 When housebreaking your puppy there may be times when she just won't "go", but then you will let her in and she will go in the house. Don't get mad, because she is still learning. If it takes up to 15 minutes, then it takes up to 15 minutes. Be patient. If, after 15 minutes she still hasn't gone, put her in her crate for 10 minutes, then try again. Reward her heavily when she finally goes outside (and reward her outside, not after you get back inside, or you will send a mixed message). If she does go in the house again, grab a newspaper, roll it up, and hit yourself in the head because you were not patient enough!
 Your first instinct when dogs are fighting is to grab them by the collar and separate them, but that is an invitation to get bitten yourself! Your best approach is to grab the dogs' rear legs and lift, like using a wheel barrow (grab up by the hips, not the feet, which can cause injury). Back away from the other dog and, while still in "wheel barrow mode", turn the dogs 180 degrees so they are not facing each other. Then you can take them by the collar and lead them away. Of course this works best with two people each taking a dog. If you are alone you want to remove the more aggressive of the two dogs.
 Believe it or not, when a dog jumps to greet people it is showing a normal, submissive behavior, and it thinks it is being polite! Instead of trying to eliminate this natural behavior, try replacing it with a "sit" or "go to your place" command until the dog settles down.
 Having your child learn how to train your dog teaches your child maturity, responsibility, and appreciation for another living creature. It teaches your dog to respect your child and to not treat her as a play thing.
 Most dog bites happen to small children by their own families' dogs. It is important to teach not only how your dog acts around children, but also how your children act around dogs.
 Without consistent training, your dog will forget the behaviors you have taught her. Just a few minutes of training every day, along with variable reinforcement, will help your dog hone her skills. As they say, practice makes perfect!
 Playing and training should be equally fun and beneficial for your dog. Make training fun, and use play time to train. Your dog will not know the difference, and it will make for a more rewarding experience for you.
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AuthorJeff Dentler, CPDT-KA, IAABC-ADT, FFCP, CTDI Archives
December 2023
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