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Making It Through Christmas: Dog Safety Tips

By Hope Hammond

Making It Through Christmas: Dog Safety Tips

Photo by Show 131/ CC

Courtesy of User: 947051 @ Pixabay

Good food, presents, and lovely music! The holidays are a wonderful time of year for everyone, including your dog and cat. However, there are aspects of this season that can be dangerous to your pets. From Christmas trees to cold weather, let's take a look at some important dog safety tips to keep in mind during the holidays.

Christmas Decorations Pose a Hazard

Dogs can be just as attracted to the bright, colorful decorations you put on the Christmas tree as cats. Make sure to hang tinsel, garland, and ornaments up high on the tree where your pet can't reach. You might even want to use a smaller tree and put it up on a pedestal if your dog just doesn't want to leave your decorations alone.
Why do you want to keep your pet from nibbling on parts of the Christmas tree? Well, almost all of it is bad for your furry friend!

  • Tinsel can cause a bowel obstruction and even cut your pet's intestines if made from a thicker material.
  • Ornaments also cause bowel obstructions. Fragile glass globes can break if they fall and cut your pet's feet.
  • Christmas lights are electrical hazards, especially for teething puppies looking for something to chew on.
  • Pine needles from live trees puncture the intestines if swallowed.
  • Christmas trees can also fall onto your pets and hurt them if they pull on the tree or even try to climb it.
  • Additives for Christmas tree water may be poisonous if your pets drink it.
  • Lit candles can burn pets and some chew on the wax, which can cause an intestinal blockage in large quantities.
  • Liquid potpourri is a chemical that may burn or damage your pet's mouth and nose.
  • Dried potpourri may damage or cut your pet's digestive tract if eaten.

Dangers of Holiday Plants

It seems like dogs and cats are inevitably drawn to the live plants you put on display in your home. This is thanks to an instinct to seek out roughage for their diet. They like to chew and eat the leaves and flowers, and some pets may also attempt to eat leaves when they aren't feeling well. Unfortunately, many holiday plants are poisonous. When pets eat or nibble on these leaves it could mean a trip to the veterinarian.
If you have a dog, be sure to keep such plants out of reach. You might want to put the pots up on a table or tall, sturdy shelf that the dog can't knock over or jump on. Some toxic plants commonly seen around the holidays are:

  • Amaryllis
  • Poinsettia
  • Lilies
  • Daffodils
  • Mistletoe
  • Balsam
  • Pine
  • Cedar
  • Holly

It should also be noted that the leaves of the Christmas Cactus are very tough and fibrous, which can cause stomach and intestinal irritation. It may cause your pet to vomit or have diarrhea, but it's not generally toxic.

The Temptation of Holiday Dinners

Yes, the dog will make those sad, soulful eyes and whine at you from under the dinner table. But, it's vital that you don't give in! The best dog safety tips for the holidays say avoid giving pets human food! Sneaking treats to your pets during the holidays can be more harmful than usual. Those dishes on your table are very rich in fat and sugar. Plus, they likely contain ingredients that are toxic to pets, such as:

  • Onions
  • Raisins
  • Grapes
  • Chocolate
  • Xylitol

If you're having a turkey for Christmas dinner do not feed your dog any of the bones or skin. Bird bones form sharp splinters which lodge in the throat, stomach, and intestines. These perforations may require surgery to fix and both items can also cause pancreatitis in your dog.
Moderate to large amounts of bread and uncooked dough can also cause stomach upset and gas, which nobody wants to interrupt a celebration!

Dog Safety Tips for Helping Your Dog De-Stress

For some dogs, the holidays are a source of stress. First the house changes, then you put on loud music and start acting differently. Any visitors you have over for dinner or a holiday party are additional stressors that can get your pet barking, pacing, and panting with anxiety. If you are worried about your furry friend's state of mind, there are a few ways to help your dog calm down:
Play Soft, Soothing Music: Low frequency, slow tempo music with a simple pattern is calming for your dog. There are even some doggy music CDs developed specifically for this purpose.
Sit With Your Pet: Take a break from the holiday preparations and party to sit with your pooch on the couch. Petting your dog's fur can ease anxiety for the both of you.
Take a Walk: Sometimes, too much excitement makes dogs hyper and stressed. Give your dog a nice long walk before the holiday dinner to use up their excess energy.
Put the Dog in the Kennel: Put your pet up in his or her kennel or another room if you don't have a dog cage. The kennel is your pet's safe place away from all of the noise and activity of a party. Plus, if your pet doesn't like a lot of attention, this gives him or her a place to hide.

Keeping Pets Warm Enough

The last, but not least of our dog safety tips is keeping your dog warm enough during the cold weather. While this doesn't apply specifically to holiday celebrations, you'll want to be aware of your pet's comfort on chilly evenings. Bring him or her inside for the winter, or give your pet a cozy dog house with ample insulation and wind protection. When you take your dog out for walks, consider putting your pet into a dog coat with booties to protect from the ice and snow. It's true that dogs are covered in fur, but many breeds lack the undercoat necessary to insulate their bodies properly. Plus, their ears, nose, and paws are exposed and can develop frostbite.
When your dog comes in from outside, take a few minutes to dry their coat and paws with a towel. Sometimes, snow and ice can get packed in between their paw pads, which is very uncomfortable and worsens the chances of frostbite. So, keep an eye on these sensitive areas.
If your dog is really anxious or tends to get into holiday trouble, such as destroying your Christmas tree, obedience training can be helpful. The 'Training an Untrained Dog: Video Course' takes you quickly and easily through several dog training tips and techniques to teach your dog to leave it, drop it, and go to his or her kennel when asked!

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Everything You Need To Know About Feeding Puppies

By Hope Hammond

Everything You Need To Know About Feeding Puppies

Photo by Show 131/ CC

Courtesy of Chiemsee2016 @ Pixabay

So, you have a new puppy! You can look forward to many years of companionship and love with your new found friend. But, while he or she is still young that puppy will rely heavily on you. At this stage, your most important roles will be cleaning up after and feeding your friend round the clock. Don't be alarmed though. Feeding puppies the right food in the right quantities is something that can be managed by anyone with the proper research and attention to detail.

Feeding Milk To Newborn Puppies

Most of the time, the puppy's mother will provide all of the care and milk that a newborn could want. If you happen to be in the position of "mothering" a newborn puppy alone, you'll end up being the one to feed it. A consultation with the veterinarian is a must to get an exam and advice on feeding your pup. Generally, the vet will recommend a commercial canine milk replacer that is formulated specifically for puppies. The puppy will likely need to be syringe or bottle-fed once every two hours and won't eat very much at a time.
SIDE NOTE: Puppies can't get the nutrients they need from regular cow milk or milk from another animal! You must use canine milk replacer formula.

When To Give Dry Food To Puppies?

Puppies should be fully transitioned to dry food by seven or eight weeks old. However, you can start gradually incorporating dry kibble into their milk around four weeks old. Soak a small amount of kibble in milk replacer or water and blenderize or mash it to the consistency of gruel. Place this on the floor for the puppy several times a day, while still bottle feeding. It may take the puppy a while to figure out how to eat this semi-solid food. As they get the hang of it, gradually reduce the amount of liquid in the kibble until they are eating dry kibble. Congratulations! You've successfully transitioned your pup to dry food!

How Often To Feed Puppies?

After your pup is on solid puppy food, you should keep up a regular feeding schedule of about four times daily between the ages of six to 12 weeks. By this time, your puppy will start to look more like a young adult dog. Start decreasing feeding to about three times a day, but you might want to increase the quantity of the food at each meal for larger breeds.
At six months old, you'll want to cut back to twice daily feedings for your dog. When your pup reaches one year old, and perhaps a few months before then, you'll want to make the transition to adult dog food. If your furry friend acts like he or she wants more food at meals and completely empties the bowl, you may need to increase the quantity.
If your dog doesn't eat all of his or her food, it could mean that their appetite is decreasing now that they aren't growing as much. As long as your dog is in otherwise good health, you can probably cut down the portion sizes some to eliminate any waste.

How To Make Homemade Puppy Food

If you don't trust store brand puppy food, or your puppy has allergies and sensitivities, you may be interested in making homemade puppy food. There is a formula to follow when combining ingredients to your homemade mash that ensures a growing pup gets everything he or she needs. Err on the side of caution by consulting with a veterinarian and doing a lot of research into recipes before you start. This way you'll avoid creating a nutrient deficiency or overdose when feeding puppies. However, the general amounts of different ingredients are as follows:
50% Protein
10% Vegetable or Fruit Matter
35% High-Fiber Carbohydrates
5% Fats
Nutritional Supplements
The kind of supplements to add to the puppy food will depend on your veterinarian's recommendation. So, be careful of adding anything without their approval.
Cooking these ingredients is important to prevent food poisoning and make it easier to digest. Usually, you can just combine all of the ingredients and saute the mix over medium heat until fully cooked through. Make sure to finely dice all of the ingredients, or else place them in the blender after cooking to create a mash. This makes it much easier for your pup to chew when first learning to eat.

Is It Okay To Give Puppies Table Scraps?

Newborn puppies are unlikely to express much interest in any solid human food. As your pup gets older, he or she may start to notice what you are eating and want to try it out. Of course, feeding your dog table scraps is an easy way to give them bad habits and may set him or her up for obesity. Since you are raising a puppy, this is a great opportunity to establish hard and fast rules about human food to keep them from constantly shadowing the dinner table. If you do feel like sharing, consider some healthier, low-calorie options, such as sliced carrots or apple pieces that older puppies and dogs can chew on.

Tips for Feeding Puppies!

Feeding puppies is a surprisingly involved process, especially while they are still very young. But, to make things easier for you, here are a few additional tips when making those meals!

  • #1 Puppies should be transitioned to adult-sized portions around three months old, but every dog is different. You'll know that it's time to adjust their food when the puppy starts looking less pudgy and round, and more like a miniature version of an adult dog.
  • #2 Adjust the amount of food you give a puppy downwards in comparison to the number of treats you feed them. Many pet owners will use food treats as rewards when training. This is fine. Just remember that it can ruin the pup's appetite for dinner.
  • #3 Don't leave food out all the time. Put it down in a bowl at consistent points throughout the day for ten to twenty minutes at a time. This will help your puppy to establish a good schedule.
  • #4 You should have fresh water available all the time for the puppy. Of course, pups who are still bottle-fed won't be very interested in the water yet.
  • #5 Be careful of adding supplements to a regular diet of store-bought puppy food. The food should already have enough nutrients for a growing pup and extra supplements can result in a potential overdose.

Like with all aspects of having a dog, learning about feeding puppies and figuring out the right methods take research. As your pup grows up, you'll also want to begin the training process. Find out more about how to start building a strong relationship with your pet with a good routine via the "Training an Untrained Dog" video course. This easy, effective video series shows you how to handle many challenges of pet ownership.

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Crate Training a Puppy: Suggestions for Success!

By Hope Hammond

Crate Training a Puppy: Suggestions for Success!

Photo by Show 131/ CC

Courtesy: PourquoiPas @ Pixabay

You have a new puppy. Great! Now, you need to give your canine friend the love, attention, and training needed to thrive. However, introducing a puppy to the domesticated lifestyle takes time and patience. Your new pet has a lot to learn about living in a human household. There may even be multiple steps involved in learning the basics, such as housebreaking. Sometimes, pet owners opt for crate training a puppy to teach them bladder control and keep them from destroying the house.
When done properly, crate training can be a positive experience and beneficial process for pets.

Create a Den-Like Space

The key to making your pets crate a place they want to be is to turn it into a den. Animals naturally want to have a hideaway where they can seek shelter and feel safe. This is true even for domesticated pets within your home.
Think about the placement of your pet's crate, how big it is, and what kind of objects you'll put into the crate. It's a good idea to put your pet's crate in an area of the home that is used frequently. Dogs often like to spend time with the pack and you are part of their pack. If you stick them in a crate in the back room. The dog will feel left out and may whine more.
Of course, where the crate is positioned within the room is also important. You don't want the dog to feel exposed or trapped. Consider putting the crate along a wall or in a corner where they can observe the entire room.
Ideally, the crate should be large enough for your pet to enter and exit freely, and even turn around inside. However, you don't want it to be so large that they can move around. The extra space may seem like an optional area where they can go to the bathroom. This is a big no-no when you're trying to house train your pet.
Give your pet some nice bedding to sleep on, such as a comfy blanket or even pillow. You may also want to pick up a light throw or blanket to place over the top and sides of the crate. This will create a more protected and cozy feeling when crate training a puppy. Just remember to leave the front exposed so your pet can see what is going on in the room.

Make Slow Introductions When Crate Training a Puppy

Avoid bringing the crate home and just shoving your pup into it right away. This is a scary new experience for dogs who are only familiar with cages at the pet store or animal shelter. Instead, take the time to introduce your pet to their crate.
Try setting the cage up and leaving the door open. Then, walk away and let your puppy investigate this new object at their leisure. You might want to give them in a day or two to get used to the presence of the crate before moving forward.

Make a Positive Association with the Crate

The next step is to help build a positive association with the crate for your pet. Try placing a few treats inside the crate to lure your pet in for a snack or their favorite toy. Remember not to close the door or force the puppy to stay in the crate. At this point, you're simply getting them used to being inside and thinking of the crate as a place where they find good things.
Every time your pet enters the crate or when you place a treat inside, you might want to associate this act with a command, by speaking it out out loud. The command can be 'go to your crate' or something as simple as 'kennel'. This helps gradually train your dog to recognize the word or phrase with entering their crate.
Be careful not to give the puppy rewards for leaving the crate. For instance, praising your dog after they come out of the crate. Instead, put the focus on entering the crate and being inside it.

Gradually Increase Time in the Crate

As your dog gets used entering the crate, you can start increasing the time they spent inside. Begin with short increments, such as 10 minutes or so. You might even want to give your pet his meal in the crate and close the door while they are eating. Be sure to stay close and open the door as soon as the dog finishes, so he or she is free to leave.
Increasing time in the crate is a tricky process. If you push too far, your pet gets upset and starts crying. He or she may even start to associate the crate with negative things, such as being restrained. When this happens you might want to cut the time back until your pet feels comfortable again.
Ten minutes at a time can gradually be increased to 15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, and so on. You may need to practice crating your pet several times a day at first. Feel free to experiment with leaving the room for a few minutes at a time to see how your pup does. Just remember to stay close enough that you can hear and let your puppy out if they get upset.

How Much Time is Too Much?

There are people who leave their pets crated all day when at work. However, leaving the dog crated for up to eight hours at a time is not good for your pet. Dogs can become anxious, upset, and even go a little stir crazy when trapped in a confined space. This tool is really meant for crating rambunctious pets overnight, when guests are over, and for short periods of time when you are housetraining a puppy.
Well-behaved, house-trained adult dogs probably don't need to be crated when you are at work. However, it is always a good idea to teach them the command and have the crate available should the need arise for visitors, or trips to the vet.
To ensure that your pet grows up to be a truly happy, friendly dog, you might want to consider further training. The Obedience Training video series uses the RAPT training method to show you specific techniques and methods for a better human-dog partnership. You'll even receive a bonus 30-minute video, the "Secrets Behind Crate Training" when you order.

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How To Stop a Barking Dog

By Hope Hammond

How To Stop a Barking Dog

Photo by Show 131/ CC

Courtesy of Christels @ Pixabay

A constantly barking dog is a real irritation to everyone in the neighborhood. Most people don't want to set off their neighbors so it's of utmost importance to teach your dog a little decorum. There a few ways you can go about teaching your pet to stop barking. But, the best method may be a combination of lifestyle and environmental changes with some obedience training.

What Makes a Dog Bark?

So, you'll need to start by identifying the cause of your canine's hollering before you can eliminate it. Many dogs bark as a form of communication. A yip can mean 'let's play.' A woof can be a bid for more pets. However, these occasional noises don't cause problems. It's when a dog loudly and repeatedly barks without heeding your calls to stop that they really start to annoy people. These barks have a few different causes, such as:

  1. Warning Off Strangers: Dogs view the house and yard as a part of the pack's territory. So, when an animal or stranger comes into it this can trigger barking to alert the whole household.
  2. Anxiety: When dogs get nervous or have separation anxiety, they may bark desperately to try and get you to come to them.
  3. Excitement: A high-strung or energetic dog barks whenever something happens, from visitors to boredom and to play.

How to Make It Stop?

You've got multiple methods for dealing with a barking dog. If your pet is territorial, simply blocking their view of the front yard with curtains, shades, or furniture may work. They will still hear visitors at the door, but won't be as prone to bark at people and animals passing by. Give them an alternate view of the back and side yards, so they can still check out what's going on in the outside world.
Here are a few other easy changes to consider:

  • Don't yell at a barking dog. This may be interpreted as you 'barking' along with your pet.
  • Stay calm and speak softly. If your dog is easily agitated or excited, counter this by being relaxed.
  • Give young, active dogs at least an hour of exercise daily in the form of playtime and walks.
  • Consider giving your dog their food in a slow feeder bowl or an interactive chew toy to keep their minds engaged and distracted.
  • Play the radio or television. It may seem silly to have the TV on for your pet, but a soft background noise can help mask sounds from outside that might trigger barking.
  • Ignore the barking. Not acknowledging it when your pet is going nuts is hard, but this can be the best way to get them to calm down faster.

Following these tips changes the way you interact with your pet and how your pet lives, which can do a lot to minimize barking. These suggestions work especially well for territorial and excitable dogs. With them, it's all about distraction and wearing them out at the dog park.

Desensitization Training

When you have a hard time calming your dog down or he or she is overly excitable and territorial, you might want to try desensitization. You'll have to work closely with a barking dog to get them used to a person or object within their territory. However, the reward is a much calmer and quieter pet.
Let's get started!

  1. Position a friend your dog doesn't know, or the offending object at a distance. This person or thing should be far enough away that the dog doesn't start barking. It's usually good to position your pet wherever they normally bark, such as at the front door.
  2. Start feeding your pet small amounts of treats. Basically, give enough to keep him or her distracted.
  3. Move the person or object a closer by a few feet. If your dog doesn't bark, great! Keep feeding him or her treats and have the person or object move a little closer.
  4. Stop feeding treats when you dog barks. Now, wait for your pet to calm down. This may take a while. Just don't move the object or person back. You don't want your dog to be rewarded for barking by having the offending person or thing go away.
  5. Feed treats when your pet calms down and try moving the person or object closer again. You may even try to bring a person inside the home.
  6. Don't overdo it. This person or object upsets your pet and can cause anxiety, fear, or even make them lash out by biting if they feel cornered.
  7. Pay close attention to your pet and stop the session when you feel they are getting overly anxious.

You'll need to repeat these sessions multiple times to help your dog become accepting of whatever person, animal, or object is making them bark. Remain consistent in giving treats each time, as this will reinforce the idea the object is good.

The "Speak" & "Quiet" Command

You may also want to experiment with teaching your dog the speak and quiet commands. Once your pet learns to speak, you teach him how to stop speaking, so these commands pair nicely.

  1. Take your dog to a quiet, neutral space to remove any distractions.
  2. Hold up a treat or beloved toy and say "Speak". You'll probably have to do this a lot while your dog tries different things to get the treat.
  3. Give your dog the treat when he or she does finally bark.
  4. Repeat by holding up another treat and saying the command again. You'll want to go over this command during a few sessions to strengthen it. Next, you can start working on the Quiet command.
  5. Give your dog the Speak command while holding the treat. After your dog starts barking, say, "Quiet".
  6. Wait until your dog stops barking, and keep saying quiet. When the dog stops, give him or her the treat.
  7. Repeat this process over and over until your dog can reliably speak and be quiet.

 
Some dogs are stubborn or their owners don't quite get what is making their pets continue to bark. When this happens, you may want to try out the RAPT Method for training an untrained dog. A good series of obedience training videos can help you better understand your dog and help your pet better understand what you want!

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10 Ways To Become the Alpha Dog In Your Home

By Hope Hammond

10 Ways To Become the Alpha Dog In Your Home

Photo by Show 131/ CC

Courtesy: Phebe77 at Pixabay.com

Are you worried that your pets are slowly taking over? Does your dog bark and behave badly in spite of your commands? Well, you might need to work on being more alpha dog and less underdog. Here are ten ways you can help reestablish a more respectful relationship with your furry friend.

#1 Be in Control of Resources

As the human in the relationship, you are naturally the one who has access to most of the resources. You buy groceries at the store. Turn on the tap for water. You can also open the door to go out. So, you are already in an alpha or 'parent' position with your dog.
However, keeping control of certain resources in the home can help your dog with manners, such as waiting quietly for their food. You should also minimize the amount of human food they have access to and don't feed pets at the table. It's bad for their health and encourages begging.
Side Note: Avoid trying to keep your pet away from food that has already been served in an effort to be more dominant. This can lead to 'resource guarding', a bad habit of growling, barking, and guarding. It may even result in a bite if you try to push your pet away from his dish.

#2 Maintain a Calm, Confidence

Alphas are confident because they know that they are the leader of the pack. There is no need to be aggressive or angry. So, whenever dealing with your pet, especially when giving commands, be calm and collected. Speak with a firm voice and make eye contact. This helps your pet know that you mean business.

#3 Go First

Make a habit of going out the door first when you leave the house. You can also do other things this way, such as making your food and then putting down the dog's dish at mealtime. Being first establishes your position and ensures that the dog is paying attention to your actions. Also waiting to give your dog his food until you are eating keeps him from begging at the table as much.

#4 Establish the Areas You Want to be Dog-Free

Many pet owners have fought with pets over chairs or beds, and even had dogs scratching at the bathroom door! Your furry friends just want to be with you, on a comfortable bed, and don't mind sleeping in a dog pile.
However, it's perfectly normal to want some space for yourself. Start establishing pet-free areas now. If your dog is in them, confidently order them off or out. It may take some repetition, but eventually, they will understand that you don't want them in those areas.

#5 Ignore Bad Behavior

When dogs beg, nip, bark, or generally behave badly, sometimes, the best thing to do is ignore it. This is most effective when you are trying to do something that has the dog's interest, such as getting ready for a nice long walk. If you would like your pet to calmer while you put on the leash, just stand and wait until they calm down. Don't yell, talk to them, or even try to grab them. Just be still until they are still.

#6 Create a Fixed Routine

Animals thrive when they have a fixed schedule. It helps to soothe anxiousness as they know what to expect from day to day. Try to establish a routine for daily walks, meals, and even bedtime. Regularly scheduled walks can also do much to improve efforts at housetraining.

#7 Nip Rough Housing in the Bud Early

It may be cute when puppies bark, crawl all over you, and nip at your fingers. Unfortunately, these can become bad habits in an adult dog. Playing with your pet is a wonderful way to bond and use up some of that excess energy. The problem occurs when your dog starts to bite too hard or jump up on you. Get this under control, so your pet doesn't accidentally hurt someone. Give teething puppies a chew toy to cut their teeth on. Stop playing and ignore a puppy or an adult dog until they calm back down again.

#8 Leash Train Your Pet

Some dogs want to take off as soon as they get outside. However, they are usually attached to a lead and end up pulling you along too! Build good habits with regular leash training. This includes making sure your pet knows that they can't drag you along.
How can you do this? One method is to set up a practice walk with a treat or toy at a short to medium distance. Start walking towards the goal, as soon as your pet pulls, turn around and go back to the starting point. Repeat this practice until your dog picks up on the idea that the leash must remain loose. It can take a lot of practice as this isn't a natural way for dogs to walk. So, be patient.

#9 Keep Up With Training Sessions

Of course, it's useful to keep up with all of your dog's training. Make it a habit for yourself too. Say once a week pick an area that you want to focus on with your pet. Then, set aside some time for a short training session with your pet's favorite treats.

#10 Don't Worry Over It

More and more people are starting to realize that a relationship with your dog doesn't have to be maintained by strict social roles. Dogs aren't always vying for dominance or looking to take over the pack. Sometimes, they only want to have good food, a comfy sleeping spot, and someone warm to snuggle. If you're still working on training or give in every now and then with a snack, it's okay. You haven't irreparably harmed your position in the pack. Your dog will still look up to you for guidance on how to behave.
If you are still having trouble with an untrained dog, it may be time to start some obedience training! The RAPT (Reinforce-Alpha-Positive-Training) method is designed to help lost pet owners find their way into a better relationship with their dogs.

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7 Tips to Housebreak Your Dog in 7 Days. Finally, Stop the Stink!

By Beth Frumkin

7 Tips to Housebreak Your Dog in 7 Days. Finally, Stop the Stink!

Photo by Show 131/ CC

One of the most difficult (and embarrassing) parts of owning a puppy is that your house can begin to stink! Untrained pups can cause odoriferous damage as well as irritation and frustration. Creating good habits for your puppy at an early age helps him learn quickly and makes him ready so you can housebreak your dog. Your commitment and consistency work to reinforce your pup’s training routine, and the reward will be a happy housebroken dog and a very satisfied owner!
Many people want to get their dogs housebroken. In fact, if you want to train your pup in as little as 7 days, we’ve got 7 tips for you that will help you do it!

Location

Choosing a location for your pup to associate with doing his “business” allows him to learn that he has a specific place where he is supposed to relieve himself. If you can simply let your pup go out into the backyard, this is ideal. If this isn’t an option, you can choose to keep a small litterbox, or even a patch of fake grass for him to go on. Small spaces might be a bit more challenging, but still possible. No matter what you choose, consistency in the space where your dog goes potty acts as an important factor.

Frequency

Puppies have very small bladders and need to go very often. As dogs get older they can hold it longer, but small pups need to urinate and defecate very, very often. Get your puppy to his potty spot right away before he needs to go. In order to do this, take your dog to the potty spot every 30 minutes when you are first beginning to train him. Also, take him within just a few minutes after eating. It may take a lot of patience because puppies have a tendency to be distracted. If your pup doesn’t go after 10 minutes of trying, take him back inside. Be sure to keep him confined and then try again after 15 minutes.

Word Association

Assign a certain term to the activity for your dog to do his business. Use something like “go potty”, or “go to the bathroom”. Say this phrase every time you take your pup to the potty spot. Repeat this phrase each time so that he begins to associate it with the activity of being housebroken.

Positive Reinforcement

Praise your pup every time he goes in the right place! Puppies love positive reinforcement, but they need it in a calm way. If you get too excited, you might distract your dog from doing his business. Continue the habit of praising your puppy for a long time when he goes in the right spot and he’ll enjoy this habit for years to come!

Correction

When trying to housebreak your dog, remember that puppies live very much in the present. Proper correcting of a dog has to happen in the moment, rather than after the fact. Although some people believe that bringing a dog back to the place where they made their mess is effective, it’s really not. If your pup has an accident, just clean it up and move on. Use a cleaner that is designed to remove urine odor, or try white vinegar. This keeps your dog from coming back to that spot and re-claiming it.

Schedule

Keep your dog on a routine to housebreak him as quickly as possible. Dogs do well when they know what to expect. They need to be told when it’s time to eat, go for a walk, or go potty. Continue to stick to the routine even as they continue to extend the amount of time they can “hold it”. Keeping your dog on a schedule by feeding him at the same time every day also helps as dogs typically poop just after eating. Another schedule help is to take the water bowl away from your pup after dinner time. This keeps him from needing to urinate as much in the night.

Pay Attention

A critical point in while you try to housebreak your dog in 7 days is keeping your puppy very close to you at all times. Paying attention prevents your dog from having an accident. Watch him constantly, keep him contained when necessary, and don’t allow him to get too excited. Although it might seem tedious, this effort of paying careful attention to your dog will pay off!
A small puppy will likely take a bit longer than a week to housetrain, particularly it it’s a small breed dog. But applying these principles helps your pup to have as few accidents as possible. Create a routine, stay consistent, offer praise, and pay careful attention so that you can housebreak your dog in as short a time as possible. And soon you’ll find that your house doesn’t stink anymore!

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