Puppy House Training

House training a puppy need not be that difficult and can actually be enjoyable. Playtime with your new puppy can be fun, but did you also know that it could be the first steps in your puppy's education as well? Even in the wild, young wolf cubs learn about their world through play and your puppy is no different. By utilizing play as a tool you can effectively teach your pup all the basics that will help her be a well-behaved dog when she grows up.

The most important word your dog will probably ever learn is the word "No". Pups as early as six weeks old are capable of learning the implications of "no" and it is a lesson that will be carried throughout their lives with you. This one command can go a long way to protecting your dog from harming herself or others.

And it's easy. Dogs, even puppies, are adept at recognizing tone of voice. When they learn to associate a displeased, forceful tone of voice with the word no, you will not in the future have to be so forceful in your utterances. But first you do have to get his attention. When the pup does something wrong, simply pick him up, gain eye contact and tell him very firmly, "No." It will get an immediate reaction. Depending on your pup's personality, he will drop his head and become sheepish, growl or attempt to talk you out of it by asking you to play. If either of the latter two happens, you will have to repeat the command to show that you are not kidding.

Then, simply let it go. Put the pup down and keep a watchful eye on his response. A rebellious pup may repeat the action as a way to test you, in which case you need to repeat the process. Be gentle, but be firm and consistent and your pup should get the message.

As for the other things that your baby needs to know, you will probably default to teaching him the proper way to go potty. This is actually easier than you might think, as pups are a lot smarter than they look. Timing is, however, everything. If you notice a puddle on the floor and your pup has since gone off to play with his ball, the only thing you can do is clean it up and watch him more closely. Don't rub his nose in it, or he will simply be hurt and confused. What you want to do is catch him in the act. When you see him start to take a tinkle, grab him and take him outside. Chances are he will be so shocked that he will save some for the yard, and when he goes there you can praise him lavishly.

The third thing that your pup needs to know is that he should never put his teeth on a human being. This is a tough one, as it is so much fun to play "bite" with a youngster. But when they are older, you really don't want them to play so rough. So when you play with him, be sure to do so with toys that are okay for him to bite. If he bites when you are trying to pet him, tell him no and give him his toy or put his toy right in his mouth. If he persists, pick him up and tell him no. If you are consistent, you should get good results.

Once your pup understands his first command, goes potty in the proper spots and ceases puppy-biting, he is on his way to becoming a well-socialized dog and a pleasure to be around.

David Anthony provides informative and highly researched dog breed tips and guides at www.onlinedogbreeds.com . You can find a wealth of dog related information on a variety of topics such as choosing the best puppies for families to help in finding the right family dog for you and your children.

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