K-911 Dog Training Information

Raising a puppy can be fun, exciting, hair-raising, and exhausting.  But it’s also the most important formative stage of your dog’s life, so it’s worthwhile to take care, learn all you can, and put in some extra effort in those first stressful few months to ensure you start your new dog’s life off right.

The most important goals in raising a puppy are socialization, housebreaking, and instilling a positive attitude towards learning.  

During the critical early socialization period, puppies are learning the very foundation of the world they live in.  They are deciding what sights, sounds, scents, and sensations are normal.  If a puppy is not exposed to something during the first few months of its life, for instance other dogs, people of different races, or being bathed, it is much more likely to react to it with fear or aggression later in life.   Positive experiences with a wide variety of people and circumstances are critical to your puppy’s development.

Housebreaking, or house training, is the first goal of most new puppy owners.  House training involves not only teaching your puppy where to go to the bathroom, but what objects are and are not appropriate to chew on, what furnishings may be off limits, and so forth.

Constant supervision is the key to quality house training.  Your puppy simply must have instant, continual feedback about what behaviors are and are not appropriate.  If you allow your puppy to roam the house while you pay no attention, and in the process pees on the floor and chews on the couch, he’s just learned that these behaviors are okay.  Going back and punishing or scolding your dog after the fact does no good; feedback must be received while the behavior is taking place. 

When you are not at home or are unable to supervise your puppy, contain him in an appropriately sized crate, or outdoors with shelter in appropriate weather.  The crate should be kept clean and comfortable, and should contain chew toys to relieve boredom.  Always reward your puppy for entering the crate, using praise and treats.

Take your puppy outdoors at regular intervals, and reward him with lavish praise and treats when he goes to the bathroom outside.  If your dog likes going outside, always stay out with him for a few minutes after he goes to the bathroom.  If you rush him indoors after he goes, you are in effect punishing him for going to the bathroom and he may learn to delay going potty in order to gain a longer walk. 

Teaching your puppy what are and aren’t proper chew toys is a simple matter of behavior management.  Your goal is to make appropriate objects more appealing to chew than inappropriate ones.  If your puppy finds that nice, soft shoe more fun to shred than that hard little rawhide chew you grabbed at the pet store, you’ll find yourself fighting an uphill battle.  Buy a selection of chew toys and find out what textures and qualities your puppy prefers.  There are many excellent toys available that allow you to stuff them with kibble or treats, and your puppy can find hours of entertainment in getting the food out of the toy.

Most anti-chewing bitter sprays are worthless.  There is one I’ve had a fair amount of sucess with called Banguard.  It’s made for keeping dogs from chewing their bandages, and if you can’t find it at the local pet store, your vet should be able to sell it to you.  Spray any household objects your puppy is interested in chewing, including any you “catch” him chewing.   For example, if you find your puppy chewing on a shoe, simply respond with a firm “no” and proceed to spray it with Banguard.  Give it back and present your puppy with a nice, appealing substitute toy.  Faced with a choice between a nasty, bitter shoe or chair leg vs. a treat stuffed chew toy, the pup should quickly discover which one he likes better.