THE PUPPY
- HOUSE TRAINING GUIDE
 Once
you arrive home with your puppy there will inevitably be a
period of adjustment, but even during the first week or two
your new arrival can begin to learn what is considered acceptable
behaviour in your home – where it is supposed to go
to the toilet, what it is allowed to chew, where it can sleep
and so on.
Some people do not mind having their dog on
the couch. For others, a pet on the furniture would be unacceptable
behaviour. The same holds true for begging at the table, jumping
up at people, and other objectionable behaviours.
Decide at the start what your household policy
will be, enforce it from these first early weeks and most
importantly be consistent.
Failure to teach your dog the rules of the
house when he is young can result in an unmanageable adult
dog.
If you have decided that your puppy is going
to sleep in a dog bed or crate, make sure you enforce that
behaviour from day one. Your puppy might cry in response to
separation from mother or litter mates. A hot water bottle
and plenty of TLC should provide a little extra comfort.
Teaching your puppy where you expect him or
her to go to the bathroom is probably the most critical part
of training
The best method of toilet training is to take
your puppy out within several minutes after each meal, after
each nap, and after playing. These are predictable moments
during the day when bowel and bladder are most full.
Feed your puppy at scheduled mealtimes and
avoid snacks between feedings if at all possible. Allowing
your puppy continuous access to food or water makes house
training more difficult. Prevent "accidents" between
meals by taking your pup out before the accidents occur.
The outward signs a puppy may show include
circling, squatting, whimpering, sniffing the floor or sneaking
off and heading for the door, and he must be taken outside
immediately to perform. If you’re not quick enough,
the puppy should still be taken outside to finish the act.
It is best to walk your puppy within 15 minutes
or sooner after each meal. Take him out to the same spot each
time. If your puppy is too young to walk on a leash, carry
him outside to an enclosed, safe area. Stay nearby and play
with or pet him.
Praise immediately once the task is completed.
A few tasty treats offered when the puppy goes in the right
place can encourage good behaviour. These then can be given
intermittently and then stopped after training has been successful.
Don't be fooled if your puppy happens to get
it right for the first few weeks. Start now, and stick with
it until your pup really has no accidents. Toilet training
isn't great fun, but it is crucial.
Chewing if often a headache with pups, and
many a carpet or chair has suffered from the ravages of puppy
teeth. Initially, a puppy will use his mouth to investigate
his environment, and throughout the teething process, it gives
a puppy relief to chew on all manner of items. Providing appropriate
items for your puppy to chew on can sometimes be a simple
way of solving the problem.
At a very young age puppies begin to learn
how much pressure with their mouths is too much by the reactions
of their mothers and litter mates. When puppies play, they
bite each other's ears and chew each other's necks, until
one bites down too hard. Then, the bitten puppy lets out a
piercing cry, gets up and walks away.
This teaches the biting puppy that when it is too rough, play
ends. If it is you that the puppy is chewing, the moment the
pressure increases use a high pitched cry, leaving your hand
in his mouth. Once the pressure is released, slowly remove
your hand and praise him, offering a suitable chew toy in
exchange.
Socialisation training is the other aspect
of behaviour that needs reinforcing early on. Key experiences
during the first three months of life will form the basis
of how the puppy relates to and interacts with many individuals
that they will come across in their future lives such as:
• Adults and children
• Other dogs and puppies
• Different types of pets, livestock and horses
• And not forgetting the postman!
Also during this period puppies get used to the every day
hassles of life which include:
• Household noises and appliances
• Cars and traffic
• Crowds
• Periods of separation
Unfortunately the primary course of vaccinations
for puppies will only be completed at about 11 to 12 weeks
of age, which leaves only a small window during the last month
of the critical 'sensitive developmental period' to achieve
socialisation.
The aim of training is to achieve a puppy
that is friendly and eager to meet people and other animals.
You can then build on this by preventing bad behaviour, ignoring
or distracting unwanted actions and rewarding and praising
good behaviour. Hopefully, this will produce a dog that is
a pleasure to own.
 Correct
feeding is vital - Burns MiniBites
have been developed using holistic principles to ensure that
requirements for energy, muscle and bone development are met
but not exceeded.
MiniBites are also free of colours,
flavourings and artificial preservatives and contains non-caged
chicken meat and the goodness of brown rice. Good health -
naturally!
Any information above is given in good faith
by our Nutritional advisors and may not necessarily reflect
the opinion of Burns Pet Nutrition. The advice of Burns Pet
Nutrition or a qualified veterinary surgeon should always
be sought before changes are made to the diet in the nutritional
management of health problems. Burns is a food and not a medicine.
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