Raising Your Dog

The Ultimate House Training Guide - What Is It?

I  review this useful work which is a comprehensive guide to what’s is probably the most widespread, challenging and frustrating task by dog-owners:  House Training

Probably no aspect of owning a dog has ever been so widely misunderstood and unanimously daunting? many theories either unhelpful and just plain wrong positively abound on the subject. You can find a vast number of conflicting arguments almost anywhere you choose to look for information on the subject, whether it’s online, at your local library, or through contact with dog owners or trainers.

What Sets This Book Apart?

After many hours spent searching through the confusing minefield of conflicting information on the subject, it was with some relief that I stumbled across an online book entitled 

“The  Ultimate House Training Guide?, by Martin Olliver.”

As the title suggests, literally all aspects of the subject are covered, and in a manner both conversational and educational – it’s almost like having a friendly conversation with a knowledgeable canine behaviorist, but with the benefit of being able to refresh your understanding of the matter at any given time, simply by scrolling back to the relevant section!

The tone of the book presents a welcome contrast to the illogical theories so freely abounding elsewhere on the internet (and, indeed, in most collections of canine “expertise?): it’s friendly, informative,  and above all, it’s full of common sense. (Unfortunately common sense doesn’t seem to be so common any more - but perhaps I’m just showing my age!)

This book contains no techno-babble or gimmicks, barely-disguised marketing ploys, or too-brief Q&A sessions here: you don’t have to be experienced in canine behavior and training to see that this guy knows  what he’s talking about (and did I mention he’s a vet?)

What’s Actually Included?

There’s a quick section on the qualities needed (“patience, persistence, consistence, and common sense?) along with some morale-boosting advice on how to keep calm through the training process, and then it’s  straight into the heart of the matter: the nitty-gritty on how to house train, with a detailed section (one for pups, one for older dogs) on each of the three methods recommended (paper-training, crate-training, and the direct method.)

Common house training problems  are dealt with next – and this is particularly useful! A wide variety of  issues are covered, from territorial marking to poop-eating; and as well as that, each problem comes with a case study, which helps you to put the information into context.

Next, health-related problems  are covered in some depth. There’s a section on congenital problems (problems your dog was born with); a section on the disease-related problems that develop later in life; and a section on other problems related to house training, like inappropriate outdoor elimination, or lawn-burn from urination.

Finally, there’s the Top Ten Tips for hassle-free house training, which is essentially a recap of the most helpful and necessary attitude adjustments, practical tips, and useful gems of general knowledge which will come in most handy in your dog’s training.

Just Because It’s Detailed Doesn’t Mean It’s Confusing

Sound like a handful? It’s actually very user-friendly. Not only is this book packed with sound practical advice, but the whole thing is laid out in a very logical and easy-to-understand format: the tone is light and non-threatening (no confusing technobabble or strange gaps in logic here!) and it proceeds in a logical manner from stage to stage, with the aid of helpful illustrations from the book’s charming mascot (a pooch called, Spot-Less). 

Troubleshooting:  In my opinion, one of the best parts:

A free, personalized email consultation with the team at Kingdom of Pets. If you’d like additional help with your own dog’s toilet-related vagaries, just click them off an email and you’ll get an individualized professional opinion on how best to handle the problem - plus any additional tips and strategies necessary to get your house training under control.

The Verdict: - House training a dog is an intimidating task for most people, but the author’s depth of knowledge is very reassuring; and he definately knows how to break it down for even the least experienced of owners.  In addition to the main sections described above, there are plenty of tempting extras included to make the process as easy and effective as possible:

Checklists - do’s and don’ts - how to appropriately deal with “accidents? - even a list of the more helpful training products available!

All in all, I thoroughly recommend this ebook, after all when the information on hand is as detailed, easy to absorb, and - above all – reliable as   The Ultimate House Training Guide  you really can’t go wrong. 
May your dog’s progress to full house training proceed Spot-Lessly!   

Read more here 

Buying a dog just before Christmas is not usually a good idea. Many animal rescue centres will not re-home dogs just before Christmas.  They have sound reasons for this, and if you are contemplating getting a dog, please consider the following, whatever the time of year. 

Buying a dog is not something you should ever do on impulse.  Buying a dog is not just a “cochie coo” business — it signals the beginning of a lifetime of commitment and responsibility.  Unlike buying a diamond,  buying a dog is not something to be undertaken without giving it a great deal of thought.  Dogs give so much and ask so little in return.  Are you considering buying a dog for your child or children.  Why are you getting a dog now. 

Puppies

A puppy should be at least eight or nine weeks old before it is taken from its home or kennel.  At first, the puppy must be fed four times a day.  If it was eating a prepared dog food at the kennel, the same diet should be maintained until the puppy shows its dislike of it by “going off its feed,” or refusing to eat. 

Even if a puppy has had shots against distemper and hepatitis, it will need booster shots.  The work of training (especially house training) and caring for a puppy can easily take several hours of your day.  Most people want to buy a puppy or a new dog in the spring, probably because they then have the summer to get to know the dog and complete any training required before weather deteriorates. 

Advantages of acquiring a puppy:

You get to teach and watch him grow; also you get the advantage of developing a strong lifelong bond. 

Disadvantages: of acquiring a puppy:

During their early life, puppies can be destructive.  Do you have the time and patience it takes to raise a puppy. 

For that reason, rather than buying a puppy, you may choose to buy an adult dog from your local animal shelter or Humane Society.

Adult Dog

Dogs are considered puppies up until three to four years of age and must have strict attention up until that time.  Dogs are a big responsibility and if you have not been solely responsible for a dog previously you may find the work and time involved in training, feeding, grooming and playing to be more than you can handle while caring for a young baby or toddler. 

Dogs, for all the pleasure they are, can be a nuisance to your neighbours if not trained.  An important thing to consider when buying a dog is whether it will fit comfortably into your home when it reaches adult size.  A dog for a growing family must be able to stand rough treatment.  A toy dog would be a poor choice for such a family because its tiny bones are fragile enough to break when children handle it roughly. 

In general larger dogs, such as Labrador retrievers or German shepherds, are better adapted both physically and temperamentally for a young family. 

Training

Training is a key to a long and fulfilled life.  Who in the family will take the responsibility of caring for and training the dog?  Depending on your method of obedience and house training you should consider if you have the energy to deal with a puppy consistently and with urgency while implementing house rules at this crucial stage.  Terriers require good firm training, as they tend to have a courageous and aggressive nature.  Puppies and very young dogs require considerable attention and training.  Although time spent training your dog is time well spent.

 Conclusion: 

Buying a dog is a process, not an event; it should never be undertaken on impulse.  It is a lifetime commitment and a major responsibility in time, energy and money.  Remember that buying a dog is like acquiring a wife or husband or having a child. 

One of the most misleading facts surrounding buying a dog is that a dog with “papers” ensures health, quality of temperament or even purebred status.  The questions you ask yourself before buying a dog include:

Can you handle the excitement,

Are you willing to devote your time to it,

Have you done enough research and

Are you able to provide the home it needs. 

The reason why you are interested in buying a dog is also important.

Read more here

Dog raising in the town or city is often criticised by the anti-dog brigade.

As well as claiming the activity to be cruel, they also very often claim that:

 ”Dogs should not be allowed in cities because they are a disease menace:

I wonder how much real evidence exists to support either of those claims?

I am told that it was about eight thousand years ago, during the Neolithic age, that the dog and man first got to going together.  They hunted together. Man furnished the bows and arrows and the dog scented out the prey.

Just why it was that the Neolithic man happened to choose the dog, and not some other animal to be his hunting companion, is something that has never been adequately explained to me. There were surely dozens of animals around at the time that could have qualified for the job.

Since this point has never been cleared up as far as I know, I am left with only one conclusion to draw. The man had little, if anything, to do with the choice.  Knowing dogs as I do, I am sure it was the other way around.  The dog chose the man. The dog was no fool even then. (After all, the dog was evolved before man.)  I think he well appreciated the fact that this newly evolved animal, man, who had suddenly reared up on his hind legs and started bossing all the other animals around, was a superior species and would very likely go places in this world. And if anybody was going places, the dog decided, he wanted to go too, and he still thinks that way today.

A great proportion of  dogs these days live and thrive in towns and cities. Remember, the dog, is not a wild animal. He has been living in communities ever since there were communities. The dog lived with man in those very first communities, the mud huts.  After the mud huts, he moved right up the scale, hand-in-hand with man, and lived in the first villages. After the villages, he was right in there pitching in the first towns.

The dog loves cities because he loves to be with people. The dog doesn’t care a fig about the society of other dogs. Intimate association with human beings is what he wants, it’s what he has had for centuries, and that’s what he gets in town.

He rides with his owner in motor cars, he goes for walks with him, he goes to restaurants, to bars, he sleeps in the same room with him, he’s often allowed to sit at the table with him, he goes shopping with him, he meets his owner’s friends who make a fuss over him, he goes away week ends with him, he travels
in trains and airplanes and by boat.

Don’t tell me the city dog doesn’t have a great time.
Studies have been carried out which suggest that not only is the city dog healthy but he lives on the average of from two to three years longer than the country dog.

One of the chief reasons for the city dog’s good health is the fact that city dog owners are genuine dog lovers. They must be. Otherwise, they wouldn’t burden themselves down with a dog, because a dog in the city is a responsibility. He must be groomed every day because living intimately with his owner as he does, he must be kept clean. For the same sanitary reasons, he must be kept healthy. Rain or shine, he must be walked. He must be fed regularly. This means that the owner necessarily must plan his life more or less in accordance with his dog’s needs, and therefore has to inconvenience himself. I doubt if many of us would inconvenience ourselves for a dog if we didn’t love the dog. City owners must therefore care about  their dogs. They usually take excellent care of them, and  consequently the dog thrives because of this excellent care.
As for the criticism that “dogs shouldn’t be allowed in cities because they’re disease menaces,” it is true that there are several ills that the dog can transmit. Ringworm can be transmitted from dog to man. But remember it can also be transmitted from man to man, from subway strap to man, from doorknobs, from eating utensils, towels, swimming pools, and from the simple exchange of money.

Ringworm in a dog is a readily discernible affliction. It can be diagnosed at a glance and cleared up within a short, time, and the human dealing with a case of it can take the proper precautions. A dirty old banknote or coin is not as open and aboveboard.

Certain manges and certain worms can be transmitted from dog to man. Mange takes the form of a negligible rash in humans and disappears in a day or two. Worms are transmissible only if taken by mouth into the human body. I have never heard of a case of canine worms in a human being.

Rabies is the most serious affliction that can be counted against the dog. (It can also be counted against cats, cows, hogs, sheep, rabbits, goats, monkeys, or any warm-blooded animal.) But it is not the city dog that spreads rabies epidemics. No epidemic has a chance to spread in cities where dogs are kept segregated and on leashes. 
So let’s have no more nonsense about ridding the city of its most desirable citizens, the dogs. To rid the city of dogs is to rob thousands of lonely people of a companionship, which only a person who has loved a dog can possibly understand. To say nothing of robbing thousands of dogs of the affection and attention that only city people can give them.

Pet Owners And Pets both benefit by proper training

Whether you are a recent dog owner or you have had a dog in your home for some time, you know how delightful, and frustrating, owning a pet can be.

The pleasure and joy of bringing a new puppy or dog into your household can be immense. After all, there is no relationship quite like the one that is developed between you and your dog.

A dog can provide unconditional love, hours of entertainment, and genuine friendship. Or, a dog can provide unconditional messes, hours of destruction, and a genuine nuisance!

How do you ensure that your dog behaves in the manner of the first scenario described above? If you are thinking that the answer is “breed” you are only partially right. Indeed, breed does play a role in a dog’s behavior. But an even greater factor in the dog’s behavior is based on the training he receives. Good training resources can go a long way toward helping.
Why bother to train?

If you are like most people, you are usually very busy. Some days, there just doesn’t seem like enough hours to take care of yourself, let alone a dog! But, that time that you spend training your dog will be worthwhile and will reward you and your relationship for many, years to come.

There are five main benefits of training:

relationship building
correction of behavioral problems.
intellect stimulation
It encourages inclusion.
time saving.

Let’s explore each benefit in further detail.
Training Builds a Relationship.

There is no better way to create a bond with your dog than through the process of training. You may think that training begins at the time you decide to try new tricks, but it actually begins at the very moment you acquire your dog.

Your dog is constantly watching you and learning from your actions. He learns from the way you react to his actions. He looks to you for guidance, for food, for warmth, for comfort, and for playtime.

Training Corrects Behavioral Problems.
Barking at anyone who passes by the front window, chewing up your favorite pillows, digging through your freshly planted garden, bolting out of an open door…do any of these actions look familiar to you?

When you have developed a trusting bond with your dog, you can teach him how to correct these behavioral problems. He will learn by your reactions whether or not his actions are acceptable to you. No doubt, he will test his limits!

Training Stimulates Intellect.
Yes, it is true that dogs are very curious creatures. With exposure to so many unusual smells, sights, and sounds, dogs can’t help but want to explore. It’s in their nature!

Most dogs have the capacity to be very intelligent. But, they need to be stimulated first, and then they will be motivated to learn. Training is a huge benefit for stimulating your dog’s intellect.
Training Encourages Inclusion.

The sense of “inclusion” is very important to a dog’s security. From the earliest days of being a part of a litter, your dog feels comfortable being a part of the pack. That includes the pack of your household.

You may be the primary dog trainer, but everyone in your family or household should take the time to train your dog. When he receives this undivided attention from everyone, he feels like part of the pack.
Training Saves Time.

Another huge benefit of training your dog is that it saves you time. Taking the time to train your dog now, will actually save you time in the long run. For example, if you take the time to train your dog to behave properly inside the house, you will actually be saving time cleaning up mischievous messes that he could create in the future-if he didn’t have the training.
Sharda Baker

Sharda Baker has published several dog ebook and audios. Click here for more dog training help and advice

Hello,

Almost ready to go. We hope to use this spot, soon, to
bring you useful articles, hints and tips regarding buying,
raising and training your dog. This will replace the
current outdated auto-responder which just sends regular
articles. So hopefully, we will achieve more interactivity
with our fellow dog-lovers. We look forward to your
participation.

back with you soon,

Keith.