Goodness

 “When the world around me is going crazy, [and] I’m losing faith in humanity, I just have to take one look at my dog to know that good still exists.” (www.DogsAreLoveon4Legs.com)

Getting a puppy can change the whole climate of a home (with their infectious personality of excitement).  I believe puppies have a way of putting life into perspective for us humans. Playtime with a favorite chew toy, or a vigorous belly scratching seem to be the solution for almost anything in life (according to the dog). Bringing a puppy into your to add to your family unit, requires a routine with them (and preparation for their time in your residence). Life will never be the same for you. Below are helpful house training helps to keep in mind:

Begin house training your puppy when they are between 12 to 16 weeks old. It typically takes around 4-6 months for a puppy to be fully house trained (though some puppies may take up to a year). When you start to house train, follow these steps:

·        Keep the puppy on a regular feeding schedule, and take away their food between meals.

·        Take the puppy out to eliminate first thing in the morning, and then once every 30 minutes to an hour (if possible). Always take them outside after meals, or when they wake from a nap. Make sure they go out last thing at night before bedtime when they are left alone.

·        Take the puppy to the same spot each time to do their business. Their scent will prompt them to go.

·        Stay with them outside (at least until they are house trained).

·        When your puppy eliminates outside, praise them or give a treat. A walk around the neighborhood is a nice reward.

Keep the following do's and don'ts in mind while housetraining your puppy:

·        A general rule for puppies is that you can take their age, in months, and add 1.  That's how many hours they can be expected to be able to hold their bladders for.  So an 8 week (2 month) old puppy can usually go around 3 hours between bathroom breaks.  

·        Punishing your puppy for having an accident is not right thing to do. It teaches your puppy to fear you.

·        If you catch your puppy in the act, clap loudly so they know they have done something unacceptable. Then take them outside by calling them, or taking them gently by the collar. When they are finished, praise them, or give them a small treat.

·        If you found the evidence but didn’t see the act, don’t react angrily by yelling or rubbing their nose in it. Puppies aren’t intellectually capable of connecting your anger with their accident.

·        Staying outside longer with your puppy may help to curb accidents. They may need the extra time to explore.

·        Clean up accidents with an enzymatic cleanser rather than an ammonia-based cleaner to minimize odors that might attract the puppy back to the same spot.

Here are a few guidelines to use for crate training:

·        Make sure it is large enough for the puppy to stand, turn around, and lay down in, but not big enough for them to use a corner as a bathroom.

·        If you are using the crate for more than two hours at a time, make sure the puppy has fresh water, preferably in a dispenser you can attach to the crate.

·        If you can’t be home during the house training period, make sure somebody else gives them a break in the middle of the day for the first 8 months.

·        Don’t use a crate if your puppy is eliminating in it. Eliminating in the crate could have several meaning. They may have brought bad habits from the shelter (or pet store) where they lived before. They may not be getting outside enough. The crate may be too big. They may be too young to hold it in.

French novelist and poet, Anatole France, said:  “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”  There are so many excellent life qualities that humans can learn from the pets (animals) in their life. Some of those qualities involve their trusting nature, have unconditional love, properly prioritizing, know when to ask for help, in the moment, and find their true calling in assisting others. Dogs have been apart of my life (for a long time). I believe they have always helped me to become the person God needs me to be. Are you a better human being for having known an animal?[i]

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[i] This post is adapted from: “House Training Your Puppy” by Pets WebMD and

                                                 “How Often Do Dogs Need Bathroom Breaks?” by                                                               Michelle & The Paw Pack

                                                 “Anatole France” from Wikipedia

 

 

This topic was suggested by Juli Critser, friend and blog member. Juli and her husband, Tom, have a new puppy named “Bella.” (See below.)