My Dumb Dog

May 17, 2009

Easy Dog Litter Box Training

Filed under: Potty Training — admin @ 10:44 am

It really is quite simple to litter box train a dog. Dog owners never like to do the potty training days. When it comes to litter box training, it can be easy to do with the right system. There are a few things to know before training your dog. Always consider the previous training level and habits of your dog. Remember that trainability varies greatly by a dogs breed. Some breeds can be a snap to train when others are not as compliant and a bit more difficult to train. Some dogs will take a little more discipline but they can be trainable.

Lets talk about litter box training dogs with the system itself. The Ugodog dog litter box is constructed of durable material that is capable of handling a respectable amount of weight. What sets this potty apart from other potty systems is that its grates are uniquely designed to be kind to sensitive doggy paws. The way the grates are made is specific as to not cut into the bottom of the paw pads. Also, the openings are tiny enough so that even the tiniest dogs will not get their paws trapped. The grates also are two separate pieces to allow for easier clean up. This system is a green product, sturdy, inexpensive and no replacement parts needed! The best reasons why this is a great pet potty pick.

Age always needs to be considered when trying to potty train your dog. That said, even older dogs can be trained to use dog litter boxes. You do not need expensive supplies for this system to work. You can use pee pads underneath the grates but this is costly and not very environmentally friendly. Newspaper works just as well. Once the dog is trained to use the system, you do not even need newspaper. At your convenience, you can flush the pee down the toilet in the evening and through out the poo that sits on top the grate.

Training tips as easy as 1-2-3:

1) Place the dog litter box in a spot where your pooch is use to going on pee pads or if they are use to going outside, place it where you would like.
2) Place a paper towel that you have soaked in your dogs urine beneath the grates.
3) The moment your pup needs to use the bathroom take them to the litter box and they will recognize their own scent and start using the potty very quickly!

Do not use negative reinforcement with your dog when training them. Use the same words repeatedly that you use to command them to go potty. Do not be discourage if your dog has a few accidents at first. If they do, when you clean up the accident use that urine soaked paper towel to put under the grate and take your dog over to it following an accident. The Ugodog indoor dog potty will make your life and your dogs life simpler. You will not be dealing with pee soaked paws or ripped up pee pads. Do not forget that furry little friend still need exercise. So do not eliminate walks.

May 10, 2009

Tips For Potty Training Your New Dog

Filed under: Potty Training — admin @ 10:55 am

All pet owners go through one experience at least a few times in their lives and that involves finding a pile of puppy poop left by their puppy in various places in the house. Of course most pet owners successfully manage to train their dogs to use the bathroom in the right place and at the right time.

Unfortunately there are also many pet owners who go drastically wrong here by introducing the wrong types of training techniques. All you need to get by is some common sense to teach your dog about the correct bathroom manners.

The one thing that works in the favor of pet owners is the fact that most dogs hate to mess up their living space. They don’t want to leave puddles of urine and piles of poop in the place where they play and sleep. A young puppy may not understand this at the first go but eventually he will.

So to make life easy, let’s discuss a few simple house breaking tips that will help you to teach your dog where and when to do his job.

You may want to purchase some oatmeal dog shampoo or a pet carriers on wheels later on down the road for your puppy. Especially the oatmeal shampoo for dogs, its great for new puppies.

1. The first order of the day when you get up in the morning should be to take your dog to the designated bathroom area, or maybe outside. Once he does his job in the right place don’t forget to praise him and shower him with affection. This will show him that if he uses the bathroom in the morning he makes you happy. This will make it easy for him to remember the bathroom rule and he will be glad to comply since he is always eager to receive your love and affection

2. You will have to use a command word which your dog will later start associating with going to the bathroom. So use one single word other wise you will confuse your puppy. Some thing simple like “go potty” or “go pee pee” should do but stick to one and use it every time you lead him to the bathroom area.

3. Always use the same route when you are leading your pup to the bathroom area. In time your dog will also start associating this way with the bathroom. So when you lead him down that particular way he will know its time to go to the bathroom.

4. You can teach your dog a lot more with love and affection than with scolding and yelling. Always make training and house breaking a positive experience for your dog. Dogs really enjoy it when they are praised and loved by their masters, so do not forget to praise him when he uses the bathroom in the right place and at the right time. This will make him want to obey you everyday since he wants to earn your praises and attention.

March 27, 2009

Tips For Labrador Potty Training

Filed under: Potty Training — admin @ 4:55 am

There are few things cuter than a new Labrador retriever puppy, but that little dog quickly loses his cuteness factor when he is brought home with you and promptly makes a mess on your beautiful living room carpet. Unless you want to spend the rest of your dog’s life cleaning up these not so pleasant messes, you will want to get savvy to the finer points of Labrador potty training as quickly as possible. The good news is that there is some fairly simple techniques that will get you on the road to a housebroken dog that will leave your living room carpet for other things besides bathroom duty.

Labrador potty training will first consist of teaching your pup the appropriate place to potty. This might mean your backyard or a papered corner in the bathroom, depending on your needs and lifestyle. Once your dog has mastered where to go, he can begin to let you know that he needs to potty by barking at you, whining at the back door or simply heading to his appointed spot.
Labrador potty training often involves the use of a crate. Whenever you cannot watch your pup carefully, you can put him in his crate. Since dogs will generally not potty in the area that they eat and sleep, the likelihood is that your puppy will wait until he gets out of his crate to go outside. This will teach him how to hold it long enough to get to his potty spot, which is a good first step in learning to potty in the right place.

Keep in mind that just because your puppy won’t want to eliminate in his crate, that doesn’t mean that he can refrain wait for long periods of time. It will be well into his first year before this little pup will be able to make it as long as eight hours without heading outdoors. This means that you will need to be cognizant of how much time he spends in his crate so you can give him potty breaks as necessary.
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, your puppy will have the occasional accident. If you catch your dog in the act of going potty on your carpet, offer a firm no and immediately take your pup outside to finish his business. If you find the accident after the fact, it does no good to scold your dog at this point, because he doesn’t remember the act once it’s finished. Simply clean up the spot quickly and thoroughly so your dog can’t remember the location by the smell.

For some dogs, Labrador potty training will take a couple of weeks and the process is complete. For others, the entire process may take quite a bit longer before the dog is completely accident free. Patience and persistence on the part of the owner is always the key, whether your dog catches on immediately or more slowly. No matter how long it takes your puppy to get the hang of Labrador potty training, rest assured that you and your dog will eventually find success.

It is important to arm yourself with plenty of information about the most effective methods of Labrador training, including housebreaking, before you ever bring your puppy home from the breeder. By reading articles like this as well as dog training books that deal with the Labrador retriever, you will be well prepared for all aspects of Lab care, including housebreaking.

January 9, 2009

Potty Training Your Puppy: Practical Pet Help

Filed under: Potty Training — admin @ 11:37 pm

If you have ever brought a new puppy home from the shelter or a breeder, you know how essential it is to get that tiny ball of fur housebroken as quickly as possible. But potty training a puppy generally requires patience, consistency and – of course, time. The good news is that the more time you are prepared to commit to the process at the beginning, the less time your pup may take to learn his lessons well. Remember, before you bring your pup home, prepare well for the process, and you and your pup will be on the path to a long, happy relationship.

The Advantages of Crate Training
Many puppy owners have become quite partial to crate training as a means of potty training a puppy, and with good reason. A crate can perform a multitude of functions for your pup. For starters, it will offer a secure place for your dog to rest and sleep. Second, restricting your pup to the crate when you are gone ensures that your home will still be in one piece upon you get back. And finally, using a crate for house training your puppy will teach your dog to hold his urge to eliminate until he is in a suitable location to do so. Most dogs will not eliminate in their crate because they know not to go to the toilet in the same space that they sleep in.

Before placing your pup in his crate for any length of time, you must make sure that he has time outside to potty. When you let your dog out of the crate, you should consistently take him outside straight away. A crate can be a valuable training tool when you are away from home, or if you are involved in an activity for any length of time that will keep you from watching your puppy sufficiently.

Bear in mind that puppies should not be left in a crate all day, although they can sleep in one throughout the night. If you work all day, do your best to return home for lunch to give your puppy a break, or have friend or neighbor come by your home to do so.

Paper Training
Paper training does not mean using a rolled newspaper to swat your puppy when he potties in the home. This is actually the most ineffective means of house training a puppy that there is. Paper training actually refers to indoor puppy potty training, where you teach your pup to go to the toilet on papers or training pads that you lay down on the floor for him. This type of potty training for puppies is usually best done when you can restrict the pup to a single room in the home, like the utility room. Whenever you see your puppy begin to nose around the floor as if he is looking for a spot, take your puppy to the paper potty. When he gets this process down, move the papers closer to the door. With time your pet will learn to go to the door when he needs to go to the bathroom.

Check out these aryicles for more practical help
house train a dog
house breaking puppies
housetraining puppies
Potty training your puppy may be challenging, but it is far from impossible. With a bit of consistency and patience, your puppy potty training will succeed much sooner than you might think possible.

December 21, 2008

How Do I Potty Train My New Puppy?

Filed under: Potty Training — admin @ 11:20 pm

Some dogs just absolutely refuse to become house trained. No matter how long and hard you have tried to implement techniques to get your dog to use the bathroom in the proper areas, he still chooses to be “vengeful” towards you by not following your instructions, right?

Wrong! The common misconception that your dog is trying to be vindictive and countermine your house training efforts by refusing to follow the rules is a complete myth.

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Dogs only have the capacity for simple, direct emotions, such as being happy, sad, or scared. Their minds are not capable of plotting ways to seek revenge for that swat on his rear, or how you scolded him an hour ago.

If you want to dress your little pooch up get her some dog dress

Dogs do, however, remember and draw upon past experiences that they associate with current situations. But it is important to understand that these associations only create an emotion in which they will feel when going through a similar experience.

You want to make sure also that you don’t scold to the point of instilling fear in your pet. Positive reinforcement is the key! You want them to feel confident about going on the paper or going outside and doing it right! They will learn to do this when they see how much it pleases you and because they get a reward for doing so.

For this reason alone, it is important never to punish or yell at your dog when he uses the bathroom inside the house. Most house training problems actually stem from owners who completely instill fear in their pets when they go potty on the floor. This creates enough trauma to completely halt all of your housetraining efforts.

The key is trying not to react. Instead, remove your dog from the room and take him outside in a very calm and relaxed manner. Be sure that he does not see you cleaning up his mess. Quietly clean the area and be sure to use an enzyme-containing house cleaner. Vinegar or liquid soap will do just fine as well. By completely removing all of the older, this helps reduce your dog’s need to urinate and mark the same spot over and over.

Tip: Avoid using ammonia because the smell is very similar to that of a dog’s urine and can stimulate him to pee in the same area.

When all else fails, schedule a visit with your veterinarian so that the doctor can do a complete health checkup of your dog to make sure that there is not a health-related reason for his inability to become house trained.

Some dogs can be harboring illnesses that may prove to be the cause of not having the ability to control their bowel movements. Such illnesses could be caused by ticks, such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, or the most common reason: a urinary tract infection.

November 22, 2008

Poodle Training: Housebreaking A Poodle

Filed under: Potty Training — admin @ 8:40 am

Proper training is important for all dogs, but especially so with Poodles. These are really great dogs, amazing dogs, but if they are not trained properly when they are young they will end up developing poor behavior problems, such as barking incessantly and chewing destructively. They will attack shoes, clothing and other things around the home if they are not trained.

Poodles also tend to be quite stubborn and dominant, especially if they are not shown who is in charge of the home, and so this can also cause a damper in their training. It often takes a lot more time and effort to train a Poodle than another breed of dog, and any potential Poodle owner definitely needs to be aware of this before they go through and decide to get one of these dogs as a pet. It is important to start training the dog as early on as possible in order to get the best and most permanent results.
There are a few important commands in particular which should be included in the most basic Poodle training. Heel is one of the first and to teach this command the owner needs to have the leash and collar on the dog, and command them to “Heel!” while at the same time walking out with the foot closest to the dog. The typical side to have the dog heel on is the left but of course this is up to the owner.

This is one of the easiest commands to teach a dog, and another one of the most important is the sit-stay command. To teach this lesson the owner needs to have the leash and collar on the dog and command them to “Sit!” while pushing their rump down and then pull the leash up. For the stay command the owner needs to put their hand out with their palm facing flat down towards the dog and they must command them to “Stay!” while stepping right in front of them at the same time.
The process of poodle training is one of great importance to stave off future Poodle problem behaviors and there are a few tips that every owner should remember. One is to be firm but friendly at the same time, because the dog is going to respond better to positive reinforcement and praise than to anger and frustration. Patience is a necessity here and really key when training not only a Poodle, but also any sort of dog. Owners need to remember to focus on a single command each session rather than trying to cram as many in as possible, so that the dog is not left confused and overwhelmed.

It is also very important to make sure that there are no distractions around while training the dog, such as toys and food, because then the dog will not be able to focus and this will make training them a great deal more difficult. Owners should also remember that there are many wonderful professional dog trainers out there who will be able to help out here and make sure that the dog is properly trained.

There are some really great Poodle training tips that an owner can use to help them through this process. There are some really great dog training books out there that a Poodle owner can buy to help with the training of their dog.

November 18, 2008

Pomeranian Paper Training Doesn’t Have To Be Hard

Filed under: Potty Training — admin @ 10:17 am

Just like any type of dog breed that you bring into your home, your new Pomeranian has to be trained to go potty where you see fit, as your new carpets just are not going to work for the job. You have to decide whether you want your little dog going outside or inside. While most people automatically answer outside, it is important to think about every situation that can come up.

Only choose outside if you are able to help your dog out every time and they have a safe yard that will keep danger out and keep them in. Either way, whether it’s inside or outside that is your goal. It is always easy to start with Pomeranian paper training as this is what you would use for the inside and it will help you guide your dog to the outside if done properly. Within a few short weeks, your training should be completed and your Pomeranian paper training will have been a wonderful success.
Now, if you are wanting to get your little one to use the yard as their potty location, you may want to use some Pomeranian paper training methods in order to get them there if they are seeming a little shy about going in the yard. Some animals take to the yard faster then others and there doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason for it, as even dog training books will explain. By laying down paper, preferably in the place where your puppy has already gone inside your house when they had an accident, they will become accustomed to going to the paper.

Even papers, which are not treated with scent, are often a very attractive place for dogs to go on and the reasons behind it are not really known. It seems to be an instinct for the dogs to go on paper. Once your puppy is used to going on the paper in that certain location, you can move the paper everyday, slowly, towards the door you want the puppy to use to go out. Once outside, leave it there for a few days and then it can be taken away.
While we want instant success and results, we cannot jump the gun too much when going through Pomeranian paper training. It is important that we pay attention to the signs that your puppy is already giving you. More than likely, your dog has already had some mistakes in the home whether intentional or unintentional by them. And because of the scent left behind, no matter how well you cleaned the area, you may be noticing your dog goes back to the same spot over and over again.

By using that information, you can put your Pomeranian training off to a good start. Place a few papers down in the area that your puppy seems to already be partial to. Once they have started going on the paper for a few days, start to move it towards the place that you want the potty time to actually take place at. Never move it too far at once because this will only cause setbacks in your Pomeranian paper training and you may have to start again. In no time, your dog will be going where you want.

Pomeranian training should not take more then a few weeks if done properly with care and love. Even the newest of the dog training books on the market will explain who important proper Pomeranian paper training is.

The Benefits Of Shih Tzu Paper Training

Filed under: Potty Training — admin @ 9:14 am

A Shih Tzu is a proud and regal dog that likes things very clean and doesn’t really get trained. You can show a Shih Tzu what you expect it to do, but in the end if it does not adopt the behavior then you have a long road ahead of you. Punishment and negative reinforcement will cause all of your training to be undone and you may even have to reconnect with your Shih Tzu after any punishment. Your Shih Tzu only understands positive reinforcement so be patient and use good training.

At some point some Shih Tzu owners think that Shih Tzu paper training may work in their house breaking attempts. Housebreaking a Shih Tzu is a long process that can take months and the one thing you do not want to do is keep introducing new things into the process. This will confuse your dog and set back your training by months.
Even under the most ideal conditions, with the best-behaved Shih Tzu ever, housebreaking can still take upwards of six months so patience is a virtue. Shih Tzu paper training could make housebreaking even more difficult so be certain that you have given all standard housebreaking methods a chance before resorting to the paper.

Since setting up a confined living area for your Shih Tzu is a standard first step in the housebreaking process it is assumed that the Shih Tzu is probably soiling in areas just outside the living area. If this is the case you can try expanding their living area to include the soiled area and move their bedding close to, but not on, the soiled spot. Shih Tzu dogs do not soil where they sleep so perhaps after moving it’s bedding near a soiled spot it may start to think that outside is a better option.
Shih Tzu paper training can take longer than housebreaking and can undo any housebreaking training you have already done. If you would like to try it then move their living area to the spot they are soiling the most and cover the soiled spot with layers of newspaper. Praise the dog when it uses the paper and clean the papers often but always leave behind a small soiled area so they know it is okay to use the papers. Then slowly move everything towards the door and then start getting the dog used to going outside.

Housebreaking a Shih Tzu can be one of the most frustrating things you have ever tried but you need to be patient and stick with a housebreaking routine. Breaking that routine by moving the living space and adding newspapers will probably set your housebreaking back to square one so be patient and stick with the standard methods before you try the papers.

You will find valuable Shih Tzu training information in this article. You can use this article as a supplement to dog training books.

November 13, 2008

Havanese Litter Box Training Myth Or Reality? What’s The Use Of Havanese Litter Box Training?

Filed under: Potty Training — admin @ 11:50 am

Training a dog to use a litter pan is perfectly unnatural to canine instinct. However, living in an apartment and not having to hunt or scavenge their food is also perfectly unnatural to canine behavior. But dogs have adapted happily and thrive in an urban or small home environment. One of the breeds of small doge that have taken any adaptations in their care are Havanese. Training them are usually easier than in other small dog breeds.

And now the demands of modern work schedules mean that Havanese will be called on to adapt yet again; this time, to Havanese litter box training. In the last few years, there has been a push by dog owners to litter train small dogs. Big pet manufacturers have listened, such as Purina with their Second Nature product line of pans, litter, and really funny promotional videos. Never has it been easier to try Havanese litter box training.
If you’ve ever had to housetrain a puppy, then you already have the basic training down for teaching your Havanese to use a litter pan. You watch for the signs that your Havanese has to go – sniffing, circling, whining, scratching at the door – and then you lead the Havanese to the litter box. But you can lead a Havanese to the litter box, but you can’t always make them go. Never yell, hit or swear at your dog. They confused enough as to where they are supposed to go as it is.

Some things you can do to encourage and reassure your Havanese that using a litter pan is okay is to place newspaper with the dog’s urine on it in the pan. You can also teach your dog to eliminate on command. Although dog training books will usually not have information specifically about Havanese litter box training, they will on how to teach your dog to eliminate on command.
You need patience and consistency when teaching your dog to eliminate by verbal command. You need everyone in the family to follow along and use the same command. You need to use this short command like “Show time,” or “Go, please,” EVERY time the dog pees or poops. Yes – every single time. Give the command, praise the dog and treat. Eventually, they associate the command with the act of elimination.

If this sounds familiar, it should be. This Havanese litter box training tip is a variation of the conditioned response old Pavlov did in his famous experiments of teaching a dog to drool at the sound of a bell. Every dog learns at his or her own rate. Some take a lot longer to learn than others. If your dog seems to get the idea but still has accidents, a trip to the vet is on order to rule out any medical conditions.

This author believes that if you can learn Havanese training, you have the capacity to train any dog. All animal shelters and recues should be giving away free dog training books to each dog’s adoptive family.

November 9, 2008

The Good And Bad Of Beagle Paper Training

Filed under: Potty Training — admin @ 3:45 pm

Housebreaking your beagle, regardless of the age, can be a very difficult thing to do if the dog is not responding to traditional methods. It can be frustrating when you think you have tried everything and your dog still goes wherever it wants to. One important thing to remember is that striking the dog is the absolute worst thing you can do and locking them in a pen all night when they are having issues going in the house can be very counter productive. Remember that you do not want to cause other bad habits in an effort to try and stop this bad habit.

You may have to resort to beagle paper training and if you do it right it should work, but the key is to do it right and be very patient. Your real first step should be a trip to the vet because there could be a physical reason why your beagle is going in the house. Once you get a clean bill of health from the vet then it is time to try alternatives.
You should try to avoid beagle paper training at all costs. One way to avoid the papers is to set aside a 48-hour period where you can take your dog to the spot outside you want them to use every hour on the hour. When they do their business in that spot then offer a great deal of positive reinforcement. After forty-eight straight hours they should get the idea of what you are trying to teach them.

A second idea is to simply watch your dog every minute for two complete days. If they start to show signs that they are going to make a mess then walk to your dog, do not lunge at them, and point at them and say a firm one word command like “No” and then take them to their outside spot. When they are done make them feel like they just saved a life with massive positive reinforcement.
If beagle paper training is your only option then lay several layers of papers in the area that the dog uses for their personal toilet and try and surround this area with a pen. When the dog uses the papers then use positive reinforcement. After a while they will know they can use the papers and they will use them every time. Gradually move the papers towards the door and gradually put parts of the papers outside and a smaller part of the papers inside. The beagle should be begging to go outside on the papers when there isn’t enough paper inside. From there you still have to train your dog on being able to hold their business in until it is time to go out and then where in the yard to do it.

Paper training really only does a small part of the job and you are still not getting the dog used to waiting until you get home to do its business. But it can work if done right. Remember that when you clean the papers to always leave a small amount of soiled papers in the new pile so they know to use the papers still. Good luck.

You will find good beagle training advice in this article. This article is a good secondary source to dog training books on housebreaking your beagle.

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