Recommended Dog Training DVD's and Books

My favorite

(DVD) The Positive Gentle Method "Train You Dog" Nicole Wilde and Laura Bourhanne

Other favorites

(DVD and book) My Smart Puppy--- Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson
(DVD) Puppy Love...---Karen Pryor
(DVD) Clicker Puppy---  Doggone Crazy
(DVD and book) Feeling Outnumbered...---Patricia B. McConnell

Housetraining/ Housebreaking

Housetraining (teaching not to "go" in the house to "go" outside only!)

First thing to do is get a vet check, a urinalysis and CBC blood test to make sure all is well (do this especially if you are having problems housetraining your dog and you have followed the schedule/rules or if your dog was doing great but then regressed, epecially if the regression came after being boarded at a kennel )

DO NOT "rub your dog's nose in it"...dogs don't understand this...they know it is their poop! Make sure you watch them 100% til they are reliable going outside and then you can shorten the leash/rope til they don't need it anymore.

100% supervision this is REALLY important! If you don't watch 100% or the dog is in it's crate/puppy pen, the puppy can "sneak off" and have an accident somewhere else in the house. Each time it has an "accident"and you weren't watching, it is training itself that it is OK to "go" in the house. If you are doing chores take your dog with you  and tether to a doorknob or other sturdy tether or put the dog in their crate/puppy pen or other safe room.

On leash or teaching lead-Make sure when a leash or teaching lead is on the puppy/dog you are there 100% of the time no going outside for a minute, or answering the phone for a minute... take the puppy with you or take off the leash/rope. Dogs can get tangled, panic and choke themselves!

Can hold pee and poop at 4 months for 5 hours(when excited/ playing less!) Take the dogs age in months and add 1 hour that is approximately how long they can hold their urine/.feces. Do not keep them in a crate longer than this or they will be forced to "go" in the crate! This is NOT what you want  to teach them!

No attention outside(DO NOT play with the puppy on "potty breaks" this is serious training time play can be at other times of the day and on leash til puppy/dog goes potty) Go out with dog on leash for 5-10minutes and stand, boring like a tree in one area, until the puppy goes to the bathroom quietly say the potty command see below as the puppy is in the process of peeing/ pooping. Reward the dog with a treat or a pet, and then go right back in the house.

Quietly praise for "going" outside add a command like"Busy Busy" or "Go Potty" or "Hurry Up"

No food or water after 7 or 8 pm

Submissive urination- if the puppy/dog urinates from exitement or when someone yells /is loud DO NOT scold the puppy this is sumissive urination and you need to build the dog's confidence and don't say hello  all loud and crazy with lots of pets. Also do not let strangers bend down over the dog and say a crazy hello you know the type while vigerously petting the dog the person says"OOOOH what a pretty puppy you are the cutest thing I've ever seen,OOOOwhat a puppy..........." An owner should say a quiet hello too when coming in from work/errands. With a dog that urinates when said hello to ignoring by a visitor adn /or owner is preffered when coming in the home.

3-4x day Good quality food and 1 inch of water in bowl at a time(Do not give a huge bowl of water at one time...you KNOW what happens when you drink a lot of water at one time, many trips to the bathroom!)Let dog out as soon as it is finished eating.

Sniff floor circle or whine- take outside

Most time in house peaceful and calm and not 100% petting/attention. Sometimes the dog should be left in another safe room or in it's crate.

As the puppy gets older, about 5-6 months old, they can be taught to ring a bell with their nose to go out(make sure when the bell is rung you put dog on leash and go out and no playing, no attention this is just a potty break...if you let the dog get into the habit of ringing the bell and you play with the puppy outside you will hear non-stop ringing and the dog will be training you to take him/her out to play!