Tips on House Training

Consistency, Consistency and last but
not least Consistency.

What ever method you choose, make sure to stick with it.  If you
keep changing you will only confuse your new baby!!

House training puppies can be a challenge. Arm yourself with knowledge
and odor neutralizer spray and you'll be ready for house breaking your puppy.
Potty training a puppy can be very frustrating. It helps to remember that
your puppy is a lot like a human toddler, if it's quiet - worry. Puppies don't
know what you expect from them until you properly train them. While
potty training your puppy try to keep your temper in check; use patience
when dealing with your puppy - it is just a baby after all.
I've outlined 10 tips to use when house training your puppy:
Crate Training - Use a crate while potty training your puppy. Your puppy
should be in the crate while you are at work, sleeping, or anytime you are
not able to watch it. Dogs are den animals so being in a crate is natural
for them. Puppies will cry and want to be released at first, but be patient;
it will get used to being in the crate and come to enjoy it. Make the crate
a happy place, not a punishment. Teach your puppy a command when
going in the crate, for example, kennel or go to your room; this will make
it easier then trying to force or push the dog into the crate later. Also,
dogs are pack animals so it's helpful if you keep the crate in the bedroom
where the rest of the "pack" is sleeping. This is a tough one in the
beginning because the puppy will cry and you will be tempted to let it out.
Tough love, if the puppy is loose in the house then it will have the
opportunity to potty anywhere it pleases. Keep the puppy crated at night
until it can be trusted in the house. You may have to let the pup outside
during the night and during your lunch break during the day.

Be prepared
to lose some sleep, like I said, it's like having a new baby.
Take the puppy to the same area of the yard - Each time your puppy
goes outside go with it. Take the puppy on a lead so you can be sure it
goes to the same area of the yard each time. This way the puppy can
smell itself and know what it's supposed to do. Only give your puppy
about 10 minutes to potty, if it doesn't go, then bring it in and put it back
in the crate, wait 15 - 30 minutes and take it back outside. Don't let the
puppy play until it potties. Playing is a reward, don't reward bad behavior.
Puppies are just little kids, they go outside, get excited, and forget why
they went outside in the first place. It helps to give a command to potty,
that way it learns a little faster what is expected, and later in life,

if your running late, you can give the potty command and your dog will potty

and be done with it.
Praise for going potty outside - When the puppy potties outside - give a
treat, play with a favorite toy, say "good boy"; whatever, just make sure
that the puppy thinks, "Wow! Going potty outside is loads of fun, I'm going to do this again!"
Tether to you while inside - When you are at home, and the puppy is not
in the crate, consider using a long lead to tether the puppy to you. If the
puppy is loose in the house it can gain the opportunity to sneak off and
use the bathroom. The idea in house training is to avoid accidents,

the tether works for that purpose.
Take the puppy outside immediately - Following meals, drinking, playtime
or excitement, when you first get home from work, and first thing in the
morning. If the puppy gets excited it may have an accident,

avoid the trouble by taking the puppy outside.
Take the puppy outside often - Try to take the puppy outside every hour.
If your home, why not take the puppy outside for frequent potty breaks;
it'll learn that much quicker and you'll avoid accidents, it probably has to "go" anyway.
Keep a potty journal - Keep track of how quickly food moves through the
puppy. This will help you gage how quickly to get the little puppy out the door following meals.
Teach the puppy to let you know when it wants to go outside - Teach the
puppy to bark, ring a bell, or scratch the door before going outside. This
will help you know when he has to "go". The goal is for the puppy to get
to a point where it will alert you as to when it's time for a potty break.
Paper training - Using potty pads or newspaper is up to you. Some small
breed owners swear by them. Others think they are confusing to the
puppy if your ultimate goal is for them to potty outside. It will take longer
to house train if you first teach the pup to potty on paper, then turn around and want the pup to potty outside.

Some small breed dogs don't like going outside when it is cold or wet so a lot of owners use paper during the winter season.
Invest in a good odor neutralizer - Mistakes are going to happen, so plan
for it. If you see your puppy make the mistake act quickly, say NO or use
a penny can to startle the puppy, and run it outside to the potty place. If
you didn't see the mistake happen, bite your lip, and clean the mistake.
Use an odor neutralizer like Nature's Miracle or Simple Solution - these
products neutralize odor instead of covering it up. You don't want the
puppy going back to the same spot on your carpet.
House training is only the beginning, start thinking about obedience
classes. Yes, you can probably teach your puppy to sit, down, and stay,
but socialization is good for the puppy. It needs to learn that it is okay for
other people, strangers, to touch its paws and ears.
It should get used to going in the car and entering strange buildings and
walking properly on a leash now while it's young; that way a year from
now you are not stuck with an ill mannered dog. Puppies are a lot of fun
but you'll enjoy the dog more if you train properly now. What is cute on a
puppy may not be so cute when it's a 75 pound Labrador - plan for the
future. A proper foundation is crucial.

Introducing New Puppy to Car Rides

       GROOMING        

A puppy's 1st 5 months is his/her most crucial learning period.  What he learns in that
time will form his personality. Make sure to socialize early and begin teaching him
about things that he will encounter all his life.  Grooming not only keeps your pet
looking good, but also keeps her skin, teeth and nails in tip-top shape while giving
you the chance to discover any changes in your pet's overall condition.


GENERAL GROOMING
It is very important that your puppy/dog be professionally groomed every 4-6 weeks.  
The longer the coat the more often grooming is needed.  This however does not
mean that you do not need to brush your Puppy/Dog  daily!  Because some dogs do
not shed, their undercoats will matt quickly.  It is the daily brushing that removes the
dead undercoat thus effectively "shedding" the coat.  Your puppy, if started young,
will learn to love brushing and grooming if you use a gentle hand.  Professionals
agree that it is best to introduce your puppy to the clippers at the earliest possible
time.  The more familiar that puppy becomes with clippers, nail clippers, tweezers,
brushing and other grooming paraphernalia, the more comfortable they will be in the
future when they find themselves in dire need of a good grooming. Remember, a
good groom starts with preventative maintenance at home.

Mats and Tangles
They cause more problems than just a difficult brush out. If not dealt with, they can
result in serious skin problems and expensive vet bills. Tangles are easy to deal with.
Most of them brush and comb right out. But mats are different. They are formed by
friction when undercoat loosens and starts to come out, by a tangle that hasn't been
dealt with, or from simply not brushing and combing regularly. They are
like rawhide and have a life of their own. They stretch when they get wet, and shrink
to a tight glob of fur as they dry. As they shrink, the gather hair from around them, and
grow bigger and tighter and can be very painful.  Eventually they work themselves
down to the skin, pulling the skin up into them, causing skin irritation and hot spots.
Mats are difficult to rinse free of shampoo, and even more difficult to dry. When they
reach the skin they become itchy and irritable. Some dogs will literally tear out their
fur to rid themselves of these itchy appendages.
When bathing at home, it is important for the safety of your pet, to train your dog not
to jump on the side of the tub/sink.  Also, It is much easier to get your dog clean when
they are still and behaving themselves, it may be cute but very annoying and for a
professional bather.
Remember, all dogs are not good on the table for grooming. You will occasionally get
razor burn or a groom that does not meet your standards, please let you groomer
know if this happens so that it might be prevented the next grooming. If you are not
happy with a groom, tell your groomer before going else where.

EARS
It is important that your puppies ears be plucked each time they go to the groomers.  
Because non-shedding dogs have ears they are prone to "wet" ears and yeast
infections.  If the hair in the ears is not removed it becomes the perfect medium for
growing bacteria.  Yes the plucking can sometimes be a little painful to your dog, but
much less painful than a raging infection would be.  Also it is important to check your
dog's ears for fleas and mites daily. Groomers do not cause ear infections, lack of
grooming on a regular basis does.

TEETH
Gum disease is a problem in toy breeds.  All dogs are susceptible to gingivitis just like
people.  The gums become ulcerated and inflamed,  leading to the gum receding,
bacterial infection, and "doggy" breath.  To help prevent this it is important to feed
your dog proper hard (not soft) dog food, give toys for chewing to aid in tarter
build-up, and regular tooth brushing.  DO NOT use human tooth paste, this is not
made to swallow.  Use only dog tooth paste.  We have dental hygiene products on
out site, or you can visit you local pet store.   
*REMEMBER* - the younger you start your puppy on a tooth brushing regime the
easier it will be on both of you!

ANAL HYGIENE
Excessive licking or dragging of the hindquarters on the carpet is usually a sign that
you dogs anal glands are blocked and need to be expressed.  Please make sure that
your groomer empties the anal glands at every grooming.  If not done, the blockage
can lead to infection.  Larger dogs usually can express their own anal glands

NAILS
Cutting the nails is very important.  If the nails are not cut they can grow and curl
around into the pads of the feet causing pain and infection.  It is also painful for your
dog to walk with long toenails.  Long nails can also become caught in fences or in
carpet and the toe nails can be pulled out.  Please remember to tell your groomer if
your dog has dew claws