Balance Behaviour

28/08/2024

Giggle...

22/08/2024

If anyone that hasn't returned a background questionnaire, would still like to get in on the September/October student training sessions - please return the completed questionnaire ASAP along with a picture of your dog!
Anyone that would like a questionnaire sending out please PM me with an email address so I can sort that for you.
The window is closing soon - so if you want to be on the list now's the time 🙂
Pictured: Barry, Ludo & Jock 💜💜💜

20/08/2024

Are your pooches noisy? Do they guard the fence line or bark at passers by?
A quick game to silence those noisy nutters;
1/ Supervise when outdoors temporarily
2/ Play 'find it' with smelly treats near the fence line every time a person walks by
3/ Stop when the person has gone out of sight and be boring
4/ Repeat, a lot, then watch as the dogs come running to you when they spot a person!
A small short-lived bark is allowable - the character of the bark will change after a lot of repetition.
For this to be sustainable when you are not around provide plenty of enrichment;
Toys, a paddling pool, a sand pit, perhaps some platforms away from the fence line so your dog can get up high and see from afar, and/or other things to provide interest. Platforms are great because distance is a way to reduce intensity, the message being; if you want a great view distance yourself!

17/08/2024

Mood is super-important when handling dogs. They know how you feel, they instantly sense your mood and this feeds straight into the hormonal system triggering a feeling and a mood in them too! First step to dealing with behaviour problems - check your mood! You may be shocked at just how powerful this can be...

16/08/2024

Give your good boys (and girls) a pat from us ###

15/08/2024

Training for behaviour isn't always about classes or time commitment - it's about changing the way you think about everyday routines and the way you approach them with your dog.
Throw in some ten minute exercises to target specifics and you have yourself a relaxed happy home within a short timeframe. It doesn't have to be difficult or complicated, it just has to be targeted to your dog and yourself. 🐾

14/08/2024

PLEASE share this girl as far and wide as possible. This is a sweet girl who needs her people as soon as possible, so help us find them if you can.

❤️DARLA NEEDS A FOREVER HOME. Darla has a full profile page here https://www.goodlifedogrescue.co.uk/dog-19 with details about her at www.goodlifedogrescue.co.uk Can anyone consider this lovely larger lady for adoption. Click on the adopt me button at the bottom of her profile page to complete an application.

❤️We would consider another foster however her forever home really must now be found. PLEASE SUPPORT AND SHARE FOR THIS YOUNG LADY. THANK YOU.

14/08/2024

Training Rain #3
This is the lead up to spooky fear periods starting!
6 months old, big bark coming out, cocking leg, so watch this space as the shenanigans begin...

14/08/2024

‘In some cases, these organizations insist that the idea of dominance in human-dog relations is an extrapolation from outdated views of wolf social organization.
These learned societies are on the side of the angels, but there’s just one problem: Research shows that dogs do in fact experience dominance. They are highly sensitive to hierarchical social relationships — more so even than wolves. Still, that doesn’t mean that the harsh animal trainers are right: Dogs may respond to dominance cues without that in any way offering an excuse for cruel, physically punishing behavior.’ Clive Wynne

13/08/2024

Fear periods - the second instalment, it's adolescent O clock!

The second fear period is said to occur somewhere between six months and fifteen months, and to last a few weeks. This varies significantly in my experience! I think ‘FEAR’ is a bit too simple a term too as many breeds are hard-wired to go towards a perceived threat very confidently (although over-arousal is always present)– so think fight or flight period instead as dogs are all wired differently and will react to a threat differently. You may see offensive barking, tension, fear, anxiety, flight, even snapping, submissive urination or something else.
This period might linger around for waaaay longer than three weeks, or might revisit a few times for short annoying episodes, or you might miss it entirely!
We are told that smaller breeds will go through a fear period at 6 months, with larger breeds going through this later, but really, it's a bit random! I've seen small breeds become intensely cautious much later than six months and giant breeds freaking out at Chihuahuas at seven months old - so don't get too fixed on the timings. There may be just one three-week period, or your dog might bob in and out of fight and flight regularly for a long while, so forget the ‘rules’ because from what I have learned - there are none when it comes to fear periods, only general guidelines.
BUT you'll know it when you see it…it will be of sudden onset, seem out of character, and it won’t be due to anything that you have done wrong.
Chewing might get worse instead of better and you may hear a bit of random whining. Your Mastiff might start to issue a deep bark towards visitors, or your Whippet may run away and scare the life out of you because of a dodgy looking dandelion, but it’s OK, you’ve got this!

So, if you are at your puppy class with lots of smug puppy owners and their perfect six-month-olds looking pityingly at you and becoming even smugger because your little darling is hackling up and being overly protective, or spooky and scared, then don't feel bad! They will be experiencing it too in due course and then you can rise above and advise them in a ‘been there done that’ manner.
All dogs go through this period, and it is totally normal and expected. Many owners lose confidence during this phase if they don't recognise it for what it is - it's the natural development of fight or flight instincts that are designed to protect them from real danger later. It will all be over with when they reach emotional and physical maturity, but in the meantime what to do?
Feedback is important to our adolescent dogs so that they understand that these perceived threats are nothing of the sort, and they will look to us to model how they should deal with it. So, no embarrassment necessary – simply correct in a neutral way. Verbal disagreement to mark and explain that you don’t agree with the threat perception, followed by a demonstration that the thing is safe is usually enough – but never force a dog to interact with something that’s tripped a switch. Example: SCARY TREE STUMP – IM RUNNING AWAY. Freaked out dog on the end of the lead? Just breathe, stand still, get a nice loose lead, ask for something the dog can do well such as ‘Sit’ and reward that. Loosen lead as long as possible and then go be a role model; sit on the tree stump and throw a few treats around your loose leaded dog. Make a better association with the ‘terrifying’ or ‘threatening’ thing as soon as you can, just don’t panic along with your dog – be the role model – calm, confident and serene.
At this time single event learning can sometimes take place - because the dog is especially receptive to threats (this can include anything novel, or something that previously provoked no interest whatsoever!). Single event learning is when one single bad experience can be stored long term and made into a huge deal for the dog, so never drag your dog to smell something scary, or buy into their drama – they need to discover the safety themselves and end on a good note with you to model – or even better – another calm dog to demonstrate confident behaviour.
So, now you know what to look for and you’ve identified that it’s fight or flight o clock. You don’t have to rush to return your puppy to rescue or start bombarding him with ‘stuff’ to make him ‘better socialised’. You just need to spend time doing familiar things in familiar places and do lots of brain work at home, manage stress with new chews and toys, and remember that you have GOT THIS. With patience and consistency, understanding and training you can get through it to the other side and have a happy well adjusted dog that you can be proud of to show for all the frustration and hard work.

Graphic from Sophia Yin - Cattle Dog Publishing

12/08/2024

Dogs are more than just a range of components!
As a holistic behaviour consultancy we specialise in 'the whole dog' - so technically we specialise in not specialising at all! We believe that the whole is worth so much more than the sum of the parts taken individually.
BODY
The first thing we consider when behaviour problems arise is health, diet and exercise. Or to put it broadly 'The Body'.
Looking not only at nutritional adequacy, or the duration of a walk, but considering the form that food and exercise take, the frequency and availability, and the way that they interact with the body and mind on a physiological level. This is super important! Working closely with vets is also essential - the health of the body impacts the mind in a huge range of ways, as do prescription medications. The dog must be capable of doing what we want.
MIND
Training exercises and behaviour therapy work on 'The Mind' and this can only come into play if we ensure that the body is healthy and exercised - and set up to succeed through enabling focus, relaxation, calmness and concentration. Targeted exercises to not only address the main concern, but also to address the emotional imbalance at the root of the issues are a huge part of a successful plan. The dog must understand what we want, and actively participate.
SPIRIT
When body and mind are fulfilled and working in harmony comes reward, touch therapy, quiet time and exercises to promote bonding and open up communication on a deeper level. Suggested activities that are tailored to the dog and yourself will send you forward with a shared interest and a closer relationship based on mutual trust, love and respect. The dog should want to be with us, please us, and be equally happy and confident when alone.
A multidisciplinary approach includes a plan to implement a healthy balanced diet, an appropriate exercise routine that uses the right tools for the job, targeted training exercises and relaxation / bonding advice along with suggestions for shared activities going forwards.
THIS is the way to happiness, wellness and learning holistic style!
We love to paint the bigger picture ♥️

09/08/2024

09/08/2024

Please bear in mind that lots of this is a series of things that most people wouldn't encourage - climbing on furniture etc. We don't mind as he has a step up to all the high places to save his growth plates, so he can get down safely, and dogs on furniture is all good for us in the back room providing they are happy to get off when asked and there's no guarding of space. Obviously if you don't want it don't allow it, ever. If you do want it, make sure it's by permission and invitation only to avoid space invading (especially with this breed type because MY WORD they will try to climb into your pocket if you allow it).

08/08/2024

Well done raw friendly Towerwood Vets

It's Rawgust! 🤩

As you know we are passionate about raw feeding, and we're going to share lots of information with you this month all about it!

Make sure to tune in to our Facebook and Instagram pages this month for information on choosing a raw diet, feeding guidelines, DIY diets, raw bones, and more... 🦴

08/08/2024

Training Rain
More chicken fun - sharing treats, bestowing the chooks with equal status, teaching I decide who gets what, practise ignoring 'exciting' triggers that flap.

07/08/2024

Teaching doorway / transitional space manners is especially difficult with Mastiffs because 1/ They often like to be in a position of protection (In front of you), and 2/ they love to push back against boundaries both physical (lead pressure) and invisible (open doorways) - it's ridiculously fun for them!
It's so easy to let one little dash or barge slip through. But the problem with these breeds is that even if you're consistent twenty times, and let just one tiny infraction slip through, they will remeber the one time you let it go! Always take the time to send back and do again until they've got it, this way you avoid bendy boundaries!

06/08/2024

06/08/2024

Pub Training!
My FAVOURITE training it has to be said. . .
Being calm cool and collected in spaces like pubs and cafes can be a challenge.
Top tips;
Walk first, settle later.
Take a chewable for relaxation support.
Position your dog so that you are sat between them and any pedestrians / customers (especially if your dog is cute and people constantly think it's OK to shove their hand in their face!).
Teach 'settle' at home with a lightweight mat or towel, and take this along with you to help transfer the behaviour to new spaces (you can put the towel on their bed at home whilst teaching this).
Remember to take water and a collapsible bowl along - dogs need refreshment too (especially if a couple of pork scratching treats are in the offing...)
Supermodel Hugo poses outside a dog friendly pub!

03/08/2024

Garlic: Dog delicacy or deathly mistake?

Modern scientific studies have established that garlic boosts immunity, is antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal, supports liver function, detoxifies on a cellular level (so good to feed with liver if we remember that this organ filters toxins as well as excess vitamins - yuk). Garlic lowers blood cholesterol, and there is even some evidence to suggest scope for fighting cancer and tumours generally. It is a parasite preventative and a general tonic, a flavouring and a healing health improver!

What's the secret?
Raw garlic cloves contain lots of alliin and alliinase - a compound and an enzyme that react together to form allicin. They don't react and combine until we crush, grate or finely chop so preparation is key for gaining the benefits.
The upshot is that the allicin from prepared fresh garlic given in the right quantities represents the great things that garlic can offer without risk!

But garlic is poisonous to dogs right?
The idea that garlic is harmful or bad for dogs has been taken out of context somewhat. This study; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11108195
uses garlic extract (not whole garlic cloves) to determine whether garlic is harmful - and it uses very high doses at that - so based on this study of eight dogs (4 in control group and 4 in the garlic group) comes the myth that we shouldn't feed garlic to dogs due to the potential for blood cell damage.
If we look closer though, the equivalent amount of fresh whole garlic required to replicate the study in a medium dog (average sized Labrador) would be four to five large bulbs of garlic at each meal (!) to show the potential for adverse effects. hmm. Sounds a bit baby and bathwater to me.
Virtually everything is damaging if we have too much of it after all, sugar, fat soluble vitamins, WATER. If we then consider that an extract is never equal to a natural bioavailable synergistic whole source, we have no basis for judgement of risk based on quantity, form or through reported adverse effects. Millions and millions of dogs are fed garlic and adverse effects are just not seen, it is used in flavouring for dog food and also in some flea treatments. The benefits are substantial though - and well documented.

What else?

Research tells us that garlic is an excellent broad spectrum antibiotic, and it doesn't destroy gut flora or build resistance in the same way as drug therapy in the form of prescription antibiotics! No studies funded by pharma-bods to back this (SHOCK), particularly as there are no known side effects associated with an effective dose...

Garlic gets a bad rap, but I think it's a well kept secret wonder-plant! Shout out for garlic!

02/08/2024

Behaviour and training are two sides of the same coin!

A well trained dog is a happier dog, and this makes for a happier owner too!
The joy of dog ownership is being able to enjoy walks and time with your dog, to be able to take your dog to a variety of places and involve your dog in lots of activities.
If behaviour is an issue, then this can be difficult, and working on emotional issues can be involved and complex. But...
The good news is - even without expert behaviour help - you may be able to improve the situation somewhat if you simply focus on training your dog to do something cool - anything and everything!
This doesn't necessarily need to be related to the behaviour that you are struggling with at all. Which is awesome!
Training - by this we mean teaching a behaviour on a cue such as 'sit', 'down', 'heel', 'find it', 'watch me' etc. - engages the brain in a satisfying way and it suppresses unwanted instinctive behaviours that stem from anxiety and excitement as well as often reducing aggression, frustration and prey type behaviours.
We can have some fun with our dogs whilst training them, and in doing so move away from obsessing on what the dog isn't good at, instead focussing on something positive that we can shape and reward.
This helps in more ways than one!
It can offer you an alternative fun behaviour on a cue that can later be inserted into a usually problematic scenario; a dog that has learned 'paw' or 'touch' or 'watch me' and associates this with optimism happiness and reward, can often be distracted from an unwanted behaviour if we cue quickly for this and have rewards available too.
There's more benefits; The more your dog uses his brain for decision making and problem solving, and the more he wins rewards during calm concentration, the better he's going to feel, the more relaxed he's going to feel, and the better his relationship with YOU. He will also be tired and satisfied having had a mental workout, and optimistic because of all his 'wins', praise, and rewards.
So happy, relaxed, de-stressed and socially connected. Sounds good yes?
This means better levels of focus, lower stress levels and a greater capacity to think things through rather than just reacting instinctively. It also means a repertoire of confident happy-inducing behaviours that are taught on cue and become automatic even in potentially tricky situations! You also have the added bonus of a closer relationship with your dog.
Teach your dog a new trick today, enjoy your dog in a way that is relaxing and fun, and it could have far reaching results beyond a simple trick or exercise ♥️

01/08/2024

Happy Yorkshire Day!

Fun fact: Yorkshire Day has been celebrated every year on 1st August since 1975, but the origins of the day go back much further. 1st August was originally a military event commemorating the anniversary of the Battle of Minden in 1759. This day was probably adopted as Yorkshire day, at least in part, to commemorate the Yorkshire soldiers present at the Battle of Minden.

01/08/2024

Liver treat lowdown
Cheap, packed with vitamins and easy peasy if you can stand the cooking smell (A glass of gin in your hand with ice works well to negate the ickiness)!
Store in a sealed container or sealed bag for up to a week. Freeze for longer!

Rinse liver in cool water.
Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil.
Add liver and garlic to boiling water.
Simmer for 1/2 to 3/4 hours until well done.
Allow liver to cool. (Discard garlic or be a rebel and feed it for tea as a parasite deterrent).
Cut liver into 1/2 inch cubes.
Spread on a foil lined baking tray.
Bake at 140 c for around 2 hours
Use scissors to chop up into smaller treats quick before it cools properly or you miss the boat!

Ta da! Liver training treats. Add a crackly bag in your pocket and you have awesome rewards with a bridging crackle, that are good for your dog and have no rubbish added, no carcinogens, no sugar, colourings or rancid fats. Ooh now there's fancy 😉

26/07/2024

Common sense 'o'clock!

Just spoken to a confused lady asking about the crate having sought advice online. She was told that crates are bad, no they're good, ignore whining, NEVER ignore whining, desensitise, just don't give in [insert more conflicting advice here] …
Pretty sure she's more confused now than she was when beginning to investigate!
Yes, everyone's got an opinion! Some are experts, most are hobbyist ideologues, can you tell the difference?
Do yourselves a favour and rather than asking Facebook for behaviour advice, ask a professional instead.
The CFBA is my go to signposting for a behaviourist you can trust, although there are many more great behaviourists out there. If in doubt ask us - because we can help, or if you are out of our area or expertise (unlikely - we're great 😜) we can signpost you to a CFBA member that is close by, or one of our prior students local to you that is well-placed to help your specific breed or circumstance.
The long and short of it is: For an expert opinion get word of mouth recommendations or go to an approved member group, for confusing non-specific advice from people with very big opinions and loud voices but no real behaviour knowledge, post on Facebook publicly!

24/07/2024

How influential is a Mother on her litter?
Short answer; Extremely!
Forget maternal deprivation for a moment and consider Mum’s influence rather than her absence.
If Mum is too aggressive in correction, then the pup becomes stressed which impacts on the hippocampus – this part of the brain is responsible for learning and memory and can shrink under stress (which usually goes hand in hand with a greater capacity for instinctive behaviours). This stress can produce a fearful reactive pup, or a withdrawn pup that is difficult to train, or in extreme cases a pup that has learned helplessness or is ‘shut down’, uninterested in playing or interacting, and basically lacks curiosity. Some of these pups will learn through the mother’s example and be overly aggressive and/or fearful too.
On the other side of the coin Mothers that don’t correct extremes of aggression and excitement can produce pups that will grow to have no idea of physical and emotional limits and these dogs present as excitable, unable to relax and as having no ‘off switch’! Anxiety runs rampant…These dogs will show too much aggression and excitement, poor bite inhibition, and as a result they will tend to get themselves into trouble frequently - and yet will not respond normally to a correction from another dog, they tend to just ignore the correction and continue to perform the unwanted behaviour so are often on the receiving end of aggression from balanced dogs, likewise they are almost impossible to train from a human perspective!
Puppy selection is so much more important than many believe – so many people will tell us ‘it’s how you raise them’ with authority, but we can work only with what we have, and the brain adapts in line with the environment before birth and continues to do so during the early weeks. Mum’s influence is massive and undeniable!
Genetics and environment hand in hand!

22/07/2024

So many lovely young dogs just waiting to inspire your life 🙂
Now is a great time to adopt not shop - so many super sweet dogs are in rescue right now thanks to the 'great-pandemic-dog-buying-frenzy-oops-I've-made-a-mistake' of 2020/2021, and many more very poor 'breeders' who are overcharging for genetically unsound examples of breed.
It's a total no-brainer. If you can't adopt volunteer to walk or visit - dogs benefit us at least as much as we benefit them 🥰🥰🥰🥰

19/07/2024

What you choose to put in your puppy’s bowl 🥄at an early stage can literally affect their whole life, not to mention your bank account💳 with future vet bills if you decide to add nothing to their food!

“I only feed my dog their kibble, I NEVER give them anything else!” was once a proud pet owner statement, but microbiome🦠 research proves this is a BIG mistake. Study after study shows the more diverse your pet’s bowl is, the healthier their gut and immune system can become.

A brand new study from Finnish Veterinary Scientists shows healthy human food🍗🥦 leftovers offered to puppies significantly reduces allergy symptoms and skin problems later in life. This long-term, protective effect increased the more often real foods were added, so the more exposure puppies had to a variety of healthy leftovers, the more protection there was from developing skin issues down the road.

“…even if the dog🐶 eats 80% of its food as dry, adding a minimum of 20% of the food as raw significantly decreased the risk of AASS [allergic skin disease] later in life.” – Dr. Anna Hielm-Björkman

According to the scientists, feeding a variety raw or minimally processed, real food early in life may lead to microbial exposure that enhances the immune system early on, reducing allergic responses later in life. Some of the foods owners fed in this study were fish🐟 and meats🥩, vegetables🍆 and roots🍠, culinary mushrooms🍄, buttermilk and other fermented milk products🥛 and berries🫐.

In our new book, The Forever Dog, we list over 40 of our favorite fresh foods from the fridge to add to your dog’s bowl, backed by the most surprising new science as to why they’re so amazing at building health and longevity! We also show you how to add them in a way that keeps your pup’s nutrition in balance. You’ll want to check out the section called: “Core Longevity Toppers: Superfoods You Can Share with Your Dog on a Daily Basis.” We’ve also included handy charts on which foods are best at building your dog’s microbiome, powerful polyphenol-rich foods, as well as a long list of fast-n-fresh training treats, if you’re on the go. The Forever Dog book is now available for pre-order worldwide! www.ForeverDog.com/about

19/07/2024

Stay cool today doggy people. In the absence of walks opt for playing find it and maybe treat the pooches to some frozen banana (dog lollipops) or frozen Kongs (but stick a chopstick through the middle to leave a hole to prevent injury) 🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆

18/07/2024

Just a heads-up, any reviews given need to be set to 'public' otherwise I can't see them to respond, and they won't be visible to people 'stalking' me to see how we work!
If you would like to leave a review, please be sure make sure that the review is set to 'public'. If not, the review will only be seen by your Facebook friends, and any positive review that is made privately wont add to the our overall rating. I'm eaten up with curiosity as there are so many reviews that I can't see... hopefully not all horrible trolls that I have never met or worked with!
It always has to be complicated... but I'd love to hear how you feel about the advice you've received so if you have time to leave an honest (public) review that would be super-fantastic and much appreciated ❤❤❤❤❤
Have a great dog day!

18/07/2024

House Training/Toilet Training
House training is relatively simple when we are training new puppies as we are teaching a new behaviour. The behaviour of eliminating inside the house or 'den' can be more difficult to remove in adult dogs where the behaviour has become ingrained and the scent is present. In this case we are not only teaching a new behaviour but removing an unwanted one. House training is usually more difficult for males than females, and can be very difficult indeed for 'puppy farm' dogs due to the unwanted behaviour usually being practised throughout the critical period, it can also be challenging to retrain a dog that has been kennelled for a time as the 'den' that the dog has been using has been much smaller than a house and the act of retaining waste has not been practised for some time.
1/ The usual way of establishing the rules on where elimination is acceptable is to consistently and positively reinforce elimination outside in the designated area. Praise and affection can be given as the dog is finishing elimination, if the owner becomes too excited as the dog is beginning to eliminate he may stop and approach instead. In the case of a youngster the dog should be taken outside to 'perform' shortly after food, immediately after sleep or excitement and at any time when you notice the cues that suggest that the dog is about to relieve himself. Obviously before the dog is about to be left alone he should be tired out and allowed to relieve himself in the hope that he will sleep during the owners absence. And yet again before bedtime. It should be noted that in order to prevent retention of waste at an unhealthy level, particularly where intelligent breeds are concerned, the dog should not be taken indoors immediately after elimination otherwise the dog may associate a negative to the act of elimination; 'play in the garden stops after elimination so I will hang on as long as possible'. This period of waiting need only be a very short one in the case of young puppies. Conversely if it is raining and the pup wishes to return to the indoors then this can be used to the owners advantage by immediately allowing the dog indoors after elimination – yet another way of positively reinforcing a desired behaviour.
It is so important in the early weeks to watch the young dog and recognise the cues to watch out for such as circling, sniffing or squatting. After a few repetitions another cue will develop- this will consist of the dog either looking to you or approaching the door and waiting. (be careful however as sometimes the pup will quickly realise that when he stands by the door you open it, this can become tedious in the extreme if the pup has nothing of interest to do that will engage him and instead amuses himself by demanding outside time whether he needs to relieve himself or not.)
No punishment should ever be given for accidents inside the house, this can be confusing for some dogs and can lead to the dog attaching the punishment to the action of elimination itself, or perhaps to being observed whilst eliminating – in which case he will surely find a discreet place to eliminate on the next occasion in order to please his owner. Far better to ignore accidents entirely unless the dog is 'caught in the act' as it were... A startle reflex is an excellent way to discourage elimination indoors if the timing is perfect. Not only will this provide a powerful negative association but it will cause the dog to stop immediately and this will enable you to give the dog access to outdoors in order to reinforce positively again. Any scent after the accident has been cleaned should be thoroughly removed with a purpose made cleaner to avoid a repeat performance in the same area.
Once elimination is consistently performed in the designated area it is very useful to associate a word or phrase with the act. 'Be clean' or 'Hurry up' are common phrases, this then becomes the cue to eliminate and can be used pre-elimination to encourage the behaviour. This can be very useful and has helped me on many occasions, for example when driving long distances, you don't necessarily want to spend 20 minutes walking around a service station waiting for your dogs to relieve themselves, with a cue word in place the dog knows straight away that elimination is not only OK in this place - but requested by the handler.
Routine cannot be underestimated, if feeding, play and walking are consistently timed then it will be very easy to predict when the dog is likely to want to eliminate.
2/ Another method follows the same principles but introduces the use of a crate. This is a powerful deterrent for most dogs as they are inherently averse to soiling the nest – this is reinforced due to elimination outside the nest being practised during the critical period and by the mother keeping the nest area clean. The crate (if the correct cosy size is selected) mimics the nest. Obviously in the case of puppy farmed dogs this will not help much, but for most others this is an excellent way to develop the muscles and will needed to 'hold it' for longer periods. For people that are away from the house for periods of more than an hour or two the crate is an excellent addition and can speed the house training process considerably if used correctly. The dog should never be invited into the crate when frustrated, excited or until after he has eliminated. This is not really a method in itself, just an additional facet that can be very helpful for some. The crate can be used to reinforce routine too, adding chew toys or a comfy bed can help allocate a specific activity. For example after a large meal and elimination a crate containing a comfortable bed will automatically be utilised for sleep, it is the hope that the next time the crate containing a bed is presented that the dog will automatically know that it is time to rest. Routine helps house training so this allocation of activity can really help speed the process.
3/ The third method of house training includes the use of puppy pads. They are scented to encourage elimination, they can be placed indoors in order to attract the dog to eliminate in that specific area and then gradually moved to the door, and eventually outdoors. I would personally not use this method with 7-9 week old puppies unless absolutely necessary as it introduces an extra step where none is needed, and could possibly confuse the dog regarding indoor/outdoor elimination. Perhaps if the owner has a litter of very young puppies then the pads could be introduced outside the nest from an early age to encourage elimination in a convenient area and a hygienic way. Another helpful application of puppy pads could be use with older dogs that have never been taught any other way, the pads would break down the new behaviour into smaller steps and likely speed the process.
These pads could also prove extremely useful where urinary or bowel incontinence is a genuine issue. For dogs that have very little muscle control and therefore little notice that they need to eliminate these pads could prove a fantastic addition. I would not refer to this as a training method in this context however, more a useful tool to preserve hygiene and afford the dog some dignity whilst allowing the dog to succeed within his limitations.
Patience and a sense of humour really are important when raising a puppy, or indeed retraining an adult dog. Accidents will inevitably happen and you will have to practise your non-reaction to these little accidents in order to avoid further issues in the future.