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time he gets excited, he may create puddles in an instant! Use
newspapers or disposable toilet-training pads, kept well away
from his bedding and water. Give him a comfortable crate or a
bed, padded with old towels or blankets so that it’s soft and
warm. If you worry that he’ll be lonely, you may try placing an
old-fashioned wind-up clock near his bed: the ticking is
thought to be comforting in the way that his mother’s heartbeat
once was. You can also put one of your unwashed T-shirts in his
bed to comfort him with your familiar smell. If you can, provide company for your puppy either by having a friend or neighbor visit while you’re away, or by hiring a pet sitter to drop in. A walk, a few minutes of play and affection each day will go along way towards keeping your pup happy and healthy. You may even decide to leave your puppy at a doggie day care center (after carefully researching its cleanliness, spaciousness, personnel and attention to its animals).
Puppies aren’t going to have the same attention span as grown dogs, but you can still start training while your dog is young. Teach your puppy “sit” and “stay”; then move on to “speak” and then, “hush”. Be patient, teaching one or two words at a time, then making sure your puppy has learned to perform your commands promptly before adding to his repertory. Don’t expect your puppy to be able to work very long – just work with him a few minutes at a time on a daily basis, and you’ll be amazed at how much he can learn in just a few months.
All training can follow the same pattern, and the more consistent you make it, the easier it will be to teach your dog. Get his attention by looking him in the eye, and make the command in a loud, clear voice. At first, you’ll have to show him what you want, so if you’re teaching “sit”, you may have to help him sit by pressing lightly on his hindquarters. Some dogs will sit automatically if you hold a treat so he can see it, then raise it slightly. As your dog’s eyes follow the treat up, he may sit without even thinking about it – almost as a reflex. When he does sit, praise him and give him the treat. Always pair praise with the treat, so that some day you can start to omit the treat and keep the praise as a sufficient reward.
Stop puppy’s chewing on your favorite shoes by replacing your leather loafers with plenty of chew toys and bones. Keep your loved items out of his reach to avoid temptation. Never hit him – dogs become frightened and vicious when they are hit. You can put a halt to excessive barking not by yelling (which your dog will interpret as your barking), but by teaching him to speak, and then to hush (see “Hush! Puppy: Putting the Bite on Unwanted Barking”).
If your puppy seems to be barking a lot, doesn’t remember the commands you teach him or can’t seem to get the point of paper training or house training, consider that he may not be getting enough attention and make adjustments accordingly. Puppies have different needs – some may need more time and patience than others.
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