Training 999

Your dog is an addition to your family, and just like any family member he will need to get used to your routines, learn to live with his 'housemates', and feel happy and relaxed in his home environment. While we can explain why we do things in a certain way to our friends and family, dogs have to learn through experience - and making sure your dog has good experiences of the various things he will encounter should help to make both your lives easier.

Bad behaviour - barking, chewing up the curtains, or having 'accidents' indoors, are all things which can be remedied and will all have a root cause in something which your dog has experienced. By training your dog through positive reinforcement you will encourage your dog to behave, and you should then have a happy, healthy and obedient dog.

Kerri Bee is a qualified APDT Dog Trainer, and has provided the helpful guides below on key aspects of dog training and wellbeing. If you have any questions or would like more information on dog training please visit www.windrushdogsforlife.co.uk or contact Kerri.

The world is a new and fascinating place for your new puppy, not only will your home be new to him, but many of the things he encounters will be things he is meeting for the first time. It is important that your puppy gains experience of these new things in a safe and controlled environment which will allow him to build confidence and satisfy his curiousity.

Our friend Kerri Bee has created this handy socialisation programme, available for you to download here.

Have you ever heard of any of the following?

• Dogs who pull on the lead are dominant?
• Dogs who jump up on people think they are the alpha?
• If you let your dog sleep on the furniture he will think he is the pack leader?
• Don’t let your dog sleep at the top of the stairs as he will be higher than you in the pack structure?
• Always eat before your dog so that he knows his rightful place at the bottom of the pack?
• Always precede your dog through doorways to prevent him thinking he is the leader?
• Dogs who are dominant should be ‘alpha rolled’ to show them who is boss?
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• Ingredients have to be labelled with the greatest ingredient first and the least last. Look for foods where the first two ingredients are specifically named. These will probably be a meat and a cereal, so make sure they are named i.e. ‘chicken’, ‘rice’ and so forth. Avoid maize based products.

• Avoid products which contain ‘derivatives’ of meat, just ‘meat’ or ‘animal fat’ or any general terms like this. ‘Meal’ is fine as long as it is named i.e. ‘Duck meat meal’ this just means dried, ground duck.
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It is very well worth planning how you will house train your puppy before you collect him or her, if you have the opportunity, but don’t worry if you’ve already started. The following explains a simple, kind method of house training that, when followed carefully should see your puppy becoming clean and dry as he or she physically matures.

New owners should not underestimate the time and commitment that this involves, but please remember that the time spent house training not only teaches your puppy to 'go' outside, but helps develop the bond between your family and their dog, as well.