We are in the process of getting a small breed puppy. Does anybody have a recommendation for a training book? This will be our first puppy. Thanks!

Cesar Millan (the dog whisperer) has a new puppy training thing, but I'd also suggest signing up for a class for the hands-on training and socialization aspects.

How exciting!!

I live in the UK so can't recommend any books. How exciting that this is your first puppy. What breed are you thinking about getting?

There is a lot of information online... often by veterinarians or veterinarian assistants. Also, the hands-on training with pet stores will give you the basics. If you want to spend more money there are private trainers who will come to your house...look online for your local area, try the newspaper, ask at a pet shop.

If its your first puppy I'd highly recommend going to a trainer. It may cost more than getting a book but your getting help from someone that has experience and if you have questions you're able to ask.

One thing for sure, don't use puppy pads. Once you get a puppy they are old enough where you should be training them to go outside, take them out every few hours. If you put puppy pads in your house it makes it harder for the puppy to understand that it should be going outside rather than just using the bathroom in the house.

A lot of people recommend puppy pads, but my parents bread dogs when I was growing up and its a big no no once you take a puppy home.

I had really good luck with the puppy pads, but I never just let them go on them, once they started for the pad, I took them outside. Good luck with your new pup

We just bought a 9 week old pug puppy. I don't know about a book but I use tons of positive reinforcement. It's tiring. Yetserday there were just a few accidents but we're on a roll now including a trip outside at 3:00 a.m.. We're gradually starting to get him on more of a feeding schedule--that helps you know when they might need to use the facilities.

Aww, adorable!!! Thanks for sharing a picture.

Aww, that puppy is so cute! My son has a puppy and he uses positive reinforcement all the time. Hey, it works for people, too!! :D:D
I used to read a book called No Bad Dogs The Woodhouse Way.
This lady is now deceased but she was quite famous and I bet you can still find it somewhere. Good luck!
Show us puppy pics!!!!!!!!

he is soooooo cute!

We have a new puppy as well. He will be our second dane. The first time around I did all the reading and took a class at Petsmart. The trainer was great for the basics, but we had no socialization bc our class was full of older dogs that were repeating bc the didnt get it the first time. Make sure you take a class full of puppies. Our dane learned to lunge and growl from another dog in the class and now hates all dogs on leash. I learned alot and that enabled me to work at home and I have a very well behaved dog.

Consistency is the key and a very yummy treat, we used salmon ones. We also used a clicker and then weaned off of it.

Here is Max with our new addition Harley, he is 9 weeks in this picture.

I would suggest getting a dog crate. I know people dislike them and think that they are being cruel.

I have a German Shepherd and a Shepherd mix.... and for me they work great. My dogs put themselves in their crate when my boys get to be too much for them. :) It is nice safe place that is their 'den'

It also helps in the house training stage, as dogs often do not prefer to dirty their 'den'

Good luck with your puppy!!! :)

I'm an advocate for crate training as well. Some dogs outgrow their crates but others never do, for one reason or another. Of my four beagles, two of them don't use crates and two of them do, one because he can be aggressive and the other because she can be destructive. But ALL dogs -- puppies or not -- start off in crates here until they get the hang of things, and I think it makes a huge, positive difference!

Check out books by Ian Dunbar. There is also loads of info on dogwise.com. Good luck with your new baby!

Susan

I agree with those who recommend professional training. With our last dog, we took her to classes at PetSmart - a very good program. She was older than the "puppy" class, so we put her into one with older dogs, and she did just fine and socialized very easily.

Our current dog was 9 months when we got her and hadn't been socialized, so we have hired a trainer to come in and work one-on-one with her. As part of the training, we will take her to his business site (he also kennels dogs) and let her get used to being around other dogs. We've just started the program, and I'm liking it already. Since we had been able to teach her some of the basics like sit, down, stay, etc., the trainer can focus on more of the behavioral aspects of her training.

I have to agree about the puppy pads. I got my DGD a mini dachshund a year ago. Being we all work during the day I put down piddle pads for him. As of now he is very well trained........to use a piddle pad. We are having some success with learning to go outside but it's an uphill battle. Thank goodness he is a small dog.

I agree with the crate thing. As for books, "Mother Knows Best" by Carol Leah Benjamin is the best book on dog training I have ever read. She also has some others. She even has a blog. Look her up. She is fabulous.

I sure your head is swimming with people telling you what to do. But just remember a dog is almost like a 2 year old who never grows up. It needs to learn what is acceptable and what is not. Also a good dog is a tired dog and a tired dog is a good dog. Dogs need two things physical exercise and smelling exercise. They cannot watch tv. What they smell is like their tv. Remember you are getting a baby. A puppy is just like a baby and needs lots of attention and praise. Good luck.

The pup on my avatar is 8 months old now. We have had a uphill battle with the training. He is finally coming around a little bit. I wish we had gotten him professional traing. Maybe we still could.

what a cutie!

I would also strongly recommend the Woodhouse books. Great for home training! Her instructions and techniques are very easy to understand and use. Very common sense. Big thing is consistency, just like a little kid. They don't understand why it's okay one time, but not the next. I don't know WHY my husband still doesn't understand this!

I have to add my two cents - I just loved this and wish I would have had this tip earlier.

We do the bell by the door to let us know when they want to go out. Works like a charm!

Good luck!! :)

Ok got the puppy trained, my question when will these kittens calm down, who knew 2 kittens could be so distructive.

YES! We do this, too! The other day Charlie (the one in my avatar) even rang the bell to go outside and get his ball. They really do learn. LOL

Oh! What an adorable face!

go to theisens or any farm supply store or craft store and purchase a small cow bell, tie it on a string/shoe string low so the puppy can move it with their paw or nose by the door you take them out to do their duty. everytime you take them out ring the bell and say " going outside to potty" or something simlar to that always the same thing, in no time they will be ringing the bell when they have to go outside. good luck with your puppy they are great company.

I have had large dogs and small ones For 2 weeks i would need to use a crate after that they were trained, be consistant on time you feed them every day and until they were trained I would pick up there food by 6 pm, within 5 min. of feeding we would go outside for a potty break. before they got full run of our house I was always leery of chewing , I would leave them alone in the house shut the extra doors and watch from the outside of the window to see if they were going to start chewing or get in trouble. I would take 2 weeks and devote that time to get them trained and it has always worked for me, best of luck and enjoy your new little buddy!

We had two black lab pups at the same time..why..don't go there...I say get a craite. They feel safe there. Make sure you start them going out side on a scheule. When we put them out we told them to DO THEIR BUSINESS...little gentler for the neighbors..better than saying pee please or time to poop! Congratulations on getting a puppy. So much love going both ways!

I purchased a book for the specific dog breed and with additional advice from my vet, we trained our beagle as a puppy. When he was old enough, we took him through eight weeks of obedience training. Highly recommend for any dog.
I also crate trained and he loves to snuggle in his crate because it is his very own spot, and as others have said, they will not mess where they sleep. Good Luck!

I favour using the words "Hurry up" when you want your dog to toilet -- the neighbours don't know what it means, and it's the first thing that comes to mind when you are standing outside at midnight or when it's raining. Make sure you say it in a happy voice and give your pup a food treat every time when he performs, and you should have no trouble with outside toiletting. It's also very handy to be able to tell your dog to toilet before you go for a car trip.
The best information on all aspects of positive dog training is Ian Dunbar's site http://www.dogstardaily.com sorry I can't get this to appear to click into but you can google it.
cheers

Is leash training different for little dogs? Willow (that's what my daughter will name her) is only going to be about 10 pounds. What other differences will there be with a little dog?

I s'pose loud-whispering "pee pee night night" into the darkness isn't the classiest way to get our pups to take care of business, but the neighbors think it's hilarious and now they all use it, too.

None. Dogs are dogs are dogs, regardless of size. Yes, you have to be more gentle but the techniques are exactly the same.

Have two cocker spaniels. they are 7 and 9--still use the crate for night time and during dinner (they are beggars). Used the "bell" method for the youngest (the other was 1 year when we got her). Works well except sometimes he just wants to go out--every half hour (has to be tied up--no fenced in yard.) A lot of bending down for me. Our home is not complete without a dog.

Positive thoughts, speaking, lots of patience and love.
Lots of YUMMY rewards for the good things !! Take a class read a book and then do what works for you and your dog as no 2 dogs are alike (kinda like humans- no 2 are alike!LOL)
For every 1 bad word it takes 100 to make it better ~

I so agree with you on puppy pads.

Ceasar Milan "The Dog Whisperer" has methods that are simple and direct and that work surprisingly well. His TV show is great too. He has books and videos for every stage of a dog's training. Brian Kilcommons is very gifted too- If you can, read "My Smart Puppy" and "Good Owners, Great Dogs" And I would also read the Monks of New Skete: "The Art of Raising a Puppy". All these people truly understand dogs and how to develop a great relationship with them.

As for classes and puppy school: They can be a mixed bag depending on trainers AND attendees. Their biggest plus is socialization and exposure to new things. Make sure you follow your instincts about what is right for you and your pup. We were enrolled in a couple of classes with past dogs with really awful instructors. They were punitive and harsh and engaged in much shouting to get what they wanted from a dog. Stupid. Even more stupid considering our dog was a terrier. (You have to use positive training methods with terriers and other "think for themselves" breeds.) We quit those classes! And in another class, a big husky treated our little dog as prey, both the trainer and the owner were not stopping the behavior, which was doing more harm than good for our dog, so we quit that one too. So I'm just saying to use your own good sense there.

If you are getting a small breed, remember to treat your little one like a dog, not a baby. (I say as I type one handed with my little dogs sleeping in my lap,) The best things for a new puppy are frequent and safe socialization with people and other pets, plus exposure in a non threatening way to new situations and sounds, etc. That makes for a confident and well adjusted pup who finds life a great adventure.

We have 4 dogs in our family - 3 of whom are rescues - and using the knowledge we gained from these books resulted in a happy and harmonious pack. They bring much joy and love to our family.
I wish you much joy with your new pup too!

BUT: Watch out for trainers that are cruel to dogs. There are too many of those out there.

I have always started with a puppy over the years(5 in all of my 61 yrs., only 1 at a time, so you can see I keep them a long,long time)...for my last one is now 2 yrs old I decided to use a book for training her so I could do everything "right"...never used one before...originally her name was Funny Girl, however, after following the directions in "Dog Training for Dummies" her name is now Devil Doggie...lol...still, I love her and would not trade her for anything...I think alot of training you'll find is common sense and knowing to follow your heart with your puppy, though I do think having a professional helping to train is a good idea...good luck and happiness with your puppy always...Naomi :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: