Your Pet Guide

What is the key to house training your puppy? Patience, persistence, gentle firmness. By correctly house training your puppy, you are setting the foundation for strong and loving relationship with your puppy.

I know that when you think about new puppy training and hear the words "housebreaking" and "potty training," you think endless pooh and mess, but this doesn't have to be the situation when you understand the basics.

Get step-by-step instructions for basic puppy training and understanding dog behavior at Dog Talk Nation. Discover the amazing world of dog training and dog behavior broken down into tasty, understandable "snacks" that both you and your dog will relish and learn from.

When you’ve finally broken down and made the decision to give your kids a puppy, you might need some advice on how to go about giving an adorable four legged creature as a gift. The following steps will guide you in giving a puppy to your kids while also expecting their help in caring for the newest member of your family.


Step 1: Make sure your kids want a puppy. I know, it sounds crazy; don’t all kids want a puppy? Well, not necessarily. Some kids are afraid of dogs and purchasing one for them is not the cure. Make sure your kids have expressed interest in adding a furry member to the family.

Step 2: Think about your motivation for getting your kids a pup. Some parents think it’s a good idea to purchase a puppy if there’s been a loss, such as death in the family or divorce. Those aren’t necessarily great reasons to purchase a puppy. If you’d like a puppy because you think he’d be a great addition to the family and he’d help to teach responsibility to your kids, then your reasons are probably valid.

Step 3: Research many breeds. Consider how much room you have for a dog, what size dog your kids will feel comfortable with, and which breeds will make a good family pet. Ask your vet for recommendations or talk to dog owners to see which breed will be a good fit for your kids.

Step 4: Purchase books about the dog breed that you’ve chosen. If the books are not written at a kid friendly level, make sure you plan to devote the time to read the books together. Your kids will need to be included in the caretaking of your new puppy and it will be up to you to teach them about the responsibilities involved with pet ownership.

Step 5: Adopt the pet you’ve chosen and bring him home to meet your kids. Wrap a big bow around his neck and surprise your kids by ringing the doorbell with puppy in hand. Be prepared to take in the sheer excitement on their faces; you won’t be disappointed.

Step 6: Once all of the excitement has calmed down, invite your kids to think of names for your new pup. Take suggestions from everyone in the family and decide as a family what you should name your newest member.

Step 7: As a family, read the books you purchased about the care of the dog. Together, decide what supplies you need to make your pup comfortable. Have one of your kids make a list of the items you will need to purchase at the pet store.

Step 8: Visit the pet store and make the necessary purchases. By bringing your kids along with you, they will experience the fun of selecting items for their puppy, as well as the experience of realizing the costs associated with owning a puppy.

Step 9: When you return home, have your kids help you create a schedule of chores associated with caring for the puppy. Just because the puppy was a gift to them, it doesn’t mean you will spend all of your days and nights picking up after it! There needs to be a family schedule for feeding the puppy, bathing the puppy and scooping puppy poop!

With all of these steps in place, you and your family will be able to welcome a puppy into your home. Your kids will be excited and surprised at the gift, but they will also learn valuable lessons about responsibility.

It's adorable when a little puppy puts his paws on you and begs to be picked up. But encouraging this behavior or leaving it unchecked can cause frustration and injury as your puppy grows. Here are some ways to curtail this behavior before it becomes an issue.


When your puppy jumps up, do you give him attention? Do you reach down and pet your puppy when he paws you? Do you greet him excitedly when you return home? Do you hold his toy just out of reach, causing him to jump for it? All of these things encourage and reward your puppy's jumping behavior. Know when your puppy is going to jump up and be prepared.

When You Come Home
Stay calm and quiet when you come home. Don't immediately greet your puppy. If he is confined and needs to go outside, do this with as few words as possible. If your puppy jumps up on you, don't use your hands to push him away. He might think you want to play.

Instead, give a little “bump” with your leg, say “Off!” in a stern tone of voice and turn away from him. A “bump” is a small movement used to get your puppy's paws off your leg. Never kick or knee your puppy. When he has all four paws on the floor, calmly praise him and continue what you were doing. Repeat this exercise as many times as necessary.

When Guests Arrive
Keep a leash by the front door. When your guests arrive, attach the leash to your puppy's collar. Tell him to “Sit”. Stand on part of the leash, leaving your puppy enough to sit comfortably erect. Hold the other end in you hand.

As guests arrive, ask them to ignore your puppy until he calms down. If he stands or tries to jump up, tell him to “sit” and go back to greeting your guests. This is a very difficult exercise for your puppy. If he sits still at all, calmly reward him.

Once you're seated, have your puppy sit next to you. Loop the leash under your foot and hold the other end. Your puppy will appreciate something to chew on while he waits to be released. When he is calm, have your guests offer him a treat. Keep him leashed so that you can restrain him if he gets too excited.

When You're Playing
All puppies get excited when they're playing. If your puppy jumps up on you, use the “Off!” command as described above. Use “sit and stay” to help your puppy control his urge to jump.

Be aware of any actions that might encourage your puppy to jump up on you during play time. Don't play tugging games. Teach him to fetch and release instead. Don't tease your puppy with his toy. Hold it close to your body, or throw it. Waving it in the air above him teaches him to jump and snap.

Accentuate The Positive...
...so that you can eliminate the negative. We place a lot of emphasis on correcting our puppy's behavior issues. Remember to reward your puppy for good behavior. If he is sitting quietly, or chewing on his toy, say “Good Boy!” and give him a pat on the head. Puppies repeat behaviors that are rewarding.

You've picked out the perfect puppy. You spent hours on the internet, researching the right breed for you and your family. Then you went from breeder to breeder or humane society to humane society, meeting and greeting pups until you find just the right match.
Now what? He needs a name! Over the course of its life, you will use your dog's name more than 35,000 times. So be sure you're picking a name you can live with and love.

With these seven simple steps, the key to finding the perfect puppy name is at your fingertips!

• Dogs understand short commands. Easy names with two or fewer syllables work well.

• Your puppy's name shouldn't sound like any commands. "Stacy" and "stay" are too close for comfort. Such a name will only confuse the issue.

• Remember, you'll be using your pup's name in public. "Boner" may be cute among your fellow fraternity members, but it won't go over well at the veterinarian.

• Make your kids part of the decision process. Kids like it simple, too, so if calling your Champion Cavalier King Spaniel "Bootsie" works for them, consider keeping the hoity toity name strictly for AKC purposes.

• You may think it's an honor to name your pup after you're favorite Uncle Norbert. Naming your baby after him may keep you in the will, but naming your puppy after him won't.

• If you're bringing home an older dog, ideally, stick with the name it already owns. Can't stand it because "Barney" was the first boy who broke your heart? Then stick with similar sounds when choosing a new dog name. "Barney" morphs into "Farley" easily.

• Once you've chosen a name, try it out for a day or so. You'll know right away whether it's a keeper. If not, there's always more puppy names on your list!

Take a look around you. All around are terrific ideas to inspire you.

At first glance, a couple things will stand out about your new puppy. Enjoy him or her for a day or two and take these into consideration.

• Appearance. What's your dog look like? His color, size, and personal style inspires a variety of name choices. "Stubbs" would be a great name for a dachshund pup. Or you may call a cream colored cock-a-poo "Buffy."

• Personality. Given a couple of days, your new dog's personality will really shine through. Try "Cuddles" for the sweet little guy who loves to get cozy or "Puddles" for the pooch who can't seem to find the doggie door.

If you want to go beyond the basics, many famous dog names or foreign dog names can fit the bill. Consider these favorite puppy names when making your decision.

• Celebrity puppy names. Today, pooches have more celebrity following than their famous owners. Chew on "Lola," a name used by both Hilary Duff and the Osbournes.

• TV dogs. "Scooby" and "Astro" come to mind if you want to honor a famous TV pup.

• Movie dogs. Cool movies and cool dog names seem to go hand in hand. Cool Hand Luke's "Blue" would be a fitting label for a variety of dogs. Or try "Bodie," from the weeper Steel Magnolias.

• Comic dogs. "Snoopy" will always be a favorite, but also consider "Daisy" or "Odie."

• German dog names. For starters, try out "Fritz" or "Kaiser."

• Irish dog names. "Finn" fits well for any pup, as does "Murphy," which just happens to mean "hound of the sea."

• French puppy names. "Pierre" and "Gigi" are top contenders for any dog, especially those with a little oo-la-la in their genes.

The choices are endless. However, with these simple tips and some thought, before long, you'll have found the perfect puppy name!

Few things bring greater pleasure to a family than taking home a young pup. Even so, there are as well, fewer affairs that can cause a more immense headache at times. Choosing what sort of canine to take home may comprise an extremely difficult task.


You could choose on bringing home a big dog suchlike a Labrador retriever, which is highly popular and is well-known to act as an absolute good household dog. Or you could resolve to take home a little, lap dog as a Shih Tzu or an average sized dog similar to a Cocker Spaniel. As you consider what sort of pup to bring home, you want to consider your life-style and your livelihood arrangements. Do you reside in a flat, where small dogs suchlike the Shih Tzu would match fine, or do you require having a large fenced backyard for your large Labrador retriever ?

A dog such as a Labrador pup would comprise a great alternative for an individual looking for a dog that may work easily with the household members, experience fewer health problems, and offer a life of companionship. Small dogs, similar like the Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso or Chihuahua appear more appropriate for households where they will be allowed indoors and where the owner will be capable to allow for an great amount of interaction and physical contact. These little guys are as well exceedingly lovable, devoting and are outstanding companions, but they're not equally as good, guard dogs as big dogs could be. It is crucial to determine early on about what sort of domestic dog you wish to have. Are you seeking a lap dog, a safeguard dog, a watch dog, a sporting dog, a hunting dog, or a working type dog?

Please think of the fact that your puppy will grow up and mature and will impart you for several years to come, with love, companionship, dedication and a great deal more. Arriving at your dog's pick decision ought to be an intelligent one whenever it suits your life style. Whenever the dog does not fit for your way of living, your dearest companion could become a big headache, and he is not to blame. Therefore, before adopting your new puppy or relocating to a brand-new living space, please be sure that, that it will be fine with your landlord if you rent, and if you own your home make certain that the dog have the space it needs and that he will be safe in the home.

If you want a big dog like a Labrador retriever, do you've the time to dedicate to the dog in order for him to get the proper amount of exercise? Do you have a large backyard where the dog can romp or play games with you? Big dogs, in particularly, necessitate tons of physical exercise or otherwise they'll show behavioral troubles. Labs, for instance, are extremely energetic and active, and are amenable to play catch with a ball or Frisbee for endless periods of time. Whenever they don't get the required physical exercise, they'll become bored and could make a great deal of damage to your home, particularly if the dog remains indoors for a certain amount of time.

The outdoors exercise that a big dog gets is what maintains it in shape. The owner must be ready to to play with it. For a big dog to stay fit and healthy, the owner must be amenable to spend time outdoors with it by playing the dog or taking him for long walks. A Labrador pup, for instance, will have an added up level of vigor and the owner must be gear up for that.

If you choose a small or medium sized dog, are you sure that you are willing to own a dog that might like to be sitting on your lap day in and day out or at a minimum very drawn to you? As a whole, small and medium dogs likewise require physical exercise, though not equally as much as bigger dogs. Will you be able to take your little guy or girl for a regular daily walks? Are you amenable to bring the dog for grooming if you get a long haired dog? Will you possess the time to brush your dog's coating on a daily basis or on a regular basis as a minimum? Will it be okay with you whenever the dog casts off a lot of hair?

These above-named factors and numerous others need to be taken into account prior to acquiring your new fellow. A potential owner must weight down all these dog's traits and decide which the right dog is for his or her, as that will determine the happiness of both the owner and the dog in the long haul.

Before acquiring your brand-new pup you'll like to perform an exhaustive and complete search on the final size of the dog when matured, how much dog grooming and dog training will it require? Will it need professional dog grooming and how often? You would like to know what diseases is the dog inclined to, how does the dog act with other dogs, with cats, with children? These are barely more or less illustrations of matters you must take into account before getting your new puppy.