Every Dog's A Hunting Dog
Many dog breeds today are purposely interbred in the quest for the perfect hunting dog. Oddly enough, in light of this, most dogs actually have the potential to become a great hunting dog, they just need some consistent, quality hunting dog training. The best champion hunting dog only responds to a few basic commands: "whoa", "come" and "heel." He performs these to perfection, however. Experts say when your dog is under one year, all he needs is half an hour a day of training. When he's passed the one year mark, an hour a day three days a week is all it takes to train your dog in the ways of a great hunter.
The Dangers of An Unresponsive Dog
Many dog owners fail to recognize the importance teaching their dog to come when called. These well-meaning owners can sometimes even sabotage the training process by allowing their dog to run off leash, unattended. These situations can be dangerous for the dog, the owner and other members of the community. In areas where there is vehicular traffic, the situation could even prove fatal.
Early in the training process, you want to make sure your dog understands and correctly responds to the "come" command, no matter what the situation. This is for everyone's benefit ... yours, your dog's and the others around you. Part of being a responsible dog owner is controlling your dog.
Choosing A Wire Crate
Wire crates come in different sizes, with some models that include divider panels. These are particularly useful for puppies since the living area of the crate can be expanded as the puppy grows. So when looking at wire crates, you'll want to anticipate the size of your puppy into adulthood and consider one with divider panels. Your dog should be able to stand comfortably in his crate, turn around, and lay down. That's about as big as you'll want to go. If the crate is too big, it'll lose its den-like feel. You might also want to consider wire crates that come in collapsible models. This makes them less bulky and much easier to transport.
When You're Away For The Day
If you aren't going to be home, you have to prepare an area for your puppy where he'll be confined and still have a place to do his business. A small bathroom or laundry area, cordoned off with a baby gate, and covered in newspapers should do the job. Before you leave and as soon as you arrive home, take your puppy outside to do his business. Again, this all goes back to routine and expectation. The more repetitive the actions, the quicker he'll learn.
Choosing A Trainer
When choosing a trainer, you'll want to make sure his approach to training and the methods he uses, are compatible with your own feelings on how your dog should be trained. Of course, we always recommend a positive reward system in a safe, enjoyable environment. Obviously, any form of physical punishment is unacceptable. How do you make sure a trainer fits your requirements? First, see if you can get some referrals from trusted friends. If that's not possible, ask for references when you first talk to a potential trainer. Then make arrangements to observe one of his training sessions in progress so you can see how he approaches the process, which tools he uses, and how he interacts with dogs.
Choosing The Right Vet For Your Dog
Much in the same way as you would choose a personal doctor for your family, you'll want to start your search for a veterinarian with referrals from trusted friends. Are they happy with their vet? Does the vet have a relationship with the kennel you use? Have they ever had an emergency situation with their dog and how did the vet respond? Once you've found a possible candidate, set up an appointment to have your dog examined. This will give you the chance to tour the facilities, see how the vet interacts with your dog, and ask him about how he handles emergencies, who he uses as specialists, etc.
Benefits of Socializing Your Puppy
There are a number of excellent benefits to socializing your puppy. He'll learn not to fear other dogs. He'll expend his excess energy. And you'll find that he interacts better with the rest of your family. Puppies that miss out on socializing with other dogs tend to be hyperactive and destructive and exhibit other problem behaviors. In addition, unsocialized dogs will often react aggressively to new situations. So any efforts you make to expose your puppy to other dogs and new people (especially children) will pay dividends in many areas of your puppy's development.