Traing Older Dogs--Part 2

Hi there. I apologize for making you wait 2 weeks for this post but I had a family crisis. Anyway its over now so let's get to it.

You cannot reach your training goals overnight. You will need to continue working with your dog for the rest of his life. This takes patience, time & lots of effort. If you slack off & don't work with him, he will revert to misbehaving just to get the attention he once had. We all need something to occupy our minds & look forward to. Your dog is no different.

The first part of house training is to develop a feeding schedule. For example breakfast at 6:30 a.m. & dinner at 6:00 p.m. The dog's food should be left available for no more than 15 minutes. Whatever is left over can be saved for the next feeding time. This has several purposes. First of all, it teaches your dog to eat immediately, thus reducing a mess if he plays with the food. Secondly, it puts him on a regular diet, maintaining his weight at proper levels. Lastly, & of utmost importance, it allows you to schedule a proper relief time. You will know when he must relieve himself, causing fewer accidents in the home.

The fastest means of house training is to crate train him. The crate has many uses. It is a place for him when you are sleeping or not at home, & it his very own room to retreat to when he doesn't want to socialize or becomes tired. In short, a crate becomes his den.

When purchasing a crate, make sure to buy one that will fit your dog. He should be able to stand to his full height, turn around inside & be able to stretch out.

Crate training should be fun for your dog. He should never have to be forced into the enclosure. In fact, he will go inside willingly if you follow these simple steps. Place his bed & toys in the crate, & leave it open so that he can investigate it. If he goes inside, praise him & give him a special treat. If he is afraid to go inside, place a treat near the opening & allow him to take it. Praise him when he sniffs & eventually takes the food. When he is no longer afraid of approaching the crate, throw a piece of food a little further inside. Gradually increase the distance he must go to retrieve his treat. Begin giving a command when you throw the treat into the crate, such as "Inside" or "Kennel". When he readily enters the crate on command, close the door briefly, say 10 seconds. Praise him & push treats inside, so that he has positive associations with the closed doors.

Gradually increase the time he he remains inside with the door closed. When he is able to remain comfortably inside for half an hour, leave the room briefly. Do not return if he cries. If he is silent for a few seconds, return & praise him, then let him out & repeat the procedures later.

Before leaving him in the crate for a full night (no more than 4 to 6 hours at a stretch), make sure he has relieved himself outside.

Derek