Pets Information


Puppy Basics: Potty-Training, Reprimanding, and Rewards...


Potty Training Your Puppy:

Make sure you feed your dog at regular times every day as this makes bathroom breaks regular as well. Feed your puppy 2-3 times a day.

As soon as he is finished eating, take him to a grassy "potty area". Speak the words "go potty" or "go in the grass" before and while he is eliminating. Be sure to praise him when he is done.

What you are doing is building word associations with the dog that will allow you to encourage his potty activity on command.

This comes in handy when you and your dog are at unusual locations and at pit stops during long haul travel. It also saves you from cleaning unwanted fecal material off the carpet at home.

It is a good idea to train your puppy to use a place where you can easily clean up and dispose of the droppings into the sewer. This is because worms that infect dogs and make them sick get spread around through the eggs or larvae found in the feces. Some, like the roundworm, can also infect children.

Reprimanding Your Puppy:

Talk to puppies like you would to children when they do something wrong.

Tell them "no" and show them immediately what the correct behavior should be and reward them for doing it right. After a few times they'll know how to do it right.

For example, tell him "NO" when you catch him chewing the shoes. Then immediately give him his own toys to chew and cheer him on to chew on the toys. Praise him for doing so.

Use sparingly those reprimanding words like "No," "Stop that," "get off" and "bad dog!" Instead use more praises to reward good behavior in your dogs, this way the reprimands will take on stronger meaning.

A correct reprimand is short, sharp and immediate.

Only reprimand when you catch your dog doing something wrong, and punish only with your voice.

Hitting, kicking, slapping or spanking your dog can create more problems and usually makes existing problems worse. You may just end up with a barking and chewing dog, one that is leery, hand-shy, fearful or aggressive.

If you really have to spank one with your hand, just slap him across the behind.

Repetition and Rewards:

Repetitions are a crucial aspect of any dog's training. You should always reward them for doing something right while training. The more often he is rewarded, the better and quicker he will learn. Create situations where your dog can get plenty of practice at doing the right things.

Be sure to praise and love on him when he does a good job. This is simple but not always easy to do. Bad behaviors like biting, constant yelping and barking and tearing the house apart get our immediate notice. What we easily forget to acknowledge are the good parts - when the dog is lying down quietly, chewing on his own toys, leaving the carpet unsoiled.

Praise and reward are the most important part of maintaining your dog's good behavior and preventing him from getting into trouble.

Dog Toys, Games and Treats:

Foods, treats or praise will bring out the best responses from your dogs during training.

Treats can come in the form of their favorite food, toy or something they really love to do.

Some favorite treats are ice cream, cheese, ham and chicken. One Boxer dog even fancies a handful of ice cubes to crunch on though he's not thirsty. Test human food treats a little at a time though, because some dogs can be sensitive to certain things. Milk products for instance, can give a puppy diarrhea.

The all time dog favorites of fetching, tug-of-war, and hide and seek games can be made more treasured using your dog's favorite ball or toy, and giving him plenty of stroking in between throws.

Daniel Lesser
Dog and Puppy Articles, Pictures and Resources http://www.thingsfordogs.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Daily Press

Researchers: Williamsburg colonists buried pets
Washington Post (blog)
A finding from the College of William and Mary may change attitudes about how colonists treated their pets. Laboratory analysis at the college has found ...
Bones found on William and Mary campus thought to be human are, in fact, dogsDaily Press

all 12 news articles »


MyFox Chicago

Three charged, birds recovered after series of pet shop thefts
Chicago Sun-Times
The stolen birds are safe and three people been charged in connection with the thefts of exotic pets -- worth more than $5000 -- from three west suburban ...
Cops may have break in suburban bird theftsChicago Daily Herald

all 35 news articles »


Fox11online.com

A hundred pets find new homes
Denver Post
The Humane Society of Boulder Valley had their second-largest adoption day ever today, placing 106 cats and dogs in new homes. ...
Michigan Humane Society Planning Mega MarchWDIV Detroit
Bay Area Humane Society: Celebrates record-setting summerWisbusiness.com
Dog rescue case ends in happiness for rehomed petsAnimal Friends Pet Insurance
Pleasanton Weekly -Times Herald-Record -The Jersey Journal - NJ.com
all 60 news articles »


The downside of pet ownership
Toronto Sun
After 12 years of dog ownership, I have come to the conclusion that having a pet is great - until they come to the end of ...

and more »



New homes sought for escaped pet snakes
BBC News
Homes are being sought for three stray pet snakes that have been found slithering around Edinburgh. The Scottish SPCA is caring for the corn snakes at its ...

and more »


Onions, garlic could be bad for pet oasis
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Onions and garlic are in pot roast, meatloaf and other "people food" that some have been feeding pets for years. But Internet sites, blogs and message ...



Zootoo.com

Preparing your pet in case of a natural disaster
Culpeper Star Exponent
Abandoned pets, forcible separations, and video of dogs and cats desperate to survive have now been etched deeply into our memories. ...
Emergency Prep for PetsZootoo.com

all 2 news articles »


Sandusky Register

APNewsBreak: Ohio pets' fate to depend on owners
The Associated Press
The bear's owner had lost his federal license to display the animal but legally continued to keep a menagerie of wild beasts as pets. ...
Bear attack highlights lax Ohio exotic pet lawsAtlanta Journal Constitution
Fatal bear attack highlights Ohio's lax laws on exotic pets and high number of ...FOXNews

all 745 news articles »


Pets Seemingly Abandoned In Fort Worth Home
CBS 11
According to authorities, the owners had apparently moved out, leaving the pets behind. The area is very pet friendly, which is why neighbor Lisa Anderson ...
College and PetsSanta Barbara Independent
Ask the vet's pets: Protect family from harmful bacteria in pet foodReading Eagle
Have gov't subsidize 'chips'Windsor Star

all 4 news articles »

Google News

home | site map
© 2007