When potty training puppies, many folks become frustrated at the whole process in general. Mistakes can happen quite often as most puppies are still getting used to the way the world operates. Therefore, getting frustrated is understandable. The way you react to your puppy’s actions is the big determiner of his behavior that most people don’t realize. Here are a few things to remember as you potty train your puppy:
RESPECT: That’s right – potty training puppies need respect too! Dogs respond to emotions and feelings, and can tell when they’re being respected, even though they are not necessarily verbal animals. Most of the time they will respect your rules better if they feel like they are beloved members of your family.
TEMPER: I know… it’s tough to keep it cool when your little buddy just left a “doodoo” right on your living room rug! However, the truth is that calm commands get a much better response than yelling and screaming. Losing your temper will confuse your puppy and delay his progress.
PRAISE: Always remember to get excited for your puppy when he deserves it. This means to constantly reinforce good behavior. Petting, praising, and loving your puppy will not only improve behavior, but will also help reinforce the bond between you, and will strengthen the mutual respect for each other.
STRIKING: Many folks believe that hitting their dog helps establish “who’s boss” when potty training puppies. But the truth is that this can cause psychological damage, and can contribute to lengthy delays in the potty training process because it just plain freaks your puppy out! Most of the main-stream dog trainers now recommend positive reinforcement over negative reinforcement, which can mean a major shift in many dog owners’ thought processes. Once again, just walk away if you feel your temper heating up, then you can deal with it after you’ve calmed down.
Following these four simple guidelines will help strengthen the relationship between you and your dog, and will help improve your dog’s behavior, and speed up the potty training process. Good luck!
Recommended Reading
