Training A Difficult Dog

What? Put my cute furry puppy in a small metal crate? Are you kidding? NO I'm not! Hold on a minute. A dog really and truly loves his crate. I'm not kidding. It is a place where he is safe, comfortable and happy (like a "man cave.")

Think about this - for those of you who have a baby, where do you put yout child? On the floor crawling all around? No, you have the baby in a small bassinet or crib which is safe, warm and protected. The same applies to your dog - your new baby. When your baby grows and gets bigger, he or she gratuates to a junior bed, then a single bed and ultimately a double bed. The dog crate should follow along these same lines. When the dog gets bigger, the crate gets bigger too.

Note: The crate should not be more than 1 & 1/2 times the length of your dog. Too much room leads to touble.

Ok. Now that we agree it is really safer for the dog to be in a crate, training a difficult dog to become housebroken will be so much easier. Trust me. I was skeptical myself, until I did it!

Remember this: A dog will NOT pee or poop where he eats and sleeps!

This makes sense. You don't want to sleep on wet sheets and neither does Fido. Below are some easy steps to follow when training a difficult dog or a puppy to become housebroken.

a) In the morning (FIRST thing) go to crate, attach leash, let dog out.
b) Walk dog DIRECTLY to door and take outside to do his business.
c) Bring back inside, let play for 20-30 min.
d) Feed and water (limited amount)
e) Fido goes BACK IN THE CRATE. This is VERY IMPORTANT.

At this point you go to work, but repeat steps a-d when you get home at night. If you are home during the day, repeat steps a-d without feeding till dinnertime. Throughout the day you may play with the puppy, but remember if you keep him out of the crate and he is drinking water, he will have to pee. If your dog has an accident, keep in mind your dog is in training. Try to think that you are not training a difficult dog, but a wonderful loving dog who made a mistake.

Also, puppies and young dogs are like children. They run around like crazy and then they crash. So don't feel guilty that they are in their crate sleeping - they probably need the rest!

As your dog associates coming out of the crate and going to the SAME door each time he has to do his business, Fido is learning the system. When he goes to the door on his own you will know he is saying, "Please let me go outside. I need to do my business."
Progress!

Ah yes, chewing. I would like to forget about this stage. Dogs and babies (you see this theme here?) put EVERYTHING in their mouths. The world is new and they are in trying to discover everything in it, so everything goes in their mouth.

Again, if you are using your crate it is easier training a difficult dog to stop chewing the legs of your kitchen table when you are not at home, because he can't get to it!

TIP: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give your dog one of your old slippers or shoes to play with.

Why you ask? You know those beautiful new shoes you just bought that are on the floor of your closet? Well, Fido doesn't know how much you paid for them. They have your scent. Fido loves you and wants to have you near. When you are not around he will be lonely. Then he will find your shoes and begin to chew them - NOT the old crappy slippers which are ready for the garbage. He is cutting teeth and needs to quench the sensation.

So here is my solution. Buy your dog a dog toy. Only give him dog toys. He needs to know what is his and what is not his. THE best dog chew toy on the market is a KONG. Just like King Kong. They use the same material to make this toy as they do to make tires. It is almost indestructible. Definitely worth the investment of a couple of bucks. They come in all shapes and sizes, fun for the dogs too.

TIP: If you purchase a dog toy with a hole in it, fill it with Peanut Butter. They love it and it gives them a workout. It is better than getting your floors or carpet stained with a dark basted raw hide.

Many people are so excited to have a new pet that they forget that an animal is a huge responsibility. They do not start training the dog, and before you know it, they feel they have a bad dog. They look for help with training a difficult dog. To avoid this feeling of doom, begin training your dog on the first day he comes home.

Start with crate training (see above) and always use a leash when walking your dog. The most important thing to keep in mind is that your dog needs lot of patience. It is a young animal, even if it is 2 or 3 years old. It is still considered a puppy when it comes to it's maturity. So be as patient as you can and most importantly be CONSISTENT.

By doing the same thing over and over you create a pattern and a schedule that your dog will like. Your dog will respond to this! He will know what is coming. It will help you read the signals your dog is sending you.

TIP: Positive reinforcement goes a long way when training a difficult dog.

Especially when training a difficult dog, the technique of reinforcing good behavior will ultimately change his behavior. This is what you are looking to achieve. For older dogs, good behavior is now being re-taught. So, give Fido a "biscuit" when he does his business outside. We all love treats. So give him a reward and everyone will be happy.

The more time you put into training a difficult dog, the better your results. All breeds are different. Some will "catch on" quicker than other. But, all dogs can be trainned. Should you pay for obedience training? It's up to you. Enrolling in a doggie class with your dog is valuable. Reading books on training a difficult dog are always helpful. There are many to choose from. However, you need to practice any techniques at home. The more you know the greater your success and the more rewarding your relationship with your dog can be.

Best of Luck!