The benefits associated with going to a good dog trainer or dog training school are enormous. Your dog's health, wellbeing and behavior are determined by the training you provide. Plus obedience training helps to build and strengthen the close bond you and your dog will enjoy.

A trained dog is so much better off than an untrained one. The number one reason why we have such a large number of dogs ending up in animal shelters and being destroyed is various behavioral problems. Problems that in many cases can easily be prevented or extinguished through some obedience training.

How To Choose A Great Dog Training School

• One of the first and most important criteria for choosing your dog training school is the training style they employ. Look for a class that uses humane, non violent dog training methods. Look for trainers who encourage and reward desirable behavior in their students rather than by using intimidation and heavy handed punishment. Consider a clicker training class that relies on repetition, cooperation and positive reinforcement to achieve the desired result.
• Check out the credentials, accreditation and experience of the trainers. Also it's important that trainers continue to learn and further their skills. Most important when choosing a dog trainer is that you determine if they have a genuine love of dogs and enthusiasm for the task at hand. Or are they training dogs because they love the species or are they just going through the motions like it's some 9 to 5 dead end job?
• Go and have a look at a few classes before making your decision. Most dog training schools will welcome this and even expect it of their potential clients. Make note of the equipment used in classes, the class sizes, general atmosphere (should be fun!), cleanliness and safety.
• Check out the success stories, testimonials and references of the dog training schools you are considering. Do they have happy and satisfied clients?? A great source of information and feedback can be unearthed by speaking with your Vet, your dog groomer or talking with dog lovers at dog shows or your local dog park.
• Work out what you expect from going to dog training school and write down any goals you have for your dog. Then match this up against the class schedule offered at your local schools.
• Check that the schools take vaccinations seriously - especially if you are going to a puppy kindergarten class. You should be asked for proof that your dog has been properly vaccinated and is up to date with all shots.
• Can you get one on one support if needed? This may be important to you and your dog at some stage. You need to be the person training your dog but sometimes it is handy to get some individual help. Something to keep in mind is that dog training is not an intuitive process, you need to be educated how to do it by someone who is properly trained and experienced.
• Other factors of less importance are the location of the school and also the price of the lessons. What you spend in terms of both time and money will be well and truly paid back by the benefits gained through obedience training.

Good luck in finding a suitable dog training school for you and your dog. Once you settle on a school that you believe is a good fit then the hard work will begin! Remember that training your dog is not something you do once a week when you go to class, it should be an ongoing process that you build upon each and every day.

Training your dog is crucial for your dog's health, behavior and wellbeing. The food you feed to your dog also plays a vital role in your dog's life -

Puppy crate training is a fantastic method of managing the safety and wellbeing of young puppies. When used properly the crate is an invaluable tool for establishing good habits in your puppies and also for preventing problem behaviors before they arise.

In spite of what you may think or have read about puppy crate training the truth is that we crate train our puppies for their benefit - that's why we do it. Secondary to that is the fact that using a crate also benefits us and our furniture, shoes, carpet, cushions etc...

Over time the crate will become your puppy's own private area which they will grow to love and feel secure in. You will come to rely on your crate just like I do in many day to day activities including:

• One of the first and most important uses of the crate is in the puppy housebreaking process. Crate training is the best way to quickly teach your puppy to eliminate (go to the toilet) outside. You can read my detailed step by step system here -
• Crating our puppies teaches them to chew on the toys we provide to them and prevents them from chewing on the things we don't want them to chew on (shoes, furniture, curtains etc.). This is the key to establishing good habits in our dogs and preventing destructive habits which can be difficult to rectify.
• When your young puppy is in his/her crate he is safe from any number of dangerous household items. Unfortunately many puppies are severely injured and killed every year as a result of chewing wires, ingesting poisons or eating foreign objects.
• Separation anxiety is a huge problem for an increasingly large percentage of dogs. Proper use of the crate can help reduce the chance of your puppy developing separation anxiety. The crate becomes a place where your dog is calm, out of trouble and accustomed to being alone. I should add here that if you are away from home all day every day is a puppy really suitable for someone with your lifestyle anyway?

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  Never Ever Use Your Crate As A Tool For Punishment!

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• If you have friends or visitors of any kind coming and going from your home the crate is the perfect place to keep your puppy safely confined for a while.
• Because most crates are lightweight and portable you can move them from room to room so your puppy can be close by you all day long!
• Many crates are suitable for putting into your car which makes your puppy's travelling experience safer and often less stressful.
• When your puppy grows to love his crate it makes trips and stays at places such as your Vet and Dog Groomers a more bearable experience.
• When puppy crate training is applied correctly your puppy cannot get into any mischief which significantly reduces any need to discipline her. This makes for a far better environment in which to live (for dog and owner).
• If you plan to do any activities like competitive obedience training, fly-ball or agility training you will find your crate is a great place to confine your dog in between training sessions and competition. Put it in a nice cool spot in the shade. If you plan to give your dog some obedience training I recommend this comprehensive do it yourself dog training course -

The crates basically come in two general styles - durable plastic and an all wire mesh type, which is often collapsible. It's really a personal choice which style of crate you go for but the most important thing is that you buy one that is the appropriate size for your dog. Get a crate that will be large enough for your fully grown puppy and partition it off until he grows into it.

I like the plastic Vari Kennel Crate (the one on the right) style because they are lightweight, tough, can be carted all around the place and they are very easy to clean.

If you plan to purchase your crate online I've always found Petco.com to be very good. They have great specials, fast shipping and an enormous range of quality dog crates - click on the crates below to learn more and compare crates.

Apart From The Dog What Else Goes In The Crate?

1. Bedding - choose a nice comfortable bed that can't be chewed up and swallowed by your feisty little pup. Be sure to choose bedding suited to your climate.
2. Chew toys - get a couple of good chew toys that you can stuff and even freeze. This keeps your puppy busy and teaches him what is appropriate to chew on. My dogs love Kongs and Buster Cubes.
3. Water - keep a nice supply of clean fresh water. Heavy wide based bowls that won't be tipped over are best or you can buy one that clips securely onto the crate wall.

Your puppy's first impression and experiences with the crate are all important. We need to set it up so your puppy views the crate as a positive object right from the start. You goal is for your puppy to love the crate and choose to use it himself rather than as a contraption he associates with isolation and loneliness.

Try some of the puppy crate training tips below to make the crate inviting to your puppy - always take it slowly. Put the crate in the room with you and your puppy, leave the crate door open wide.

1. Drop a few tasty treats in and around the crate and let your puppy clean them up. Be sure to give heaps of encouragement and then praise if your puppy bravely steps into the crate.
2. If your puppy has a favorite dog bed or blanket put this inside the crate to encourage him and to make it more homely for him.
3. Feed your puppy all of his meals in the crate (door still open).
4. With your puppy outside the crate place a chew toy inside the crate and close the door. Your puppy will literally beg you to let him at it! Open up the door, let him in and praise his efforts (this method has proved very successful for my dogs).
5. When your puppy is not around tie a chew toy (like a stuffed kong) inside the crate and leave the door open. Let him discover the "treasure" and leave him inside to enjoy the find.
6. When your puppy is comfortable in the crate close the door and feed some treats to him through the mesh. To start with just leave the door closed for 10 seconds then gradually increase the duration. Don't increase the time too quickly, if your dog becomes distressed or whines you are moving too fast.
7. Build up the amount of time he is in the crate slowly, first when you are in the room, then step outside the room for a short time. Your puppy's first really long stretch in the crate is ideally overnight with the crate in your bedroom.

I find that the tips outlined above are more than enough to get most puppies comfortable in their crates. If you are having trouble with a difficult or nervous pup try this puppy crate training exercise to shape the desired behavior.

• Always take your dogs collar off when he is put in the crate. Otherwise the collar can get caught on the crate which can have disastrous consequences.
• Ensure that you aren't asking your puppy (or older dog for that matter) to hold off from going to the toilet for longer than she is physically capable.
• If your puppy does have a toilet accident inside his crate obviously punishment is not an option, but you should be angry at yourself. Immediately clean up the mess including the use of an odor neutralizer.
• Be careful when crating your puppy in hot weather. Be especially careful when you have your puppy crated in your car, temperatures can become extreme inside cars and in a very short period of time.
• Except for overnight and one off occasions you should never crate your dog for more than 4 or 5 hours at a time. Why have a dog if you have to confine him for such long periods? Perhaps a goldfish would be a more suitable pet?
• Dogs love their exercise, particularly nice long walks with you. So if you are going to crate your puppy or older dog they will require plenty of exercise and mental stimulation throughout the day. This can also include some
• Never release your puppy from his crate (unless the situation is getting dangerous) if he is causing a fuss by whining, barking or being destructive. If you give in to these demands you are actually rewarding and therefore reinforcing this undesirable behavior.
• Don't fall into the trap of only crating your puppy when you are about to leave the house - the crate will begin to be associated with you leaving if this is the case.

Good luck with your puppy crate training - as long as you follow the above plan with consistency and patience I'm sure you'll achieve great results.

What Exactly Is The Wizdog Indoor Dog Toilet?

The Wizdog indoor dog potty supersedes the inadequate old indoor puppy housebreaking methods such as puppy paper training and dog litter box training. It is the easier and cleaner new way to manage your dog's indoor toilet habits. Have a look at their website for pictures and a demonstration -

Who Is The Wizdog Indoor Dog Toilet Designed For?

Wizdog is perfect for any puppy or older dog who for whatever reason will need to poop or pee inside the house (or on the patio or in the garage). Some of the more common reasons for using the Wizdog indoor potty are - apartment dwellers, people who are away from home for long periods, young puppies who are just learning the ropes, puppies who have yet to complete their vaccinations and even dogs who just don't like the wet and cold outside!

What Are The Advantages Of Using A Wizdog Indoor Potty?

Wizdog is compact, clean, hygienic, easy to wash, lightweight and cheap. It also eliminates the frustration and mess associated with puppy paper training and dog litter box training. Forget about the old puppy housebreaking problems such as dirty paws, filthy carpets, shredded puppy training pads, expensive refills and unsightly appearance.

What Does The Wizdog Indoor Dog Toilet Replace?

You can say goodbye and good riddance to dog training pads, litter trays, wee wee pads, dog litter boxes, messy puppy paper training, puppy pads and expensive refills. Wizdog is the new improved way to accomplish the same thing dog lovers have had trouble with forever - it's amazing it took so long for someone to come up with this solution!

Is The Wizdog The Same As Puppy Paper Training?

It is the same basic principle but the Wizdog is a cleaner, tidier and more effective puppy housebreaking tool. Also paper training is usually a temporary measure where as the indoor dog toilet can be a permanent solution for an indoor dog bathroom. Many puppy breeders and new puppy owners are turning to the Wizdog instead of the paper training method they've used in the past.

How Is The Wizdog Indoor Toilet Different To Dog Litter Box Training?

Once again the puppy housebreaking process is very similar but the Wizdog just accomplishes the task in a cleaner, easier and cheaper manner. Dog litter boxes are notoriously hard to clean, the sticky litter tends to get spread far and wide and they are increasingly expensive to refill.

Do You Have To Use Puppy Training Pads Or Dog Litter In The Wizdog?

No you don't. Some people do prefer to use puppy training pads in the base of the Wizdog (under the grate) to soak up the urine but most people, including myself simply use old newspapers.

Can Any Dog Use The Wizdog Indoor Dog Bathroom?

Yes any puppy can use the Wizdog. If your puppy seemingly outgrows it and needs a bigger target area, you can simply join two Wizdogs together - check out a picture of this in action Wizdog website. I've successfully used the Wizdog indoor potty training system on many dog breeds including Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers, Beagles, Shih Tzus, Labradors and many more... It really doesn't matter - they all need to go!

How Long Does The Puppy Housebreaking Process Take?

It all depends, each puppy is different. From my experience though I think the Wizdog speeds up the puppy house training period. The puppies catch on very quickly what the Wizdog device is for - it makes it very clear cut and simple for them.

Can More Than One Dog Use The Wizdog?

Yes that's not a problem - it just means you will need to empty the Wizdog out more regularly. Many people have a Wizdog for each dog in the household - it is easy to teach each dog which Wizdog is his/her personal toilet!

The arrival of a new puppy is cause for great excitement in any household. It soon becomes clearly apparent that puppy house training is an urgent priority and the number one thing to teach our new housemates.

You'll find lots of puppy house training articles and theories across the net and in books everywhere, but I've got a method that has never let me down. The potty training technique I have come to rely on and trust requires a fair degree of commitment to begin with but the rewards are quick and last forever. My veterinarian first told me about this potty training method which could be summed up as follows:

• Owning a puppy is a big commitment for all family members, especially in the first few days and weeks.
• Puppy potty training is not a race, the key is to prevent mistakes and establish good habits early - dogs are creatures of habit.
• From your dogs point of view there is no right or wrong place to go to the toilet, they feel like going and just do it. It is our job to clearly communicate and reinforce where it is acceptable to eliminate and also where it is not acceptable.
• Opening your back door every couple of hours to let your puppy out will not house train your puppy.
• A puppy's natural instinct is to keep their bedding/sleeping area clean - the potty training method outlined below utilizes this knowledge to our advantage.
• No matter how attentive and diligent you are in the house training process there is bound to be the odd slip up. Don't worry about it just ensure that you clean mistakes up thoroughly, including the use of an odor neutralizer to take away any lingering smell.
• My puppy house training strategy involves close supervision and confinement to start with but only so we can allow our puppies greater freedom and much sooner.
• Understand your puppy's capabilities and be realistic, keep in mind you are dealing with a very young animal. Young puppies can only hold on for so long before they need to go, they don't have much control early on. As a general rule a puppy can hold on an hour for every month of his/her age, plus another hour. This means that a 2 month old puppy can be expected to hold on for three hours and at 3 months old this same pup could be expected to hold on for four hours at a time.
• Develop a food and water schedule. Each day feed at the same time (never close to bed time) and take away your dogs water bowl before you go to bed (don't forget to put it back first thing in the morning!). You'll develop a routine this way and "what goes in on schedule comes out on schedule", if you know what I mean...

This method is for when you are at home with your puppy, follow it as closely as you possibly can.

Equipment you'll need:

I prefer to use a good quality crate. Ensure that it is comfortable, safe and the right dimensions for your puppy. You can read a detailed article I wrote here - puppy crate training

In addition to your 60 minute schedule it is important to take your puppy outside after each meal time (most puppies go to the potty within 15 minutes of eating).

The arrival of a new puppy is an exciting time for any household. Your cute and cuddly little fluff ball will immediately command center stage from the whole family. Before long though, it becomes very clear that the new arrival means there's lots for you to do, and even more for him/her to learn.

Your young puppy is totally reliant and dependent on you to help him habituate and fit into our human, domesticated world. Your guidance and leadership will determine what path his life takes and what type of dog he will become. During puppyhood you play the lead role and are responsible for shaping the character, temperament and behavior habits that your dog will carry throughout his life. Your puppy's future is in your capable hands...

How To Train A Puppy - It's Not All Fun And Games!

It shocks some new puppy owners when their puppy acts like, well a puppy. The little critter is a pooping machine who chews, barks, digs, cries and much more! But we still love them anyway - we just need to provide them with some direction and boundaries to follow. If you're anything like me you probably just want to get your puppy off to the best possible start in life, and also set them up to thrive as adult dogs.

Bringing a young pup into our lives is a big responsibility and commitment to fulfill. Our puppies have a long list of requirements and deadlines that must be met for their wellbeing. Tasks like puppy house training, crate training, puppy socialization, leash training and basic obedience need to be addressed right from the very start.

How To Train A Puppy - The Positive Non Violent Way

It's important with all dog training but especially with young puppies to use lots of encouragement, praise and rewards (positive reinforcement) in your training. Start your puppy training sessions as soon as your little puppy arrives at your home. Set your puppy up to succeed, concentrate on developing desirable habits in your puppy and preventing undesirable behavior. It's much a better alternative to put your puppy on the right path from the start, rather than trying to correct established problem behaviors later on.

Keep your training sessions short, consistent and always have fun. The key to shaping your puppy's behavior is to start out with very easy commands, continue to build on these successes and apply heaps of repetition. Base your training sessions around trust and mutual respect rather than old school methods based on punishment and harsh corrections. In this environment you will find that your puppy loves his training sessions and his confidence will grow with each and every session.

Always remember that you are dealing with a very immature young animal. Be realistic, flexible, patient and always fair. Your puppy doesn't just automatically know this stuff! It's all new to him and he is bound to have the odd slip up and mistake along the way. Don't worry about these mistakes, just move on and do your best to prevent them in the future.

Enjoy this fantastic time in your dogs life. His puppyhood is the time where you will lay the foundation for your puppy's life. It's also where you will develop, build and strengthen the special bond you will share with your dog for life.