New Here! New to dogs!!

Hi all! I am so glad I found this site!

I am the brand new owner to a 3 month old (today actually) Min Pin puppy.

He is super cute, and we already love him to death, problem is everything I know about dogs I can write on my pinky fingernail (and still have room left over). Yeah I know NOTHING about dogs. My husband kinda jumped the gun and got him without warning or preperation, but still, he's just so cute and loving I am ready for the responsibilty.

Anyway, my big concern is house training. Any suggestions besides crate training? I put the little guy in the crate and he just goes crazy. I have had him blocked off in our kitchen, trying to paper train him. It seems to be somewhat working, but I want him to learn that he needs to go outside.

Also, I need some pointers on clipping his nails. They are already so long, and I don't want to hurt him. How can I be sure that I am not gonna clip them too short?

And any other advice for a first time dog owner?

Thanks!!
Anna

 

Hello and welcome!

Congratulations on your new bundle of fur!

Here are some helpful tips for you!

Nail clipping Visit this link!

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/clientED/dog_nails.asp
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How To House Break a Puppy

10 Tips for potty training puppies and crate training.


Potty training a puppy can be very frustrating. It helps to remember that your puppy is a lot like a human toddler, if it's quiet - worry. Puppies don't know what you expect from them until you properly train them. While potty training your puppy try to keep your temper in check, use patience when dealing with your puppy - it is just a baby after all. Below are 10 tips to use when house training your puppy.

Crate Training - Use a crate while potty training your puppy. Your puppy should be in the crate while you are at work, sleeping, or anytime you are not able to watch it. Dogs are den animals so being in a crate is natural for them. Puppies will cry and want to be released at first, but be patient, it will get used to being in the crate and come to enjoy it. Make the crate a happy place, not a punishment.

Teach your puppy a command when going in the crate, for example, kennel or go to your room, this will make it easier then trying to force or push the dog into the crate later. Also, dogs are pack animals so it's helpful if you keep the crate in the bedroom where the rest of the "pack" is sleeping. This is a tough one in the beginning because the puppy will cry and you will be tempted to let it out. Tough love, if the puppy is loose in the house then it will have opportunity to potty anywhere it pleases, keep the puppy crated at night until it can be trusted in the house. You may have to let the pup outside during the night and during your lunch break during the day. Be prepared to lose some sleep, like I said, it's like having a new baby.

Take the puppy to the same area of the yard. - Each time your puppy goes outside go with it. Take the puppy on a lead so you can be sure it goes to the same area of the yard each time. This way the puppy can smell itself and know what it's supposed to do. Only give your puppy about 10 minutes to potty, if it doesn't go, then bring it in and put it back in the crate, wait 15 - 30 minutes and take it back outside. Don't let the puppy play until it potties. Playing is a reward, don't reward bad behavior. Puppies are just little kids, they go outside, get excited, and forget why they went outside in the first place. It helps to give a command to potty, that way it learns a little faster what is expected, and later in life, if your running late, you can give the potty command and your dog will potty and be done with it.

Praise for going potty outside. - When the puppy potties outside - give a treat, play with a favorite toy, say "good boy", whatever, just make sure that the puppy thinks, "Wow! Going potty outside is loads of fun, I'm going to do this again!"

Tether to you while inside. - When you are at home, and the puppy is not in the crate, consider using a long lead to tether the puppy to you. If the puppy is loose in the house it can gain the opportunity to sneak off and use the bathroom. The idea in house training is to avoid accidents, the tether works for that purpose.

Take the puppy outside immediately following meals, drinking, playtime or excitement, when you first get home from work, and first thing in the morning. If the puppy gets excited it may have an accident, avoid the trouble by taking the puppy outside.

Take the puppy outside often. - Try to take the puppy outside every hour. If your home, why not take the puppy outside for frequent potty breaks, it'll learn that much quicker and you'll avoid accidents, it probably has to "go" anyway.

Keep a potty journal. - Keep track of how quickly food moves through the puppy. This will help you gage how quickly to get the little puppy out the door following meals.

Teach the puppy to let you know when it wants to go outside. - Teach the puppy to bark, ring a bell, or scratch the door before going outside. This will help you know when he has to "go". The goal is for the puppy to get to a point where it will alert you as to when it's time for a potty break.
Paper training - Using potty pads or newspaper is up to you. Some small breed owners swear by them.

Many trainers believe using potty pads are confusing to the puppy if your ultimate goal is for them to potty outside. It will take longer to house train if you first teach the pup to potty on paper, then turn around and want the pup to potty outside.

Invest in a good odor neutralizer. - Mistakes are going to happen so plan for it. If you see your puppy make the mistake act quickly, say NO or use a penny can to startle the puppy, and run it outside to the potty place. If you didn't see the mistake happen, bite your lip, and clean the mistake. Use an odor neutralizer like Nature's Miracle or Simple Solution - these products neutralize odor instead of covering it up. You don't want the puppy going back to the same spot on your carpet.

House training is only the beginning, start thinking about obedience classes. Yes, you can probably teach your puppy to sit, down, and stay, but socialization is good for the puppy. It needs to learn that it is okay for other people, strangers, to touch it's paws and ears.

It should get used to going in the car and entering strange buildings and walking properly on a leash now while it's young, that way a year from now you are not stuck with an ill mannered dog. Puppies are a lot of fun but you'll enjoy the dog more if you train properly now.

 

Thanks so much!
Anna