Pets are very special for the owners. In fact we love to keep pets but we get afraid of either training them or we do not have much space to keep those pets in our home. If you want to have a pet then it is very important to train the pet so that it does not get afraid of our relatives. Therefore, during the holiday season, pets are likely to get exposed to a number of guests, festivities and new situations. Such situation may cause them to feel shy or threatened, especially if they have not been properly trained to be social. However, you can take steps to socialize your pet and train them to handle new people and situations. This will not only help you to have an enjoyable holiday season but also it may lead to your pet exhibiting healthier behavior in the long run.
TOILET TRAINING
If your dog spends any time indoors, toilet training is an absolute necessity. Toilet training is often a time of trial and stress for everyone involved. But be patient, use the proper training techniques and there is sure to be a happy outcome.
Start when the dog is young about 3 to 4 months of age. Any earlier, and your puppy probably would not yet have sufficient bowel and bladder control. If you start later, the training period is likely to take much longer.
When you begin the training, start by confining the puppy to a fairly restricted area a single room, the length of a tethered lead or even a crate. As your puppy begins to learn that 'business' is to be conducted outside, you can gradually expand the area that it is allowed to roam.
Here are a few tips for effective toilet training:
Regular meal times
Keep your puppy on a regular feeding schedule during toilet training. That means no snacking between meals! If it's not mealtime, food should not be available to the dog.
Offer frequent potty opportunities
Give your pup plenty of opportunities to take care of business outside. Go outside first thing in the morning, and then every 30 to 60 minutes throughout the day. And also take your puppy outside after it wakes from a nap or finishes a meal.
Familiarity breeds comfort
Take your dog to the same spot outside every time. Your dog will recognize its scent and more readily do its business.
Stay out with your dog
When you take your dog outside for a potty break, stay with it until it has taken care of business, or until it becomes obvious that it doesn't need to just yet. Don't just turn the dog out in the yard by itself.
Praise success
When your doggie does its duty, praise it! Offer a treat, or something the dog really enjoys, like a walk.
OBEDIENCE TRAINING
Teaching your dog basic obedience is also a necessity. While an obedient dog is a pleasure to be around, the opposite is also true a disobedient dog can be a real pain!
You can take your dog's training to a much higher level if you choose to, of course. But at the very minimum, your dog should learn to respond to the following basic commands:
Sit
This basic command helps you to keep control of your dog no matter the situation and is a good command to teach first.
Drop
This teaches your dog to instantly drop whatever is in its mouth.
Stay
Teaches your dog to remain still calm and in one place.
Heel
Teaches your dog to stay close to you as you walk with or without a lead.
Come
Teaches your dog to immediately come to you upon your command. You should begin to teach this command to your puppy as soon as it recognizes its name. This command could potentially help you protect your puppy from harm.
There are a number of dog-training methods available for teaching your dog these commands but we recommend positive reinforcement as the best method.
Positive reinforcement rewards wanted behavior rather than punishing unwanted behavior. This method of training makes learning more enjoyable for your dog and will help to strengthen the bond between you and your pet.
START WITH THE BASICS
Teaching your dog the basic commands of obedience will make your household a much more pleasant place. Your dog will be happy because it wants to please you, and because it wants to reap the rewards of good behavior. You will be happier because your dog will be more manageable and will enrich your life. And visitors will be happy not to have to endure a poorly behaved pooch rampaging through the house!