Puppies should be housetrained as early as possible. Over 80% of dogs in the U.S. are kept inside the home by their owners. Failing to properly teach them to control their bladders and bowels will have frustrating consequences later. Fortunately, providing a healthy does of consistent discipline, patience, and attention upfront can help ensure your pup is housebroken early. There will be accidents, so plan for them. In the same way toddlers eventually learn to use the toilet, your puppy will also learn to avoid making a mess in your home.

In this article, we’ll describe two important ground rules that you should follow when housetraining your puppy. We’ll also explain why establishing a routine is critical and how to handle the occasional accident when it happens.

Establishing The Ground Rules

Owners who are trying to housebreak their puppies often punish them when they make a mess, even if they don’t catch them in the act. Avoid doing this. If you see you pup having an accident, a stern “no!” is good enough. There’s no need for punishment; in fact, punishing him can have a negative effect.

Also, be generous with your praise. If your puppy is doing things properly, let him know. Remember, dogs need positive reinforcement from their owners. If you only reproach him when he makes a mess and neglect to recognize his successes, it will have a lasting effect.

The Value Of A Routine

The importance of a regular routine when house training your pup cannot be overstated. The repetition reinforces positive behavior. First, make sure you’re providing your pup with plenty of opportunities to go outside; once every two hours is appropriate because they cannot control their bladders for long. Second, choose a specific spot outside that he can use to eliminate, and stick to it. If he has an accident, place the rags you use to clean it up in that spot. The odor will remind him where he is supposed to eliminate.

Third, establish a routine that includes regular feeding, playing, and walking time for him. That will help him adopt a consistent elimination schedule.

Paying Attention And Dealing With Accidents

When your pup is indoors, watch him. Don’t allow him to roam freely throughout your house. That is an invitation for him to leave a hidden “surprise” for you. Instead, confine him to a certain area and pay attention to signs that he needs to eliminate. When you notice those signs, take him to his designated elimination spot and praise him for his success.

As noted, your puppy will have a few accidents. Don’t punish him. If you catch him making a mess inside, interrupt him without scaring him (avoid yelling or chasing him). Take him to his designated area so he can finish. Then, praise him for it. Too many owners are quick to punish their puppies for having an accident. The result is that a pup learns to fear his owner.

Housetraining a puppy requires patience and diligence. However, if you approach it in the right manner, your pup will not only learn to control himself, he’ll learn to trust you in the process.

If you love your dog as much as I do then you care about his health. Your dog is your friend, protector and companion, but they have health concerns too. All pet owners at some point have a sick dog. You want the best health care for your pet. This is especially true if you have a senior dog like I do. I worry about every cough, does he seem a bit more sleepy, is his balance off?

Just like humans, dogs need regular exercise to maintain good health. Sometimes our busy lives get in the way of providing the necessary exercise for our dogs. Whether you live in the city or the country, have a tiny yard or lots of acres, live in an apartment or a mansion, your dog must have exercise every day. The amount and type of exercise are dependent upon your dog’s age, health level and sex. Even senior dogs will chase that ball a few times before needing a nap.

Who let the dogs out? Having a fenced yard to run around without any dangers is great for your dog. The next best location is a local park. And dogs love to play! Bring a tennis ball or other dog toy along so you can interact with your dog. Regular exercise maintains healthy heart, lungs and muscles so your dog will live a long and healthy life. Not to mention that you require regular exercise to stay healthy too!

Feeding your animal off the table is ill advised. Nutrition for your dog depends on a number of factors. If ill, feed your dog back to health by feeding him beef liver. It’s not just rich in iron, but rich in protein, B complex, and Vitamin B12. Feeding issues is of the more difficult dog health questions to answer because there isn’t a complete answer. Ask your trusted vet if you have any concerns. They can also help you determine the best food choice for your dog.

To maintain good health in your dog, you should schedule regular checkups with a trusted veterinarian as well as professional cleanings. If you start when your dog is a puppy, he will cooperate and look forward to those visits. Learn how to brush your dog’s teeth using toothbrushes and paste made specifically for dogs. He will think it is a game! Preventative medicine should be the norm. Get your dog vaccinated, proper dental care and watch for ticks and other parasites to ensure your dog’s good health.

Some dogs are not easy to train. Some people believe that such dogs are often stupid and dumb. This is not the truth. Such a dog may actually be more intelligent than others. There are many reasons why a dog may be hard to train.

Dogs are born natural hunters and fighters. So they keep showing their skills in anything they do. Some of them have a high level of intelligence and dominance. They seem to be hard to train due to these traits. Some are intelligent enough to guess what is going in our mind.

Some dogs are very dominant. They seem to do anything to do what they like. If they are about to do something, you should let them do it. They will stop doing it when they are satisfied with their actions.

Dogs can not be easily stopped when they are doing things like digging up soil or chewing things. If they are hard to persuade, it show their high level of dominance and determination. You have to find new ways to persuade them.

Sometimes your dog begins to chase things while you training him. He may have found something interesting. So you find it hard to convince him to continue the exercises and can do it only after his is done chasing that thing.

The dog training sessions have to be interesting. You can get him to find hidden toys or do innovative exercises that stimulate his brain. You can do things that your dog likes the most as he responds better to interesting things.

It will be great to get membership at a local kennel club. Thus you will be in touch with other dog owners and know how to train your dog in the best way. You will also be able to participate in various shows and contests for dogs.

Thus you can train your dog to be well behaved and do various tasks. You should keep in mind that using violence on your dog will never benefit you.

Your dog relies upon you to keep him safe both inside your home and outside. Most owners realize that they should keep their canines on a leash while they’re outside in order to prevent their roaming into the street. But, their responsibility extends much further. In this article, we’ll provide five tips that you can use to ensure the safety of your pooch.

#1 – Keep Dangerous Poisons Out Of Reach

Your canine’s appetite isn’t limited to the meals you provide him during the day. Given the opportunity, he’ll eat items that are not meant to be consumed (at least, not by him). For example, he may begin eating antifreeze if it is left within his reach. He might also start eating mouse bait, pesticides, and your own medications. Each of these items can lead to significant health issues. Keep them out of his reach.

#2 – Tag Him

You may think it could never happen, but many owners have learned that their dogs are always willing to explore if they’re given the chance. One of the reasons animal shelters in many cities are overflowing is because canines get loose and roam until they’re found. Put a collar and tag on your pooch. Also, consider microchipping him. Then, once a week, check to make sure his collar and tags are secure.

#3 – Keep His Head In The Car

It is a rare dog that doesn’t love to ride in a car with his head sticking out of the window. The problem is that it invites bugs and debris into his eyes. Plus, if you’re involved in a traffic collision, your pooch can be injured. If he’s going to ride in the car with you, keep the windows up enough to prevent him hanging his head outside.

#4 – Make Him Ride In The Cab

Owners will often place their dogs in the exposed bed of their trucks. This is incredibly dangerous for a few reasons. First, the stopping and starting can throw him off balance, often into the sides of the vehicle. Second, taking a sharp turn while your pooch is elevated on the side of the vehicle can throw him from the back into traffic. If you own a truck and you’re bringing him along, keep him in the cab.

#5 – Have A Veterinarian On File

The worst time to look for a veterinarian is when your dog desperately needs one. You should have the name and contact information of a trusted vet within reach. That includes his or her office phone and an emergency number. You should also have a back-up veterinarian that you can take your canine to in the event your primary vet is unavailable.

Your dog’s safety is at risk from accidents. Whether he’s getting into rat poison, becomes lost, or is riding in the back of your truck, you don’t expect him to get into trouble. It happens unexpectedly. Take the time to make sure he’s as safe as possible.

Millions of people are bitten by dogs each year; young children are usually the victim. Not only does this result in a possible health risk for the person who has been bitten, but in the case of kids, it can leave a damaging impression of canines. That is unfortunate. The bond shared between humans and dogs is incredibly strong. Being bitten at a young age can lead to an emotional scar that destroys any chance of enjoying that connection.

The good news is that a canine’s biting tendency can be eliminated. Below, I’ll explain a strategy that relies heavily upon startling a dog when he bites. I’ll also describe the steps you need to take in the event your pooch sinks his teeth into someone.

Curbing The Tendency Through Startle Response

Dogs learn to bite as puppies. If you were to observe them playing with their littermates, you would notice them biting each other while playing. It is natural to them because their mouth is the primary tool they use to hunt. Unfortunately, if your canine’s natural tendency to bite is not curbed, it will continue to grow and become a problem for you, your family, and guests.

Many trainers and veterinarians suggest using a “startle response” strategy to teach your pooch not to bite. When he does, make a sharp noise at a high pitch that startles him. If, as a puppy, he were to hurt one of his littermates by biting too hard, this is the noise they would make. When he hears it, he’ll know instinctively that he has done something wrong. In some cases, you’ll notice that he’ll look confused. Take that opportunity to substitute a chew rope or another toy that he can bite. That teaches him that biting is acceptable as long as he doesn’t do it to people.

You should also socialize your puppy as soon as possible so he’ll learn at an early age what kind of behavior is appropriate around people. Spaying or neutering your dog can also reduce the likelihood of biting.

What To Do If Someone Is Bitten

If your canine bites someone, control him immediately. Then, ask the person who has been bitten whether he or she needs medical attention. Give that person all of your contact information as well as that of your veterinarian. Also, provide your pooch’s last vaccination date.

If animal control workers arrive, answer their questions openly; they’ll likely want as much information about your canine and the events surrounding the bite as possible. Finally, ask your vet to recommend a professional trainer to help curb the behavior as quickly as possible.

Your dog’s biting tendency can be eliminated easily if you devote time toward it when he is still a puppy. Even as an adult dog, the tendency can be suppressed by enrolling him into professional obedience classes. The investment helps ensure the safety of your family and guests.