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General Pet is your source for advice and information for a happy and healthy pet.
Author: colecarson Article source: http://www.articlealley.com/. Used with author's permission.
A new puppy can make a fabulous Christmas gift, and will be a great source of joy for you and your family. Puppies have ways of melting our hearts and bringing us together, and raising a puppy can be a great experience that the whole family can be a part of. Probably the most important aspect to raising a new pet is house training - that newfound bundle of joy won't be welcome for very long if you can't get it to use the bathroom where it's supposed to. For this task, there is a training method known as crate training. This involves the use of a crate and proper instruction to your puppy to quickly and effectively teach them not to use the bathroom inside the house.
Start off by purchasing a dog crate. The size of the crate is very important - you want the dog to be able to turn around and stand up with ease and have a little bit of moving room, but otherwise the crate should be as small as you can get. The idea here is to create an environment that becomes the puppy's own little den, an area that he will instinctively not want to use the bathroom in. Since he won't use the bathroom in here unless he is neglected, you can store him here at night while you sleep, and while you are away during the day. This gets him used to being inside and not using the bathroom.
For step two you need to teach that outside of the house is the place to use the bathroom. To do this, make sure that each time you let him out of his crate you take him straight outside and let him do his business. This establishes a pattern in his mind, and the end result of that pattern is using the bathroom outside, not inside. You also want to watch over him as he uses the bathroom, and give him plenty of praise and attention when does it. Here you're establishing that you want him to go outside to potty, and reinforcing the concept. Happy squeals, attention, and his favorite snacks will show him in no time that going outside is a very good thing to do.
Unfortunately, those inside accidents just can't be avoided completely. While your puppy won't be using the bathroom inside the house at night or while you're away, he will sooner or later do so while you are at home and may not be paying attention. It's now your job to show him that while using the bathroom outside is good, doing so inside is bad. You need to keep an eye on him, and each time you catch him using the bathroom, punish him. Scold him, and immediately take him outside. If, once he gets out of the house, continues to use the bathroom, you want to start praising him to again reinforce the whole concept. Punishing him when you find him using the bathroom indoors will seal the entire idea - that outside is good, inside is bad. Make sure, however, that you only punish him when you actually catch him doing it. Punishing him afterwards may confuse him, and he isn't likely to understand what exactly it is he's being punished for.
I have found that housebreaking a dog through crate training is the most effective. By getting your puppy used to a crate, not only are you ensuring that you're not going to wake up to any surprises, but that if you ever have to travel with your dog, they'll be well prepared to ride in their crate! Make sure to give lots of positive reinforcement to your new little puppy. - Just like children, puppies love to know when they're doing something you approve of, and they'll learn much faster with treats and attention!
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Cole Carson is a successful network and internet marketer. Goji Juice is Spiffy, the golden retriever's favorite drink! Read up on Goji Health Juicetoday!
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