Potty training is one of the most important things all dogs need to learn in order to co-exist happily with their human families. Despite the importance of successful potty training, many dog owners struggle with fully house training their dogs. Potty training should begin the moment you bring your puppy or dog home, and reinforcing this behaviour should continue through out your dog's life.

I do not recommend using pee pads for dogs, as this will create confusion for your dog in regards to whether or not they can use your home as a place to pee or defecate. Potty training is extremely successful and clearly understood when the puppy or dog learns that the only place they should be doing their business is outside on grass. Puppy pads can potentially confuse your puppy or dog, which can lead to accidents in the home.

Potty training can be easy to implement and often happens very quickly if done efficiently with strict consistency. They key is to be very consistent and vigilant, and to set the puppy or dog up for success. Here are the guidelines to a successfully potty trained puppy or dog.

Consistency is the key to success. Be vigilant and be pro-active about taking them outside as often as possible and rewarding them for doing their business outside. Many pet-friendly apartments have areas designated for this, giving your dog an idea of where it is acceptable to go to the potty. Taking them to the dog park can be beneficial as well. They can learn from other dogs and owners as to when and where it is appropriate for relieving themselves.

If you make a good effort, you could have a potty trained puppy or dog within a few weeks! Some puppies can be potty trained as soon as 2 weeks. It depends on the individual dog, and on your persistence. 


Angel Leandres
K9 Instinct
www.k9instinct.com

Homemade, grain-free and loaded with nutrition! You can't go wrong with these super delicious dog treats made with coconut flour, peanut butter, unsweetened applesauce and a touch of honey! These moist treats make the perfect inexpensive alternative to buying training treats at home. Simply shape the dough into small bite-sized balls and use them for training!

Coconut flour is a tasty alternative to grain flours, the perfect ingredient for dogs who suffer from grain allergies and sensitivities. Coconut flour targets the skin and coat to help make a dog's fur soft, thick and healthy. If your dog has dry skin or dandruff, this is the perfect treat for them! Peanut butter and unsweetened applesauce provide flavour and aroma to make for a high value treat that can be used in training. Moist, bite-sized and quickly eaten - these treats are sure to help train even the most stubborn of dogs!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups of coconut flour
• 1 cup of smooth peanut butter
• 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce
• 3 eggs

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a large bowl add coconut flour, peanut butter, unsweetened applesauce and eggs.
3. Combine thoroughly.
4. Roll into bite-sized balls on to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
5. Bake for 10-15 minutes depending on your size of treat.
   

Easy to make, inexpensive, healthy and delicious! Any dog cookie with peanut butter and applesauce is sure to please your furry family member's tummy!

I use these treats for tracking and training, and they have never let me down! Hunter will do just about anything for these.

Don't have coconut flour? You can use 2 cups of whole wheat flour and 2 eggs instead! These homemade dog treats can be left on the counter for a maximum of two days before they will need to go in the fridge. It's the price we pay for feeding whole food treats with zero preservatives!

For more delicious homemade dog treat recipes, visit the "homemade treat" section of my blog!

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Angel
K9 Instinct
www.k9instinct.com

There is no better sight than that of an obedient and respectful canine companion following its owner's command out in public. The understanding and clear communication between handler and dog is a sight to see, something highly valued and unfortunately quite rare these days.

So how does your average pet owner achieve this level of obedience in their pet? The answer is simple: time and effort! You need to put the work in to enjoy this level of trust and reliability in your dog. The result, however, is more than worth the time.  The product of spending the time to properly train and reinforce obedience is a well trained, reliable companion you can count on to behave appropriately and follow orders willingly.

We achieve this level of training first by establishing a good foundation in obedience.  Start in your home and in your backyard where there are minimal distractions. Teach the basic commands and ensure your dog understands what is expected of him when you give the verbal cue. Once you can be certain your dog understands what the commands mean, you then move on to adding distractions. Try training outside in a quiet park or in a parking lot that isn't busy. Over time, as your dog succeeds, add more distractions. A busy park or the pet store contains a higher level of distractions. Only move on to these higher levels of distractions when your dog is consistently succeeding in the previous and current phase of training.

Don't rush. Rushing your dog through training can create issues and be frustrating for both you and your dog. Move forward only when you both are ready for it. Be patient and set your dog up for success.

Be creative with your distractions. Have a friend train their dog close to you and yours, or train outside of a busy dog park. Use other dogs and owners to your advantage by training wherever dog owners take their pets. Training near other dogs and very exciting, stimulating situations allows your dog to learn how to ignore those distractions and focus on you and your commands. It teaches them to work under pressure and understand that no matter what is going on around them, they must always obey your command and behave appropriately.

My own dog, Hunter, is currently at the stage where we work with the highest distractions surrounding him. Although he is still a work in progress, I trust him 100% in public and can rest assured that he will obey any commands given to him. That is the result of time and effort, and I am happy to say it took me less than a year to get him there! He is currently only 20 months old and is very trustworthy and reliable.

It is so very worth it to proof your dog's obedience. There is no better feeling than being out in the world with your dog and having them do as you ask when you ask it. Regardless of what is going on around them,  you have established a powerful working bond and clear communication between you and your dog.

Lead and they will follow you.

Don't forget to follow K9 Instinct on Facebook for blog updates!

Angel
K9 Instinct
www.k9instinct.com

Socialization is a vitally important part of raising a dog. Socialization should never be missed, as a lack of socialization can cause serious problems for the dog later in life. Behavioural issues, fears, anxieties, aggression and the lack of ability to deal with stressful situations all result from poor socialization.

So what is socialization? Socialization is the act of safely exposing puppies and dogs to different, strange and potentially stressful situations in a way that always provides a positive experience. Socialization sets a puppy or dog up for success when dealing with the world and the many experiences he or she will be exposed to during their lifetime.

The key to successful socialization is exposing your puppy or dog to new and strange situations and always making it a positive experience. As the handler you should make sure you control as many of the situations as possible. You want to provide only positive experiences when possible, and should negative experiences occur you should find a way to make it positive.

Socialization is an on-going thing, but the critical time for exposure and learning is between the time you bring your dog home at 8 weeks of age to 16 weeks of age. You should expose your puppy to a wide variety of dogs, people, children, equipment, footing, and more.

You should be sure that any dogs you expose your puppy to are friendly, predictable and healthy. Any bad experiences with aggressive or very rough dogs can create aggression or fear in your puppy. The goal is to teach your puppy that dogs are positive experiences, and that there is no reason for fear or aggression on their part. Safe exposure to dogs also promotes the hope that your dog will not see other dogs as a threat, meaning you won't have to worry about bad behaviour in the presence of other dogs.

When exposing your puppy to people, choose large crowds and friendly faces. Make sure that nobody causes your puppy any harm, fear or panic. Let your puppy experience gentle handling by strangers, play with strangers, treats from strangers (provide your own treats!), and petting. Expose your puppy to children that are under control and able to handle or pet your puppy safely and gently. Never overwhelm your puppy or stress your puppy out, but apply age-appropriate socialization with people.

Take your puppy to a playground with equipment and take him through the tunnels, down the slides, up the slides, all from the safety of your reach. Play on the equipment to expose your puppy to different surfaces and textures, while making sure your puppy doesn't fall or have the chance to panic and hurt itself. Walk your puppy over hardwood floors, sand, carpet, fencing laid on the floor, bubble wrap, plastic bags and other unique surfaces.

Remember to keep the exposures fun and positive, while keeping your puppy safe and excited about trying new things. Make sure you control the environment as much as you can to ensure safety. All positive experiences, that's what socialization is all about! When negative situations arise, remove your puppy promptly and create a positive experience with some play and bond building.

It is important to make sure that you never praise your dog when he or she is exhibiting fear, insecurity or other bad behaviour. By offering praise and attention, to reinforce bad behaviour and bad responses. Ignore negative responses from your puppy, and reward once the desirable response is present.

Never forget that your puppy feeds off of you, so be sure to always remain calm and positive. Calm, happy voice should accompany a gentle hand. This reassurance will set your dog up for success!

To get you started, here are some ideas on places you can take your puppy or dog for socialization. Please make sure your puppy has the appropriate vaccines first!

• Farmer's Market
• Public Park
• Downtown City
• Train Station
• Pet Stores
• Any stores that allow leashed pets
• Parades and Festivals
• Car Rides (Weather permitting)
• Dog Socialization Play Groups
• Houses of accepting friends and family
• Visit apartment buildings and ride the elevators
• Walk around the outside of the mall

One of the keys to raising an amazing family companion or working dog is proper socialization and the result is a solid, reliable dog who trusts you and can be taken anywhere and asked to do anything.

Here is a video of my working German Shepherd, Hunter, preforming some obedience in a new location with many strange objects. His confidence and capability is a result of both genetics and great socialization.

We have all seen them; the owners that chase their dogs around relentlessly, begging their fleeing pet to "come" and "sit" and "stay" while the animal play bows and dodges them effortlessly. The frustration we see on their faces and mirror on our own reflect the problem that is prevalent in our modern world; Many dogs have no recall training.

If there is one command you and your dog should perfect, it is the recall. There is no other command more useful and potentially life saving than the revered "come" or "here". This type of training is incredibly important for every single dog on planet earth and I cannot stress that enough. Accidents happen every day and you want to be confident that you will have control over your dog in every situation.

One moment you could be walking your dog quietly down the street and the next you could find your dog slipping its collar and in pursuit of a rabbit towards busy traffic. A loud, firm "HERE!" could save your dog's life if he or she is properly trained.

Hiking is an activity every dog should enjoy, it feeds both body and soul and provides the best kind of exercise you and your dog can experience together. Hiking off leash is a privilege that has limitless benefits for a dog but it can only be truly enjoyed by dogs with perfect (or near perfect) recall. While you are hiking, every time you see a person in the distance, you should call your dog to you and leash them up until you are alone again. You should especially do this when you see another dog to keep your own pet safe and prevent fights or negative contact with strange animals. You should also never allow your dog to approach other people or dogs off leash, under any circumstances, unless you know the person and have given one another permission to allow each dog to interact.

The recall is so important and is useful in every situation that involves your dog. There is no excuse not to train this command and the consequences of not training this can be extremely frustrating and often dangerous. It is easier than most people think, as it just requires consistency and effort. There is no need to hire an expensive dog trainer to help you perfect it, it just takes knowledge and effort.

The first step to a perfect recall is an exercise called the "restrained recall". This exercise takes two people, with a secondary handler holding the dog by its leash. The leash should be very long so the secondary handler can follow after the dog and grab its leash if necessary.

The purpose of the restrained recall is to hold the dog back while the handler excites the dog and runs in the opposite direction. A toy may be used if the dog is especially toy motivated. The primary handler will walk or jog away, calling the dog’s name and using their “here” or “come” command in a happy, excitable voice while playing with the toy and doing absolutely everything they can to encourage the dog. The dog should be barking, going wild and trying to run after the primary handler. Once the dog is worked up and trying to chase the owner, the secondary handler should release the dog and follow after for safety purposes. The primary handler should call the dog again, give the recall command, and praise and reward with play once the dog reaches them. Repeating this exercise gets the dog excited and enthusiastic about the recall and teaches him or her that great things happen when they go to their owner.

Once the dog learns the first step and the handler feels confident about the dog coming when called, the second step is to teach the dog to sit and stay. Once the dog is able to sit and stay, the handler will walk away from the dog. Once at a good distance the handler will call the dog and give the chosen recall command. At this point, they should continue to be extremely exciting to entice the dog to come to them. As soon as the dog reaches them, they should offer lots of play and praise. The dog continues to learn that whenever the dog responds to the command by running to the owner, it is rewarded with lots of fun and positive things. Owners should include food rewards for the dogs that are food motivated.

An important note to remember is that an owner should never discipline a dog for coming to them, even if the dog has ignored their commands previously and generated frustration in the handler. Disciplining the dog is counter productive. When the dog finally comes to you, you have the perfect opportunity to reinforce the fact that if the dog comes when called, it will be rewarded. The reward you offer should be greater than whatever "fun" and "exciting" thing kept them from coming to you in the first place.

Training the recall is a lifelong commitment. Once the foundation is set, owners should strive to practice it whenever they can and further cement that obedience. They will find themselves with a well behaved dog that is under their control when out in public. Ultimately, time outdoors with your dog becomes stress free and enjoyable.

Angel
K9 Instinct
www.k9instinct.com