Train Your New Dog

There are a number different types of dog crate, some plastic, others wire, plastic, wood, or fabric. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages: will help you chose the right crate for your dog or puppy.

The most common crates are made of wire. They come in different configurations with one, two or three doors and have plastic or metal pans covering the floor. Wire crates are very strong, easy to clean, and most fold up for storage. They are great for everyday use as a permanent den for your dog or when you are house training your puppy. They are however heavy and not easy to move once set up or with a dog inside. Wire crates can not be used on planes, but are a great choice for your car as they allow for a lot of ventilation and are more stable than plastic crates.

If you have a puppy, a wire crate is a good option as many come with dividers, allowing you to alter the size of the crate. This will save you money as you can move the divider and increase space as your puppy grows and will not need to buy several crates.

Plastic crates are most often used to transport dogs and are the type of kennel recommended by airlines. The sides, top and bottom are all solid plastic, with ventilation slots in the side. The solid sides provide some insulation compared to wire crates, but the reduced ventilation may be a concern in warmer climates. Plastic crates have separate tops and bottoms that are secured with screws and nuts or clips. They are lightweight, but don’t fold flat for storage. Their design makes them more difficult to clean than wire crates, and dividers are not available.

Wood is used to make decorative crates that look like furniture. Some wood crates are made of wicker, while others consist of wood laid over a wire crate. Yet others are tables, with decorative iron or steel integrated to make the kennel section within the table. These are decorative cages that are for indoor use only. They are not suitable for travel.

Pop up camper crates are made from nylon or canvas with netting for ventilation. They are comfortable, portable, and quick to set up and take down. They are not strong and offer little, if any protection, so are not for dogs that dig, chew or are anxious. Pop up campers are most often used for short periods when owners will be with their dogs and need something lightweight and easy to set up and break down. Typical uses include day trips, dog shows, or on hiking/camping trips.

The type of crate you select depends on your dog and what you need it for. If you are looking for use just at home, or have a puppy, a wire crate is a good choice. If you will be traveling in the car with your dog you may also want to consider a second, folding wire crate to keep in your vehicle. If your travel is further afield and involves air travel, then you will need a plastic, airline approved crate.

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Life Stages Dog Crates – An easy way to potty train a puppy

All my dogs have been rescued from shelters, some as puppies, some adults – none were potty trained.  It can be difficult to potty train a puppy, you need patience and commitment as puppies have small bladders and need to go outside often.  The key to potty training is consistency; develop a schedule and stick to it!

Starting as soon as you bring your puppy home get into the routine of taking them out frequently.  Puppies go to the toilet 5-10 minutes after they’ve eaten or woken up, so always take them outside after meals.

To help with training, choose one place where you always take the dog to go to the toilet.  Remember to give encouragement and praise every time  your puppy eliminates in the toilet area.

Accidents happen.  If your puppy doesn’t make it outside and messes inside the house, don’t punish them, just clean the mess and take the puppy outside. Praise when they goes outside.

Use a crate.

Midwest Life Stages Crate

Crate training is the best method to potty train your puppy as dogs are denning animals who do not like to sleep in the place where they go to the toilet. Your crate should only be big enough so that your puppy can stand up, turn round and lie down comfortably. If your crate is too big then your puppy will use one section to sleep in, the other to use as their toilet area.

Over the years I have found the best crates to be life stages wire crates by Midwest. Wire crates provide great visibility and airflow for your puppy, allowing them to be involved with your family while still being safely confined.  If your puppy likes a place to hide, a dog crate cover can be placed over all, or part, of the crate.

Life stage crates come with a crate divider which will save you a significant amount of money as you only need to purchase one crate, the appropriate size for your puppy’s adult size.  The divider is used to reduce the crate size to fit the size of your puppy.  As your puppy grows, so you move the divider to increase their living space.

Wire crates are also easy to clean, something very important when you have a new puppy.  The wire sides can be wiped down with a cloth and the plastic tray that covers the floor is removable for thorough cleaning.

Potty training a puppy is not instant training. It takes time for your dog to learn what is expected of them, but it is time well spent, and which can be minimised using a crate and positive reinforcement.

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The Secrets of Dog Training has been the the top selling dog training course for over four years, and has been bought by over 216,000 dog owners worldwide. Author Daniel Stevens is a professional dog trainer with many years of experience. His e-book is comprehensive and complete, beginning with advice for new dog owners, going on to address behavioral problems, intermediate and advanced obedience commands, health issues, and tricks.

The course consists of a 260 page, comprehensive manual that teaches you how to solve over 25 dog behavior problems, and a 30-minute downloadable video.  The book is very straight forward and easy to understand with step by step instructions and numerous photographs.  Different training techniques are discussed and real life case studies used as illustrations. The video is easy to follow and shows actual examples of unwanted behaviors then demonstrating ways to remedy them. The course is aimed at dogs of all ages and experiences, as well as those with behavior problems.

Also included are overviews and recommendations for several different training techniques, including a section on dog whispering, an increasingly popular and humane method to train your dog.  Daniel Stevens explains the technique and how to utilize voice and body language to correct and train your dog in a calm and assertive manner, providing instructions on teaching basic commands.

Bonus Material:

• Audio Book of the course that can be downloaded to an MP3 or CD.
• A Quick Guide to Dog Aggression e-book.
• All The House Training Methods & Tricks e-book.
• Dog Grooming Made Easy e-book.
• Tips On Security Training Your Dog.
• Secrets To Becoming The Alpha Dog.
• UNLIMITED online consultations with the trainer and his team.

Positive Aspects of the Course:
Daniel Stevens is a Well known and knowledgeable trainer whose course has been used successfully by thousands of dog owners.  A wide range of topics are covered in great detail, and are provided in a way that owners of varying experience can understand. The cost of the course also includes unlimited consultations with the training team and access to a members forum.

Shortcomings:
The Secrets of Dog Training is primarily written material, and thus a great choice for people who like to learn by reading.  It is not so good for those who learn more visually.  Increasingly, training courses include videos that demonstrate the correct stance, posture and tone of voice.  This is the one thing that is lacking in an otherwise outstanding training package.

Get your copy of The Secrets of Dog Training

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This course is written by Dove Cresswell, a Hollywood animal trainer who has worked on movies and television projects. She uses her experience to help you get fast results. The course is online and consists of 7 lessons in the form of slides and text, with an audio commentary.

The course focuses on the basics and covers:

* House Training
* Basic Dog Obedience
* Crate Training
* Walking on a Leash
* The Recall
* Good Manners
* Dog Tricks

Bonus material:

* Teach your dog to fetch
* Train your dog to play soccer
* Train your dog to play hide ‘n seek
* Information on dog sports
* Choosing the right toys for your dog
* Earning your dog’s respect
* Choosing the right dog food and treats
* E-mail the trainer directly

Positive Aspects of the Course:
The course is written and presented by a credible source, a trainer with proven skills and abilities. The combination of slides and narration enable you to see the correct position, posture and verbal tone to use when training your dog. It provides a common sense approach, starting from the basics, with no previous training experience necessary.

Upon signing up, there is immediate access to the course, which comprises professional quality audio and video. The course comes with an unconditional money back guarantee if you are not satisfied.

Shortcomings:
The course is only available online. It can’t be downloaded and there isn’t an e-book. If you do not have ready access to the internet, or if you work better by reading rather than watching, this may not be the course for you.

There are 7 lessons in the course, which are well produced and contain great information, but for a top level, competitive course more content would be nice.

Get your copy of Dove Cresswells Puppy and Dog  Training program

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