House Training / Potty Training
For puppies, a good rule of thumb to determine how often they need to to be given a chance to relieve themselves outside is to count their age in months and add one (i.e. 12 weeks old = 3 months + 1 = 4 hours.) Be sure to provide immediate positive reinforcement such as praise and treats when your puppy is successful!
Other Resources:
HOW TO HOUSE TRAIN YOUR PUPPY – Humane Society
Crate Training
Crating your puppy is a very helpful tool in house training. While your puppy may cry in the crate, it is important to let them figure out that the crate is a safe place where they can sleep, eat and just hang out! Any time your puppy needs a nap or gets a meal, place them in their crate so that they can associate positive experiences in there. The crate should be large enough for them to stand up and turn around. However, you want the crate to be small enough that if they need to use the bathroom, they won’t want to mess where they sleep. Giving your new puppy too much room in their crate will make them think that the crate is just another room, and not their “den.”
Other Resources:
How to Crate Train Your Dog in 9 Easy Steps – The American Kennel Club
Behavior Training
Sometimes, even with all your best efforts, you and your puppy need professional help! There are a variety of training methods out there and professionals right here in the Charleston area. For many years now, we have been referring our clients to C.C. Bourgeois, owner of Wonder Dog University, and have established an opportunity with them to have our clients attend small group puppy training classes with Wonder Dog University right here at CHV on select nights and weekends. (check on availability due to COVID)
Wonder Dog has also created a variety of training videos you should find useful – we highly recommend contacting them should you want to take the next step in your training.
WONDER DOG UNIVERSITY
Enrichment & Interactive Feeding – Keep Your Dog Busy! (Facebook Live)
https://www.facebook.com/wonderdoguniversity/videos/233691591090676/?vh=e&d=n
Socialization During Lock Down – Puppies and Dogs (Facebook Live)
https://www.facebook.com/wonderdoguniversity/videos/208802516882841/
Counter Surfing – Prevention and Modification (Facebook Live)
https://www.facebook.com/wonderdoguniversity/videos/611364356083020/
