Bite Inhabition
Teaching requires effective communication. Puppies simply don’t know their teeth hurt. Yelling or physical punishment won’t explain what’s wrong and can make biting worse. Grabbing, pushing, hitting or another contact with a biting pup makes him think you’re just playing rough, too - and hurting him can damage the bond you share or prompt him to retaliate even more. Yelling can be interpreted as you're “barking” just like him, and escalate his excitement.
Explain in terms your puppy can understand. While he won’t know specific words, use exaggerated body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice to get the point across. Puppies don’t want to hurt you, and they don’t want the games to stop, so use this to teach a powerful lesson.
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Be firm but kind. Instead of yelling when the biting becomes uncomfortable, say "No bite" in a firm but kind tone of voice, and then pout. Do not engage in bite play. This works especially well with tough pushy puppies.
If the mouthing hurts, yelp just as another pup would announce pain. Don’t pull away from him as that encourages a game of “tug” that you won’t win. If the yelp doesn’t make him let go, push in toward his mouth to prompt his gag-reflex so he’ll release.
Give the pup a time-out immediately after correction. Thirty-to-sixty-seconds is long enough for him to get the message. Confine in a small room out of sight before giving another chance and resuming the game. If he again bites too hard, repeat the yelp and time-out to teach the lesson that bites make the fun stop.
It may take several repetitions before he figures out the cause/effect that HE controls the game and can keep the fun going by acting like a gentleman. Once the pup mouths gently, praise him and allow the attention to continue.
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Practice “Good” Bites
Once your puppy develops a soft mouth, teach him to stop mouthing on request and never to initiate mouthing. Periodic training sessions are essential throughout his life. A good drill might be to allow the pup to mouth for 15 seconds, then say "off" and offer a food reward or toy. He must stop mouthing to get the reward, which also pays him for stopping. After he takes the reward, he can resume mouthing for another 10 to 15 seconds if he likes, then repeat the exercise. You can start this by holding a treat in your fist and when he is gently interacting with your hand reward by offering the treat. Hard mouthing gets no treat.
Bite inhibition doesn't mean stopping the mouthing behavior altogether. That's too much to ask, and would be equivalent to tying your hands behind your back. Any dog may bite if provoked. But a dog with good bite inhibition that bites will cause no harm. And that's a comfort zone owners owe to themselves and to their dogs.
Crate Training Tips
Crate training is a great tool for housebreaking a puppy. A dog crate can also provide a safe haven for your puppy long after it becomes an adult. If you plan on using a crate to train a puppy, it's vital that you take the time to properly introduce the pup to the crate.
Choose The Right Size
Ensuring that you puppy easily gets used to its crate starts with choosing a crate that's the right size. Crates should be large enough for a puppy to lie down and turn around in comfortably. A crate too small will be uncomfortable. A crate too big may leave your puppy enough space to sleep and have a separate spot to use as a potty area.
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Make It Comfortable
Before you introduce puppy to the crate try to make it as comfortable as possible. Most puppies aren't going to want to sped time laying on the colds, hard crate floor for very long.
Start by adding something soft, warm, and preferably washable in the bottom of the crate. Small throw blankets, towels, and crate pads all work well. Keep in minds that crate pads can be harder to clean.
There are products on the market designed to make puppy's first days and nights in its new home easier. These are usually plush toys which allow you to tuck a hot water bottle inside or have devices that mimic the mothers heartbeat.
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Make It Interesting
It's also important to think about how to keep your puppy from getting bored in the crate. You may want to put some chew toys, stuffed animals, squeaky toys, or food dispensing toys in the crate.
For best results try putting two or three different types of toys in at a time, and rotate the toys every few days or so. This way your puppy finds something new and interesting every time it enters the crate.
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Let The Puppy Explore
With the crate prepared, it's time to bring the puppy in. The first time your pup sees the crate, don't push it in and close the door. Instead, allow the puppy time to explore the crate on its own. Let it walk in and out of the crate at will. If the puppy seems hesitant to step into the crate, try throwing a few treats inside.
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Shut The Door
Once puppy has gotten comfortable walking in and out of the crate, you can begin closing the door behind it. Start off with short periods - no more than a few minutes each time - and work up to longer periods.
When you first close the crate door stay in the room. After the puppy has been able to stay calm with the door closed a few times, start stepping out for a few seconds and then coming back into the room. Don't make a big deal, and don't immediately open the crate door. Slowly work your way up to leaving your puppy in the closed crate for longer periods.
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Problems And Proofing
While a dog crate is a great tool for managing your puppy's behavior when you are unable to supervise, it's not meant to be the place where the puppy spends all of its time. Puppies need time to run around, play and socialize with their new family as well.
Since your puppy will be uncomfortable if it eliminates in the crate, it's important that you don't leave it in there longer than it can hold its bladder or bowels. Puppies under 6 months of age should not be left in the crate for more than 3-4 hours at a time.
A common mistake dog owners make is using the crate as a form of punishment. The goal of crate training is to create a happy environment where your puppy likes to spend time. Yelling at a dog and pushing it into a crate can lead to fear and anxiety every time that they go near it.
Additionally, in order for crate training to work, don't let you puppy out if it's whining or barking. That will only teach it that it gets what it wants by making a lot of noise. The puppy should be calm whenever you open the door.
House Training Tips
Keep a Regular Schedule
At minimum, most dogs need to eliminate shortly after each meal as well as when they wake up in the morning or after a nap. Young puppies may need to go out much more frequently; In some cases, every 20-30 minutes. Take your dog out as often as needed to prevent accidents.
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Find a Designated Area
For each potty break, take your dog out on a leash to the area you want him to use. Stay quiet; nothing fun happens until he goes potty.
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Reward Your Dog
As soon as he eliminates, praise and reward him with a tasty treat. You want your dog to be very motivated to "go" every time you take him out, even if he doesn't really need to. This gives him lots of practice and makes it less likely that he will need to pee between walks.
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Supervise Your Dog
Inside, keep a close eye on your pup. When your puppy's awake and moving around you should have both eyes on him at all times. This can feel like a full time job, but don't worry! It gets easier as your pup becomes more reliable. If he's napping or engages with a chew toy, you can safely do something else. Just stay aware of where he is.
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Use a Crate
When your dog is home alone he should be crated. Most dogs will instinctually avoid soiling the area that they sleep in.
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Clean Up Accidents
Even with a consistent schedule and good supervision, your pup will occasionally forget and male a mess. Use a good quality enzyme cleaner to thoroughly treat any urine spots. This will ensure that there is no trace odor left behind.
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Wait a Week
Once your pup has gone at least a week without any accidents, start to give him more freedom at home without supervision. If he forgets and makes a mess, go back to watching him closely and taking him out more often for a few days and then try again.
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Be Patient
Most puppies are not reliably house trained until they are 6-8 months old. Newly adopted adult dogs may catch on more quickly, but expect to spend several weeks making sure that they understand the rules in their new environment.
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