A Guide For Raising Your Puppy

Here’s Why:

Dogs in the wild live in a den. The den provides a wild dog with protection from predators and the elements. It provides them a great deal of security and psychological satisfaction. All dogs, therefore, have a strong natural tendency to seek out this type of shelter.

In your home, your dog has no such place to call his own. Therefore, he makes feeble attempts to curl up under the coffee table, chairs, or in corners. By "giving them back their den" in our domestic homes, we can take advantage of Mother Nature and quickly housebreak, control chewing, and actually raise a more well adjusted, more self-confident dog, and keep him safe from just about anything.

Here’s How:

Simply start from early puppyhood and have the little guy sleep and rest in his home. Almost without trying, he will train himself to seek security and comfort inside his little "dog room". If necessary, toss a little treat in the home to encourage him to go in on his own. Don’t force him. Coax him with food and reward him with praise. He may quickly back out, or be very shy at first – that’s normal. Just take it slow and he’ll soon go in on his own.

At first, don’t close the door on him. Let him get comfortable with going in and out on his own. Once he is happy and unafraid of the new home, simply restrain him at the door with your hand. Make him stay in the home for a few minutes, then gradually increase the time and be sure to praise him!

Once his comfortable with this, (probably a few hours or days of short training sessions) simply restrain him at the door WITH the door – again, praising him lavishly. Soon, he will be very secure in his home with the door closed. Slowly you can get farther and farther away from him while he is home, always praising his accepting behavior. Eventually the pup will sit quietly and sleep in his home with the door closed.

We recommend that during all unsupervised times you simply close the door and he stays in his home. During times when someone can supervise him, have him out to play and train as much as you like.

While he is inside his home, he will not urinate or defecate. This is Mother Nature’s way of keeping the home clean. He won’t feel isolated either because most kennels provide essential visibility and ventilation, just like a baby in a playpen. Understand that little puppies have to "go" about every 2-4 hours when they are young. So what do you do? On a schedule, you let the little guy out, teach him the route to the door, praise him at the door and take him out to the part of the yard where you want him to "go". Very quickly you are teaching him an elimination schedule that will stay with him for the rest of his life.

As the pup gets older (4-6 months) you can gradually leave him in his home for longer periods of time, and of course, gradually he can "hold it" longer. Soon he can be in his home all day, if necessary, until someone arrives to let him out for his "business" and for daily training sessions.

Many Other Benefits:

Chewing:

Other benefits of this kind of training include controlling your puppy’s normal and natural tendency to chew everything in sight. When he is confined, your pup cannot reach inappropriate objects like furniture or shoes. In order to help focus normal puppy chewing on approved objects, play with him using his toys. With problem chewers, try to avoid any "tug-of-war" gamers, as this tends to make them more orally fixated. "Go Find" or "Retrieve" are great games that will focus this chewing on the appropriate object.

Try to avoid having too many chew toys out at any given time. You certainly may have 20 chew toys for your new pup, but only let him have three or four new ones. This way the pup always has a new small and feel to keep him interested in chewing on appropriate things!

Also leave one or two of his approved chew toys in his dog home during the day. This will further direct this chewing attention on these objects, and not your furniture or shoes!

Safety:

When workmen or other visitors come over, it’s easy to put your new pup in his home in order to keep him from underfoot. This also keeps him confined so he won’t slip out the front door. In the case of protective dogs, it makes your visitors feel a bit more secure as well.

Hospital Room or First Class Cabin:

When your pet is sick or injured, his home becomes his hospital room. When treating pets at home, the whole process is easier if they can be confined. Hot packs, cold packs, movement restriction and giving medications are all easier when the pet is safe in his room.

When you travel, the home becomes his first class seat aboard your car. This keeps him out from under your feet, away from the driver, and extra safe in case of an accident. If your dog had to be removed from an accident, such a task would be easy if the pet were in a kennel.

Less Behavioral Problems:

Trained in this manner, dogs have less behavioral problems, are more secure and self confident, easier to obedience train and stay calm when they must be boarded. Because you have taken advantage of their natural instinct since early puppyhood, they are less susceptible to insecurity, nervousness, and anxiety which cause many objectionable behavior problems.

The Only Way To Train A New Dog:

We have had countless breeders, veterinarians, and behaviorists train their dogs in this manner, and they tell us they wouldn’t do it any other way! A good kennel provides good visibility and ventilation, is easy to clean, and looks nice in your home. Kennels are cool in the summer, and blankets can be draped over them to prevent rafts in the winter.

Dont's:

• Don’t leave your very young pup in his home all day. At 6 weeks, a pup can last about 4 hours, by 8 weeks, 5 hours, by 12 weeks, 6 hours, and by 5-6 months of age a pup should be able to hold his bladder for an 8-hour workday. This means that while training your pup, someone needs to make arrangements to come home and let the little guy out. Then gradually lengthen the time.
• Don’t put "housebreaking pads" in the pet’s home. We are trying to take advantage of the pup’s normal instinct NOT to go in his home.
• Don’t let your new pup roam through your house unsupervised. Keep your eye on him so that when he sniffs and circles, an indication that he is about to go, you can quickly and gently guide him to the door, praise him at the door, guide him outside, and praise him for "going" outside!
• Don’t force your new pup into the home for the first time. Plan on taking plenty of quality time the first few days to get him accustomed to the new surroundings. Using a yummy food treat, coax him in the home slowly but surely. He should never be afraid of his safe home.
• Don’t punish your pup b putting (or forcing) him into his home. Again, your pup’s home should be his secure place. It should not be associated with punishment, fear, or anything negative.

Do’s:

• Do buy a kennel large enough for your dog when he grows up. Your dog should be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. If the hoe is too big when your pup is small, the pup may eliminate in one corner of the kennel and then go to the other corner for sleeping. Divider panels are available for many kennels to solve this problem.
• Do get a new pup used to his home gradually. Never put a pup in and leave the room for a long time. Remember, dogs are social creatures and pack animals. They survive in the wild because of their pack. Your are now the dog’s pack. When you leave, it represents stress. A kennel will foster the security a dog has when in his den. But he still must have you to interact and socialize with.
• Do provide soft, washable bedding in the home so it is comfortable and warm. Make the inside of the home as cozy as you can. Keep it clean and flea free.
• Do supervise your pup ANYTIME he is free in your home. This supervision is what allows you to direct behavior. Remember, pups are blank chalk boards and you do the writing. His chewing, elimination, barking, activity, and all behaviors are dependant on your direction. If allows to be unsupervised, your pup will begin to direct his own schedule and behaviors.

If you see him begin to sniff, circle, or crouch as if he is ready to urinate or defecate, quickly tell him "no", then guide him to the door, praise him at the door, and guide him outside to his "elimination spot". When he finishes his elimination outside, praise him lavishly!