Your help to stop dog wetting

SO you can't send that little devil off to doggy boot camp and you don't need to resort to that, but you do need to get ready for battle. Rest assured that with the right direction, YOU CAN whip that little wetter into a well trained dog, that even the White House would be proud of!

DON'T

Expect overnight success. Rome wasn't built in a day and that little puppy of yours wont be acting like Lassie by the end of the week. It will take time.

DO

Be patient. Dogs are smart, contrary to what cat owners say. When you get frustrated with them they will pick up on your frustration, which will NOT help. Say to yourself "he's just a puppy...he's just a puppy".

DON'T

Be inconsistent. This is one of the worst things you could possibly do. When it comes to training a puppy, consistent repetition is an ABSOLUTE MUST! Regular potty breaks, regular feeding times, regular exercise....etc. Dogs love to please the "Alpha Dog" and that's you. If he is confused and does'nt know what you expect of him, it will frustrate the both of you.

DO

Give Praise. When your puppy does good, you need to go over the top, WAY over the top, with praise and acknowledgment. Your neighbors may think your weird when you jump up and down every time he goes outside, but trust me, marking the tree in the yard is better than marking your Lazyboy. It's worth it.

• DON'T
  
  Assume. If you discipline your puppy for a mess that he made when you weren't around, it sends a confusing signal. Discipline needs to be done when caught in the act. Just because he "looks guilty," don't assume he knows he did something wrong. Chances are he is cowering to the Alpha dog.
  
  
• DO
  
  Act fast. Clean up any urine mess quickly and thoroughly. Besides the fact of the obvious "Umm Duh"... any trace of urine will encourage a repeat offense. A GOOD urine cleaner is a must.
  
  
• DON'T
  
  Give up. It always amazes me how many people just give up on a puppy when times are tough, don't let this be you. I always say, "every dog has a good dog inside, it just takes a good person to bring it out". Be the good person.



• DO
  
  Enjoy your puppy. In the words of the Bobby McFerrin's one hit wonder "Don't Worry Be Happy," remind yourself of why you brought home that cute little fella in the first place and enjoy. Now that's good advice!

Nothing beats having a well behaved dog in the home, they just seem to have a way of making everyone in the house laugh and smile a whole lot more. If you have enjoyed these basic puppy tips, I would encourage you to let me know. Just scroll down to the bottom of this page and drop a "blurb" in the guest book. Also if you have a special puppy story you would like to share, I would love to hear it.

Thanks