PUPPIES Tips, Trick and Guide

Crate Training Puggle Puppies

2010-08-23T14:17:00.000-07:00

Crate Training Puggle Puppies

Having a crate for your Puggle puppy to sleep or go in to when you are not at home is always a great idea, especially for housetraining. Getting your puppy used to the crate, however, can be a whole other exercise in itself. Here are some easy tips to make the crate feel like your puppy's own little bedroom.

1.When you first get the crate, set it up in a room where you are the most such as the living room. Leave the door open and, throughout the day, throw in a few pieces of kibble or a few small treats. Your Puggle puppy will go investigating later and find a little surprise which, in turn, will have him going in the crate more often.

2.If your puppy doesn't act very interested in the crate, try feeding him in front of the crate. After a day or two, move his bowl in the doorway of the crate then finally to the back of the crate. This will allow your puppy to have a positive association with the crate and allow him to become used to the crate as well.

3.Try turning the crate in to a game. Get a small treat or biscuit that your puppy enjoys. Show him the treat while he is sitting a distance away from you and let him watch you put the treat into his crate. Then ask him "where's the treat" in a fun, inviting voice. When your puppy finds the treat in his crate, immediately praise him in high tones. Repeating this game a few times per day will allow him to become used to being in the crate and not afraid of it.

4.Once your puppy is used to the crate and no longer afraid of it, try putting your Puggle puppy in the crate for short periods of time while you are at home with him. For instance, place your puppy in the crate, shut the door and go get a glass of water then let your puppy out. Do not make a big deal about your puppy coming out of the crate - simply open the door to let your puppy out and go about your business. Slowly increase the amount of time he is in the crate while you're home until you feel comfortable that he is secure inside of the crate.

5.Above all else, do not push, pull or force your puppy into the crate. This will only intimidate the puppy and make him afraid of the crate altogether, making being in the crate a negative, scary experience the entire time for your Puggle puppy. The crate should be your puppy's bedroom while you're away or in bed, not a prison cell.

By Kathleen Chester

Top Methods For House Training Puppies

2010-08-18T10:45:00.000-07:00

Top Methods For House Training Puppies

Congratulations on bringing a new puppy to your home. Being a first time pet owner can be a bit of a frustrating experience which is why you need to start house training puppies as quick as possible. Training your puppy should be a major priority on your list, because it will benefit you as well as your puppy.

Being a first time pet owner can be a major challenge. But it is not as hard as you may think, as long as you know what to expect and how to react to certain situations and staying positive you will have no problem. It is best to train your dog when he is only just a puppy, the quicker he learns, the easier your life will become.

House training a puppy can be the biggest challenge of owning a pet. Sometimes it can take longer than expected, but do not give up. Below are some very helpful tips provided for you to help put you on the fast track to having a well behaved and trained dog?

Create a Potty Schedule

House training puppies does not have to be difficult. Usually most dogs typically eliminates during the same time frame each and every day. When they first wake up, 15-20mins after each meal or drink of water, after playing or walking, and just before going to bed. Take note when your puppy eliminates so you can take him to for potty breaks at the right time.

Leash Training

Leash training is very important and should be used right away. When taking your puppy outside for him to eliminate, it is best to use a short leash to prevent him from being easily distracted or eating of the floor. Sometimes you may have to look away while your puppy handles his business, because some puppies are shy and do not like to be looked at.

Crate Training

Crate training has become very popular. It's actually considered on the best forms of training. Crate training is when you keep your puppy confined in a small area and only take him out when it is time to go potty. Keep your puppy in his crate for 2-3 hours only on the days you are house training him.

After every 2-3 hours take your puppy out immediately to eliminate. If your puppy does not relieve himself, put him back in the crate and repeat the same process within 15 minutes. House training puppies can be relatively easy once you know what you are doing.

Have you been struggling with training your puppy?

By Jamal Gardner

French Bulldog Puppy And Puppies Information

2009-11-27T13:33:00.000-08:00

French bulldog puppy makes an excellent companion. He's playing games, and quite easy to care for, but it takes a lot of human attention. He is generally good around other pets and loves children. As a reminder, never cut a child unsupervised around a puppy or dog.

Approximate Adult Size

Estimated adult size (two years or more) of the French Bulldog is about 12 inches to the withers (the highest point of the shoulder). There are two weight classes, 19-22 pounds and 22-28 pounds.

Special Health Considerations

Most dogs have a particular legacy of health problems associated with certain types and the French Bulldog is no exception. Be on the look for respiratory problems, skin problems, prone to eye injuries and heat stroke. This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.

He should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for the image, amplifier and check. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for the image and check. When he gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.

Treatment

French Bulldog has a short, smooth, smooth and brilliant coat. He is an average shedder and should be brushed regularly. Brushing will help her maintain a clean and healthy coat, avoid mats and help you keep close eye on the health and strengthen your emotional bond with him.

Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing away the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can cause pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious illnesses.

Toenails may need to be examined for growth and cut regularly. The rear toenails grow more slowly than the front toenails. Generally a guillotine type is the best slim for this task and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the Internet.

Life Span

French Bulldog can live between 10 and 14 years with proper nutrition, medical care and living conditions are very good.

History

French Bulldog was first developed either in France or Spain from small Bulldog. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1898.

Some Registry

* French Bulldog Club of America
* UKC United Kennel Club
* NKC National Kennel Club
* CKC Continental Kennel Club
* APRI American Pet Registry Inc.
* AKC American Kennel Club
* FCI Federation Internationale Cynologique
* NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
* KCGB Kennel Club of Great Britain
* ANKC Australian National Kennel Club
* ACR American Dog Registry

Size garbage

French Bulldog puppies 2-5

Categories

Non-Sporting, mastiff

Terms To Describe

Love, brave, funny, smart, muscular, active, curious, alert, comfortable, adapted

SPECIAL GOOD POINTS

Good watch dog.
* Well behaved.
* Good companion dog.
Good angry.
* Does not barker.
* They like to hunt mice.

SPECIAL BAD POINTS

* Tend to snore.
* Low obedience.
* Malang guard dogs.
* Can contain the gas.
* May Not able to swim.
* May need to see the vet more than other breeds.
* May have difficulty bearing young.
* Sensitive to heat.
* Can be a one-person dog.
* Can be deliberately
* Some people may drool and saliva.

By Mitch Endick

Bulldog Potty Training Can Be Rapid and Easy

2009-11-25T03:36:00.000-08:00

The most important thing to do when starting to train toilet Bulldog is to have a proper coffin for them. As a puppy, you will need a small one and when they grow up to buy one for the appropriate size. Begin potty training your Bulldog early in life or as soon as you bring to your home.

Make sure his crate comfortable with a blanket or special toy and cover it with a sheet to give the feeling of the cave. This is the atmosphere of your Bulldog puppy used to and will make him feel comfortable or safe. If the crate is too big he will use the toilet in one corner and potty training you will soon become a behavior problem. Bulldog is a sweet, friendly dog and want to be your dearest friend. Basically they are easy to train because they want to please their owners. So potty training adventure with your Bulldog puppy should be an easy experience.

Although liver Bulldogs are sweet dogs they still need training in a structured and disciplined schedule. Bulldog potty training your dog as soon as he arrives at your home is the best idea. You must take your puppy out in the morning as soon as he woke up. His praise immediately after he was done outside and brought him back inside. Bulldog feed your puppy and then wait no more than ten to fifteen minutes and took him out again. Dogs usually need to go about fifteen minutes after they eat.

When you bring him back into the've played with him for about thirty minutes and then go back out until he acts again. This time when you bring him back to put it into a wooden crate for a nap. This routine will be easy to consistently train toilet Bulldog. If he had had an accident and a toilet in your house only scold him if you see him do it otherwise you'll scold Bulldog will not help with training.

Your experience with Bulldog potty training can be good if you remember a few key rules for the Bulldog potty training. Remember to always praise your puppy with treats and positive reinforcement when he left the toilet outside. And you must always remember to only give negative reinforcement when you actually see it in the toilet. Strengthening good should always come with a negative reinforcement for the Bulldog potty training for work. Consistent eating schedule and a lot of time with your dog also helps in the toilet training experience.

This will bring the puppy a few weeks to catch on this training because he was a baby, but the control and consistency will work together in the end. When the puppy go outside after she ate at the same time every day he will automatically know what to do in a few weeks. Patience in Bulldog potty training is something every owner should have a lot. Your relationship with your Bulldog will be happy, but the potty training is the first step is very long.

Bobby Callahan

A Simple Guidance To Training Puppies Labrador

2009-11-23T18:42:00.000-08:00

Labrador puppies is one of the sweetest creatures in the world. They are naughty and funny antics of nature provides for some moments the funniest thing you've ever seen. They are small, cuddly body is very loved. Yes, children are very cute Labrador Labrador training but can be a different story if they were intelligent. Labrador training requires a lot of dedication and hard work, but it was certainly useful. Your Labrador will grow up to be very polite companion for you and your family when successfully trained.

Three To Six Months

For three to six months there are some areas you need to focus on when training Labrador. The first thing you should teach your puppy is sitting. This is one of the most basic commands. The next command to teach your Labrador is to lie down and stay when told, and to come when called. Labrador also be taught how to interact with other dogs, strangers and other animals. They also need to be taught how to walk politely on a leash. A Labrador puppy should be trained to drop things from his mouth when told to, and to stop barking when she was told to shut up. Finally, take the time when the Labrador training to teach them the tricks of fun. Have fun with your new puppy!

Six to Ten Months

When your Labrador is six to ten months to teach your puppy to stay in one place as you walk away from him. You also have to teach your dog how to heel and to retrieve a ball or toy when thrown. Labrador at this age can learn more tricks like "shake hands" and "roll over."

Strangers And Other Dogs

Labrador are some of the most friendly and easy going dog you can have. Most of Labrador along with other people. Very rare that the Labrador will like strangers. However, there are only a few Labrador interact well with their own families, with those particular sex, or with adults. Whatever the case, you have to work and train your Labrador to be polite and well behaved at all foreigners.

Labrador can be fussy about their relationship and interaction with other dogs as they can with humans. But most of Labrador along with other dogs and is usually not a problem.

By Denise Duncan

Bulldog Puppies And The Right Name

2009-11-22T13:29:00.000-08:00

With adequate research, you can understand from Bulldog information what kind of personality you will have a Bulldog as a puppy and the puppy matures. You can use this information to select a suitable name for your puppy. Despite all the frisky puppy, your Bulldog may grow into a serious or happy-go-lucky adult dog. You'll want to choose a good name that can easily reflect the personality of your dog. The best names will be the name that you can feel comfortable using that wherever you go.

Your Bulldog puppy will grow into a good companion for yourself and your family members. You have to respect this relationship by selecting the appropriate name with the dogs as family members. You can select a personal name that can be used by family and friends. This name may differ from the name of genealogy, which usually have one or more names in it.

Bulldog information confirms that the smart race but this does not mean that Bulldog puppies will understand everything that was said. You will need to make it easier for your puppy to learn his name. You can do this by selecting the short name is one or two syllables. You also must choose a name that begins with the letter easy to distinguish in the distance.

Another important tip for naming your puppy is to consider how your Bulldog puppy tries to understand what you say. At first, your puppy to get the meaning behind the words by the tone in which the words are saying. Your tone will vary depending on the situation and this is the key to your Bulldog puppy to understand your words. With the right name, you will be able to get your dog's attention under most circumstances.

According to recent information, Bulldog dogs must be given a name that can not be equated with public order or the names of people or pets that the dog will come to know. You want to make clear what your dog's name is so that there is no confusion that name who.

Easy to understand and distinguish the letters should be used as the first letter names for Bulldog puppies. This makes it easier to hear the sound of when you say the name of the dog. Hard consonants, such as D, K and T, are the letters to start a dog because they can get your dog's attention even in the distance.

For example, a female Bulldog puppy can be named Dina, Daisy, Darlene, Kathy, Kayla, Taffy and Tara. Can men Bulldog puppy named Dale, Daryl, Carl, Keefer, Taylor and Teddy. You can also find inspiration for your puppy's name from the color of the coat or other appearance details. You'll be glad when the dog's name to learn quickly because you've chosen a name for that purpose.

Bobby Callahan

A Rapid Guide to Miniature Dachshund Puppies

2009-11-21T15:37:00.000-08:00

There are few things sweeter than a puppy, and miniature dachshund puppies even sweeter than most because they almost did not get bigger. One of the most exciting thing is how the children of their small dog, so it is not surprising that children are miniature dachshund puppy is very popular. They remain small, even when they are full grown!

The dachshund comes in two sizes: standard and mini. Standard dachshunds weigh an average of 20-22 pounds, and miniature dachshund had an average weight of 10 pounds or less. And this is the weight we're talking about adults, not the weight of a miniature dachshund puppy.

Just like with a newborn puppy, miniature dachshund puppy is super small at birth and does not reach the maximum weight - a defeat of 9 or 10 pounds - for a year or more. This is really a small dog can easily carry. So if you're in the market for a round of dogs, miniature dachshund breed may be for you.

Miniature dachshunds have the same characteristics as the dachshund breed standard, with the biggest difference to their size. Maximum healthy weight for a standard dachshund is 30 pounds and the average weight of them is about 22-25 kg. The average weight for a miniature dachshund is only 8 or 9 pounds, and the maximum healthy weight not more than 11 pounds.

Maintain a healthy weight is important for all small dogs, but especially important for dachshunds because of their exceptional backbone length. A dachshund has back and leg length is very short, which gives them their signature "hot dog" shape. If they are carrying too much weight on their stomachs, additional stress will be placed on the spine and spinal cord that can cause injury. Dachshunds also have to help when climbing stairs and jumped high into the furniture because it also puts additional pressure on the spine if done repeatedly over time.

Dachshunds are friendly and intelligent breed, and their size makes them perfect for apartment dwellers pets and anyone who does not have backyards and no desire to run through the park every day. Dachshunds do need daily exercise, but a few steps more than enough. They are energetic but would never knock down and spit on the guest or clomp through the house, breaking knick-knacks as they go.

Dachshund training can be challenging, but it's not because they do not have the brains to learn. That's because they're smart and independent and do not always see things the same way you do. For example, potty training may be quite important to you, but sometimes - especially when the rain or cold - your dachshund will not only agree. Always keep their favorite treat in hand. This is the best way to convince your dachshund to do what you want them to do when you want them to do.

By Jenny Styles

Everything that have to know about Bulldog Breeders Around The World

2009-11-19T13:21:00.000-08:00

Every Bulldog breeders can tell you about a strong personality, compact English Bulldog. Bulldog term usually refers to the English version, although there are also French and American Bulldog. English bulldog is distinguished by a short, stocky frame, the rocking, wrinkled face and a snub nose, and by the lack of bite. English Bulldogs are also known for its physical characteristics and personalities such as saliva, snoring (loudly), gassiness, attention behavior, and sense of humor.

Although not a dog for everyone, fans of the English Bulldog puppy love is for life. Bulldog is a tenacious, strong-willed breed and are often used as a mascot by many universities and the military. Bulldog is the official mascot of the British and, although there is another version Bulldog, is seen as a symbol of traditional England. English and French Bulldogs are the result of mastiff mix and Pug. American Bulldogs looked more like Old English Bulldogs, a higher and faster than the European version today.

Bulldog Breeders should be able to educate potential buyers about Bulldog information including treatment, care and discipline. Are American, French or English Bulldog breeder, he will have knowledge of all Bulldog breeds and their special needs. Bulldog is not for pet owners are inexperienced. This high maintenance breed and require significant attention, training and medical care.

European version of the Bulldog often have breathing problems because their bodies are small, flat face and nose Pug. This version also needs the help of birth, usually by c-section, as the puppies heads are too big to pass naturally. American Bulldog has a life expectancy nearly doubled from the European version, but the larger dog has a series of behavioral, social and health problems. Bulldog Bulldog breeder buyer must approach with a list of questions. A good breeder will be able to provide extensive Bulldog information. Purchasers should also expect Bulldog breeder to interview them to ensure they can adequately meet the needs of puppies Bulldog.

The most important for buyers to know about the Bulldog breeder is that good breeders never sell to shops pet. Each dog breeder of race, such as Bulldog breeder, to love their offspring and treat animals like family members, rather than merchandise. Because of the high price that can be taken for puppies race, some illegal dog breeders run the factory, which operates in the race dog constantly maintained to produce several litters to sell at auction. Dogs in abused dog factory.

They grew up without stopping, without attention to their health, continue to be locked up without training or playing, and receive little human contact. Puppy puppy auctions and brokers are usually the method of obtaining a pet shop dog. Not only is this cruel process, but also does not provide health insurance to children or descendants of dog. In the end, pet stores, breeders are not as good, no matter who they sell to Bulldog puppy. Breeder will make sure the dogs go to the right, loving home. Pet shops sell to each buyer with the appropriate funds.

Bobby Callahan

A Beginner's Guide To Find For English Bulldog Breeders

2009-11-18T13:50:00.000-08:00

From the hundreds of different breed that are available to choose from, one of the most beloved is the Bulldog. English Bulldog in particular is one of the most beloved dog offspring, and for good reason. However, they are very loyal, affectionate, and even angry dogs, and so they are suitable for all people, even those with larger families. If you are interested in getting his own British Bulldog, then you'll have to find myself some leading English Bulldog breeder.

Before doing the dog you want to make sure that you are dealing with a dog breeder is responsible. This is a breeder who really cares about dogs and their well-educated and knowledgeable about the breed. You want to find a breeder who offers health insurance and who have the trust and documents to back their reputation. Of course, if you buy a dog you want to make sure that you get a happy and healthy dogs, that will not end up being sick or having behavior problems.

If you are looking for English Bulldog breeders there are some things you will want to be remembered. For one you must define such a standard of care even before heading out to meet with the breeder, so you'll know what you should look for and how to tell which breeders to avoid. One of the most suspicious thing breeders can do is not allow you to meet with the mother dog.

Usually when a breeder is not willing to introduce potential buyers the mother dog that means that the dog sick and they knew that this would clearly hinder the buyer. You should always ask the farmer to provide the documents required and other beliefs to support their reputation, so you can ensure that they are legitimate and reputable. You also have to be prepared for the breeder to ask just as many questions as you, at least people who really care about dogs and those who want to make sure the puppies they will go to a suitable home.

English Bulldogs absolutely fantastic and make wonderful dogs, but it is important that you take the time to find the right English Bulldog breeder. This process can often be a bit scary, but by keeping some of the most important tips in mind you should have great success here.

Remember for a professional dog breeders do not breed often, and rather they just do it when a pair of dogs was found to be healthy and have a good temperament. That's because this is the only way to ensure the birth of healthy offspring. There are several breeders, better known as mass breeders, who will breed as often as they can because their only purpose is to sell lots of puppies as they can as quickly as they could to make the most money in return. Also understand that even after you have been through the process of finding your breeder may still be waiting for your puppy because it is often a long waiting list.

Bobby Callahan

10 Tips For House trained Your Puppies

2009-11-17T13:02:00.000-08:00

House training your puppy is one of the most important tasks you can take and is very important to live in harmony with your pet.

Every dog can learn to do "business" outside and it's up to owners to learn how to train a dog properly. It is best to start training at an early age and remember to always treat your pet with kindness - yelling at him and rubbing his nose in the accident would only make him afraid of you.
These tips can help you find the perfect house-trained dog in no time!

1. Setting the toilet area and make sure the puppy has unrestricted access to the area at any time.

2. When you're at home, take the puppy to the toilet every 45 minutes.

3. If you are not at home or can not supervise the puppy, it is important to ensure that their dogs can not have an accident. This means limiting him to a small area and has a proven dog toilet area.

4. Make sure the toilet area does not resemble anything in your home. Train dogs to eliminate on concrete, asphalt, grass or dirt is a good idea. A puppy should not be encouraged to remove anything that resembles the hardwood floors, tile or carpet he met in a house.

5. Keep your dog on a consistent eating schedule. Fed at the same time each day will help to make it to eliminate at the same time.

6. Try using a crate. Because the puppy will not soil their bed area, you can try using a crate to keep him on schedule.

7. Make sure you reward your puppy and give him lots of praise when she uses the toilet area. He will repeat his behavior when he began using the toilet connects to things that are good, like treats, toys and praise from the owner.

8. Do not punish or scold your puppy when he was an accident. This will only make him afraid of you and will not make you closer to your goal.

9. Do not give the puppy ran away from home until he thouroughly house trained. Keep him confined in a box or isolated in an area.

10. Persitent and patient and your puppy will learn to do business outside in no time!.

By Lee Dobbins

TEN Things to Consider When you are Buying an English Bulldog

2009-11-16T08:51:00.000-08:00

Many people enjoy having a dog. Whether it's because they grew up with them, they need to work and / or protection, or just want something funny to hold and love. Whatever the reason may be, there are times when you have to decide (if you have not decided already) on the type of dog you want to own. Bulldog is a very popular choice among dog lovers. People choose a bulldog for a variety of reasons. They can be a big teddy bear cute. They can serve as a good protection. They are great family dogs and there are many types of Bulldogs to choose as well. Among this type of English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, American Bulldogs and Bulldog rare variations. Once you have decided which type of bulldog you want, how you determine the right and greyhounds to buy?

For example, say you've decided that you want to buy the British Bulldog, here are some things to consider before you make a purchase.

1. Body Type: There are many types of bulldog forms ranging from fat to blimpy. There are low to the ground. Some of them have skinny legs. There's even a big head shapes to choose from. If you do not know where the bulldog shape you want, the best thing you can do is to check the AKC standards and try to choose the one most like it, but again some people want their Bulldog had a little something unique about them.

2. Size: How much do you want a bulldog? Would you like to runt of the group or the father of the group? When you see your favorite bulldog, pit bull owners asking how hard and look for the Bulldog that mothers and fathers were in that range. A bulldog's weight range is wider than in most other breeds.

3. Color and Spotting: What color do you want a bulldog? An all tan one, a white with a spot on the tail, half and half or gray or brown one? This is sometimes the most important decisions a potential owner to make, for aesthetics almost everything now. Although when you start looking at all the cute bulldog, you start not to really care what color they are and appreciate the uniqueness of each.

4. Sex (male or female): Do you want a little girl or boy bulldog pup male bullies? Rumor had it that girls are more easy to train and that the boys had a bit of emotional problems. Then again they are just rumors.

5. Bloodline: How important for you to have a dog with a historic lineage full of purebreds and champion? The best way is to look for a full AKC registered English Bulldogs with parents who had fought in dog shows. When a dog has been fought, he has proven to be quite the judge that he was close to the original bulldog standard and is ideal for breeding to breed live extraordinary. When you buy a dog without papers, there is a good chance that the dog is not race greyhounds and can contaminate lineage.

6. Breeder: What do you know about the breeder? Did they breed a dog too early? Are they brought up the Bulldog before? Are they famous? Are they a puppy mill? Are they the typical American family? Did they breed to make a profit or if they breed because they love the breed and aimed to make the best English Bulldog they can? This is sometimes the most important thing to consider, to which the dog came from you can go far toward the right direction or wrong.

7. Healthy: Of course, we want to be happy and healthy bulldog. But how can you know how healthy you'll be a bulldog? This goes back to who is a farmer. Are the puppies will be vet checked and up to date on their image? Make sure that the greyhounds are up-to-date on the pictures and if possible ask to see the doctor files a puppy parents.

8. Shipping: Are you ok with your bulldog in a plane flying for a few hours and meet you at the airport? If so, then communicate with the right breeders is very important. The breeders will ask you a million questions because they will be "delivery" of their little dog to you. It just shows that they care. Some treatments so that they do not accidentally ship for several parts of the year, especially the months of summer, because it can be too hot for the little people. Most people prefer to see and hold their puppy before making a final purchase. That is the traditional way and may securest way to ensure you get your dream dog.

9. Age: How old should puppies be before you take it home? Many scientists and farmers fought the best time to separate the child from the family dog. Regardless of what they say, puppies should remain with the mother for at least 8 weeks of feeding. However, 12 weeks may be the best because 3 months is when they can learn a lot from their parents about how to be a dog in the human world. Think about dogs and the whole life and try to avoid that so wanted to get him or her that you are in a hurry. Patience is a virtue.

10. Are You Ready to Become a Owner? Before making a final decision to get your dog should really ask yourself, do I really want the English Bulldog puppy or even at all? This is a big question to ask yourself.

When you buy a dog, you say;

I am willing to devote my life to ensure that this creature's life is happy and healthy.
I am willing to clean the dirt and urinate several times a day.
I am willing to take the chance that my dog would destroy my house.
I am willing to set aside a monthly budget for 10 years for my vet bills and dog food.
I'm responsible for my dog how to interact with other dogs and people.

Having a dog is a big responsibility that some people ignore because they are too caught up in the "humor" of a puppy. Before you buy a dog, consider the possibility of one day to move and had to get rid of your dog and put him or her to the shelter. If you feel that there is a possibility no matter what happens in the next 10 years, did not even take the opportunity to give the dog a life that might end with a bed placed. I do not intend to finish on a bad note, but there are many puppies are put to sleep everyday because the owners did not fully think forever provide homes for the puppies they are. So please, think before you buy.

By James Harrison

SEVEN Tips for Training a Jack Russell Puppies

2009-11-15T07:49:00.000-08:00

When you arrive at home is the day you should start training a Jack Russell dog. Your Puppies may be around 8 to 10 weeks when you take him home. He had learned everything that can be from his mother and litter mates, it's time for you to take over. You may not know where to start.

Here are 7 key areas to focus on when training a Jack Russell puppy

1. Housebreaking Jack Russell puppy you will be one of the most important items on your agenda. You will only need to decide on a designated place that he be allowed to perform his duties in That could be in the backyard, might be a room with a paper for a while, or could be the recycle bin. It should not take him long to catch with consistency and praise.

2. Crate Training your Jack Russell puppy is a good idea because it will automatically set the boundaries for him and it would give him a safe place, a "den", so to speak, that he could call his own. Knowing that you can use this as a place for him to sleep at night, to drive, and to keep it in when you can not watch him all the time would help him from getting into trouble.

3. Socialization is the key to having a balanced puppy. As soon as possible you want to expose your puppy to different people and different situations. He may be too small for a dog park at this time, but the little puppy class is a good idea. The more he experiences and realized that he did not need to fear, a more balanced and confident he will.

4. Your puppy will be teething at this point in the growth so it is important that you give items to chew him or he will find himself. He found the usual items will shoes, furniture, or something very valuable to you. Get him some chewy rawhides or stick and have them around so that he can keep himself busy and out of trouble.

5. Along with growing teeth and chew normally come to bite. Dog bites usually hurt because they are very sharp teeth today. It is important that you understand that your Jack Russell not their hands for him to bite at any time he feels like it. Bite (no pun intended) this behavior from early on is important so that you do not end up with torn skin.

6. When they are not busy mouths to chew or bite they can speak. Barking is not nothing for you as long as the puppy does not get out of hand. Your dog may bark at you in a way to demand for attention, for a toy. At least the puppy you want to talk to you, but do not demand from you. Knowing the difference and how to deal with it will be important in this stage of his life.

7. And the last course will teach basic obedience commands. The recall or come command may be the first command to teach your Jack Russell puppy. Let's face it, if you can not get your puppy to come to you, would be very difficult to teach him any other commands or tricks! Invest in a good dog training manual or a class to learn basic commands such.

If you decide to work on jack russell dog training at home remember to keep the lessons short. You work with teenagers with attention span is very short. Your dog is your baby so you can not expect him to catch to it all at once. Positive training works well with puppies instead of punishment. Puppies usually do not understand why they were punished. They will only associate you with punishment. Instead, reward them for anything close to what you ask them to do. You can gradually ask for a more appropriate response. It's far better to keep the entire training experience fun and positive. You will get better results in both the short and long term if you make learning seem like fun.

Jack russell dog training can be a great bonding experience, whether you do it in a classroom setting or your own. You and your puppy can develop your basic need for him to learn positive behavior for the rest of his life.

SEVEN Sure-Fire Tips on Puppies Housebreaking

2009-11-14T04:52:00.001-08:00

Follow these time-tested tips to steal puppies for success. They work for all dogs.

# 1. Involve the whole family in the house training your dog. This helps socialize your puppy. It also makes more likely that person will be available when your puppy needs attention. Children under the age of ten years will require supervision.

# 2. Make sure everyone followed the same training methods. Variations will only confuse your puppy. For example, always use the same cue words for you to hang out with the puppy go to the toilet.

# 3. Give your new puppy the attention it deserved. Accidents often means you are not paying enough attention to your puppy.

# 4. Restrict your puppy to a small room in the house until house trained. Should be easy to clean floors like linoleum. A baby gate is a good way to keep the puppy in the room. Is it a bed or a coffin in one corner, water dish in the other corner, and eat in another corner. Make sure he has a few chew toys

# 5. Do not punish your puppy after her accident. If you catch him in action - interrupted by a verbal reprimand and maybe clap your hands.

# 6. Puppies tend to eliminate in the same place again and again. They found a spot with this smell. Completely remove the smell if there is an accident. If he uses the place again, you may not use enough deodorant products.

# 7. Reward your puppy when he eliminates in the right place. His praise during and immediately after the incident. Use an enthusiastic tone. With repetition, your puppy will associate the correct behavior with rewards

5 Terrier Trining Puppies Tips - Let Make Easy Terrier Puppy Training

2009-11-11T13:20:00.000-08:00

Puppy Terrier is known for one thing - energy. They have a lot of it and they know how to use it. Terrier can run on all day and still want to run some more. Energy, especially since a puppy, can make training a bit difficult Terrier dog. However, you can use their energy to help with training, so try these 5 tips to get you trained quickly Terrier.

5 Tips For Training Your Puppy
1. You need to start training early terrier because it would make the whole process easier for you in the long run. The sooner you train them, it's easier.

2. Dominant with terriers to ensure they do not try and make themselves household heads. If that happens, you can find your training process is much more difficult.

3. Always use positive reinforcement with your Terrier. Reward good behavior and ignore bad behavior. Often bad behavior is to focus more than anything else.

4. Make sure you are consistent with your terrier puppies - always. If you are not consistent, the Terrier dog training will not run smoothly and be much more difficult as a result.

5. Before you train Terrier to do anything, train them to listen to you really. If they do not listen, they can cost their lives if they run away. They must be taught to come when called before learning how to sit.

Terrier has a lot of energy and that can make a little Terrier dog training more difficult, but it does not make impossible.

By Jon Herring

Puppies Training Tips

2009-10-25T09:04:00.000-07:00

Having a puppy running around in the house and playing with everyone it comes across can bring a lot of joy to your family. However, a puppy being an animal needs to urinate and empty its bowel and it can be mischievous at times to mess up your house. And cleaning after you pet may give you a headache, so is it true that you just have to put up with this? No, puppies training tips will do the trick to train your pet well, so that you can have the best of both worlds as enjoying the present of your puppy and without the hassle to spend a lot of time cleaning the house.

First in the list of the puppies training tips is to potty train your puppy so that it will not do it wherever it goes. Just imagine the mess you would need to clear up if your pet eliminate on your carpets and furniture. Potty training may take a little more patience, observance and consistency from you to make it work. No matter where you are allowing your dog to eliminate itself, may it be in one corner of your house or outside the house, you need to constantly reinforce to develop such good habit in your pet.

Next puppies training tips is to teach your puppy how to obey you. Your puppy can be very mischievous sometimes, so it is up to you to put a stop to these behaviors. By giving in to your puppy's every whim, you are doing only one thing and that is to spoil your pet. You have to set the rules and be consistent in training your puppy to follow them. With constant reinforcement, your puppy will see the patterns well and understand what can be done and what cannot be done. As such, your puppy will obey your every command very strictly. Although I am all for you to shower your pet with lots and lots of love, you need to combine this with discipline to make both you and your pet's life much easier.

Another important puppies training tips is to develop in your puppy a sociable characteristic. On way is to have frequent walk with your puppy around the neighborhood so that it can come into contact with other people other than your family, as well as some other animals. Puppies which are unsociable can develop fear when seeing unfamiliar faces and such fear may in turn develop into aggression. An aggressive behavior is always undesirable and should be prevented.

A puppy, being very young and unfamiliar with its new surrounding will never know what can be done and what cannot be done if you did not spend the time to train it. By applying the puppies training tips, you may find that the training will not only bring a lot of fun, but also helps to develop a stronger bonding between you and your canine friend. Last advice is to always train your puppy with love, and never ever resort to physical punishment.

Best Puppy Training Tips For Faster and More Effective Results

2009-10-21T14:13:00.000-07:00

Having an obedient and well-behaved puppy is every dog owner's dream. But the reality is that every pet owner goes through the stage in which her dog expresses his own character, i.e. her puppy has a mind of its own, so some puppy training needs to be applied.

It can get quite bad, with some pet owners even contemplating giving up their dog for adoption. But before you even think about it, it's not as bad as it sounds; training your pup is pretty simple. All you need to know are the basic puppy training tips to turn him into the most obedient dog you've ever wanted.

1. Potty Training - One of the best way to potty train your puppy quickly is to use his crate to set some boundaries. Puppies don't go to the toilet where they sleep, so you can use the crate as training aid, when you can't look after your puppy.

Obviously - don't leave him in there for longer than you know he can hold his bladder, but increase the intervals little by little.

2. Leash Training - Your dog might be resistant or even fussy at first, but be extra patient. Never scold or yell at him or this will only confuse him. Gently tug the leash and coax him to follow you.

3. The NO - This has to be the most widely used and most helpful dog command. The NO command will come handy - I promise you, so you can start teaching your puppy as soon as you get him home.

Use a firm and authoritative voice whenever you say "no" - but keep it consistent. As you are saying it, divert him from the behavior you want him to stop. But always make sure to immediately give him something else to do.

For e.g. if he is currently chewing on your favorite pair of slippers, say the NO and take him gently to his chew toy. As soon as he happily starts to chew on it, tell him he's a good boy and go on with your day... He will eventually associate the word "NO" with any bad behavior.

4. The COME - this is another very useful puppy training tip. A lot of dog owners seem to presume that puppies at the tender age of 6 weeks are gifted with the ability to follow commands.

You may wish that is true - but it is not. The most you can hope for in terms of puppy training results at this stage, is to start to build the foundations for an obedient dog later on.

So with this in mind, the easiest way to teach your puppy the COME command, is to wait until he's actually coming towards you and then call him to COME. When he reaches you praise him for being such a good puppy. Soon he'll learn that every time you say COME he needs to head over to you - and if he does he's rewarded with love.

5. Don't miss his Socialization window - Socialization is one of the most important part of a puppy's growing up time. And yet a lot of new dog owners don't know of it - and don't realize it until it's too late.

Socialization simply means that your puppy needs to interact with all kinds of people, animals, places and objects - this helps him grow up knowing most things in his world, so as not to be frightened or traumatized by any of them later on.

Ask your vet about the general age at which your puppy needs to be socialized to make sure you give him the best chance of growing up healthy and happy.

6. Jumping on people - Dogs jump on people because of over-excitement, to express dominance, or to get attention. To teach your dog how not to jump on people or you, you can use the following puppy training tip (and obviously let other know what to do in this situation if your puppy/dog jumps on them):

As he jumps up on you, without saying anything and immediately, turn you body away from your dog, and then walk away without paying any attention to him. The point of this is to teach him that he gets no attention for this behavior, and that in fact when he behaves like that all interaction with you seizes immediately.

It will take you a few times, but if you are consistent it will work - I promise you.

7. Consistency - Consistency is everything in your puppy training. You need to be consistent with your demands, and your behavior. If you vary your response to the same behavior - your puppy will be confused. Keep in mind that although they are special and smart animals, they are devout of human logic, and they do not understand the meaning of special occasions...

The other key to raising a loving and obedient dog is dedication. But if you follow the puppy training tips above, then you would find the process much easier. Training your pup might take a lot of your personal time, but living with a well-trained dog is worth every second of it.

By Anita J Watson

Puppy Toilet Training - 5 Tips to Stop Puppy Pooping Problems

2009-10-10T10:32:00.000-07:00

Puppy toilet training can be a thankless task and if your puppy is persistently messing in the house, here are 5 tips that will help you out.

Take your Puppy For a Checkup

The first thing you should do is to take your puppy to the vet for a quick check up. There could be an underlying health problem that is making your puppy unable to control himself and that could be the reason for him messing in the house.

Have A Regular Feeding Pattern

Always have a regular feeding pattern for your puppy. Feed him at the same times each day and always pick up his food bowl when he has finished eating his meals. Take him outside to his toilet area around half hour after he has finished eating.

Give Your Puppy Regular Toilet Breaks

Take your Puppy outside to his toilet area at regular intervals. When he is a very young puppy you will need to take him outside every half hour to an hour as puppies have weak bladders. Also take him outside first thing in the morning, after he has eaten and after he has been running around. Watch out for the signs that your puppy needs to go to the toilet. If he starts sniffing the ground and going around in circles, this is a sure sign that he needs to go.

Clean Up Thoroughly

Always clean up thoroughly when your puppy has urinated or defecated indoors. Use a suitable cleaning fluid that will also remove any traces of smell as if any smell remains your puppy will continue to use that area as his toilet.

Use Positive Training

Always praise your puppy when he goes to the toilet in his designated toilet area. If you get angry and shout at your puppy when he messes in the house, you will make your puppy timid and nervous. This will have a negative effect on your relationship with your puppy. So give him lots of praise when he gets things right and reward him with treats and cuddles. If you catch your puppy going to the toilet indoors, say a firm NO and then pick him up and take him straight outside to his toilet area. When you give your puppy praise for getting things right you will find he will try his best to please you.

Consider Puppy Crate Training

If there are times when you have to leave your puppy at home unattended, you may wish to consider crate training your puppy. Once your puppy is crate trained, you can leave him at home unattended for short periods of time safe in the knowledge that your puppy won't get up to any mischief.

Puppy toilet training doesn't have to be a thankless task. If you follow the above advice you will soon have a toilet trained puppy and a messy house will be a thing of the past.

By Megan Rose Bond

3 Puppy Potty Training Tips You Don't Want to Miss

2009-10-06T04:26:00.000-07:00

Bringing home a new puppy for the first time can be very exciting for you, but how will you potty train it? Will you use crate training? Or perhaps paper training? What if your puppy doesn't respond to your training? These are all questions you should ask yourself when potty training a puppy and you can find the answers in this article so keep reading. All breeds of puppies are different but potty training them is usually the same, although some breeds are more stubborn then others, but here are 3 puppy potty training tips to help most of you get started.

1.Crate training your puppy is the best way to potty train. If you decide to use a crate, make sure it is not too big for your puppy, you want one that your puppy can fit into comfortably, but not one that they can walk around in. You also don't want to leave them in there for more than half an hour at first because they don't know how to "hold it" yet, and when they realize they have to go, they will go in the crate and you don't want that. Crate training is a great way to help your puppy learn to "hold it" for longer.

2.Be careful when paper training. If you do end up paper training your puppy, you may want to invest in some puppy potty pads. While newspaper works well, the pads you can get at a pet store have a scent that your puppy can smell that will make him want to go potty there. The reason you should be careful is your puppy may get used to going on your floor even if the pads aren't there. In my experience this method works, but crate training works better.

3.Be consistent and use lots of praise! Almost any trainer will tell you this because it is true. Praising your puppy when he goes potty will help him realize that this is what you want him to do, and after a while he will do it on his own. Be consistent by taking him out at the same times every day, going to the same spot to go potty, and even feeding him at the same time every day. Doing this will help your puppy establish a routine that he will continue to do for the rest of his life and will help him respond to your training.

There is a lot to potty training a puppy, but if you follow these tips and use a positive approach, you will succeed and your puppy will be potty trained before you know it.

By Jay Even

Potty Training Puppies - Best Approaches, Tips & Techniques

2009-10-05T04:46:00.000-07:00

Potty training puppies is one of the most important jobs dog owners have. It's an essential skill your dog should learn very early in life, especially if you want your own life as its owner to be a lot less stressful.

Of course, the first thing you should realize before training is that your puppy is a baby. It doesn't have full control over its own bowel movements, and it will need time and practice before it learns when and where to do its business.

In addition, your puppy's learning capability is determined by its breed - some dog breeds are just naturally easier to potty train than others. On average, it may take around two to three weeks before your puppy is fully potty-trained.

Here's a list of the essential guidelines for puppy potty training:

1. Start early - Potty training should start the moment you get your puppy home. When you let your dog out into the house, confine it to areas with washable flooring and don't let it near carpeted rooms. During the instances that you can't watch your puppy, keep it in a confined area or large box at all times, without exception.

2. Proper feeding - Feeding must take place at the same times every day. Developing a routine is essential here. You should typically give your puppy its food and water at least four hours before bedtime and then withdraw its water bowl two hours before bedtime. Feed your puppy dry food in order to keep its stools dry.

3. Regular potty walks - Set a regular schedule for taking your puppy outside. The recommended times are: first thing in the morning, ten to fifteen minutes after every meal or drink, every time it wakes from a long nap or ends an active play session, and last thing at night. Do not play with your puppy until it has defecated. If there is no action after ten minutes take the puppy back inside. Wait around ten minutes and then take it out again to do its business.

4. Punishment - Never, ever scold or punish your puppy if you don't catch it in the act. Dogs have no way of knowing what you're angry at them for unless you're actually scolding them while they're doing it. If you see your puppy starting to urinate or defecate in the house, say "No!", pick it up, and take it out to finish its business. Never yell at your puppy or get angry at it for these accidents. Instead, accept some of the blame; you should have been watching your dog better.

5. Rewards - Every time your puppy poops in the proper place, praise it using an approving tone, petting, and gestures, and reward it with a little playtime together. Praise always, always works better than any form of punishment.

6. Cleanliness - Keep your puppy's box or living area clean by removing its stools everyday. Your dog dislikes stepping in them as much as you do.

Puppy potty training doesn't have to be hard, or messy, or a constant daily struggle. Don't view the activity as a tedious, menial obligation or the downside of owning a puppy.

Instead, look at it as one of the first bonding experiences between you and your pet. Just a slight shift in your mindset will make the whole experience a lot easier and happier, resulting in a healthier and more loving relationship with your canine companion.

By Anita J Watson

Tips For Potty Training Puppies Fast

2009-09-30T02:34:00.000-07:00

Potty training puppies is easy once you establish a routine. Every new pet owner will have to potty train their puppy. Don't look at this as a bad thing. Dog's are creatures of habit and will adjust very quickly to a schedule. Keeping a close eye on your puppy will help to avoid accidents.

The best way to potty train puppies is to create a schedule. Have a certain time for puppy to wake up, go to bed, eat meals, playtime, nap time, everything. Before/After these activities, puppy needs to be taken out to potty. When you take puppy outside, use a leash and take to the same spot, wait while puppy finds "the spot" and praise puppy for doing a good job.

When potty training puppies, expect accidents to happen. If you find a squishy mess, clean it up and keep a closer eye on puppy. Supervising puppy can help to eliminate accidents. If you catch puppy in the act, now is the perfect time to show puppy where to go, say "no" and take outside to finish going, then praise puppy.

Keeping a close eye on puppy can help you learn the signs that your puppy may need to potty. When potty training puppies, if you see them walk around in a circle sniffing, or wander off, they probably need to potty, take outside immediately. Don't scold puppy for accidents, they will start to become feared and begin hiding when they have to go, therefore, prolonging the potty training process.

By Sherry Mills

4 Tips For Potty Training Puppies

2009-09-27T05:57:00.000-07:00

When potty training puppies, many folks become frustrated at the whole process in general. Getting frustrated is understandable, and mistakes can be quite frequent as most puppies are still getting acquainted with the way the world operates. But the one thing that most people don't realize is that a big determiner of your puppies behavior is the way you react to his actions. Here are a few things to remember as you potty train your puppy:

RESPECT: That's right - puppies need respect too! Although dogs are not verbal animals, they do respond to emotions and feelings, and can sense when they are being respected. Usually, they will return the favor and respect your rules better if they can sense that they are loved members of your family.

TEMPER: It's tough to keep your temper in check when your puppy leave a "doodoo" in the middle of the living room floor! But the truth is puppies respond much better to calm commands rather than yelling and screaming. Losing your temper will confuse your puppy and delay his progress.

PRAISE: Remember to always give credit where credit is due. This means to constantly reinforce good behavior. Petting, praising, and loving your puppy will not only improve behavior, but will also help reinforce the bond between you, and will strengthen the mutual respect for each other.

STRIKING: Many folks believe that hitting their dog helps establish "who's boss" when potty training puppies. But the truth is it freaks your puppy out, and can cause psychological damage that can cause lengthy delays in the potty training process! This can mean a major repositioning for many dog owners' thought processes, but most of the main-stream dog trainers now recommend positive reinforcement over negative reinforcement. So again, if you feel your temper heating up, just walk away and deal with it when you calm down.

Following these four simple guidelines will help strengthen the relationship between you and your dog, and will help improve your dog's behavior, and speed up the potty training process. Good luck!

By William Strauss

Four Essential Puppy Training Tips For the Newly Minted Dog Owner

2009-07-29T13:51:00.000-07:00

You finally did it! You bought a puppy and you couldn't be happier. You've had pictures in your head of both of you running around, playing in the park, rolling over together for a few weeks and now you finally bought the big-eyed, golden puppy of your dreams - now what? Well, having your fun time is great but the young doggie might not know enough to not harm himself or people around him. House training a puppy is the best way to educate him on this. If you're a novice pet owner who don't know where to start, it's alright--we were all new parents once. Here are four easy to follow puppy training tips to help you become the proud owner of a happy, confident and well-rounded dog.

1. You need to establish your authority with the puppy. This is the foundation of your relationship with him. It's easy to give the new pet loads of playtime and all the best puppy toys available to man. Shower him with love, yes; but remember to show him that you're the boss. Teach your dog basic commands that will allow him to obey and respect you. Tell him to "Sit!" and gently position him in that position. Praise him and give him a treat for a command correctly followed. Do not give in to every whine and whimper. He will use this to get what he wants and it will be harder to unlearn in the future.

2. You need to potty train the puppy. This is one of the first things you need to learn in house training a puppy. Fifteen minutes after every meal time, bring him outside to a designated potty area to poop. Walk back and forth to that particular area until he unloads and enthusiastically praise him after. Do this consistently for a few weeks and he will eventually catch on. In cases of doggie accidents indoors, clean the area thoroughly with a deodorizer so he won't return to "his spot" for toilet activities.

3. Your puppy needs to develop social skills. Puppies that were properly socialized with animals and humans alike grow up to be well-adjusted, happy dogs. Puppy training tips for socialization includes inviting friends (of both genders and different age groups) over to meet him. Let him interact with healthy and vaccinated pets. Introduce him to the world at large by going on rides, taking him to malls, and other safe and busy places. Allow him to be used to getting cleaned, groomed and clipped so he won't have a fear of being touched and prodded.

4. You must learn how to communicate to your dog. As animals, the best way to do this is through operant conditioning. Reward him for good behavior and reprimand him for the bad. This seems easy enough but be careful you follow through every time. If you reprimand him for chewing a non doggie toy- scold him immediately so he knows, and scold him every time he does it afterwards. If you ignore an incident once, this will confuse the puppy. Be consistent in what you praise and reprimand him for.

You must be wondering, "Is that it?" Yes, actually it is. All other puppy training tips basically branch out from these four keys. Follow these tips and you'll be a responsible, loving, puppy training expert before you can say "Next, please!"

By Melissa Simmonds

Housebreaking a Puppy - Survival Tips

2009-07-27T13:32:00.001-07:00

Having a new puppy is very exciting but often people do not foresee the work that will be involved. One of the more challenging and sometimes, frustrating times is the housebreaking phase. When we got our latest puppy, Murphy, he put us through our paces. If we knew then what we know now, things would have been easier; maybe I can make them easier for you. Knowledge is power, here is some house breaking power.

Survival Tips

1. Start off on the right foot - When you bring your puppy home, take him directly to the outside area where you would like him to "go". Try to wait for him to go in that area and praise him as he is going, quietly, and after he finishes really pour on the praise.

2. Don't correct after the act - If your dog has an accident in the house, it will not help to scold him about it if you come across the evidence after the deed is done. Your puppy will not make the connection as to the mess on the floor and his going to the bathroom in the house. He just knows you don't like messes. (I am sure he is thinking, if I found out who did that, why I'll...)

3. Catch your dog in the act - If you do come across your dog going potty in the house, scold him at that time. Make sure your tone shows that your are unhappy but remember, tone is not volume. Take the puppy outside right away, in fact if you can get him to stop and finish outside all the better.

4. Praise your dog - When your dog does what you want him to do, as in going potty in the designated area, give him LOTS of praise. Really make a big deal about it. He will see he has made you happy and will want to make you happy again.

5. Keep your expectations in line - Puppies go to the bathroom a lot. And they will have to go right after they eat or drink. Don't wait for a visual clue, take him out right away after eating or drinking.

6. Watch for your clue - Sometimes puppies will get in the habit of going in a certain place or certain motions prior to the act of going. Learn these and watch for these. Our puppy would run to the room with the wooden floor or he would just try to get out of sight by going upstairs. If Murphy sneaked away, we knew we better find him FAST! If he headed for the wooden floor we knew to take him right out.

7. Clean up his mistakes - If he does go in the house, clean it up thoroughly. Its probably best to use a retail puppy clean up solution, to ensure you get rid of the smell. If the pup smells a previous mistake, he may think this is the place to go.

8. Crate train - Some people think crate training is cruel. They do not understand that it is natural for a dog to like a small place, like a den. This makes him feel more secure and he relates this to be his home. A puppy does not want to soil his home; he will if he has no choice. Make sure the crate is not too big; he needs room to stand up and turn around. If the crate is too big, he may go in one end and "live" in the other end. If the crate is too large, block off part of it in some puppy friendly way.

By David Stewart

Top Tips For Potty Training Puppies

2009-07-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

Let's be clear from the start. A potty is not used when potty training puppies. What we are talking about is house training your puppy so that it eliminates outdoors or in a designated indoor area rather than anywhere in the home.

1. Don't look on potty training puppies as the unpleasant or messy side of owning a puppy. Rather see it as the first stage of a bonding process. One that will result in a happy and healthy relationship. That is the real reward of house training a dog.

2. Start potty training as soon as you get your puppy home. But remember they don't yet have full control of their bladder and bowel functions.

3. Feeding should take place at the same times every day. Do not feed with four hours of bedtime and withdraw the water bowl two hours before bedtime. A routine is essential. That means you too have to stick to a routine by getting up and going to bed at the same time every day.
4. Take the puppy outside into the yard or for a walk first thing in the morning, 10 to 15 minutes after every meal or drink and last thing at night. Do not play with them until they have eliminated.

5. If after 10 minutes there is no action take the puppy back to its crate. Wait 10 to 15 minutes then take them out again.

6. Be sure to praise the puppy and reward them with a little playtime every time it does "the business".

7. Restrict your puppy to rooms with washable floors until he is house trained.

Simply taking your dog out in the backyard a few times every day is not the way to potty train a puppy. After all, how do they know what they are being taken outside for?

By Ben Sinclair

Seven Tips to Socialize Your Shih Tzu Puppy

2009-07-24T10:49:00.000-07:00

Dogs, like humans, need proper social skills to be accepted in society. But many dog owners do not realize how important it is to socialize a puppy. Without good socialization, your dog may cower and hide from unfamiliar people and places. He may even be aggressive, growling and snapping! Where's the fun in that?

If you want your adorable new pup to grow into a confident and friendly adult dog, then try the following seven tips:

1. The socialization process should start at an early stage, as early as birth! A breeder can gently handle the puppy several times a day to get him accustomed to people before he even opens his eyes.

2. It is recommended that a puppy stay with his mother and siblings for the first 8 weeks of his life. When his little eyes and ears open (around 2 - 3 weeks), he will begin to learn about the world that he lives in. If the mother is a well-socialized adult, her calm and friendly attitude will rub off on her pups. Here your puppy will also learn bite-inhibition. If while playing with his siblings he plays too rough, they will put him in his place.

3. Bring your new puppy home to a quiet house so that he doesn't feel frightened and overwhelmed. Introduce your puppy to each family member, one at a time, and treat him like royalty for the first few days to allow him to settle happily into his new home. After about a week, when your puppy is between 8 and 12 weeks, you can begin to introduce him to more people. Invite people of different ages, sexes and sizes to your home to meet him. Give your visitors treats to give to your puppy and praise him for a confident reaction. If he gets scared and tries to hide, don't "baby" him; instead, use a friendly voice to encourage him. Show him that he has nothing to be afraid of.

4. You can even organize a few "play dates" for your pup. Have a friend bring a small and friendly dog over to meet your puppy. Always supervise these interactions carefully so that your puppy doesn't become overwhelmed. You want his experience to be a good one after all. This experience will build up his self-confidence. Now he can get excited about meeting all sorts of new things, people and places.

5. Make sure that your puppy is up to date with his shots. Other dogs may carry diseases and fleas that your puppy is not used to.

6. Enroll your Shih Tzu into a puppy obedience school. This is a great way to introduce your dog to other puppies of various breeds and sizes, in a safe environment.

7. Show your puppy the world, one good experience at a time! You will need to introduce him to as many new places, people and experiences as possible, but don't try to cram it all into a few weeks. Overwhelming your puppy will only hinder his socialization process. Give him time to absorb each new thing he encounters. One new experience a day is plenty.

While the most critical socialization period is between 3 & 17 weeks, socialization should not end at 17 weeks, but be an ongoing process.

The result of all your effort will be a confident, well-behaved and well-adjusted dog that is a joy and a pleasure to have. So take a little time in the beginning to build strong social foundations that will last a lifetime. He is going to be in your life for a long time - so make sure that he grows up to be the type of dog that you can take anywhere, and be proud of.

By Chris Boshoff