WHAT EVERY DOG OWNERS NEED TO KNOW BEFORE GETTING A NEW DOG ( PART 1)

When you first buy a puppy or adopt a dog, you sometimes forget the amount of upkeep it takes in order to makes sure your puppy or dog is living a well rounded life. Making sure you dog is happy, healthy, and safe should be your main concerns when you own a pet.
There are many different things you will need to do in order to make sure your dog is treated well and that it lives a long and happy life. In the beginning, whether you're bringing home a puppy or a full grown dog, you are going to want to have a few things on hand in order to make your dog's transition easier. As your new pet grows into part of the family, you will know what it likes and dislike and build a great foundation for it in the future.
There are a few essentials that you should have on hand before you even bring your dog home for the first time. A place for your dog to sleep is a must. If you're bringing home a puppy, remember that it will whine and be generally upset for the first few nights you brought it home. It is up to you whether or not you will be crating your dog or letting it sleep in bed with you during this integral period.
Dog beds are another option for you as well. Depending on the age of the dog, you will want to consider the amount of accidents it may have and how much it will grow in the coming months. These factors will determine what type of dog bed you will get and how much you will want to spend. A leash is an important investment as well, and you shouldn't bring your dog home without one. Depending on your puppy or dog, there are different sizes and strengths for different breeds. Make sure you pick up the right size or you may end up not having enough strength behind you and the leash could snap.
You will want to have dog food, treats, and toys available for your new addition as well. Treats will be the way you entice your dog into getting to know you and keeping their attention in the first few weeks of training. Toys are a great tool for training your pet as well and will be a good way for it to keep it's mind and energy focused. Interactive dog toys are a fun and rewarding option for puppies and older dogs. They come in an assortment of options and usually include a puzzle system that requires them to "figure out" the toy so that they can get a treat.
It's a well known fact that puppies and dogs alike get dirty very quickly. You never know when your dog will get caught in the rain and get covered in mud...or in flour from under the cabinet. Having dog grooming supplies will make your life a lot easier. Using human shampoo can cause skin reactions in your dog, so it's always best to go with a special dog shampoo. Read the labels before you buy anything and make sure it's puppy safe if you have a younger dog.
Eventually, you will be taking your dog out in to the real world for walks, vet visits, and days of travel. When this happens you will want to make sure your dog will be wearing the proper leash with the correct tags and licenses according to your state. If you have a smaller dog a dog carrier or purse is an option that will allow your dog to stay inside a nicely ventilated area without having to walk with you everywhere. Many of these bags include a detachable leash so you can put the bag down without worrying about your pup running away.
Owning a dog is obviously a big challenge and one that many people are all too aware of. However, the major problem with owning a dog is that it takes a lot of work on your part to ensure you stay on the right track throughout the process.
With this guide you can hopefully find that owning a dog is going to be fun for you in the long-term.
A major factor in owning a dog these days comes from the fact that you need to “train” it. Whilst training might sound quite harsh, it’s the truth of what you have to go through if you want a dog to behave in the way that you had intended.
So, if you are interested in getting a dog this guide might help you see the major challenges associated with training one and making it perform around the house in an orderly manner. Hopefully, everything you learn in here will ensure that you can keep up with the progress needed to make sure your dog learns in a timely manner.
An unruly dog is not an attractive proposition at all, so with the help of a training regime that helps it see when it goes wrong, you are far more likely to get something back from the dog that you feel comfortable with.
Without any further delay then, let’s get into the world of training a dog without any of the fuss!

STEP 1: TEACHING YOUR DOG ITS NAME IS THE FIRST STEP IN TRAINING YOUR DOG!
The first thing we all train our puppies, even before we know what we are doing, is that when we make a particular sound, we would like their attention. This specific sound we are trying to teach them is their own name.
Many pet owners have a tendency to think of their dog's name as more than that. They make use of it as a "catch-all" command with several meanings which vary based on exactly what they would like their dog to do at the moment: "Scout!" (Meaning "Come here!"); "Scout!" (Meaning "Stop that!"); "Scout!" (Meaning "Get down!"); "Scout!" (Meaning "Stop barking!"); you get the idea.
Your dog may be the most intelligent dog on earth, but he is not a mind reader. The bottom line is, use your dog's name to get his attention. Period. Then use other sounds (commands) to tell or show him just what it is you would like him to do.
So let's get on with the lesson - Teaching Your Puppy it's  Name
1. Stock up your pocket (or a bag or pouch) with approximately twenty or so treats.
2. Take your dog to a place where there won't be a lot of distractions.
3. Wait for your dog to look at something other than you, and then speak his name (once!).
4. At the moment he looks at you, immediately offer him a treat and say "Good!" (Or whatever word you've chosen as the 'reinforcer'. I just like to use the words "Good Boy" or "Good Girl".
5. Move a few steps to a different area and once again wait for your dog to be looking away from you.
6. Speak your dog's name again and instantly reward him again with the treat and reward when he looks at you.
7. Repeat these steps five times. If your puppy was especially distracted prior to reacting to his name, give him additional praise and treats.
If you say your dog's name and he does not look at you, he may be a little too distracted. Move him a few steps to a different place and attempt this again. Speak his name. Use an excited tone of voice. Provide instant rewards when he looks at you.
If he even now does not react to his name, clap your hands, whistle or perhaps create some other attention-getting sound. When he looks, say his name once again and right away provide the rewards. Do this as a last resort. You would like your pet to learn to react to his name, not the other sounds.
If your dog disregards the sound of his name after a number of attempts, try relocating to a less distracting place. (Distractions consist of smells, not merely sights and sounds.)
Continue trying, have patience, and remember not to repeat his name. Provide immediate rewards when he responds. This will work with any dog; even the difficult free to good home puppies are trainable.
Most importantly, have fun actively playing with your dog! Don't concentrate all your time together on training. Devote plenty of quality time just taking pleasure in each other's company!
STEP 2: POTTY TRAINING
The first and most important step to a happy and healthy dog comes from strong potty training – if you want to do this, though, you need to know the best way to get started. Potty training is a nightmare for some dogs whilst others take to it like a duck to water; it really does depend on how long you push this element for the dog.
Try and think of the following steps as you try and train your dog. Each of them will be very useful in making sure that you can make progressive and genuine change to the way that your dog acts in public.
To get more help in making sure your dog acts in the right manner, you need to understand the massive challenges associated with the dog’s adaption to living in a typical home. This is a major departure from normal dog life and thus many animals can feel uncomfortable in this scenario.
Potty training dogs do not have to be a daunting experience as long as one knows the right training methods and implements them on a consistent basis. It is important to understand that your pet will have to eliminate indoors a few times first before he will acknowledge that it is not the best way to please you. So arm yourself with plenty of patience and cleaning liquids and make use of the tips on potty training dogs I outlined below to achieve the best results FAST!
Ensure that your dog maintains a regular and proper feeding and drinking schedule. This means that the dog is going to eat properly and get the right quality of food and the right quantity. Also make sure that the dog does not have access to its food or its bowl between meals – it can overeat and cause, uh, complications!
Take your dog outside to make sure it can do its damage. Take it out in the morning and then once an hour afterwards. Also make sure they head out after every meal and every nap – also, make sure he goes before you go at night and go to your own bed. This avoids any incidents overnight.
Canines are able to eliminate within the first 20 minutes after the last meal. Older dogs are able to hold it for much longer than puppies which do not know how to control their bladder and colon until they are 12 weeks old. You can use this knowledge to your advantage and take your dog outside exactly when he needs it (providing you know when was the last time he ate). Make sure to monitor your pet's behavior for such signs of coming poop as circling or sniffing.
Take your dog to the same spot all the time, too. This breeds familiarity and for a dog there is nothing more important. Doing this will ensure that their own scent alone brings them back to this section.
Stay with them outside each time until you know they are fully house trained. Trust us; it is well worth doing this as it will make the dog far more comfortable when it goes.
In order to speed up potty training dogs you can create an isolated leaving area for your pet. Dogs are naturally den animals and they will not soil it because it plays a major role in their everyday life (they use it to get some rest and hide from all the fuss around them). This is a very effective way to force your pet to learn how to control his physiological mechanisms.
You should never scream or hit your dog as it will only make him more stressed and confused as to what you want him to do. Instead, ignore the bad behaviors and praise your dog every time he does something positive. Dogs will do anything to get your attention and please you so ignorance is the most effective weapon if you want to stop your pet from indulging in undesired activities.

Lastly, try and make sure that you praise the pet for every time it goes in the right place. From a treat to a walk around the neighborhood, you can make sure that your dog is full of confidence and belief in itself by doing this. It will make a telling difference to the overall way that your dog feels moving forward from here.
Take the time to understand this and your pet is far more likely to stay to the routine and follow the actions that you have asked for. It’s rather basic stuff at first, sure, but given enough time you can start to see real changes to the way that your dog reacts.

STEP 3: HOW TO REMAIN CALM
One of the major issues in raising a dog properly is making sure that it can handle being around other dogs on a regular basis. The world is a busy place and making sure that your dog can handle this is going to be a major factor in how well it adapts to the world around it and how it handles its progression. So, how do you go about making sure that your dog is capable of remaining calm around other dogs? The solutions are fairly simple, and can be made actionable with just a few hours of work and reinforcement.
All dogs have different dispositions and some are more hype than others. A hyper dog can be a challenge for their owner. A hyper dog's behavior can range from excited to frantic. This can cause a disruption in the home, when you go for walks and when you encounter other people and animals.
 When dealing with your hyper pet you need to remain calm. Dogs can sense when you're frustrated or angry. They know when you're nervous or excited. Any of these emotions can be a trigger, making your dog, more hyper. Projecting a sense of calm, can help to calm your hyper dog.

Lead by Example
A dog takes you as its inspiration and its mentor, and if you show it that lashing out and being the dominant one in the room is OK then it will follow your lead. However, if you are nervous and unsure then a dog sees this as the perfect take to stand up and take control itself. You need to find the balance between being calm and assertive, as anything too far the other way will set a negative tone and example for your pet. Make sure you give your dog plenty of inspiration from the way that you act.

Set Limitations
One of the major challenges of looking after a dog comes from making sure it knows there are limits to what it can and cannot do. Setting rules and boundaries ensures that a dog is more likely to be calm around other dogs as it knows that you have a set ruling to follow.
Make sure that your dog knows it has boundaries in how it can act around other dogs. When you see it interacting positively, be sure to give it a treat or some kind of positive reinforcement moving forward.
Likewise, if you see it causing problems then be sure to let it know that is not the way that you want it to act with negative reinforcement. Sometimes, a dog has to be put in its place with authority to let it know that you won’t stand for the way that it was acting.

“Growl” classes
Another great option to go for is something known as a “growl” class. What’s that? Basically, in these classes your dog will be able to learn about handling poor mannerisms and make it more comfortable in public. The experts who run these kinds of classes will be able to work with your dog to help it understand the importance of being positive to both yourself and others. They will quickly learn that positivity is rewarded and negativity is not – it’s a simple process, but one that definitely works in your favor. If you want to see major change and progression with your dog, then hiring a “growl” expert to help them buy into positive reinforcement is a smart move.

Avoid Tugging
A major mistake is using the leash to pull a dog away from another dog – this makes it think that any kind of interaction is a punishment, and a negative. Punishment causes dogs to react in a negative manner and can typically make it harder to calm the dog down.
Also, dogs will become silent in their hatred for other dogs – instead of letting it manifest in growls and shouts, they will just attack without warning. Obviously, you want to avoid that. For a whole lot more on the mentality and psychology around how to help your dog avoid challenging others, read this.
It’s a great dog article that will explain to you the most important factors in making your dog social.
Here are some other ways to calm your best friend and relieve some of its energy:

Dogs Need Mental Stimulation
Find ways to redirect your dog's energy. Some people have found that toys and exercise can help calm a dog. Long walks can help relieve built up energy and help a dog calm down. Agility training has also been known to help stimulate a dog and calm hyperactive behavior. These are all activities that provide mental and physical stimulation. Obedience training also provides mental stimulation, while teaching proper behavior. Not only will this training help calm your dog, it will also help you learn how to be calm around your dog. When you learn how to be calm, you can teach this technique to your family and friends.

Get Everyone to Help
A common problem people have when trying to calm their dogs is other people causing the dog to become hyper. If there are people who spend a fair amount of time with your pet, you should get them to help. If someone is always excitable or angry or frustrated around your dog, they can erase all of the hard work you've done in seconds if you don't take control.
Make sure everyone you know, understands your dog needs a calm environment. Then work on teaching your pet how to interact with others. If your dog is used to running into the room and jumping on your neighbors or nipping at your kids, then you have to train them not to do that. This training will help the dog be calm, because it will, in time, learn what is expected of them.

Make Sure Your Dog Gets Regular Exercise
While all of the training and playing may help to calm your dog. It won't help if your dog is not getting regular daily exercise. It's important to take your dog for long walks and allow them to burn off that excess energy. Dogs need more than a few minutes out to get the exercise they need. You can supplement your walk with trips to places where your dog can run off-leash. Regardless of the type of exercise, the most important thing is consistency. Walking, hiking, skating, and even biking are possible while walking your dog. These activities give you and dog a chance to bond, while both of you get a great workout. And best of all when you're done and go home, you'll have a calmer dog.

STEP 4: TEACHING YOUR DOG TO SIT
Teaching a dog to sit is a staple of basic training, and a vital factor in making sure that you can see the progressive change and improvement in the dog that you would have been hoping for.
Trying to teach the famed ‘sit’ command is one of the first steps that your dog is paying attention to you and is genuinely interested in what you have to offer it.
It also shows genuine respect and affection for what you have to say – in short, learning how to sit is a major part of the power struggle in getting your dog learning effectively.

It’s not “Dog”
The main challenge for teaching a dog, and seeing genuine improvement from the dog, is the fact that they don’t actually know what the word “sit” means. Just like having a conversation with a dog, they don’t have a clue what you are saying if you just go “sit!”. Instead, you have to find some kind of association that the dog will understand.
The best dog owners and trainers interact with a dog in the same way that a dog would. We don’t mean barking and sniffing its behind; we mean using basic body language. Simple things like touch and sound can be all that a dog needs to have its own eureka moment.


Don’t over stimulate
You can’t teach your dog things like learning how to sit on command in one day. Don’t over stimulate the dog – the sign of a dog which is no longer engaged is when it just runs off. If it does this, don’t be offended; it’s actually your fault. Through your teachings you should be able to calm the dog down, not excite it too much. So when you are trying to teach your dog, using basics like touching and sound, you can be sure that you need to be quite succinct with what you are teaching or face a dog who is just interested with running away!

Stay Calm
The best way to train a dog to sit is to stay calm throughout. A dog is more likely to give you attention if you remain calm in authority; you now look in control. Being able to get your dog to sit on command requires so much repetition, you need control to succeed.
A major helping that comes from this is the fact that assertiveness will ensure the dog is more likely to pay attention. If you see your dog getting closer to what you want, reward it with a little treat instead. Try using just actions at first to make your dog understand what you mean, as the longer it gets used to the action it easier it will become for it to associate with the word ‘sit’.
If you try and teach it both at once, you can just confuse the animal.


Have Patience
The last part of this is all about having patience. You need to be easy on both yourself and the dog as frustration and anger getting the better of you helps nobody. Stay calm with your dog when it shows little signs of wanting to learn today; try again tomorrow. This takes time and it won’t be the major factor in whether or not your dog settles in, so don’t use the fact it listens to ‘sit’ or not as a barometer for the dogs intelligence.
Some take longer than others, so be sure to be patient as time goes on as the majority of dogs will be more concerned about forging a relationship with you moving forward, instead of always concentrating on what you are saying.