House Training A Puppy

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Posts Tagged ‘Mistakes’

House Training Puppies – Are You Making Any of these Three Common Mistakes?

January 18th, 2010

House training puppies can be quite challenging for the new puppy owner, especially if this is the first time you are learning how to train a puppy. It’s important to get your potty training done right and done quick so that you and your puppy can move on to building a great relationship.

The challenge for many people when house training puppies is that there are so many mistakes you can make in the process if you are not 100% clear on each of the steps in your potty training game plan. Here are three common mistakes, how to avoid them and what to do instead.

Not Watching Your Puppy at All Times – When you are in the midst of house training puppies, you must watch your puppy at all times when he is out of his crate. This literally means “eyes on the puppy” at every moment, just like you would watch a curious baby crawling about, to make sure they don’t slip something in their mouths and choke. The moment you walk into another room, even for “just a second” is the moment your puppy will decide to relieve himself on the carpet. Call it Murphy’s Law! While you are in potty training mode, it is critical that you watch your pup very, very closely, because each time he needs to use the toilet throughout the day is an opportunity for you to teach him correctly. Each time you miss this, not only are you missing an important teaching opportunity for that day, your puppy is also learning that it is OK to go on the carpet. The scent of urine will bring him back to that spot again and again. Now you’ve got a real problem on your hands!

Not Using a Leash – When it’s time to take your pup for a potty break, whether indoors or outdoors, you should use a leash to keep him in the exact area where he should be doing his business. This keeps your puppy from getting distracted and wandering off. Such a simple idea, but one that is overlooked by many people. They take the puppy to the potty spot, and he thinks it’s time to explore and play! By keeping him on a short leash, you will be able to better keep your dog focused on the task at hand.

Not Rewarding Immediately – The biggest mistake people make without even realizing it while they are house training puppies is to delay the reward for the positive behavior to 5 minutes, 10 minutes or even 30 minutes later. After the fact, your puppy will not be able to associate his past action with the reward. You need to stay with your puppy on the potty break so that you can offer rewards in the forms of praise, treats and affection the moment he has finished his business. This can be incredibly boring, I know. It means basically, you are standing there for 10-20 minutes, hoping and praying your puppy will just go already! We’ve all been there. And of course, you will repeat this exercise many times throughout the first few days especially. Yes, it is tedious to stand there, staring off into space for 15 minutes…4 times that day! But this is simply what must be done. It’s how it works. When you are able to “catch” your puppy in a good behavior, such as going potty in the right area, you want him to associate that behavior with wild pleasure. He does that, he is rewarded with so much praise and affection, he can’t wait to do that again and receive the same reward. On you are on your way!

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Shih Tzu House Training – Do You Make These 7 Mistakes in Training Your Puppy?

November 28th, 2009

Shih tzu house training is a tedious, challenging and yet necessary task. For a new pup, house training should start at the earliest age. If you are bringing home an untrained adult dog, potty training should begin as soon as it arrives at your household.

It is better to equip yourself with some knowledge about shih tzu house training even before the puppy arrives. Otherwise, you could end up making unnecessary mistakes that may prevent your dog from being properly house trained.

Here are 7 common mistakes (you want to avoid!) that most pet owners make when house training a shih tzu.

1. Not using positive reinforcement

Puppies respond best to praises and rewards rather than yelling and punishment. When your dog has relieved himself, praise, pet or give him a treat.

2. Not spending enough time with your puppy

Puppies take at least 4 months to develop full control of their bladders and bowels. You should be around the house as much as possible during the initial few months of house training to teach, supervise and correct your pup. Never leave your pup in a crate for long hours. If you are working full time, ask someone reliable to let your puppy out for potty and to keep an eye on him in the house.

3. Scolding your puppy for eliminating in the house

If you catch your puppy in the act, firmly say “No” to interrupt him. Pick him up and bring him to his potty area to eliminate. Once he’s done, praise and reward him.

Should you find ‘accidents’ in the house, it’s too late to correct him. No point telling him off at this point as you will only confuse him. Just clean up the mess with a cleaner that removes urine stain and odor.

4. House training a shih tzu puppy to go outside and on paper

Choose either to train your puppy to eliminate outdoor or on paper(indoor). Don’t try to do both at the same time. You’ll only confuse your puppy and he’ll take longer to become fully house trained.

5. Not using a crate or cage

Crate training is an essential part of shih tzu house training. Allowing your puppy to roam freely in the house before he is potty trained is a recipe for disaster. If you are house training your puppy to go outside or you are not able to keep a constant eye on him, a crate is useful for limiting his access to the house. The rational for crate training is that dogs do not like to relieve themselves where they sleep.

6. Not knowing the warning signs your dog needs to go potty

Watch out for signs such as sniffing in circles or heading off to a corner of a room.

7. Not taking your puppy out frequently enough

Puppies need to be taken out frequently at regular intervals during the day. Small breed dogs and puppies have small bladders and bowels. They are not able to hold themselves for too long and need to go potty often. Be sure to take your dog outside after each meal, upon waking up and before bedtime.

There are bound to be accidents in the house, so don’t freak out. It’s part of the learning process for your puppy. Remember, house training a shih tzu requires consistency, patience and dedication. Don’t expect him to be full house trained overnight.