For a very good guide to all sorts of dog training processes and dog behavior challenges, I use and recommend Clickertraining ...that link goes to the description of this terrific ebook you download immediately, wherever you are! -- Rosana

Recently I posted an article written by Kate Stolle of Columbia, Missouri, giving tips on training deaf dogs, based on her own experiences with a deaf dog, Lilly. Here are more tips from Kate again. Also if you want books on deaf dog training, this link takes you a page on Dogwise with a bunch of good books on both blind and deaf dog training.

Kate says:

Kennel: we don’t kennel her very often but she knows that it is her safe zone. We have lined her kennel with old pillows off of our bed so it smells like us and an old blanket. She will burrow in-between the pillows and she feel safe there. We have gotten to the point with her that she has free roam of the house while we are gone. We just make sure that the door to her kennel is unlocked and slightly open. She has figured out how to open the kennel door with her paws and how to shut it surprisingly. Nine times out of ten when we come home she is in her kennel curled in a tiny ball.

If there is any real advice to training a deaf dog, it’s consistency. Make sure that you use the same commands over and over again and reward when they do what you want. One of the plus’ of having a deaf dog is that they can’t be distracted by noises when you are trying to train them like hearing dogs. I still talk to her and give verbal commands while I am signing to her. Now our other two hearing dogs know what the signs mean as well as hearing them!

Also, having a companion for your deaf dog is a great idea. It’s another dog to watch out for them and to let them play with. They seem very happy with another dog around. They are big into the buddy system.

It’s all in how you want to train them. What works for you and your dog. It’s trial and error.

When I decided to experiment with making online videos last December, I made one called Potty Train Your Puppy. It’s under 4 minutes and goes through the basics of housetraining puppies. Recently I checked my stats for Potty Train Your Puppy at Youtube and was thrilled that over 12,000 people had watched it. (The link takes you to the video at youtube.)

UPDATE May 2009: Over 67,000 people have seen it now!

I also have put it on a variety of lesser-known video websites. Here it is from a site I like called 5min.com, which only has how-to videos:

On the video screen, one of the little icons on the lower left says Links. If you click on that, you will see a link to my potty training page on this website and to an excellent article, “Errorless Housetraining” by Ian Dunbar.

Sometimes I wonder if I spend too much time on potty training / housetraining / housebreaking puppies, but it’s sad how many people never quite get their dogs properly trained, so this is one way I feel I can help dogs! Many inadequately housetrained puppies end up being given away or worse. If you have a blog or website related to dogs in any way, you are very welcome to embed the code from Youtube or 5min.com in your site.

Marcie M. Jensen of CampRunaPup.com wrote a recent article I used on the site. Here is a longer one about puppy care.I like their blog at http://camprunapup.com/wp — Rosana

A new puppy is so exciting! It’s like getting a big chief notebook and being the first one to draw in it. Puppies are babies, and as such, require some effort on your part.

The first thing you need to buy is a crate. It drives me crazy when people tell me they “just can’t” put their puppy in a crate. Yet, these same people have no problem putting their human baby in a play pen or car seat. Why do they do this? To keep them safe! That’s exactly what a crate does for your puppy. A dog is a den animal and needs its own den. The size of the crate for most puppies should be about 36″ x 23″ x 26″, but that may vary depending on your puppy’s size. When your puppy is not under your direct supervision, it should be in its crate, or “house” if you prefer.

A puppy should be fed three times a day. Strangely enough, your puppy will tell you when it’s ready to eat lunch. Put the puppy’s food down, leave it there for 15 minutes, and then pick it up. A dog should not be fed like a cat and nibble all day.

Housebreaking your puppy can be accomplished quite easily. Early in the morning, probably around 5 a.m., get your puppy up out of the crate and take it where you want it to go potty. Put it down and wait WITH the puppy until it eliminates. The minute it does, start the parade! Give it lots of praise and pats, and maybe even a treat or two. Take your puppy back inside and feed it. Put it back in the crate for 10-15 minutes and then take the puppy outside again. Same program: it goes, you cheer.

Now it’s play time! Play with your puppy as long as you can. Show it during this time what is appropriate for it to chew on. When the puppy grabs the corner of your Oriental rug, make a soft scolding sound and distract it with a puppy toy. If you have to run errands or go to work, take the puppy out one more time and wait for it to go potty. Then it’s inside and back in the crate. A 12 week-old puppy should be able to stay in its crate for about three hours. The rule of thumb is one hour per month of age.

If you keep a diary of when your puppy goes potty, you will easily see a pattern within three days. This is very easy to do since you are with the puppy when it goes potty, and not just sending it outside. One last note on potty training: If you take your puppy outside for the night at about 10:00 or 10:30 they should be able to last until 5:00 or 5:30.

Now every time you put the puppy in the crate, it’s no big deal, just like putting the baby in their crib for a nap. Taking the puppy out is no big deal either. The minute you take the puppy out of the crate, pick it up and take it to go potty.

The crate or “den” is a wonderful way to build a wonderful positive relationship with your pet. Since it is safe in its crate, your things are safe in your house. When you come home, there is never a reason to scold or get upset. Your interaction with your puppy is always positive. Your puppy learns to look forward to you coming home.

A short story here about puppies and crates. Several years ago I had a client who simply could not bring himself to put his young dog in a crate. He had just bought a brand new house and insisted the pup should enjoy it. And, enjoy it she did. The first week she enjoyed chewing on all the lower kitchen cabinets. The next week she enjoyed chewing on all the lower window sills. The next week she enjoyed tearing up the brand new carpet in the living room. The next week she enjoyed gnawing the corner off the new coffee table. The next week he put her in the bathroom where she managed to get those cabinets doors to match the kitchen cabinets. The next week when I came over, he had purchased a crate, and there she sat, happy as a clam! Of course, this was after thousands of dollars of damage had been done.

(Then there was the guy who wouldn’t consider a crate. After his dog did damage to the home, the dog was put to sleep. I guess he thought that was a kinder, gentler way to solve the problem. )

So, there you have it. A positive way of bringing up puppy.

For more on crate training puppies, see my page on the topic by clicking the link. Also see my main page on potty training puppies here. And again, Marcie’s website is http://camprunapup.com/wp

The rule of thumb that she gives for how long a puppy can stay in a crate would NOT mean that a 10-month-old puppy could stay in for 10 hours. In my opinion, that is too long and you should have a neighbor, friend, or pet care person give the pup a break during the day.

This article by Marcie M. Jensen of http://camprunapup.com/wp has important tips in choosing a puppy. I couldn’t have said it better myself! I think her comment about not getting littermates shines light on something I have noticed about our Rottweiler, Lola, now about a year and a half old. We got her last year in a rescue situation when she was about eight months old. We learned that she had just before that been separated from her sister, a littermate (within the week or two before we got her). Well, Lola loves us dearly and I do find her quite easy to train, but it is evident to me that she is more dog-focused than any other dog we have ever had. I must say that Marcie puts the case against littermates considerably more strongly than I would have, but I left that paragraph in as food for thought. What do you think about getting littermates?

Camp Run a Pup is quite a special place, a “Bed and Biscuit” dog inn, located in the Chicago area, not far from O’Hare airport. They give loving care to their dog guests while the dogs’ people are out on vacation or business trips. To find out more about the B&B, click on the picture. — Rosana

Is it possible to pick the perfect puppy? I’m happy to tell you yes, with some effort on your part. The first step is to buy or borrow a book on dog breeds. Look up the breed you are considering and read about them. A puppy will always demonstrate the traits it was bred for. If digging drives you nuts, don’t buy a Terrier. If you don’t want a dog that barks and herds you, a Sheltie is not for you. If you can’t spend a good part of your time playing and training, don’t buy a Border Collie. Do your research. If possible, talk to a trainer, groomer or veterinarian. These people see what happens when a dog becomes stressed. A breeder is likely to tell you that the breed they deal with is the best. Well, of course! Why else would they be breeding them?

A lot of people say, “My puppy picked me!” In other words, their puppy ran right up to them, and they bought it. They have just brought home a very dominant, demanding pup, which is fine for some people. However, most people will find it stressful to live with this dog. A much better choice for MOST people is the puppy who kind of hangs back, and then when coaxed, comes over and allows you to pet and play with it a bit. Do not ever purchase a puppy who runs and hides or is afraid of loud noises. In other words, you clap your hands and the puppy freaks. This puppy will be very difficult to train and will have noise issues its whole life.

All these rules hold true even if you’re not getting a purebred dog. Do not – I cannot express this strongly enough – Do Not get two puppies at the same time. Never be tempted by littermates. Several things will happen when you buy littermates… Neither will bond to you because they will bond to each other. You cannot train two dogs at once. A dog does not need another dog to play with; they love to play with you!

Be very careful when selecting your new family member. Remember, a dog is not a disposable plaything; a dog should be forever.