Learning the basics of potty training before bringing home a new puppy can make the process much smoother. With proper preparation, you’ll be better equipped to teach your dog where and when to go. In this blog, we’ll walk through the key tips and steps to help you successfully potty train your dog.

Potty Training Basics to Know Before Getting Started

On average, it takes 4-8 months for your puppy to be fully potty trained. Any trainer or owner who says otherwise most likely had a miracle puppy. With extreme commitment and discipline, your timeframe could be shorter. A consistent routine and clear expectations will get your puppy trained fastest. By following the tips below, you’ll be calling the carpet cleaner less often.

Crate Training

Crate training is the most effective method to potty train your puppy. Having a crate teaches your dog about control. Not only will your dog learn not to potty where they sleep, but it will also keep your puppy calm, submissive, and safe when you’re gone. Their crate will become their safe space in your home, much like your bedroom is a comfortable space for you.

Choose a crate that allows your puppy just enough room to stand up, stretch out, and turn around comfortably. The crate should not be so large that your puppy can use one end as a bathroom and the other to sleep. Most crates include a partition, so you can adjust the available space as your puppy grows. This helps ensure they form the right potty habits as they transition from a small puppy to their adult size.

For treats and chews in the crate, use only a hard bone. While potty training, avoid bedding in the crate so your puppy doesn’t confuse it with a pee-pad.

Learning Your Puppy’s Potty Signals

One of the most important potty-training basics is learning to recognize when your puppy is getting ready to eliminate. If you watch your dog closely for the following signs, it almost always means they are about to use the bathroom, whether they’re inside or outside.

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Common potty signals include:

• Sniffing the ground
• Walking in circles
• Suddenly stopping play
• Wandering toward doors
• Whining or pacing

The moment you notice your puppy doing any of these things, immediately take them to their designated potty spot outside. The faster you respond, the easier it will be for your pup to make the connection between needing to go and doing it outside.

Building a Routine and Rewarding Success

The biggest factor in successful puppy potty training is having a clear routine.  It’s important to understand that puppies can only hold their bladders for so long. To calculate how long they can hold it, add one hour to their age in months. For example, a two-month-old puppy can typically hold their bladder for about three hours before needing a potty break.

To help prevent accidents, we typically tell owners to take their puppy outside about 30 minutes after they eat, drink water, take a nap, playtime, and anytime after being in the crate. Consistency is how your puppy will learn expected times and places for bathroom breaks.

It’s also important to designate a specific “potty spot” outside and bring your puppy to that same location every time. Dogs rely heavily on scent, and returning to the same spot helps them understand that this is where they should eliminate.

When your puppy goes potty in the correct place, reward them immediately with praise and a small treat. Timing matters, so make sure the reward happens right after they finish going.  This helps your puppy clearly connect the reward with the correct behavior.

Over time, this combination of routine, repetition, and positive reinforcement will help your puppy understand exactly where they should go, making potty training much easier for both of you.

Cleaning Up Accidents to Prevent Future Ones

During the early stages of potty training, accidents are bound to happen. Your puppy is still learning and adjusting to their environment. Punishment after accidents will only set you back in your training and make things difficult for you and your furry friend.

If your pup has an accident inside the house, it is imperative that you clean it up properly. Since dogs rely so much on their keen sense of smell, they may be likely to return to the same spot in the house to go potty again if it’s not wiped away. This is due to enzymes present in their urine.

To eliminate this, use an enzyme-based cleaner specifically formulated to clean up pet accidents. This will help prevent repeated mistakes and further support your dog in going to the right places outside.

House training your dog can take patience, consistency, and a clear plan. As long as you understand the fundamental potty training basics: crate training, knowing the potty training signals, building a routine, and properly cleaning up accidents, you will help your puppy develop good habits a lot quicker!

We here at Doggie Steps Dog Training in Phoenix, Arizona, are here and ready to support you through every stage of puppy training. You do not have to do this alone. Check out our puppy training services if you ever need assistance. Our puppy training programs are designed to help set your dog up for long-term success!

Mark Siebel

Since 2005, Mark Siebel has trained over 6000 satisfied K’9’s and customers alike. The goal has always been to show owners how to properly integrate their dog into the home setting. Consulting on what breed of dog to buy, where to buy/rescue from, preparing your home for your new puppy and health/nutrition are just a few ways DOGGIE STEPS helps its customers.

The post Potty Training Basics for Puppies: Simple Steps That Work appeared first on Doggie Steps Dog Training.

1. Making the child “pack leader”. The goal of training a new puppy with children is to have the puppy view the child as a “pack leader”. This can be achieved with a few easy bonding tasks. The best way for a child to connect with their new puppy is to feed, groom, walk, and daily dog training command work. By doing these tasks, a bond will be formed with the puppy that the child is more of a leader than a “pack play toy”. Generally speaking the new puppy will obey adults with a firmer toned voice, but with daily command practice, sooner than later your new puppy will be listening to the whole family!

2. Rewards for BOTH puppy and child. Just as your new puppy will learn commands and daily routines by food, verbal affirmation, and physical touch rewards, SO will your child. Set small weekly puppy training goals for your children to achieve. For example, week one will be the “sit” command. From the video above, little 22 mo. old Vallie had her puppy Rocky sitting in one week! After a weekly training goal is met, you can reward your child with a special trip to the park, or to the store for one of their favorite toys. Each week by following this puppy training process, you will begin to see your children interacting more with your puppy and the bonding between child and dog improving daily.

Puppy training with children can be easy with the right guidance and daily interaction with your dog. Be patient and soon your children will have the love and obedience from their new puppy companion for many years to come.

Mark Siebel

Since 2005, Mark Siebel has trained over 6000 satisfied K’9’s and customers alike. The goal has always been to show owners how to properly integrate their dog into the home setting. Consulting on what breed of dog to buy, where to buy/rescue from, preparing your home for your new puppy and health/nutrition are just a few ways DOGGIE STEPS helps its customers.

The post Puppy Training With Children appeared first on Doggie Steps Dog Training.

They say a tired dog is a good dog, and at no time is this more true than when you’re dealing with a puppy––a little furball of energy who requires constant care and new puppy training attention or will likely be chewing up a shoe (or two) as soon as you turn around. So what’s a pet parent to do? These puppy games will not only tire your pup out, they’ll also stimulate his brain and force him to utilize his doggy senses.

1. Walking and Wagging

There’s nothing better than a casual stroll around town with your furry friend. For your puppy everything is new and undiscovered, so let him explore and take the time to sniff it out. This is a great time to start working on puppy training commands like sit and stay, and to encourage positive socialization with humans (puppies to tend to attract a lot of attention and smiles). Keep walks to five minutes per month of age (10-minute walk for a two-month-old puppy), and avoid running until the puppy is older and his joints are more mature

2. Hide-and-Seek

Have a friend hold your puppy while you go hide. Call out and let him hunt you down and watch that tail go crazy when he does. Your new best friend is a fast learner, and you can up the ante by hiding toys or treats. As an added bonus, use the word “come” and the game doubles as a teaching tool.

3. Mind Games

Your puppy is a little sponge just waiting to soak up information on how to please you. Use this to your advantage and play some mind games, such as teaching him words to common items (like “ball,” “toy,” “chair,” etc.), or more creative tricks, like teaching him to bring you the newspaper or the remote. These new puppy training games are excellent building blocks for future training, and exercising your puppy’s mind is one of the easiest ways to get him to settle down.

4. The Muffin Tin Game

Take a standard 12-cup muffin tin and put treats in every cup (you may want to use something healthy as a treat, such as blueberries, since you’re putting out so many). Cover up three or more of the cups with tennis balls, and then sit back and watch as your pup is forced to figure out how to get all the treats out––hidden and otherwise. As he gets better at the game, start covering up more cups and making him work harder to get all the treats.

5. Freeze!

If you have kids this is a great game for them to play with your puppy, since it’ll tire them out as well! Get your puppy excited by dancing, running, and jumping around, and then stop what you’re doing and command him to freeze. It may take him a little while to catch on that he’s supposed to stop moving too, so make sure to reward him as soon as he does. Not only does this game help expel some of that extra puppy energy, it’s an excellent tool for other situations where your little guy may feel overwhelmed by the chaos around him.

Playing with your puppy encourages brain development, promotes bonding, and uses up some much-needed energy––it’s one of the best ways to ensure your furball turns into a well-behaved adult. Get out there and play, your pup will thank you for it!

Mark Siebel

Since 2005, Mark Siebel has trained over 6000 satisfied K’9’s and customers alike. The goal has always been to show owners how to properly integrate their dog into the home setting. Consulting on what breed of dog to buy, where to buy/rescue from, preparing your home for your new puppy and health/nutrition are just a few ways DOGGIE STEPS helps its customers.

The post 5 Puppy Training Games You Should Play With Your Puppy appeared first on Doggie Steps Dog Training.

Are you planning on bringing home a new puppy? After doing your research, finding a dog breed and a puppy that is right for you, there will still be several things that a dog owner should do to get ready to have and care for a new puppy. It is important to be prepared when the puppy gets home that way you can spend your time taking care and playing with your puppy. First you will need to puppy proof your house. Then, you will want to purchase or get a crate, toys for your puppy, and puppy food. Finally, you will also want to set up and establish a schedule to make potty training easier.

Puppy proofing your home will help protect your puppy and your home. Puppies are just as curious about their environment as young children. Puppies will get into anything they can get their puppy paws or teeth into. It is easier to take tempting objects away, than it is to correct a puppy’s natural desire to put everything into their mouths. Start with anything that can be poisonous to your puppy. The last thing any new owner wants is for their new puppy to get into anything that could ruin this happy time in their puppy’s life. Put any household cleaners or other toxic chemicals out of your puppy’s reach. Some puppies will learn how to open cabinets so make sure there are no poisonous items inside. Inside and out, look for hazardous or poisonous plants that your puppy might get into. Some of these plants include: cactus, dumbcane, mistletoe, philodendron, poinsettia, azalea, boxwood, cherry seeds, daffodil blooms, honeysuckle, horse chestnut, holly, lily of the valley, morning glory, rhododendron, rhubarb, skunk cabbage, tulip bulbs and wild mushroom. ALSO: NO chocolate, raisins, grapes, or onions.

Puppies like to chew on electrical cords, so be sure to move cords out of reach of your puppy, not only will this damage your equipment but a shock can be fatal to a small puppy. Pick up anything that your puppy will be able to swallow such as sharp objects or items that can get stuck in the puppy’s throat or intestines. Keep your garbage out of reach from your puppy, especially when it comes to garbage in your kitchen. Your puppy will be able to smell spoiled foods inside and it is tempting to a puppy. Your puppy will get into other garbage cans as well, so keep those out of reach from your puppy.

Get down to your puppy’s eye level, if you see anything that might interest your puppy pick it up and get it out of the way. It is better to keep temptation away, that way no bad habits will form. Also, you might want to keep some of your home off-limits to your puppy so you might want to get a baby gate to keep him out of these areas. Keeping him out of these areas will not only help you keep an eye on your puppy, but it will prevent him from sneaking off to potty or destroy furniture in other parts of the house. When your puppy gets older and better behaved you can extend his boundaries, but gating off areas of the house now will help keep destructive behavior at bay.

Next you will want to get a wire or plastic crate for your new puppy. Crate-training is a great way to help housetrain your puppy, it can help reduce destructive behaviors, and it is a safe way to travel with your dog, in the car or on a plane. You will want to buy a crate that a puppy can grow into, unless you want to buy more then one crate. A puppy or dog that is not fully housetrained should only be allowed to stand up and turn around in their crate. If a crate is too big the puppy will eliminate on one side of the crate and sleep on the other, block off extra areas until your puppy gets bigger. It takes time to crate train your puppy. You need to ease him into crate training. You can unscrew the top part of your plastic crate, or keep the door open to the wire crate. Then, put some treats and fun toys for your puppy to play with inside the crate. When your puppy goes inside the crate praise him, do not close the door right away. Let your puppy explore and get used to the crate. Once he is used to the crate you can practice closing the door when he goes inside. If your puppy starts whining or crying do not yell or bang on the crate because that will only scare him. Also, you do not want to let your puppy out as soon as he starts crying. Doing so will only teach him that crying works. After about ten minutes in the crate let your puppy out, praise him, and then bring him to the designated potty spot. Even if your puppy does not go potty it is good to establish a routine. Once your puppy starts to get used to his crate you can start putting him in the crate for longer periods of time. Do not leave your puppy in the crate for too long, because you do not want him to have an accident. It is natural for a puppy not to eliminate in his den, but a puppy may have an accident if he is left in a crate for too long. This will only hinder potty training.

Along with a crate you will need to get chew toys, bedding, and good puppy food. You will need bedding that is easy to wash, hard to destroy, and a material that is soft for your puppy to lie on. You will need a food and a water dish. If your puppy is going to get bigger you may want to get a stand to put the food and water dish on, it makes it easier for big dogs to digest their food. Speaking of dog food, you will want to get a good quality puppy food. If your puppy is used to another brand of food introduce your puppy to his new food slowly. Start with a mix of ¾ old kibble and ¼ new kibble for 2 days, then ½ old kibble and ½ new kibble the 3 rd-4 th days, finally ¼ old kibble and ¾ new kibble before feeding your puppy a new brand of food. It is hard for your puppy to digest new foods so slowly introducing a new food will help keep your puppy from getting sick. Chew toys are another great accessory for your puppy. He is naturally going to want to mouth everything he can. A great way to keep your puppy from chewing on your favorite shoes is to give him a chew toy and praise him for chewing on it. Hard/Durable-Nylabones, Billy Beef Sticks, Kongs filled with cheese or peanut butter, tennis balls, and hard-meat bones are all good chewing toys for your dog.

Now that you have your house ready for your puppy, it’s time to get you and your family ready. You need to sit down and make a schedule that everyone in the family can stick to. Not only will the schedule help to make sure that your new puppy is not getting over fed, but it will also help housetraining. If you know when your puppy’s last meal was you will know when your puppy needs to go outside. A rule of thumb with puppies is that they need to go outside every time they finish doing something. Every time they finish chewing, playing, sleeping, drinking, and eating they need to go outside. The fewer accidents your puppy has inside the less likely he will associate going to the bathroom indoors. Many people like to bring their new puppy home on the weekend, this way they have extra time to devote to housebreaking and settling their puppy in. LESS IS MORE!!!

Now that you have done the research, and you have a game plan you are ready to bring home your new puppy. The first year of raising a puppy will be the most challenging, but if done properly you will soon find that you now have a happy, well-adjusted, well-mannered, and furry member of your family.

Mark Siebel

Since 2005, Mark Siebel has trained over 6000 satisfied K’9’s and customers alike. The goal has always been to show owners how to properly integrate their dog into the home setting. Consulting on what breed of dog to buy, where to buy/rescue from, preparing your home for your new puppy and health/nutrition are just a few ways DOGGIE STEPS helps its customers.

The post Bringing Home a New Puppy appeared first on Doggie Steps Dog Training.

Cute, cuddly and hungry! When your new puppy is ready for solid food, it is essential that they follow a complete and balanced diet. This will help supply them with sufficient amounts of nutrients and provide energy in order to promote optimal growth and development. While your puppy may be begging for your bacon, it’s your responsibility as a dog owner to make sure that they fulfill all of their nutritional requirements.

Digging deeper into the nutritional needs of your adorable young dog may seem like a daunting task, but it is imperative for you to learn and understand this information so they can grow into healthy adults. Continue reading to discover what exactly a healthy, growing puppy needs during the first year of his or her life.

What are the essential macronutrient requirements for a puppy?

Proteins: Your puppy’s diet must consists of at least 20-25 percent protein. Proteins are crucial to the growth of your puppy because they are considered the basic building blocks for cells, organs, tissues, antibodies and hormones. Protein is also a vital component of the 10 essential amino acids that puppies require for tip-top growth and good health.

Protein’s biggest biological value are amino acids, which studies have shown to be responsible for multiple vital processes in a dog’s body. It’s important to note that for a growing pet, animal proteins have a much higher biological value when compared to proteins from vegetables. It is much easier for a puppy to digest animal proteins than plant-based ones. Research says that if your pooch’s diet is high in protein, there’s a significantly lower risk to fail with nutrition requirements [1]. Contrary to popular belief, all the extra protein will just be broken down to supply them with more energy, and a lack of it can result in a dull coat, depressed immunity, loss of appetite, weight loss and poor growth.

WHAT kind of puppy food should I feed my puppy? Read THIS.

Fats: Fat is also crucial the development of your puppy as it provides essential fatty acids and energy. It also helps transport fat soluble vitamins through their body. Furthermore, it ensures that their coat and skin remains healthy.

An ideal puppy diet should consist of approximately 8-10 percent fat. Keep in mind, there is such thing as too much fat, as studies have found [2]. This can result in developmental orthopedic diseases and even obesity. Limit their fat intake by opting for veggie sticks as treats and depending on the breed, switching to adult food between 10 and 18 months of age. Keep in mind, larger breeds take longer to mature so it is best to ask your vet when it is time to switch from puppy to adult dog food.

Carbohydrates: Given the fact that dogs’ have evolved through the starch-rich diet [3], including a sufficient amount of carbohydrates in your pooch’s diet is simply common sense.

Supplied in the diet from vegetables and grains, carbohydrates are a direct source of energy for your puppy. Without adequate amounts of carbohydrates and fats, the puppy’s body will proceed to convert protein to glucose in order to obtain the energy that they need. As a result, they will no longer have protein available to help assist in the growth and building of their internal tissues.

How often should puppies eat?

To make sure that they are getting all of the nutrients they need, a young puppy should be eating three to six times per day. Weaning should begin at around four to six month of age, and will result in only twice-a-day feedings at six months. You should always make sure that fresh, clean water is available to them at all hours of the day.

After a month or so of eating solid food, take the time and begin assessing your puppies’ health, and observe them closely. Are they energetic and playful, with a thick, shiny coat? If so, this is a good sign they are getting the nutrients that they need. Solid brown stool is another positive sign that they are following a healthy diet. If you have any concerns regarding the diet and nutritional requirements of your puppy, be sure to express them to your veterinarian, and don’t forget about the regular check-ups.

For MORE great dog training and dog info. see this helpful site: Next Gen Dog

Mark Siebel

Since 2005, Mark Siebel has trained over 6000 satisfied K’9’s and customers alike. The goal has always been to show owners how to properly integrate their dog into the home setting. Consulting on what breed of dog to buy, where to buy/rescue from, preparing your home for your new puppy and health/nutrition are just a few ways DOGGIE STEPS helps its customers.

The post Puppy Feeding Tips appeared first on Doggie Steps Dog Training.

Bringing home a new dog is a major commitment. The #1 challenge I see with my dog training customers, is the breed and temperament of the dog not fitting the lifestyle of the

owner.

Lifestyle is VERY important when choosing a dog. How often are you home? Are you physically active? Do you have a flexible schedule?

The customers/dogs I train who experience the best success all share the same characteristics: Commitment, consistency, and discipline. All of these traits will be required to ensure the best environment for your new dog to prosper.

Choosing The Right Dog

Author: Bernadette Emery Co-Author: Mark Siebel

When people see a well-behaved, cute dog performing tricks on the big screen, they often think that dog would be a perfect dog for them. They head to their local pet store or to the closest animal shelter hoping to bring home a new friend. They want their new dog to be just as well-behaved and cute as the dog they saw on-screen. But after only a few weeks they begin to notice that the dog has too much energy or that all the dog wants to do is play fetch! They realize this dog is not the kind for them or worse, that they are not dog people. Maybe they will stick it through and hope their dog gets better, or maybe they will find their dog a new home, but in most cases these dogs end up being abandoned.

It is not the dog’s fault. The dog’s owner did not do any research when it came to what breed of dog would be best for the owner’s lifestyle. When picking out a new dog or puppy, research is the key.

So where should a new dog owner start? First, a new dog owner, or an old dog owner who is looking for a new dog, should think of some dogs she already has some interest in. Maybe her neighbor has a German Shepherd, and maybe she has seen a Golden Retriever on television, and she likes the way he looks and acts. With over 150 different purebred dogs, narrowing down to a list of five to ten different kinds is the best place to start.

The next step is to find out some information about the dog breeds. The AKC.org website is a good place to start. They also have listings for different dog breeders. Getting in contact with breeders, or a local vet will also help future dog owners collect information about the kind of dog that is right for them.

There are several areas that a future dog owner should be concerned about. Once the future dog owner knows these areas she will be able to ask good questions about the breed of dog that interests her.

Temperament: every dog owner wants to make sure that they get a dog with a personality that they can live with. Is the dog active? Is the dog easy to train? Is the dog friendly with strangers? Can the dog be left alone for long periods of time? All of these questions will help a future dog owner pick a dog that is right for them.

Size is another concern that a dog owner should have. A larger dog will need to eat more, and have enough room to fit his needs. Grooming is also an area that a future dog owner should be interested in. All dogs need some grooming but some dogs need more than others. A dog owner should think about how much time and energy that she wants to spend on grooming the dog. Health is also a concern with different dog breeds. Some dog breeds are genetically prone to different illnesses, this can cause a problem if owners are not willing to take care of a sick dog.

Different dog breeds need different amounts of exercise as well. Some dogs need more then an hour of exercise a day while others need very little. If a dog owner is not willing to properly exercise her dog then the dog may become bored or depressed and this can lead to unwanted behaviors.

A future dog owner should also think about the people and other animals in her family. Some dog breeds are less child-friendly than others, especially young children. If a dog owner already has a dog, she will want to get a dog that is good with other dogs. Some dog breeds are not known for being good with cats, so that should be looked at as well.

Maybe a new dog owner is thinking about getting a Golden Retriever puppy. He may have seen Golden Retriever puppies on television or knows someone that owns a golden. This breed was ranked number 4 in AKC top dog breeds of 2007. Golden Retriever dogs are well-mannered and intelligent dogs. They are fairly easy to train because they like to please their master. They can get along great with children. These dogs are loyal and a great family dog. While they are more prone to lick a stranger then attack, these dogs can loudly signal a strangers approach so they are able to become good watch dogs. They do not like to be left alone for long periods of time, and they can get into mischief if they are isolated too much.

The size of these dogs can range from 20-24 inches and 55-80 pounds. Grooming is fairly easy, just comb and brush regularly, but make sure the undercoat is brushed, shampoo and wash normally. The dogs shed an average amount. Golden Retriever dogs are prone to hip dysplasia and cotangential eye defects. When looking for a puppy make sure that the dog parents are tested for Von Willebrand’s disease and any heart problems. These dogs are also prone to skin allergies. Golden Retriever dogs can live 10 to 12 years.

Golden Retrievers need daily exercise, a good brisk walk or jog is a great way to do this. These dogs also like a good game of fetch. Be careful not to overfeed these dogs because they will gain weight.

German Shepherd Dogs were number 3 on 2007’s top breeds and they can be a great dog to own. German Shepherd Dogs are a very active dog. This is a herding breed but are so versatile that they are often used as working dogs. They are bold, obedient and eager to learn. They love to be close to their families and are very loyal, but they are wary of strangers. This breed should not be isolated for long periods of time. They are not prone to excessive barking. They have a protective nature, but they need to be trained properly to prevent over guarding. German Shepherd Dogs are very smart and respond well to training, but if the dogs do not get the right kind of training they can become aggressive and attack.

These dogs are only a little bigger then the Golden Retrievers between 22-26 inches and 77-85 pounds. They shed normally, but these dogs do have a seasonally high shedding period. To avoid having to vacuum every day just run a brush through the dog’s coat daily. Avoid bathing the dog too much because that will deplete the skin’s natural oils. German Shepherd Dogs are prone to hip and elbow dysplesia, blood disorders, digestive problems, epilepsy, and other genetic related problems. These health concerns can be avoided or minimized by getting a puppy from a reputable breeder.

Working class dogs love to work and exercise. Make these dogs work by briskly walking or jogging them, and combining some mental stimulation. If under exercised, these dogs can become restless and destructive. With proper training these dogs can do well with children and other pets, but training and socialization need to start at an early age.

Maybe a smaller dog is better suited for a future dog owner; a Maltese dog can make a good pet. These dogs are playful, gentle and trusting of a good owner. The dogs are very intelligent, and will learn tricks if the dog thinks he is getting a good reward. They make good watch dogs because they will sound the alarm. They may take a little longer to potty train than most dogs, but a regular schedule early on will help with accidents.

These dogs only get to be about 8-10 inches in height and weigh about 6-9 pounds. Maltese shed very little, so they are great dogs for allergy suffers. The dog’s grooming can take more work. They need to be brushed daily because they have long hair, and because the hair is soft it’s important to be gentle. A dog owner should clean the dog’s eyes and beard daily to prevent staining Baths, and ear cleaning are important too. Some Maltese dog owner’s take their dog to professional groomers and have the dog’s hair clipped so that it is easier and less time consuming to take care of. Health concerns for Maltese dogs include: sun burns, skin, respiratory, eye and tooth problems. They also may be picky eaters. These dogs live about 15 years but they can live as long as 18 years.

Play will take care of much of the Maltese’s exercise needs, but a daily walk is still a great way to lessen behavioral problems. They are good in apartments because they are very active indoors and do not require a yard to play in. These dogs can be snappy towards children especially young children and infants. Maltese are great with other animals however.

There are over 150 breeds of dogs to choose from, and there are many more mixed breeds. Whether or not a dog is a mixed or a purebred, a future dog owner should take the time to do some research on the type of dog that will be best for them. Finding the well-behaved, trick performing dog, may not be as easy as it seems on television, but with proper research and training it will benefit the dog and the dog’s family in the long run.

Mark Siebel

Since 2005, Mark Siebel has trained over 6000 satisfied K’9’s and customers alike. The goal has always been to show owners how to properly integrate their dog into the home setting. Consulting on what breed of dog to buy, where to buy/rescue from, preparing your home for your new puppy and health/nutrition are just a few ways DOGGIE STEPS helps its customers.

The post What Dog is Right For Me? appeared first on Doggie Steps Dog Training.

A wire crate or dog kennel makes an excellent way to potty train and teach your dog “calm-submissive” mentalities. Freedom is great for a dog IF THEY LIVE IN THE WILD or on a farm. However, in a domestic environment, less is more. With this less is more approach, your dog will learn NOT to potty where it sleeps and will benefit from the calming effects of spending time in a crate. The following tips will definitely start saving you money on your carpet cleaning bills:

1. Dogs generally don’t sleep where they eliminate. A dog’s best sense is smell. Therefore, they will most often eliminate in an area where they don’t sleep. The use of a crate will form the mindset that the immediate area of the dog must be clean. You want the area of the crate just big enough to let your dog turn around. This way, they won’t eliminate in one corner and sleep in the other. Once your dog no longer has accidents in the crate, you will then graduate him to a slightly larger area (i.e. bathroom or laundry room.) When this larger area proves accident free, you can continue to larger areas until your dog grasps the concept that “potty” is done outside.
2. A crate brings “calmness and tranquility” to dogs. A normal misconception that many of my customers have is that a crate causes psychological harm to their dog. ANSWER: If my Mother hadn’t given me numerous “time outs” on the dining room chair for upwards of an hour, I NEVER would have gotten off my A-D-D medication! Too much space and freedom for a young puppy will ultimately result in longer potty training times, excessive chewing, and an increase in incessant barking and outdoor roaming. I recommend giving your puppy a “job” to do in the crate like a hard nylabone or a Kong filled with bones or peanut butter. I don’t recommend any potty pads or soft toys with plastic squeakers.
3. The crate is your “babysitter.” Most babysitters today can cost upwards of $8.00 an hour! Your dogs crate is FREE and always available. If your dogs behavior becomes highly energized or incessant begging, jumping, barking, or chewing won’t stop, use the crate as your “babysitter.” A time out is beneficial to a dog’s mental growth. Just be sure you never associate negative tone with your crate. Make it a vacation or a calm “get away” for your dog. Over 50% of my customers tell me that after only one month, their puppy will walk into the crate on its own. The crate becomes a safe haven and resting place, where the dog naturally connects to it as a den.
4. Finally – One step forward, two steps back. Just as humans need to relearn or sometimes get back to basics, so do dogs. If your dog is fully potty trained but goes through chewing, barking, or digging periods, go back to using the crate. Returning to the crate will ignite a trigger in the brain, resulting with calmer, less destructive behaviors in the future.

The benefits of using a crate or kennel to develop your dog’s calm-submissive growth are significant and include quicker potty-train time and an overall calming state of mind. Will my dog become antisocial if I crate him? NO. Will my dog think I don’t like him if I crate her? NO. Is it inhumane to crate my dog? NO. But he barks for hours! (Get earplugs. Barking normally stops within one week.) When it comes to crating your dog, think like a dog and NOT a human. You’ll be saving money on your carpet cleaning bills in no time.

Mark Siebel

Since 2005, Mark Siebel has trained over 6000 satisfied K’9’s and customers alike. The goal has always been to show owners how to properly integrate their dog into the home setting. Consulting on what breed of dog to buy, where to buy/rescue from, preparing your home for your new puppy and health/nutrition are just a few ways DOGGIE STEPS helps its customers.

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