The frustration that leads frazzled pet owners to abandoning their dogs to shelters the most is a lack of effective house training. Remember that your dog is a family member, and as such, is worth the time and effort required to properly house break them, so that you can be a happier pet owner and your dog can be happily in their family’s arms, not in a shelter.

The house training method we’ll be going over in this article is crate training. I consider crate training a great gift to your dog. As a den animal, your dog will learn to love his or her “den”. Their crate will become a safe place, their sanctuary when they are stressed or just when they want some peace and quiet. Crate training is the house breaking method of choice for any good dog trainer and is widely considered the best way to train your animal to do their business outside.

Crate training begins with an initial 4 week process. During this process, your dog should be in one of the following places at all times:

1) in their crate

2) on the grass

3) in front of you

It may sound harsh, but remember that this is only for the first four weeks of training. Dogs develop a preference for where they do their business; we want that to be the grass.

The first step to good crate training is to keep in mind what size crate is needed. Make sure the crate is just large enough for the dog. Dogs will not soil the area where they are going to sleep or stay, which is what makes crate training effective. But, if you purchase a crate too big, the dog will be able to do its business in one side of the crate and still be able to comfortably lay in the other end. We want to teach the dog that it can control itself while in the crate and can “hold it” until you are able to let him outside. Also, remember to not put anything absorbent in the crate, such as a towel or pillow – this may allow the dog to soil the object and still be comfortably out of its own mess.

The first four weeks:

So that it can’t make messes in inappropriate places, whenever you aren’t supervising your puppy, he or she should be in their crate.

The first four weeks of training will require frequent trips outside for the pup: Immediately after you provide food or water for your puppy, take it outside to the grass. Also, immediately after it wakes from a nap or gets excited, take the dog out.

Do not forget that you MUST pay attention to your puppy’s every move when it is outside of the crate. A good tip to remember is to attach your puppy’s leash to your belt so that it is always close by.

Remember that consistency is the key – teach all family members these steps and to not allow your dog to do its business inside the house. Without consistent crate training, it may develop a preference for using the restroom on carpet or tile over grass.

Dog parks are not for everyone and certainly not for every dog. Personally I’m not a dog park person but many of my clients enjoy taking their dogs to the dog park for interaction with other dogs.

Dogs are pack animals and accordingly, enjoy running and playing with other dogs. If they are available in your area, dog parks are a great place where your dog can run off leash and socialize with other dogs. Not only do they please your furry companion, but you can feel like a good owner in knowing that your dog is getting their social needs met. As an example, Nashville, Tennessee, has several fenced in dog parks where your dog can be let loose to run and play.

Even though dogs are allowed to be off leash, they must still, obviously, be supervised by their owners. The dog park environment seems relaxed and in the dog’s favor, but you still have the potential to maintain teaching your dog to be obedient. Many dog park guests simply sit on the bench and wait for their dog to wear themselves out so they can leave. Doing this is neglecting your responsibility to your position as your dog’s master and teacher.

In such an atmosphere, there is the potential for your dog to cause problems that you might not notice if you allow yourself to disconnect from your animal while they are at play. To prevent such skirmishes and to remind your animal that they are still to obey you, take the time to do the following steps the next time you are out at the dog park. Making sure your animal is still listening and obedient, even while excited and at play, will ensure their safety and fun while out.

• Practice periodically leashing your dog and removing him from the fenced area. Go over a few basic commands he is used to, such as sit or stay, and reward him before returning him to playing. This technique reminds your animal that obeying you is still important, even when he is having tons of fun or is distracted.

• When dogs are loose and at play, dominance aggression is sometimes an inevitable occurrence. Social canine aggression can lead to dangerous tiffs in which your dog, or someone else’s dog, could get injured. You can minimize the potential for aggression cropping up by reminding your dog and nearby dominant dogs that you are in control of him. Do this by calling to your animal by name while they are at play, having him come to you and petting him before allowing him to return to the other dogs.

• Be careful to keep a close watch on your dog and to dissolve or remove him from bad situations with negative behavior. Red flags include tense or aggressive body language, mounting, intense staring, snarling or nipping. While in a pack, as is the case in dog parks, dominant dogs have a tendency to single out submissive ones. If your dog lies on their back, tucks in their tail or begins to urinate, make sure to remove him immediately, as this is a sign of being overwhelmed by stress and fear.

Good trips to the dog park can be a great experience for both you and your dog. Remember a tired dog is a happy dog and playing at the park can give your dog the much needed exercise he needs.

If you’re going to get a dog there are several things you need to think about first. Buying the wrong dog could be a bad decision that you’ll regret for a long time to come. Just keep these things in mind and you’re sure to find the best dog at the best breeder.

The first thing to consider is the breed and size of dog you’d prefer. These things will be dependant on the type of dog that has the look you want. Also, remember that your family needs to have some input, and that certain dogs have health problems that you might not want to take a risk on.

Many dogs that are larger (like Golden Retrievers) are more prone to getting things like hip-dysplasia. This is a disease that negatively affects the hip joints of the dog. As the dog gets older their hips won’t be able to sustain their weight. This is a sad thing, but it will affect their ability to walk and stand. Surgery is one option that you may or may not want to consider down the road.

You might be thinking that if large dogs have these problems you might just opt to get a small dog instead. Unfortunately, they come with their own problems. If you get a dog that is in the ‘toy breed’ category then you may find breathing problems. These are dogs like the Pug, Pekinese, and Lassa Apso. The reason for these problems is because of their small muzzle and lack of sinus and nasal development.

If all dogs have their problems then where are you to turn? The best thing you can do is gather information to make an informed decision. One idea is to ask a friend or family member who has experience with the type of dog you are considering. Whenever you get into a conversation with someone ask them if they have any dog experience. You’ll find that people love to talk about their pets.

Another amazing resource for dog information is researching on the Internet. You can search by dog breed and find a wealth of information that you never thought possible. Print out and highlight key information that you’ll use in making your decision.

Additionally, you can buy books on the breed to learn all you can about them. These books are often a fascinating read and can uncover a lot of information you didn’t know before. If you fill yourself with information before heading off to the breeder you’ll be a lot more likely to make the right decision.

When you are ready to go to the breeder be sure to come with a list of questions in hand. These breeders should be very excited and willing to answer your questions. There are some things you should examine about the environment as well.

• Are the dogs clean?
• Are the kennels clean?
• Are they well cared for?
• Are the mother and father well cared for?
• What type of food are they eating?
• Have the puppies had their shots?

You’ll find that a good breeder will go above and beyond to make sure that their animals are top notch and well loved. If you can find a good kennel that meets all of these criteria you’re a lot more likely to find the perfect dog.

Do be careful! There are breeders out there who are just in it for the money. They do not pay close attention to what the dogs need, so long as they bring in money at the end of the day. Avoid these breeders because you will just find ill dogs. Many breeders will sell puppies as early as 5 or 6 weeks old, don’t buy from them. A good breeder will not remove the puppy from the litter until 8 weeks.

If you want to make sure you’re well protected you should find a breeder that has a 72-hour return policy. This is enough time to take the dog to the vet to make sure everything is in order. You should also get a 2 year OFA guarantee with breeds that are prone to hip problems.

Researching your dog and finding the right breeder are surefire ways to make sure that the dog you come home with is the right one.