1. The importance of a routine

Dogs respond to routine excellently well. Setting a stanch routine to pity train your pup involves taking them to their designated at fixed times of the day and keeping a fixed rotation of activities. In other words, a puppy’s life should be a monotonous pattern of one activity following the other, eg – eat – sleep – play – potty – repeat.

If you consistently crate your dog immediately after a they come back from a walk for a couple of hours and take your dog to their pee/potty spot soon as they get out of the crate, after a few days they will find their way to the designated area without being prompted to do so.

A fixed routine also allows a puppy to adjust their body clock accordingly and will help you accurately predict when they need to relieve themselves.

2. Take the help of a crate

Crates, when used correctly, can be a blessing in disguise and an incredible training assist tool. Preventing accidents and building bladder control are two of the most crucial aspects of setting a pup up for potty training success. A crate comes in handy in helping you achieve both. Puppies instinctively don’t soil where they sleep, unless forced to do so.

If they get a free range of the house, they would repeatedly have accidents everywhere, thereby delaying the process of potty training. Crates help in building bladder control by teaching the puppy to wait to be let out to pee/ poop.

Make sure to not leave your pup in the crate for far too long. Doing so may force them to either soil the crate or they may end up ruining their health while trying to hold their pee in.

Crates are known to accelerate the process of potty training by fourfolds.

3. Have ONE designated spot

Having multiple pee pads in the house or multiple surfaces like pee pads and grass patch all at once, expecting your pup to relieve themselves indoors and outdoors are some things that may highly confuse your pup. When potty training your pup, make sure to have only one designated spot. Lead them to this spot as frequently as possible and reward for every successful attempt.

Make sure to accommodate your puppy’s preferences too. Some pups may prefer peeing only on a particular surface whereas some pups may prefer indoor to outdoors. Allow your puppy to pick their choice of spot (as long as it’s not in a random spot in the house).

4. Reward reward reward

Puppies perform and repeat behaviors that get them rewards and attention. This is the basic principle behind positive reinforcement. It is not only a technique which is applied to teach dogs new behaviors, but also to reinforce existing behaviors.

Rewards is what differentiates the designated spot from all the wrong, random spots in the house where your pup is likely to have an accident. SLowly but surely, your puppy would start associating the designated spot with rewards and may want to relieve themselves willingly in that spot.

Have a bunch of your puppy’s favorite treats ready in their designated spot. This will make sure you are capturing and rewarding the behavior at the right time, one of the most crucial factors while setting your dog up for potty training success.

5. Avoid giving free range of the house

Welcoming home a new puppy is exciting. We want to know everything about them and we want them to know everything about us and the house they are going to be living in. However, giving full access to the enstire house from day 1 will do more harm than good.

A puppy must be able tp track their designated spot fromwherever they are in the house. Now, if the spot is in the living room and they are all the way in the bedroom, they will end up having an accident on their way to finding the spot. The more accidents they have, the more difficult potty training gets.

During the initial few weeks of potty training, give them access to only one room at a time wth all their resources and their pee spot in close access.

6. Look out for signs to prevent accidents

Puppies are experts at communicating through signs and body language because that’s the only way they know how. If you spend just a few days observing your pup, you would be able to notice some behaviors that they may engage in before peeing or pooping. Some generic pre-pee behaviors include –

• Sniffing excessively
• Wandering off
• Whining and barking for no apparent reason
• Going towards the door or the designated spot
• Sniffing the spot where they generally have accidents
• Excessive biting and nipping
• Restlessness
• Circling
• Crouching

7. Knowing exactly when your puppy needs to go

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could tell exactly when our puppies need to pee or poop. In reality, it is not that complicated. Puppies to catch on to routine and can predict activity patterns throughout their day and so can their body clocks. There are certain times of the day when they would definitely need to pee, such as –

1. First thing in the morning after they wake up
2. 15 – 20 minutes after their meals or drinking water
3. 25 – 30 minutes into any kind of physical activity like walking, running or playing
4. After any nap during the day that exceeds 25- 30 minutes
5. Last thing before they hit the bed
   
   

8. Use a leash

Immediate correction is the key in stopping an accident from taking place. Attempt to catch your puppy in action or right before they pee. However, once you successfully stop the accident from happning, avoid picking your puppy up and placing them on the pee pad. This is a displacement strategy that may just confuse them and does not teach them to track their designated spot.

Instead of picking them up, have your pup on a leash when they’re active and roaming around the house. Use it to gently guide them to the designated area when they are about to have an accident or communicate signs that they need to pee. This will accelerate the results because they are actively learning to track their designated spot.

There are millions of pieces of information available out there on potty training. Yet, it remains to be one of the most tedious and tricky aspects of puppy training and raising. Invest time and energy during the initial stages of potty training and look at it as a long-term investment that is sure to bear fruits (or poop!)

During the first three months of their life, a puppy’s mind is like a clean slate. They are particularly open and responsive to learning and retaining information, experiences, and events that they encounter during the first 13 to 16 weeks after birth.

By the time they reach 16 weeks, they will have formed a perception about the environment they are living in. This perception could be positive or negative. Once this perception is formed, any effort to change it would not be considered as socialization, but desensitization.

1. Get your dog to be comfortable being inside a crate

Crate training a dog has several benefits; some that are visible immediately and some that have long term and long lasting effects. One such long term benefit is that it teaches the dog to settle down quickly in new places like the pet sitter’s house or the boarding facility.

Crate provides a dog with familiarity in new and unknown spaces and helps them simmer down with ease. Your dog would be expected to settle down in their crates/ kennels in boarding facilities. The faster your dog feels comfortable in the crate, the easier it would be for them to take to these places.

2. Socialize from a young age

Boarding and doggy daycare facilities are excellent places for your dog to socialize with new people and animals. However, if you have a fearful or a reactive dog, such places can be a nightmare for them.

Make sure to familiarize your dog with new people, animals, environments and situations from a young age so that they grow up into calm and confident canines. A well socialized dog is quick to make friends anywhere they go and would be able to park themselves with ease for overnight boarding.

3. Familiarize your dog with the boarding facility

Spending all night at an unfamiliar place can be intimidating and overwhelming for dogs, especially when it’s not a regular occurrence in their life. If your dog is not used to the concept of overnight stays in new places, it is advisable to familiarize them by leaving them at the facility for a few hours during the day and picking them back up by the end of it.

This will help build positive association with the place and at the same time will assure your dog that you will be back for them. If you are planning on leaving your dog for several nights at a stretch, it is recommended to do an overnight stay beforehand to test the waters and make sure your dog is okay when they are away from you.

4. Teach your dog the art of self engagement

Self engagement is when your dog has the knack of keeping themselves entertained for a considerable amount of time without dependency on humans. Knowing how to do so is super crucial for your dog if they are going to be spending a good chunk of days in the boarding facility.

Interactive feeders, puzzle toys, treat dispensing toys, edible chews etc act as excellent outlets for mental stimulation and enrichment while helping your dog self engage in the crate. Since these toys are almost always stuffed with treats, they also help build positive association with isolation and prevent behaviors stemming from boredom and frustration.

5. Make sure your dog is potty trained

Boarding facilities are great places to trust when you are not around to look after your dog. And, when it is a facility like ours, we do best we can to ensure your dog is comfortable and well taken care of.

However, there are certain things you can do from your end that would ensure a hassle-free overnight boarding for your dog; one of them being potty training your dog. An overnight stay where your dog would end up having accidents in their kennel may become inconvenient and messy for your dog.

6. Bring something familiar

In a new and unfamiliar environment, even the tiniest fragment of familiarity can comfort your dog. While we make sure that your dog is feeling at home at our facility, their favorite toy or a piece of your clothing has its own charm. A piece of home away from home can work wonders in helping your dog settle down quickly.

Different toys trigger a different reaction from your pup and they have existing associations with them. Make sure to pick a toy that your dog absolutely loves. One of your old t-shirts could also do the trick and help your dog sleep better at night.

7. Keep your Goodbyes short and quick

Different dogs have different reactions to being dropped off at boarding facilities. However, all of them go through some amount of conflicting emotions when they see their humans walk away from them. Making Goodbyes dramatic may only make your dog’s anxiety worse as they may spend all their time anticipating your return.

No matter how much you may be crying on the inside, try and keep your Goodbyes short and sweet because the last thing you want before leaving is your dog replicating your anxiousness.

8. Be up to date on vaccinations and other important information

As a boarding facility, we are very thorough with paperwork and registering essential information about your dog such as vaccinations, allergies, behavioral issues etc. If you are in the process of training your dog for aggression, reactivity or any behavior related issues, do make it a point to let the facility staff know about it. Make sure to be up to date on your dog’s vaccinations as nothing breaks our hearts more than not being able to accommodate dogs because of missing medical records.

At the end of the day, trust your gut. You know what is best for your dog better than anyone else. Familiarization with the boarding facility is of utmost importance in giving yourself the peace of mind that your dog will be well taken care of.

Using the crate to punish your dog

How often have you found yourself getting annoyed at your puppy and putting them inside the crate for a time out or as a punishment? If you are guilty of doing this every now and then, you may be setting your pup up for negative association with the crate. This may hamper their willingness to step in and out of the crate willingly. 

Yelling at your dog

A puppy constantly barking and whining inside the crate can get on anyone’s nerves. But how we deal with it defines the kind of relationship our puppies will have with the crate. They are only vocalizing to express their distress. If we scold them for it, they will end up feeling frustrated and helpless in the crate.

Letting them be bored

An idle mind is a devil’s workshop. A bored puppy in the crate is a recipe for disaster. It can lead to severe behavioral issues, eventually leading to anxiety. Many a time, puppies may also end up hurting themselves with obsessive and compulsive behaviors inside the crate.

Making a big deal about leaving and coming home

Puppies have a tendency to replicate the energy they are surrounded with. You may have noticed that their energy and excitement levels can go from 0 to 100 in seconds when they see us happy and excited. This can be endearing, but when it comes to a puppy dealing with crate anxiety, come home to them with an overexcited energy may do more harm than good because their happiness to see you combined with their pent up hyper and nervous energy may give rise to anxiety.

Use the crate for several hours at a stretch

Regardless of their size, energy levels, age and ability to settle in the crate, every dog needs a break from being in the crate. Some puppies may be able to go on for a longer time, while some may need breaks more frequently. Make sure to accommodate your puppy’s needs.

Crates can be a blessing in disguise when raising a puppy to be independent, calm, and well mannered. They make excellent training assistants. However, when misused, they can be a bane. The beauty of the crate is truly in the eyes of the beholder.

1. Healthy Socialization and peer learning

Group dog training classes are one of the best places to ensure healthy and safe socialization for your puppy. All puppies that are enrolled in the class are typically updated on their vaccinations, are on leash and are of similar age group. The classes are also closely monitored by qualified trainers who have a keen eye for canine body language and communication. This makes the environment safe and conducive for socialization and learning.

Puppies, learn best through other puppies, for obvious reasons. They have a tendency to watch and replicate behaviors while interacting. Training classes ensure that puppies are learning desirable behaviors from each other.

2. Builds confidence in shy puppies

Different puppies are blessed with different temperaments. Some puppies are born with the natural talent of making friends in a giffy wherever they go. On the other hand, some puppies may be a little more reserved and take time to open up.

In group classes run by qualified trainers, every puppy’s needs are accommodated. Shy puppies are given ample space and time to open up and back off if needed. This is crucial to enable puppies to come out of their shell faster. Furthermore, when they watch and experience other puppies playing with each other, it is an added encouragement to step forward and be a part of the fun.

3. Basic manners

Socialization and basic obedience are two main objectives of group training classes. Every group class has a pre-decided curriculum consisting of basic obedience commands like Sit, down, stay, leave it, leash walking etc. This curriculum is split into 4-6 weeks classes that generally focus on covering one to two cues in each class.

Classes generally run for an entire hour, which may get overwhelming for many. To avoid this, these classes are packed with several exciting and interactive games that act as ice breakers. A good group training class is a lethal combination of fun, games, learning and socialization.

4. Greater involvement of the pet parent

Unlike board and train, group dog training classes require pet parents to be a part of the whole class and practice and each and every command with their puppies. The trainer’s job is to get the ball rolling in terms of introducing the dog the pet parent to new commands and guiding them in case they get stuck while practicing.

Pet parent’s involvement in the dog’s training is a sure shot way to improve communication skills between the two, have more responsiveness and enhance the human-canine bond. Pet parents also get the opportunity to learn about pet advocacy and the importance about speaking up for their pet as and when necessary, an important aspect of responsible pet parenting.

5. Affordability

Group classes are one fourth the cost of private classes. For pet parents who want to focus on basic obedience training, group classes are not only more affordable, but also more beneficial because of the added advantage of socialiation and peer learning that these classes offer.

6. Plethora of options

Different group classes have different focus points. Depending on your training goals for your dog, you can choose from a variety of options such as –

• Basic obedience training – Puppy, intermediate and advanced
• Agility training
• Sniff work
• Therapy dog training
• Service dog training
• Medical detection training
• Search and rescue training
• Police dog training, etc

 

7. Excellent distraction training

Dogs are fast learners, but they may need some practice before they start generalizing commands. In other words, once they learn to “Sit,” in low distractions, they may have trouble grasping the concept of following through with the same command in the presence of distractions. Group dog training classes are an excellent starting point in teaching dogs to respond and follow through with a range of cues in mild to heavy distractions.

Socialization is not only about making friends and playing with other dogs and people, it is also the ability to ignore these stimuli and focus back on their human when needed. Environment neutrality and distraction training are crucial aspects of dog obedience training.

While group dog training classes offer a range of learning options and benefits, it must be noted that these classes may not be for everyone. Socially anxious dogs, reactive dogs, aggressive dogs, fearful dogs, etc. may not be the right candidates for group learning. They would need a more intensive, one on one approach. Make sure to know your dog’s temperament and needs and accommodate them to the best of your ability, with or without group classes.

1. Take frequent downtime breaks

Downtime allows dogs to process and retain information that they’ve absorbed during the day. It encourages calm behavior and promotes better mental health and well being. Without downtimes, puppies would keep getting overstimulated and hyper with no means to calm themselves down. This may result in undesirable behaviors like excessive vocalization, nipping, jumping etc and may eventually lead to anxiety.

To ensure downtime between longer play sessions, you could crate your dog for a few minutes from time to time, create distance from the exciting stimuli, practice cues like Settle to help your pup calm down faster.

2. Engage in obedience training

The main objective of obedience cues like Stay, settle, down, etc is to help pups behave in a desirable way in day-to-day situations and make it easier for humans to communicate better with them. These cues act as enablers while helping puppy smoothly transition from a hyper state of mind to a calm one.

Next time when your puppy goes out of control displaying hyper behavior, try putting them on a leash and actively engaging them in calming commands. Make sure to reward them for every successful repetition.

3. Reinforce calm behavior through the day

Puppies repeat the behaviors that gets them attention or rewarded in some way. We often ignore our puppies when they are in a naturally calm state of mind because most of our time during the day goes in getting exasperated over undesirable behaviors and correcting them. Unintentionally, we end up fuelling the bad behaviors because those are the ones that get the most attention, leaving the calm behavior disregarded.

To encourage calm behavior through the day, it is imperative for us to proactively mark and reward those behaviors as and when they happen. Eg- if your puppy is sitting inside the crate, not making a sound, just  being a good kid, make sure to verbally praise them and reward them with some treats. Doing so multiple times a day will motivate your dog to be calmer through the day and also enjoy doing so.

4. Provide your pup with ample exercise

Different dog breeds have different exercise needs. 2 walks a day does not for every dog. Some of them need more, much more. Lack of ample exercise is often the cause of hyper behavior.

Recognize your breed’s needs and focus on engaging them in activities accordingly. Eg, Border Collies were bred to be herding dogs and have a lot to offer in terms of energy, intelligence, quickness and resilience. They have strong herding instincts which cannot be fulfilled by walks. Games like agility or sports like Treiball provide them with appropriate outlets to harness their natural instincts.

Attempt to strike a balance between physical and mental stimulation activities to ensure proper enrichment for your dog. A balanced exercise schedule will make sure your puppy grows up into a calm, confident canine.

5. Crate training

Crates make excellent training assist tools. They help build bladder control, they keep puppies safe in the absence of humans, prevent accidents, help puppies settle down faster and prevent destructive behaviors. If used correctly, crates make great spots to optimize downtimes, keep puppies busy while teaching them the art of self engagement.