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Stop Puppy from Nipping While Playing
Remove the opportunities for your dog to nip and play rough by limiting the close up play. Play with your dog in such a way that nipping would be difficult, and keep yourself at a distance from your dog. So, no tug-of-war or wrestling or rough play. If you play rough, your dog will too. Instead, toss a toy or ball for your dog to retrieve, or do something so that he is not in such close proximity to you, so as to curtail the nipping. You can reward your dog with treats after play sessions when he responds the way you want him to. If puppy does nip, immediately stop the play session so he is not rewarded for this behavior. You can try playing with him again later. Be consistent, and eventually puppy will realize that when he nips he no longer gets to play.
Dogs typically really want to please their people, but you have to teach them what pleases you by giving positive reinforcement when they behave the way you want them to.
Puppy Potty Training Log
Start a log with half hour increments when you first bring puppy home. This log should show time of day, and have blank space to note each time puppy eats, drinks, walks/exercises, pees and poops. This log will help you to determine the best potty regimen for your puppy. Go to this Puppy Potty Log for a suggested starting schedule for a 2 month old pup. Start with the suggested intervals and log whenever your puppy pees or poops. Review this after several days to adjust to your puppy's patterns – each pup is different.
As puppy grows his potty schedule will change. Example: 3 mos old may drink water at 10 am and need to walk and pee at 10:15. At 5 months old, may drink at 10 am and need to walk and pee at 10:30. At 8 months old, may drink at 10am and need to walk and pee at 11am. Most puppies should be able to hold their potty all night long once they reach 6 months old, some as early as 4 months and of course some may take up to a year. So, you should review your puppy's schedule every couple months and adjust according to his latest habits.
Puppy should be accident free for at least 2 months before you consider him potty trained. It is much easier to maintain the training regimen than to revert back to square one if you stop the strict housebreaking regimen too early.
Until your pup is completely potty trained, he should not be allowed full run of the house, nor should he be allowed on furniture. Mattresses and stuffed furniture are very difficult to remove urine accidents from, so it is best to wait until you know you can trust puppy not to potty on them.
My Dog Won't Pee Outside
Whatshould I do?
You should first establish a specific potty spot outside. Then it may be helpful to place some of your dog's poop and a towel you have used to clean up pee in that designated spot for him to sniff and see where you want him to do his chores. Another option is to purchase a Potty Rock. Catalog Source PP-1 Potty RockTake him to the spot where you want him to go potty. Tell him “go potty” or whatever command you wish to use every time, and keep him there until he goes - even if it takes 30 minutes of standing there. If he does not potty outside within 30 minutes or so, do not turn him loose in the house. Put him in his crate or designated area and try taking your dog outside again in 30 minutes. When he does potty outside, give lots of praise and take him for a walk or let him run loose or play for a while as a reward. Do not punish for undesirable behavior, but do reward the desired behavior.
If your dog won't stay in the area where you want him to potty, keep him on a leash, so you can physically keep him in the designated area. Don't allow him to roam unless he goes potty first.
If you are in a cold climate, try putting a warm sweater or coat on your dog to help make him more comfortable outside. Also, take him where the terrain is dry if possible - they often don't like wet grass. If you can go for a brisk walk first, that may help him to go quicker. Just like with humans, exercise helps to 'get things moving' for dogs.
Be consistent. Establish a potty schedule and stick to it, at least until your dog is thoroughly potty trained. It may take a few days for your dog to begin to comply, it will be well worth your time spent once he learns to potty outside.
