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Want to know the secrets of a top dog trainer who has the power
to turn your disobedient, reactive, misbehaving pet into the
“best-friend” you’ve always dreamed of.

Here are our top 3 tips simple tips that will make a world of
difference to your relationship with your pesky pouch.

Tip # 1 Put Your Pouch on a “Leadership” Programme

Put simply, your dog needs to know that you’re in charge. Dogs
are pack animals, and like all pack animals they require that
someone is in charge. While your dog would prefer that you took
the lead role, if they decide that you’re not up to the task,
then they’ll take on the job!

If your dog currently thinks that he’s the leader of your
family’s pack, then you need to implement a leadership programme
in which you re-assert yourself as the Top Dog! This doesn’t
mean being unkind or unloving to your dog - it simply means
understanding your dog’s psyche and behaving in a way that
reassures your dog of your ability to take charge.

Some simple ways to demonstrate your dominance include: eating
your meals first; ensuring that your dog waits at the door for
you to walk through first; don’t walk around your dog if he’s
sitting in your way (give him a gentle nudge and he’ll move);
and determine when your dog gets your attention (ignore your dog
when he demands your attention as he’s simply demonstrating that
he’s in charge of you).

For more detail on how you can show your dog that you’re the
boss, visit:
http://www.dog-training-central.com/articles/5-surefire-ways-to-s
how-your-dog-youre-the-boss.html

Tip # 2: Consistency Is the Key To Success

When it comes to training dogs, most people fail to consistently
reinforce positive behaviour and punish bad behaviour. Without
consistency, your dog will be confused and over time lose
respect for your commands. If you fail to follow through on your
expectations, the dog will determine when it suits him to
respond.

If you’ve been consistent with your expectations, then in time
your dog’s responses to your commands will become pre-programmed
and eventually anticipated. This will ensure that your dog will
behave in a predictable manner time and again. A dog who clearly
understands the boundaries of his behaviour and the consequences
of his mis-behaviour is a much happier dog who will be a
delightful member of your family.

For more details on basic dog obedience training, visit:
http://www.dog-training-central.com/articles/dog-obedience-traini
ng-basics.html

Tip #3: It’s Much Easier To Train A Puppy Than To Teach An Old
Dog New Tricks

As soon as your new puppy is welcomed home you should get
started on your Leadership Programme, and consistently implement
it until your puppy is automatically programmed to behave in
precisely the manner that is worthy of a “best friend”!

The more quality time you dedicate to your puppy up front, the
fewer on-going headaches you will encounter for the life of your
dog.

Reinforcing positive behaviour is the simple most effective
training tool available to dog owners, however from time to time
you will also need to reprimand your dog for inappropriate
behaviour (a clear, firm “BAH” or “NO” will do the trick -
there’s no need to resort to shouting or hitting).

For more details on getting an early start on your canine’s
leadership programme, go to:
http://www.dog-training-central.com/articles/dog-training-early-t
raining-is-essential.html

If you follow these top 3 techniques used by leading dog
trainers, both you and your dog will enjoy a much happier and
enjoyable relationship.

Copyright © 2006. http://www.dog-training-central.com All rights
reserved.

This article may be re-published “as is” (unedited) as long as
the author’s bio paragraph (resource box) and copyright
information is included. The URLs in the resource box should be
set as hyperlinks if used on a web page.

The information in this article is based on the successful crate training method. Crate training is not cruel. I repeat: Crate training is not cruel. If used correctly, it uses the dog’s natural den instinct to your own advantage by encouraging the dog not to pee or poop where it sleeps. Dogs are naturally clean animals and will avoid going to the bathroom where they sleep. But you need to keep the following points in mind to be successful.

Establish A Regular Eating Routine

As I’m fond of saying, ‘what goes in must come out’. To help you figure out the best times to get your dog to go to the bathroom it’s important to feed your dog at the same times every day. This is the ideal time to practice your house training lessons. For your dog’s comfort it’s also a good idea to feed your dog in the same place every day, a place that they will identify as their eating spot. With your puppy, there’s a very short time between eating and eliminating. Figure around 15 - 20 minutes. When feeding your dog, give her 15-20 minutes and then pick up the uneaten portion (if any). This will also teach your dog to eat when fed. Again, these rules can be relaxed once your dog is house trained but for now it’s key to establish a routine.

Until your dog is house trained, also avoid treats and in-between meal snacks. The whole idea is to feed your dog, observe them constantly for the 15 -20 minutes after they eat and then bring them to the place where you want them to do their business. Do it like clockwork and you’ll be putting your puppy in a position to succeed. This is all about setting expectations and teaching your eager learner to do what you want. And when they do, praise them wildly. Make it seem like that little pee or poop that they did is the greatest and most magnificent thing you’ve ever seen in your entire life. Your friends and neighbors may think you’re crazy, but I can’t stress enough the power of praise. It’s what your puppy craves. Give it to her in generous amounts.

How Old Should Your Puppy Be?

How old should your puppy be before you begin house training? Start as early as you can but don’t expect results until the pup is about 14 weeks old. Before 14 weeks your pup cannot physically hold it in. Then why start early you may ask? Well, even though your pup may not be physically able to hold it in, she’ll at least begin learning what’s expected of her. Consider any training before 14 weeks to be ‘pre-school’. When her physical abilities catch up with what you taught her, it will make it that much easier to put the lessons into practice.

Size Matters

If you’re considering crate training your dog as a means of house training, keep in mind that the size of crate you choose is very important. A good rule of thumb about size is: the crate should only be big enough for the dog to comfortably stand up and turn around in. You don’t want the crate so big that the dog will mess at one end and sleep at the other. For large-sized breeds that will continue to grow substantially, you may need to buy a larger size later on if you intend for your dog to continue using the crate after it is house trained. And the most important rule of all: NEVER, under any circumstances, use the crate as a form of punishment. The crate should be a place where your dog wants to go, to sleep and get away from the bustle and activity in your home. You never want them to associate it with being punished.

Happy House Training!

About The Author

copyright © Gene Sower

Gene Sower is the author of the Happy House Training ebook: ‘Learn To House Train Your Dog Easily & Effectively’; http://www.lucythewonderdog.com/ebook.htm