Typergirlie asked:


I’m thinking of adopting a beagle puppy and what dog food brand would you recommend?

What about for a Golden Retriever puppy?

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Allie asked:


I have a male rottweiler, he’s about 8 months old and I’m still feeding him Purina’s Beneful for Puppies. He’s beginning to get bored of the same food. But I heard that puppy food is for the nutrients and for the dogs to gain weight, I really wan my Rottie to gain more weight.

Dog Food Secrets!

red8chevyracefan asked:


I have heard 3 weeks to 4 weeks. Do puppies start nursing less frequent when they hit 3 weeks old? I’m not planning on taking them from their mother until at least 8 weeks old.

Dove Cresswells Dog Training

RuThLeSs R asked:


Well I’ll be getting a puppy in a couple of months and im planning ahead on what type of food to get him Im wondering to all owners of a Miniature Schnauzer Puppy what the best healthy food to give them wet and dry. Thankx

Sit Stay Fetch, Good Dog!

Mendy Stern asked:


Copyright (c) 2007 Mendy Stern

Could You Use Some Housebreaking a Puppy Tips

Housebreaking a puppy should be based on prevention rather than punishment. A key to housebreaking a puppy, or dog for that matter, is close supervision. In just a matter of seconds your puppy can have an accident, so to help prevent that from occurring you should watch for signs that your puppy needs to potty.

If your puppy starts to run in circles, sniffing at the door. or suddenly runs out of site, than they are trying to let you know it’s potty time.

Another thing that helps in housebreaking a puppy is keeping their diet consistent. High quality premium brand dry puppy food is a better choice that canned food or table scrapes. If you need to change their food for any reason try and do it gradually over a period of 5-8 days, gradually increasing the amount of new food each day.

Remember, the more changes you make the more difficult housebreaking your puppy will be.

During the day when your puppy can not be supervised I highly recommend your puppy, or young dog, be kept in a crate or a small confined area. If done properly crate training is a safe and very effective way of housebreaking a puppy. In order for the crate to be used in housebreaking a puppy it should not be used for long periods of time or for punishment.

This my sound like common sense but puppies need to urinate soon after they eat, drink water, or sleep. Those having troubles housebreaking a puppy tend not to think about that. Another thing that is over looked is the fact that most puppies over 13 weeks of age will need to go 8 or 10 times a day.

So, keep a record of your puppies potty times for a few days. The secret to housebreaking a puppy is figuring out the amount of time between potty times and subtracting about 15  20 minutes.

For housebreaking a puppy we call the “Safety Zone”. By doing this we can figure out how long our little puppy can be trusted to hold out after their last potty break.

Another trick to housebreaking a puppy is not setting him up to fail. What I mean by this not allowing them access to areas of carpeting, rugs, etc. Puppies like certain places to do their business. When you find one make a note of it and try and keep them away from it.

When your little angel does have an accident, despite their best intentions, use a neutralizer with an enzyme based deodorizer to clean the area. There are a number of pet safe products available and should be added to your housebreaking kit.

One area that is overlooked is submissive peeing. It is completely involuntary and scolding your puppy for it will do more harm than good. It should be avoided at all cost.

The last thing you need to do when housebreaking a puppy is to use lots of praise. Find a trigger word both you and your puppy can live with and use that in combination with praise and rewards as soon as your puppy potties . This positive reinforcement lets your puppy know that you’re pleased with them and they will try even harder to please you.

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Dean Burton asked:


Bringing a new puppy into your household is a big commitment. First-time puppy owners are often filled with questions about how to care for their furry new companions. Preparing your home for a puppy before you bring her home will help ensure that you and your puppy adjust smoothly to the new living arrangement.

The following checklist is designed to help new puppy owners prepare for the arrival of a furry new family member:

-Purchase puppy food, water and food bowls, a collar and a leash before bringing the puppy home. These basic items are essential for any dog owner. Other items you may want to consider are a bed, house training pads, treats, grooming items, cleanup bags, carpet/upholstery cleaner and puppy-safe chews.

-Puppy Proof the house. Puppies are bursting with curiosity, and chewing is one way they explore objects. Unfortunately, your puppy will not come equipped with the ability to distinguish between his chew toy and your expensive shoes. Therefore, removing items you do not want your puppy to leave a mark on is an important step of puppy proofing your home. Some tips for puppy proofing are:

1. Remove stray items from the floor of your home and plan to keep the area clutter free throughout puppyhood (shoes, clothing and children’s toys are good examples).

2. Cover, remove or put away electrical cords that are within your puppy’s reach.

3. Keep all household cleaners, insect poisons and other chemicals safely stowed away.

4. Ensure that any plants in your home are safe by checking with your veterinarian.

5. Pay close attention to potential hazards in the outdoor area of your home as well.

-Stock up on chew toys. The more chew toys your puppy has access to, the less likely she will be to chew on your valuable possessions. Chewing is a natural instinct for dogs, and especially young puppies. Praise your puppy when she chews on toys that are hers and she will soon learn what is fair game and what is off limits.

-Purchase an appropriate sized crate. If you plan to crate train your dog, puppyhood is the best time to do so. Crate training allows your dog to adjust to being in a crate so that she will exhibit good behavior in situations such as being boarded, flying on a plane and going to the vet, when being in a kennel may be unavoidable. It is important to instill a positive association with the crate and never use it for punishment. Many dogs learn to love their crates and use them willingly for naps or sleeping at night. For more information about crate training, please see our Crate Training your Puppy article.

-Establish rules to live by. Your puppy will understand the rules of the household much quicker if they are consistent from the start. Decide on the rules by which your puppy must abide before bringing her home. For example, is she allowed on the furniture? Will she sleep in your bed at night? What area will she be confined to as a puppy? Instilling structure immediately will prevent your puppy from developing bad habits that will become increasingly frustrating as she grows older.

Puppies are wonderfully energetic and curious, and surprises are part of the adventure of having one in your home. Even if you carefully check off each item on this list and feel completely prepared for the arrival of your new canine companion, your puppy may find mischief in places you have overlooked. Be sure to supervise your puppy at all times when she is roaming free in your home.

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Jim Banks asked:


Housebreaking a puppy should be based on prevention rather than punishment. A key to housebreaking a puppy or dog for that matter is close supervision. In just a matter of seconds your puppy can have an accident, so to help prevent that from occurring you should watch for signs that your puppy needs to potty. If your puppy starts to run in circles, sniffing at the door or suddenly runs out of site, that he/she is trying to let you know it’s potty time.

Another way that helps in housebreaking a puppy is keeping his diet consistent. High quality premium brand dry puppy food is a better choice that canned food or table scrapes. If you need to change his food for any reason try and do it gradually over a period of 5-8 days, gradually increasing the amount of new food each day. Remember, the more changes you make the more difficult housebreaking your puppy will be.

During the day when your puppy can not be supervise I highly recommend your puppy or young dog be kept in a crate or a small confined area. If done properly crate training is a safe and very effective way of housebreaking a puppy. In order for the crate to be used in housebreaking a puppy it should not be used for long periods of time or for punishment.

This my sound like common sense but puppies need to urinate soon after they eat, drink water or sleep, those having troubles housebreaking a puppy tend not to think about that. Another thing that is over looked is the fact that most puppies over 13 weeks of age will need to go 8 or 10 times a day.

So, keep a record of your puppies potty times for a few days. The secret to housebreaking a puppy is figuring out the amount of time between potty times and subtracting about 15 – 20 minutes. For housebreaking a puppy we call the “Safety Zone”. By doing this we can figure out how long our little puppy can be trusted to hold out after his last potty break.

Another trick to housebreaking a puppy is not setting him up to fail, what I mean by this not allowing him access to areas carpeting, rugs, ect. Puppies like certain areas to do their business, when you find one (or he does), make a note of it and try and keep him away from it.

When your little angel does have an accident despite his best intentions use a neutralizer with an enzyme based deodorizer to clean the area…there are a number of pet safe products available and should be added to your housebreaking kit.

One area that is overlooked is submissive peeing, it is completely involuntary and scolding your puppy for it will do more harm than good and should be avoided at all cost.

The last thing you need to do when housebreaking a puppy is to use lots of praise. Find a trigger word both you and your puppy can live with and use that in combination with praise and rewards as soon as your puppy potties ( I use “go potty”). This positive reinforcement lets your puppy know that you’re pleased with him and he’ll try even harder to please you.

Those are just a few of the tips for housebreaking a puppy. I hope this helps both you and your puppy.

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