Puppy Dog Training Basics

Puppy dog training is crucial since it is the foundation for your pet's life as an adult dog, and proper training will help you overcome many potential problems in the future. This is the most important period, where the dog's character, habits, and temperament are formed and where you will have to do most of the work. The puppy is dependent on you for housetraining, potty training, and socializing and you should be well prepared to put enough effort and invest quite a bit of time in its training.

Your first deed should be purchasing a crate for your puppy, which is large enough to accommodate your growing pet, but also safe. Since the pups have the almost constant need to eliminate, this is the time to start proper potty training: begin by taking the puppy out of the crate and outside the house, wait for it to relieve itself, and bring it back to the crate. Repeat this several times per day until you and your puppy get used to the routine and once a pattern begins to emerge, then you know that you are on the right path. If the dog does not get used to the crate in the first few days, you could always use treats and rewards every time it stays there without creating a ruckus. Have a comfortable bed and a few toys that it can chew on inside the crate in order to make it a cozier place.

When housetraining your dog, it is good to use verbal cues, which your pet clearly understands - have a word that you use every time it is time to go to the bathroom and use exactly the same word at all times. Teach other members of your household the words that you use, so that they do not confuse the dog with different cues when you are not around. Observe your puppy's behavior too and you might spot a few habits that it has already built - if you see the puppy going to the door every time that it needs to eliminate, then you will learn that these are the times, when you need to take it out.

Keeping a schedule is what builds the sense of security, so feeding your young dog at the same time and putting it to bed at the same time is important. During this period, it is best to feed it at least four times before bedtime and take the water away approximately two hours before bedtime.

According to some puppy dog training tips, dealing with potty accidents should be done on the spot and the puppy firmly reprimanded for its behavior, however, this could present some problems. If you do not catch the puppy in the act, but reprimand it later, then it might not link the "accident" to your reaction and scolding the puppy could simply encourage it to do the same, when you are not around. Some professional dog trainers believe that ignoring the "accident" is actually far more beneficial, as long as you take the necessary measures to prevent the same from happening in the future.

The author of this article is a well-known expert in puppy dog training. Visit his website Dog Training Techniques in order to learn more.