3 Golden Rules That Helped When House Training My Puppy.

'I need help house training my puppy' is a familiar cry that anybody who trains dogs hears all of the time. In fact, it is probably the most common dog training issue. A dog owner might not care so much about having a dog that comes when it is called, but every new owner wants a puppy that is house trained - and fast!

When I was house training my puppy I realized that there were certain principles which were important to follow if the puppy was going to be potty trained quickly and easily, with minimum upset to the dog and minimum mess in the house. Here are what I consider to be the 3 golden rules of house training my puppy.

1. Love and patience

Puppies, like babies, need lots of love and patience as they start to learn their way around the world. When a puppy first comes into your home it is likely to be a traumatic time, even if you are very affectionate with him.

Remember that he has suddenly been taken away from his mother and siblings into a strange environment with people and maybe other animals that he does not know. He may have had a long car journey like nothing he has known before. His food may be new and unfamiliar. Your house may be colder, warmer, noisier, quieter or smell different than he is used to.

So when he first arrives he is likely to suffer from a little stress. Dogs, like humans, tend to suffer from digestive disorders when they are stressed. Keep this in mind and be very patient with him through the training.

2. Set a schedule

I found that house training my puppy in the fastest way meant setting a firm schedule. Feeding times need to be consistent from day to day. You will need to feed in the morning and evening at the same times every day and then give the puppy a chance to do the toilet outside afterward.

This is not always easy if you do not follow a regular schedule yourself - for example, if you are used to getting up later on weekends, or if you work shifts. But while you are house training a puppy it is vital. Dogs need boundaries and schedules both psychologically and physically. Your puppy will be house trained much faster if his digestive system has a schedule to follow.

3. Do not punish

There is no point in punishing or being angry with a puppy who has a toilet accident in the house. A puppy cannot understand that something as natural as doing his business could be bad, and they will just get scared if they are punished for it.

Instead, remind him in a loving way that the place for doing the toilet is outside. Don't take him outside right after the accident because that will reward the unwanted behavior. But take him out after he eats and be real pleased with him when he does his business outside at those times.

Of course, be sure to make going outside a fun and happy time as well, so that he associates going outside for the toilet with happiness. This was the best way for me when I was house training my puppy.

Some Easy Puppy Training Tips

Puppies are so full of vim and vigor! You might just wonder if you will ever be able bring your puppy under control. But don't worry, puppy training isn't that difficult if you know what to do.

The first time you bring your new puppy home, he will be frightened and excited all at once by his new surroundings. And you'll want to pamper him and play so you can get to know each other. But please remember not to let your new friend chew or bite on your fingers, because if you let him do it now, it will only be harder to stop him doing it when he is older.

Here are some puppy training tips that might help you.

Many people like to start their puppy training with a dog crate. The reasoning here is that puppies will not willingly soil their immediate area. Bear in mind though that this method of house training is only really effective when the puppy is old enough to have control of it's bodily functions.

Another technique is to show your pup the door whenever he starts to sniff around. If you keep at this, you'll be surprised at how quick the penny will drop.

All puppies love a good chew so it's advisable to buy a few toys for chewing on while teething. Remember that dogs will respond better to rewards than they will to being punished. So if he starts to chew on your slippers, or ripping up cushions, stop him with a stern no. Take him to his designated area and give him one of his chewing toys. Praise him well when he starts to chew on this. This helps him to know what is his and what is off limits.

You should introduce your puppy to other dogs as soon as you can in order to prevent dog fights in the future. Training your puppy to socialize now will save a lot of frustration later on. Just remember to make sure that no one dog is allowed to be dominant. That is reserved for humans.

Some dogs are prone to barking and whining, and these habits can be hard to control. It would be really unfair to expect a dog never to bark, but it is possible to train him to bark only when it is appropriate.

So, when is it ok for a dog to bark?

1. When he is scared. People will scream or cry when scared so it is only natural a dog will bark.

2. He may bark a little when he is happy to see you.

3. When someone knocks on your door or enters your property. Praise and reward him for doing his job of guarding the home and family but don't allow the barking to continue. You may need to put him in another room or in his crate.

4. If there are other dogs in the neighborhood it is only natural they will want to communicate with each other. But that doesn't mean your puppy should be barking all through the night. If you are training your puppy to be an outside dog it may be necessary to put him in the garage at night.

Puppy training will be challenging but it will also be fun. You will find there will be times when your puppy will try your patience, and also test his limits. But as long as you remain calm and positive, your dog will pick up on your attitude towards training, and he too will start to look forward to having this time with you.