensitivities. Housetraining your puppy can be a rewarding and non-stressful experience when you shape behavior from a series of positive experiences, instead of attempting to correct unwanted behaviors before your puppy has a chance to learn what you DO want.
Trying to teach your dog what NOT to do is not conducive to healthy, reliable learning. Your puppy must have the opportunity to learn the behaviors that you DO want which will be incompatible with behaviors that you don't want.
Never say, "No" or yell the word "Nooo!" if your dog doesn't understand something while training, and/or fails to perform on cue. Simply try the exercise again and if that doesn't work, go back to a previous step. Many times you will need to settle for rewarding just a partial behavior and work up in steps from there until the whole behavior is performed.
Here's an example. You catch your dog chewing your $90 shoes. By running over and screaming, "No!" you've done one of two things:
1. You've either rewarded him for chewing by giving him attention; this is especially true if you give chase while he's running with your shoes; or
2. You've scared the bejeebers out of him and he learns that it's not safe to relieve stress and/or sore teeth and gums when you are present. Therefore he must do it when you're gone in order to keep himself safe and not upset you. The dog has no malice in these actions, he's just following instinct.
This applies to crate training as well, (if the crate is introduced and used appropriately), in that it can prevent accidents from happening during the housetraining process while repeatedly giving your puppy the opportunity to be successful at eliminating outdoors. His repeated success builds his confidence and instills in his mind that the outdoors is the only place to even consider eliminating.
This kind of housetraining is not based on fear, which inhibits the learning proccess but on repeated successes. This makes the desired behavior more reliable and the puppy more confident and able to learn.
Training your puppy using positive reinforcement and other healthy behavior shaping techniques insures that his puppy training will not negatively affect his personality. This type of healthy interaction with your puppy during his first year will enable you to build a cooperative bond and to have a well mannered but confident companion by the time he reaches maturity.
Kathleen Amaro is the owner of http://www.puppy-potty-training.com.
Her instantly downloadable ebook 25 Secrets to Raising the Perfect Puppy, not only tells you how to raise the perfect puppy, but how to get him perfectly potty trained using only positive and healthy puppy training techniques.
Gain some insight into how your favorite feline actually feels... Read More
All puppies are small dogs ? some, however, won't be... Read More
Standing and walking on the hind legs are tricks that... Read More
So you want to keep discus fish or are already... Read More
Why is it that cats get no respect? Are they... Read More
Whoever coined the phrase, "It's a Dog's Life" wasn't familiar... Read More
Remember when you first met your dog? He was fresh... Read More
Among the most well known cat lover gifts are photo... Read More
If you are considering opening a dog day care, then... Read More
The most important things in dog training are consistency, keeping... Read More
My dog has fleas. That one statement is enough to... Read More
Pet friendly vacations and travel planning make sense -- after... Read More
Most people who have horses would like to develop a... Read More
Dog crate training is one of the most effective ways... Read More
1. What is heat?Heat is more properly called the estrous... Read More
Dogs are descendent of wolves. To study the psychology of... Read More
Let's think about this for a minute: God did not... Read More
An essential to your dog's health is his/her regular annual... Read More
You may be hearing more talk these days about "Essential... Read More
Rabbits are one of the most popular pets, apart from... Read More
Parachromis managuense has a bad reputation, just like many of... Read More
This article discusses two foods in paticual. For the puppy... Read More
Your local grocery store is chock full of food and... Read More
It has been said that everything old is new again.... Read More
Giving your dog a bath is important, but not as... Read More
Without agility, the most muscular person in the world couldn't... Read More
Of all the parasites a dog can catch, worms take... Read More
Do you really know all there is to know about... Read More
Over the past decade, breed rescue groups have become a... Read More
If you've ever watched as a cat "flipped" over fresh... Read More
For realistic tips for humans who are moving with cats,... Read More
The wearing of charms dates back to 400 or 500... Read More
As much as you love the sound of your new... Read More
Many people think cats are asocial, but in fact they... Read More
Have you ever been to a dog kennel and listen... Read More
The proper selection of a training collar can have a... Read More
Your cat scratching at your furniture can not only leave... Read More
Yes! We love our wonderful and dear Pooches! We care... Read More
The information in this article is based on the successful... Read More
Having a pet is an experiance that I think everyone... Read More
Why use a crate:When used properly and not abused, crates... Read More
Incredible advances in veterinary medicine are making it possible for... Read More
Contributed with the help of Karen L Overall of the... Read More
We are all busy these days and I know it's... Read More
You might think the most important bit of dog health... Read More
No one knows your dog better than you, and as... Read More
Puppy TrainingPuppy training can be a trying time. The key... Read More
Ok, so everyone who stays on top of the show... Read More
As many of you know America is serious about our... Read More
Even the most dedicated cat lover has little patience with... Read More
Bark CollarsMany pet owners become lost as to what to... Read More
Pilling a cat can be a "nightmarish" experience. Cats don't... Read More
What does doing natural preventative care mean? I thought vaccinating,... Read More
Puppies can be so exasperating! They know what we want,... Read More
So what does it mean to float a horse's teeth?... Read More
Training CollarsTraining collars are a tool many pet owners utilize... Read More
Grocery Stores could use some larger Dog Food Isles. Not... Read More
You can look at westhighland terriers and know if it... Read More
First pet stores began selling clothes for pets. Then kennels... Read More
Is your dog one of those that pulls at his... Read More
In the last decade or so, the popularity of sugar... Read More
Puppies are a bundle of newfound joy. You've prepared the... Read More
Pet's, any kind of pet can be a welcome addition... Read More
Pet adoption is a fabulous option if you're seeking a... Read More
Puppies have a natural instinct inside that causes them to... Read More
My son and I have a cat. Her name is... Read More
Pet |