Don't bite back

Besides barking, most puppies love to chew and bite. It's their way of socializing, playing and showing affection, as well as showing aggression. As part of your puppy training, you need to work early and often with your puppy to make sure you keep their mouthing and biting under control. Here are some tips:

* Socialization is hugely important: Your puppy needs to spend time with you and members of your family, but also with other dogs. The dog can then get used to being with humans and dogs and get over any fears it may have. If your dog is playing with another and some growling breaks out, stand back if you can and let them work it out. It's an important part of socialization.

* Don't hit or severely reprimand the dog for biting. If the dog is using his mouth too much on you, gently push his nose away and try to substitute a chew toy. Praise and reward the dog for using the chew toy instead of a human, dog or other animal.

Remember, if a dog bites it's going to be your fault 99 percent of the time. Proper puppy training, socialization and respect between dog and owner will keep biting out of the picture and make puppy training a lot more fun.

Puppy Tug-O-Leash

If you've got a puppy who's tugging at the leash, you can train her to stop. Say you're going for a walk and she does her best "puppy forward plow". Simply stop in your tracks and wait. Once she's loosened the leash, you can move forward. You'll probably play a game of stop and go several times over, but be patient and consistent. She'll soon get the idea that if she wants to go anywhere at all, she'll have to stop tugging.

Gently Lead the Way

If you have a puppy who has his own ideas about which way to go during an entire walk, you can try using a gentle leader. Gentle leaders fit over your dog's muzzle and wraps behind his head. You gain better control over your puppy by guiding his head in the direction that you want him to go. You should be able to use minimal correction to the leash to get your puppy walking in the right direction.

What Not to Do

When training your dog, whether it be leash training, potty training, or teaching your dog how to sit, it's important not to lose patience or overreact if your dog isn't behaving the way that you would like. Say you're going for a walk and your canine decides to he'd rather pull in the opposite direction throughout your entire walk. It's easy to become annoyed, but never yank on the leash, resort to yelling, or other angry behaviors. Your canine will not understand what you are trying to communicate to him. You need to stay disciplined in terms of keeping the leash loose, praising proper behavior, and not losing your temper. Remember that patience and consistency are the keys to dog training.

Chewing: Take care of it now

If you have a chewer, you need to remember that with puppy training, it's all about rewards, not punishments. That's going to be hard when you come home to find your new leather jacket or favorite shoe gone. Here some tips for dealing with puppy trainnig for chewers:



* GET SOME CHEW TOYS: Buy lots of solid rubber chew toys and make sure they are always available. Praise your dog for using the chew toys. And if you come home to find a that nice leather shoe in your dog's mouth, replace it with a favorite chew toy. Don't punish the dog; he won't understand. Instead, try to make the dog see that you'll play with him and the chew toys.

* Chew-proof your house: Keep nice leather items out of the dog's reach. Make rooms with fine furniture off limits.

Curb the Jumper

The first time your puppy jumps on you, it may be cute. After a number of times, you may try to push her off. To your puppy, a push can mean rough play. So she does what any normal puppy would do – she jumps with greater intensity to interact with you.

If you've got a jumper on your hands, the best thing to do is simply ignore the behavior. Your puppy will eventually learn that jumping gets her no response. Be patient and very consistent in ignoring your young canine. It may take several instances for her to get the message.

Elimination station

Whether you're paper training, litter training, or housebreaking your puppy by taking her outside, it's always best to have a designated area for her to relieve herself. If you're paper training or litter training, pick one area of your home, whether it be a portion of the kitchen or a bathroom, and teach her to eliminate in that designated area. When teaching your puppy to go outside of the home, try getting her to eliminate in an area relatively close to your house. Consistency will help your puppy figure out sooner where she can and can't eliminate.

At your service

A guide dog is specifically trained to lead her blind human counterpart. Since she responsible for the safety and well being of a human being, it is best to consider the following:

• Don't try to get the attention of a guide dog, by calling her or distracting her.
• Do not offer her food or treats to distract her from her duties or her daily routine.
• If you want to pet a guide dog, always ask the owner's permission first.

You've Got a New Puppy. Now What?

So you've got a cute new puppy who is soft, cuddy, loveable, and lots of fun. And she's also chewing on everything in sight and tearing up the house. What do you do?

• Your puppy is new to the world and is looking to you for direction. Establish yourself as the leader of your "pack". Take charge and show her what behavior is acceptable and what isn't.

• Socialize your puppy so that she is accustomed to a variety of situations. Bring her out on errands, take her to the dog park, and bring her around different people.

• Enroll her in puppy kindergarten training. She'll learn basic obedience and spend some time around other dogs and people.

• Begin housetraining immediately. Your puppy needs to learn right away where she can and can't eliminate.

What's all the Whining About?

Whining is a behavior often exhibited by puppies. If your young canine is whining, he's signaling a need. This could be anything from, "I'm lonely" to "I need to go out for a potty break." As puppies mature and become dogs, they may continue to whine. Dogs are quick learners as to what will get your attention and if whining does, they will continue to do so. One way to curb the whining is by offering your puppy plenty of attention, playtime, and affection. Make sure you are addressing his needs. If he has difficulties with being left alone, get him adjusted gradually. Put him in his crate alone for short periods and then gradually lengthen the amount of time that he spends alone.