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Cool Guide To House Training Your Dog

Dogs need to be trained properly in order to know when and where it’s acceptable to go to the bathroom. As with any type of dog training, you must be consistent. Dogs learn by routine. Change the routine and you’ll confuse your dog. A confused dog will likely have an accident. First, understand that dogs don’t instinctively know where to urinate or defecate. They need to be taught. Below, you’ll learn how to house train your dog so it will never be confused about where to “go” again.

Give Your Dog Its Space

Some owners use a crate. We prefer to establish an area of the house that the dog can call its own. Remember, dogs are clean. They don’t want to soil themselves or the area in which they eat and sleep. Give your dog its own space. That’s the first step in house training because it helps your dog learn that going to the bathroom inside your house is unacceptable.

Create A Bathroom Zone

The next step is to create a bathroom zone. Whenever your dog needs to urinate or defecate, lead it to its bathroom zone. Through routine and repetition, it will become clear to your dog where you expect it to use the bathroom. Don’t leave your dog unattended if the zone you’ve created for it is somewhere in your yard. Your dog could easily beginning eliminating in other areas. If that happens, it will develop a habit (and thereby, a new zone).

Provide A Consistent Diet

Dogs aren’t cats. You can’t simply put an enormous bowl of food in front of it and expect it to pace itself. Keep its diet consistent. Feed it at regular times throughout the day. Then, encourage a normal elimination routine. Take your dog to its bathroom zone 10 minutes after its morning meal. Establish that schedule.

One quick note: if your dog has an accident, don’t punish it. A lot of owners think they need to stick the dog’s nose in its waste for it to learn the lesson. That’s ridiculous. It will only teach your dog to fear you. House training your dog requires diligence, patience and consistency. Before long, your dog will know where to go, when to go and when to be back in the house.

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The Simple Basics Of Dog Grooming

They may put up a fuss, but dogs need to be groomed. If left to their own devices, they’re like children: happy to be dirty. That said, it’s hard for dogs to disguise their pleasure when they’re newly-groomed and clean. Different breeds have different needs. Some dogs have a lot of hair and tend to shed. Others have little hair, but may deal with skin or nail conditions. The tips below can be used for most breeds.

They Love A Good Brush

Just like many people, dogs love to have their hair brushed. It’s partly due to the attention they receive (even better when that attention comes from their owner). Dogs also enjoy the brushing because it’s soothing to them. Besides the attention and the feeling, brushing your dog’s hair is necessary. Dogs with long hair should have their hair brushed every day. It prevents the tangles from getting out of control.

The Haircut

Because some dogs (for example, Poodles) have hair that grows quickly, they need to receive a haircut more frequently (as often as biweekly). Otherwise, dirt starts to accumulate. However, unlike having their hair brushed, most dogs don’t enjoy receiving a haircut.

The Manicure

If dogs don’t enjoy haircuts, they hate having their nails trimmed. Unfortunately, they need to have them trimmed monthly. The reason they dislike it so much is twofold. First, dogs’ paws are vulnerable. They protect them and often don’t like others touching them. Second, many dogs are unlucky enough to have owners who believe they can trim the nails themselves. Often, their owners hurt them. As a result, dogs quickly develop a strong aversion to nail-trimming.

The Bath

Nobody in a household enjoys giving a dog a bath. Owners find the process inconvenient and messy. Dogs find them uncomfortable and unnatural. But, most dogs should receive a bath every few weeks. Dirt, grime and even food can collect on their bodies. Fortunately, many dogs can grow accustomed to receiving a bath. But, it’s often a result of their owners learning to bathe them properly. If you’re going to be bathing your dog yourself, use a shampoo that’s soap-free so it won’t irritate your dog’s skin or eyes.

Looking Like A Million Bucks

Being groomed isn’t pleasant for your dog. But, you can often tell how excited it is once it has been given a bath and received a haircut. Grooming your dog shouldn’t be approached haphazardly. Learn to do it properly. It will be more pleasant for you and your dog.

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