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. But the one thing that most people don’t realize is that a big determiner of your puppies behavior is the way you react to his actions. Give these simple tips a try 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. Usually, they will return the favor and respect your rules better if they can sense that they are loved 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! But the truth is that yelling and screaming won’t get nearly as favorable a result as calm commands will. Your puppy will become confused and his progress delayed if you lose your temper.
PRAISE: Remember to always give credit where credit is due. This means to reinforce good behavior constantly. Make sure to give your puppy plenty of petting praising, and loving. This will not only imrpove behavior, but will also help to strengthen the mutual respect for each other, and reinforce the bond between you.
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. So, if you feel your self getting mad, just walk away and 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. Have fun!