Crate Training
To crate or not to crate? This is entirely your decision. Tips to remember if you choose to crate train:
- Don’t use this as a negative space, meaning if your dog does something undesirable such as toilets in the house, don’t then send the puppy to its crate as this is negative reinforcement which is something we do not recommend.
- Instead, use this space to feed your dog. This is a positive reinforcement, getting food for going in the crate, having its favourite toys in the crate etc
- If you are wanting the crate for your dog to sleep in at night, stay in when you’re not home etc – then you MUST build a positive bond between the puppy and the crate. Leave the door open at first, get the puppy used to going in and out as they please, place Kong toys, treats, blankets in there to make it desirable for the puppy.
Toilet training
Toilet training takes time and does not happen overnight, top tips are:
- Create a diary – note down the times your puppy often goes to the toilet, if you see a trend, try taking the puppy outside at those times.
- Have rewards handy when your puppy goes to the toilet outside, praise your puppy, make them excited – this makes the puppy associate when they go outside and toilet, they get praise and reward.
- Take your puppy out to the toilet as soon as they wake up from a nap, this is often the most common time they will toilet.
- If your puppy has an accident in the house, do not shout at your puppy or present any negative reinforcement, this will only make you and the puppy have a poor bond. Instead, do not reward and try again taking the puppy outside until toilets and then reward.
- When cleaning urine in the house, use a non-bio laundry detergent. This does not contain ammonia which other cleaning brands do, which can make the puppy repeat indoor toileting if they can smell the ammonia.
Muzzle training
- Muzzle training is not just for aggressive dogs, this is for dogs that may scavenge on walks. The muzzle stops this, which prevents the dog becoming sick or ingesting potential foreign bodies which may result in surgery! Muzzle training does not happen overnight, take your time and make the muzzle a positive instead of a negative.
- We offer FREE muzzle training clinics one to one with our veterinary nurses Jess and Chloe.
- We recommend a Baskerville muzzle, this is so that the dog can pant and breathe freely.
Rewards and motivation
- We recommend finding your dogs high value treat. This could be food, a toy or praise and affection.
- Try the muffin tray method, this is adding treat samples to each section of the muffin tray this can be chicken, dog treats, carrots, hot dog, kibble. The one your dog goes to first is their high value treat, if your dog tips the tray over and has no preferred option, then you know your dog is highly food driven.
- If your dog is toy driven, empty the dogs toy box onto the floor, the first one they go for is their chosen high value toy.
Separation Anxiety
- Separation anxiety can be prevented by starting from when you first get your puppy. Start by leaving your puppy in a safe room where they cannot eat things, they shouldn’t for a couple of seconds, then to minutes then to hours.
- Take into consideration that puppies will need to toilet more often when they are younger, and setting a routine is key to prevent accidents in the house.
- Leave your puppy with mental stimulation so they do not get bored – this could be a snuffle mat with their kibble in or a KONG filled with treats to keep them entertained.
- Try putting a radio on as noise can help them feel like they have company.
- Plug in diffusers which are species specific such as Adaptil releases pheromones which help to calm and relax your dog. These pheromones are what the mother would naturally release around her littler!
- If you think you have tried everything to help separation anxiety, please book an appointment with our vet, they can prescribe medications which are designed specifically to help separation anxiety.
