House training your dog
Every owner must tackle with the issue of dog house training. In most cases, house training is the first major milestone in the relationship between owner and dog, and it can sometimes be intricate and perplexing for owner and dog alike.
The best house training measures are those that use the dogs own instincts to the owners benefit. Toilet training is one these. The scheme takes into account the dog’s reluctance to soil the spots where he eats and sleeps. This is the idea behind den training and crate training. Dogs are very clean animals, and by nature they always shun using their dens as toilet areas.
These kinds of natural puppy & dog house training methods usually work very well, for both puppies and older dogs. Of course, older, larger dogs will need a larger area for their den, and crate training is normally best used for puppies and small dogs.
In house training a dog or a puppy, however, it is vital to pay close attention to the signals the dog is sending. It is also essential to be regular when it comes to feeding times, and to supply the dog with ready access to the toilet area you set up on a standard basis.
Never try to rush the process of dog house training. While some dogs are naturally easier to train, most puppies and adult dogs will experience at least one or two slip ups during the house training process. When these accidents occur, it is vital to not get mad and reprove the dog. Accidents during house training usually mean that the owner is trying to move too fast, or that the dog has been left alone for too long. In this case, it is best to just take a step back and restart the process.
Reward the dog eagerly when it does its business in the selected area. The dog should be taught to associate doing its business in its toilet area with good things like treats, rewards and praise.
During the dog house training process, the den area starts out very small, often as small as half of a small room in the beginning. As the dog learns to control his bladder and bowels better, and the owner learns to foresee the dog’s toilet needs, the den area can be slowly extended. Do not to make the den area too large too soon. The den area must be expanded slowly in order for the house training process to move along with ease.
The dog must be correctly introduced to its den. Many dogs, mainly those who have never been confined before, such as those who have spent their lives as outdoor dogs, may react to the den area as if it is a prison, and persistently whine, cry and try to escape the den. It is vital that the dog learn to accept its den as a home and not a cage.
One setback many dog owners fail to see when house training a dog is that of boredom. Boredom is really the root cause of many behavior troubles in dogs, including chewing and other destructive behaviors. Boredom can also be the root cause of problems with house training. Dogs that are bored often drink large amounts of water during the day, and this excess water consumption can lead to the need to urinate often, even in its den area. Since soiling the den area goes against the dog’s nature, he can promptly become perplexed and frightened, thereby setting the house training plan back even further.
To avert the dog from becoming bored when you are away from home, be sure to supply him with lots of different kinds of toys, as well as a safe and secure place to sleep. In addition, a vigorous period of play time can help the dog sleep while you are away. In addition, playing with the dog in its den area will help him bond with this area and identify it as a safe, secure home.
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