Deciding to get a puppy is exciting, picking one out is something you will always remember, and playing around at home the first day will fill your camera with the cutest pictures. But, the challenge of owning a puppy will sink in as soon as you begin the dog potty training process. The first few weeks you have a puppy, you must make a commitment to take care of them, have patience when they make mistakes, and be consistent in your training methods so the puppy can learn and soon take care of themselves. Before you make the move and bring a new puppy home make sure you are ready for the task at hand, housebreaking a puppy can be a trying task at times. Three general tips for a future puppy owner are to make sure you have the commitment, patience, and consistency to take care of the puppy. Dogs enrich our lives so much, but remember, you’ve got to make the puppy’s life happy, too!

Commitment                                                                                                                                                                                    

·      Watch Constantly: When you have just gotten a puppy you’ll want a indoor dog potty otherwise they will wander and potty all over the place. You have to constantly keep a close eye on them to make sure you can properly train them to go potty outside or wherever you designate the appropriate location. Keeping an eye on them is harder than it sounds, but it will help the training process move along quicker.

·        Take them Outside: Every single time the puppy is sniffing around to go potty or immediately after they eat you must take them outside to the designated potty location. This may seem hard at first because the puppy needs to go outside often but as you train them and they get older it will become much easier.

·   Cleaning Up: The puppy will make a mess both inside and outside the house and you have to be committed to immediately cleaning it up. If you don’t clean it up right away, the puppy will likely make a mess there again in the future because they like to return to the same location.

·       Tools for the Job: If you plan on having a puppy, you have to go get all the necessary supplies. You will need to buy a collar with tags, a leash and maybe a harness, food and water bowls, dog crate, toys, and a dog bed. Potty training pads or dog potties like UGODOG are helpful during the potty training process, and can be a great permanent solution for apartment dwellers. The biggest expense will soon become the constant purchasing of dog food, but that comes with the job.

     Patience

·       Expectations: A puppy is bound to make many mistakes, especially when it comes to going potty in the right location and at the right time. You have to go into puppy ownership with the right set of expectations. Remember that your new puppy’s habits are a blank canvas, and it’s up to you to transform them.

·       Praise: Always praise your dog when they do something right. Immediate praise will help them to learn through repetition what they are doing right.

·       No Yelling: Despite popular belief that punishing a dog will help them to learn, it’s positive reinforcement that really does the trick. Don’t scold or yell at your dog, it will only confuse them. Also, don’t rub your dog’s nose in its mess—it’s inhumane and can make him sick. (You’d never do that to a child, right?) Instead, when you see your dog going potty in the wrong area, or preparing to, pick him up immediately and move him to the appropriate place. When he gets it right on his own, give lots of praise and a treat.

      Consistency

·     Feeding: You have to have a consistent feeding schedule in order to create a consistent potty time schedule. Every time they eat or after drinking lots of water they should be taken outside to go potty. If you plan the meals at the same time every day, it will become a habit for them to go potty right afterwards.

·        Message: Your verbal message should always remain consistent. You can say whatever phrase you like to make them go potty, but make sure to use that exact phrase every single time. It is important to consider the tone you use when saying the phrase because dogs understand tones more than they actually understand words. Dogs pick up on human’s moods, so your message will be more effective if you deliver it with a loving tone.

·        Location: Before you bring your puppy home, pick out one spot that you are okay with for a puppy potty area. Then once you have the puppy, take them to that same location every single time. They will soon realize this is where they are allowed to go potty and once completely trained they will always go back to the same location, making cleanup easier and decreasing the chances of a mess all over your yard.

·   Reward: An often overlooked tool when potty training is the act of offering the puppy a reward immediately after they go potty. It needs to be right after so they know what they are receiving it for, but it will make them want to go out to go potty in the right location and promptly every single time you want them to if they know there is a treat in store for them.

                

Popularity: 4% [?]

The decision to adopt a puppy is wonderful and rewarding, but the initial commitment is a big one, especially housebreaking a puppy. Training a puppy, and especially housetraining a puppy, takes a lot of time and effort, but if you put in the extra time during the first few weeks, the training period will be a lot shorter and both you and your puppy will be happier.

Before you decide to bring home a puppy, you should have a plan for the puppy’s initial training period, which could be just a few weeks if you are committed. Puppies are babies, and like human babies they need a lot of one-on-one attention, food, naps, and human contact. Putting in the initial, necessary time with your puppy will reward you in many ways for the rest of the dog’s life.

You should consider taking some time off work to stay at home with your new puppy. A puppy can come a long way in only a week’s time, especially in the housebreaking department. It’s not a bad idea to use 3-4 days of your yearly vacation time to stay at home and work with your new puppy.

The most important thing to remember is that dogs respond better to rewards than to punishments. The idea is to praise the puppy and give him other rewards such as treats or toys when he exhibits the types of behavior you want to see. When the puppy does something you don’t want him to do, stop the behavior immediately and change it to the correct behavior, without raising your voice or getting angry. If you diligently and consistently practice rewarding for good behavior, the training period can be quite short, and you will be amazed at how quickly you can housebreak your puppy.

Developing an Eating, Drinking, and Potty Schedule:

Like babies, puppies respond well to schedules and learn them quickly. Dogs like consistency, and just as they learn when it’s time to eat each day without reading the clock, they will also learn when it’s time to use the bathroom.

You should feed your new puppy three to four times a day, and then take him outside shortly after each feeding to use the bathroom or use an indoor dog potty when you’re not home.  Eating will automatically trigger the need to go potty, so the puppy will most likely go when you take him out, offering you the opportunity to reward him for his good behavior. He will quickly learn to associate going to the bathroom outside with your praise.

Make sure you take your puppy to the same place to go potty each time, since they will learn this association as well. This may be in your yard, at the park, or somewhere near your house. If you don’t have a yard or an appropriate spot, you can buy a indoor dog litter box for easy clean up when you’re not home!

You may choose to limit your puppy’s water intake to times just before you take him out to use the bathroom, or you may give him unlimited access to the water bowl. Either way, you need to give him the opportunity to pee when you know he needs to, shortly after he drinks the water, avoiding accidents indoors and creating the opportunity to offer a reward for good behavior.

Don’t Throw that Poop Away Just Yet!

Accidents in the house will happen, but they are an important part of the training process. If the puppy never goes in the house at all, or only goes on an indoor dog potty, he might not learn the difference between the right place (outside), or on his dog toilet, and the wrong place (inside), or anywhere other than his potty, so think of accidents as an opportunity for your puppy to learn.

You need to keep a close eye on your puppy at all times when he is free-ranging in the house, so you can catch him in the act. Try to stop him while he is going inside, tell him “No,” and take him immediately outside to the place where he is allowed to go. If you live in an apartment building, you may simply be taking him over his indoor dog potty, instead of outside, but the idea is to immediately correct the behavior.

When the puppy leaves a mess behind, consider it an opportunity to create a positive experience next time. Put the poop or some pee-soaked paper towels directly in or on the spot where you do want the puppy to use the bathroom, or on his indoor potty. You don’t have to leave it there for hours stinking up the house, just long enough for the puppy to sniff it and for some of the scent to be left behind. Dogs have an excellent sense of smell, and he will begin to associate the smell of his pee and poop with the place he is supposed to go to the bathroom.

Indoor Dog Potties Can Be Used Outside Too:

Indoor dog potties, sometimes called doggie litter boxes, are an excellent investment and greatly speed up the housebreaking process by giving the puppy an appropriate place to go indoors. This is an especially good option for times when you have to leave the puppy home alone, which you will need to do anyway as part of the training process.

You can also use the indoor dog potty to teach your puppy to go outside. First, use the dog potty inside while you establish it as the appropriate place to go to the bathroom. After a few days of successful use, you can move the dog potty to the place you would like the puppy to go to the bathroom outside. When you take him out to go, show him his dog potty and he’ll likely use it. Once you put the dog potty back inside, he will still associate the spot it was in outside as the place he’s supposed to use the bathroom.

 

 

Popularity: 5% [?]

There are many benefits of owning a dog, and many of them are deemed common sense.  Canines can provide you with loyalty and companionship, act as a guard dog or watch dog, serve as a tool for teaching responsibility, perform fun tricks, and so on.  However, a less obvious effect of dog ownership is improved health.  Dog owners are often healthier than people without a pet in numerous ways, both physically and mentally.  The following is a discussion of some of the health benefits of owning a dog.

Reduced Blood Pressure

If you get yourself a dog, you may not have to renew your blood pressure medication.  Petting or stroking your pet gives it immense satisfaction, as can easily be ascertained by its body language and any noises it makes.  What you may not know, however, is that petting a dog positively affects the human as well.  Petting animals has been demonstrated to reduce blood pressure, including lowering high blood pressure that has been brought on by stress or tension.  One study on stress and pet ownership showed that stock brokers who received a dog or cat as a pet had lower blood pressure and healthier heart rates than colleagues who did not receive a pet.

Increased Happiness

In general, dog owners live longer than non-dog owners.  The unconditional love and companionship provided by the dog enables people to better cope with stress and acts as a safeguard against depression.  A person with a dog, whether living alone or with other people, knows that he will always be there to cuddle up with him, to go take a walk at the park, or even just to sit on his lap and keep him company while he reads a book or watches television.  Research has shown that a person who dealt with a stressful situation was better able to cope with and recover from the situation by spending time with their dog than by talking it over with a friend or relative.  A friend might not give you the advice you want to hear or might say something that makes you even more despondent – a dog on the other hand, will give you only love and affection.  Having such a great companion acts an outlet for stress or anxiety that increases a person’s overall wellbeing.

• Besides acting as a companion, dogs can improve your social life and interactions with human companions.  Having a dog can make you a more compassionate and caring individual, which will make people like you more.  In addition, a dog can often act as a catalyst for conversation.  You may be out walking you dog when someone stops to ask about your dog and ask if they can pet it.  This is the starting point for a conversation that could have any number of positive benefits: you could gain a new friend or acquaintance, find out useful information of which you were previously unaware, or learn about other dog-related events and information.

Exercise

Because the dog will want to get out and walk around, a person who owns a dog will be forced to go out and exercise.  You might take your dog out for a stroll around the neighborhood, or take him to the park and play catch, running back and forth with your canine companion.  Having a dog may even encourage activity where none would be found before.  A person going to the beach who would otherwise just sit on the sand and lie in the sun might instead go to a dog beach and take a beach jog with his furry friend.

• It should come as no surprise that dog owners have lower cholesterol than dog-less individuals.  Studies indicate that dog owners have lower triglycerides as well, and are at less risk of developing heart disease and various other cardiovascular problems.  Dog owners are healthier overall than the rest of the population.

There you have it – dogs are not only loyal companions, but a source of health, vigor, and positive energy.  A dog would make an indispensable companion in you life, and will provide you with many benefits you would ordinarily not consider.

Popularity: 7% [?]

A purse dog comes with two meanings. You’ve got the purse that’s shaped like a puppy, popular with young girls everywhere as they can keep trinkets, money and jewelry in a purse that looks like a stuffed animal but is cute enough to pet. The other kind of purse dog is what the stuffed animal purses are most likely trying to mimic, though one look at these dogs and it could be the other way around. A living purse dog is a puppy that’s from a small enough breed that they can fit into a purse. They’ve become all the darlings of Hollywood as celebrities walk down the red carpet with these dogs under their arm. Can you say cute? It’s not just little girls who gush these purse puppies with all kinds of affection.

Taylor Momsen

The American actress, singer and star of the show Gossip Girl is all the talk of the town with this fluffy ball that she might as well have picked out in a toy store. You’d expect this pooch to be battery operated, but forget to take it for a walk, and you’ll soon find the batteries have leaked all over the carpet. This puppy is so cute you could almost sneak it through airport security, until it starts whimpering for love.

Ashley Tisdale

The American actress, singer and television producer can be seen hitting the premiere of High School Musical with this stuffed animal that yaps. It’s so small and fluffy, you’d swear there was a toy inside. The star of the 2009 film Aliens in the Attic has found a pooch so cute you’d swear it was from another planet where guard dogs are the size of cute fluffy pillows.

Britney Spears

It’s hard to believe this pretty little pooch of Spears can survive such trauma as being the night time companion of one of America’s most controversial party celebrities. We can only hope she lets the ball of fluff drive home. It’s a cute little dog, but you kind of feel sorry for her after the owner she got stuck with.

Blake Lively

The star of the TV show Gossip Girl gives her miniature Benji a scolding after it peed on her party dress. Bet she made it to the party to be the gossip of the town. Dogs need to go for walks, Blake, even if they are the size of furry slippers. Seems like Blake should be getting the scolding, since the puppy probably doesn’t know how to flush.

Lauren Conrad

The star of the MTV reality series Laguna Beach looks like it’s found the meaning of Zen in Conrad’s arms. This puppy may take a big purse, but if it’s small enough to be carried like a baby, it still qualifies as a purse dog.

Amanda Bynes

Named one of Teen People’s “25 Hottest Stars Under 25,” Bynes totes this adorable pooch everywhere she goes. The look of fear in his eyes makes you wonder if he’s watching out for the paparazzi, or maybe he’s worried he might end up as Bynes’ next fur coat. Now that’s incentive for puppy discipline training. Pee on this jacket, buddy, and you just may become the next.

Paris Hilton

Paris’ dog looks so small it could fit inside a pocket, let alone a purse. A little bigger than a gerbil, this dog puts on the cute. Too bad it has to put up with Paris. A night with Paris and Britney is enough to leave any pooch dreaming of the dog house. At least his is probably air conditioned with its own Jacuzzi and professional puppy masseuse.

Popularity: 7% [?]

A litter box for dogs? Has the world gone crazy? No, but you might if you have to pick up another pile of dog remains from your living room carpet. Indoor dog litter boxes make a lot of sense; especially if you live urban areas where having your dog outdoors is not an option. Here are 5 reasons you should consider an indoor dog litter box.

Economics

Puppy diaper pads aren’t cheap. A year supply of puppy pee pads can run you $450. Patio potty systems can easily run you over a grand. That’s serious change that can be invested with better alternatives. An indoor dog litter box will only cost you $50 a year. They’re affordable, tough, and provide a sanitary site for you dog. Save your carpet and wallet by investing in a dog litter box for your home.

Convenience

When you come home from a long day at work, the last thing you want to do is clean up a dog’s mess. With an indoor dog litter box, the mess is easily contained and quick to clean up. Your dog’s remains settle easily on the top of the grates of the litter box, so clean up is easy and mess free. Simply replace the newspaper from within the dog litter box, for a fresh setting for you dog.

Cleanliness

When dogs start to lose their control, they frequently face health problems that can be further antagonized by contamination caused by standing in their own filth. An indoor dog litter box features a raised screen so that the urine is absorbed below while your puppy’s feet stay nice and dry. It’s healthy and clean, saving your dog the indecency of standing in his or her own waste while you’re away. The pad easily absorbs the mess, with the bottom replaced for easy cleanup.

Artificial grass can be very difficult to clean up. Often, the cleanup falls to the wayside, leaving your puppy to suffer.

Design

Indoor dog litter boxes don’t look like a toilet. In fact, your friends may even mistake one for a yoga mat. Unlike puppy pads that scream puppy potty, an indoor dog litter box doesn’t look like a bathroom device at all, except to your dog. Keep it clean, and the potty will blend into the rest of your home. You can keep it in the living room, hallway or kitchen.

Environmentally friendly

Using a dog litter box vs. dog diapers or pee pee pads will minimize the your affect on the environment. Puppy diapers fill up landfills and leak waste. An indoor dog litter box, on the other hand, can last a long time, so you aren’t contributing any pollution to the environment. An indoor dog litter box is an earth friendly alternative.

As dogs get older, they lose their abilities to control themselves, and in results accidents occur. Accidents can also happen as a result of diseases, infection or other physical problems. You may have to work late at the office often, and can’t get home in time. Don’t blame yourself or your dog. Place a dog litter box within your home to reduce the frequency of these accidents.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Petaluma, CA – The crowd at the Sonoma-Marin Fair this past Friday chanted “Pabst, Pabst”, while the judges of the 2009 World’s Ugliest Dog contest made their final deliberations. The two final contenders were the crowd favorite Pabst (a boxer-mix shelter dog) and Rascal, a Chinese Crested and former champion of the World’s Ugliest Dog contest.  Given that the Chinese Crested breed has held dominion over the title for over seven years and that it accounted for over 50% of this year’s contestants in the pedigree class, many people were surprised when the boxer-mix was named the winner.

Among those surprised by the outcome was Pabst’s owner and contest first-timer Miles Egstad, of Citrus Heights, California. “I don’t think he’s that ugly,” said Egstad of his boxer-mix, whose most distinguishable feature is his large under-bite. But it was Pabst’s sweet personality that won the crowd over, and perhaps convinced the judges to break from tradition.

Egstad, 25, says his dog’s name comes from the fact that he has a “bitter beer face”. Egstad became aware of the World’s Ugliest Dog contest when he saw it on television. His friends urged him to enter Pabst, and as a consequence Egstad is now a couple thousand dollars richer. Pabst swept in all three rounds of the dog contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair, earning $100 for mutt class, $500 for runoff in the pedigree class, and $1000 for World’s Ugliest Dog.

On top of that, contest sponsor House of Dog added another $1000 in prize money, a table of expensive dog collars, lashes and bowls and a modeling contract for Pabst, which the World’s Ugliest Dog signed with his paw. Grace Chon, the event photographer, conducted a professional photo shoot.

Pabst was a shelter dog when Egstad adopted him three years ago. This year marked the first time that a so-called “mutt” has won the contest. Karen Halligan, one of the contest judges and a veterinarian famous for her roles in the television series Groomer Has It, Dog Tales, Animal Rescue 911 and Dogs 101, performed screenings to ensure that all competing dogs were healthy. As judge Brian Sobel stated, the contest was meant for “dogs who are naturally ugly.”

The show was filmed by Dogs 101 and will air this fall on the Animal Planet television network. The local humane society was also present at the contest, bringing along its adoption wagon. The World’s Ugliest Dog contest has been trademarked by the Sonoma-Marin Fair and this year marks its 21st anniversary.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Over the last several decades many dogs have graced the White House with their presence. Maybe U.S. Presidents were following Harry S. Truman’s advice; “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” Americans are enthusiastic and interested in Presidential dogs. We watch as the presidential family is housebreaking a dog. We wonder whether the dog will run free outside or be trained to use a dog litter box. We wonder if the President does what many Americans do - research puppy housebreaking tips. We wonder who in the first family will be the person housebreaking the puppy. So, in recognition of America’s fascination with Presidential puppies, here is look at the many Presidential dogs that have lived at the White House from 1953 to the present.

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George W. Bush 2001-2008
Two Scottish Terriers named Barney and Miss Beazley. English Springer Spaniel named Spot. Spot is the only dog to live in the White House during two administrations. Spot was born to Millie, President Bush Sr.’s dog, while he was President.

Miss Beazley, left, playing with Barney

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Bill Clinton 1993-2001
Chocolate Labrador Retriever named Buddy. The Clinton family may have needed to read some puppy housebreaking tips - TV cameras caught Buddy relieving himself on the White House carpet.

Buddy

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George Bush 1989-1993
Springer Spaniel named Millie. Millie is famous – a book, in which she was the subject, allegedly sold more copies than the autobiography of President Bush. Millie’s puppy named Ranger.

President Bush Sr. and Millie

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Ronald Reagan 1981-1989
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Rex . Bouvier des Flandres named Lucky. Lucky took President Reagan for a ride when he dragged Reagan across the White House lawn in the presence of Margaret Thatcher.

Rex

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Jimmy Carter 1977-1981
Mongrel named Grits. Grits was actually a gift to President Carter’s daughter Amy.

Grits and Amy

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Gerald Ford 1974-1977
Golden Retriever named Liberty. Liberty gave birth to nine puppies while at the White House.

President Ford and Liberty

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Richard M. Nixon 1969-1974
Spaniel named Checkers. Irish Setter named King Timahoe. King Timahoe was a gift to President Nixon from a member of his White House staff. Terrier named Pasha.

Poodle named Vicky.

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Lyndon B. Johnson 1963-1969
Mongrel named Yuki. White Collie named Blanco given to President Johnson as a gift. Five Beagles named Beagle, Little Beagle, Him, Her, and J. Edgar. Him, allegedly President Johnson’s favorite dog, was sadly run over and killed on the White House grounds. President Hoover gave Johnson a new beagle and Johnson named him J. Edgar.

Beagles Him and Her

President Johnson and Blanco shaking hand/paw

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John F. Kennedy 1961-1963
Two Welsh Terriers named Charlie and Pushinka. Pushinka was given to President Kennedy by Soviet Premier Kruschev. While at the White House, Pushinka gave birth to four puppies named Butterfly, White Tips, Blackie, and Streaker. German Shepherd named Clipper. Irish Cocker Spaniel named Shannon given to JFK by the Prime Minister of Ireland. Irish Wolfhound named Wolf.

JFK and Family with their K-9 collection

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Dwight D. Eisenhower 1953-1961
Weimaraner named Heidi.

President Eisenhower and Heidi

Popularity: 60% [?]

Date: Saturday, June 28, 2008
Location: Imperial Beach, CA

Event Overview:
See Spot surf during the Loews Dog Surfing Competition – the nation’s original surfing competition for man’s best friend. There’s no “dog-paddling” for these surf dogs. Canine counterparts are invited to hang 10 (errr, 20) for a great cause. Last year, 47 brave surf dogs took to the waves and more than 1,000 spectators gathered to watch the dog surfing event unfold. The competition garnered national and international media attention, and more than $10,000 was raised for a great cause. This year’s event should be even better.

Ugodog is an official sponsor of the 3rd Annual Loews Coronado Surf Dog Competition

Schedule:
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Optional surfing lessons by the Coronado Surfing Academy for less experienced canines
11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Heat One: Small Surf Dogs (40 pounds and under)
11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Heat Two: Large Surf Dogs (41 pounds and over)
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Heat Three: Tandem Surfing for Surf Dogs & Owners
1:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Furry fashion show with doggie couture by Lucky Dog Boutique
1:45 p.m. to 2 p.m. Awards ceremony
Please RSVP by June 27, 2008 to avoid late fees.

2007 Loews Surf Dog Competition Event Video

Popularity: 5% [?]