Big Advantages of Dog Training Pads

Dog training pads are usually used for puppies, but you can also use them for older dogs that have not been house trained. However, you should note that it will take you longer to train an old dog compared to training a puppy. A dog training pad is one of the methods of house training a dog. The other methods are crate training a puppy and housebreaking a puppy.

The basic steps of house training your puppy using a dog training pad are:

1) The puppy will usually find a specific place in house to 'go'. Be on the lookout when the puppy is about to 'go' and put the pad there. You should praise the puppy whenever it 'goes' on the pad.

2) Move the pad closer to the door once the puppy has learnt to use it. You should praise the puppy whenever it 'goes' on the pad and you should consider giving it one-bite treats.

3) Move the pad outside. Praise the puppy whenever it 'goes' outside. Finally eliminate the pad once the puppy has gotten used to the place it is supposed to 'go'. You should be patient with the puppy and you should expect some 'accidents' in the house for a few months.

You should avoid punishing the dog whenever it 'goes' away from the pad. Punishing the dog will only make it confused and it will make the lesson harder. If there is a need to punish the puppy, this should only take place if you catch it in the act, otherwise it will not know why it is being punished.

The advantages of using potty training pads are:

You will protect your floors and upholstery. This is important because dog stool and urine stains are usually permanent. You should also consider having potty pad in your car.
A dog training pad will prevent scent marking by the puppy or the dog. The pads are designed in such a way that they retain the smell. Dogs are drawn to these smells and if you move the pad, the dog will follow it.
A dog training pad helps with your home's general cleanliness. The stool and urine from the dog can pass germs to family members if the dog is allowed to 'go' anywhere in the house.
A dog training pad instills a life-long behavior on the dog.

Some important tips when house training your dog usepads are:

The potty pads should be placed in an accessible place.
Make sure the puppy understands what the pads are for. This can be achieved by taking the puppy to the pad whenever it is about to 'go'.
The pad should be scented in a scent that will attract the puppy.
Be realistic and consistent in the training. Being realistic means you will not get angry when an 'accident' happens in the house and being consistent will prevent you from having to start from scratch.
Do not leave paper towels on the floor as the puppy may confuse these with dog training pads.

Dog Training - Advantages of Clicker Training

Clicker training is becoming a popular way to train dogs. This type of training is versatile in that it can be used train show dogs, pets to do tricks and family dogs to stay, sit and heal. Clicker training is based on the fact that your dogs want to make you happy and is willing to learn. I have personally used clicker training with my three dogs and it is a fun way to train them.

Most dogs enjoy the opportunity to interact with their people and as long as it is fun, they can actually enjoy the training process. The biggest problem when training a dog is that they don't speak "human" and that is where the clicker comes in. By clicking when the dog performs the wanted behavior, it tells the dog "Yes!! You did what I wanted!" and the sound of the click is the reward for the correct behavior. With repetition, you dog will understand what you want and will have fun trying to get you to click again.

Clicker training is a positive reinforcement type of training. There is no punishment and the goal is to keep it fun and positive for everyone involved. Because your dog is happy to be with you and is having fun, he is never afraid of you.

Before you start a training regimen, be sure the entire family is on board. When training your dog, everyone needs to be involved, even any children in the family. Before you begin, you will need a secure, safe area to work with your dog, a clicker, treats that your dog loves and lots of time and patience. The beauty of the clicker is that even young children can participate with supervision and gain the respect of the family pet.

At first, start slowly with your dog and reward any type of effort that is close to what you are asking for. This provides positive reinforcement and tells your dog "What a great try!" Be sure and use the correct word for the behavior that you are trying to get and stick with that word. For example, many people will interchange down and off and they are two separate commands. Everyone in the family needs to be as consistent as possible so that your dog is not confused. The more time you spend working with your dog, the more quickly he will improve. As he improves, you can ask for more precision before you click.

Clicker training is something that you need to spend some time doing with your dog. Remember, your dog doesn't speak "human" and he may be a little confused at first. Practice as much as you can but don't drill the poor dog to death. This training should be fun and allow you to bond with your dog.

Eventually, your dog will begin to understand what you want. If you are teaching your dog the "down" command, initially you will reward any attempt to lower his body to the ground.

Once he appears to understand what you want, get pickier and only reward him when his belly is flat on the ground and he is relaxed. You can use a command like "again" to communicate that it is almost what you want, but not quite.

Using clicker training with your dog is a great way to spend fun time with your dog and make your bond stronger. Training your dog in general will instill good manners in him that makes him a pleasure to be around instead of a pest. Have fun with him and he will love spending time with you.