I’ve done several episodes recently on the responsibility of raising a puppy. The main thing to remember once you take ownership of a puppy is that they need obedience training, and you have to practice with them. Follow the guidelines below to improve your practice sessions and the predictability of the puppy's learning of obedience skills.

1. Daily practice is essential. Practicing once in a while will not work.
2. You have to practice correctly, the way a professional dog trainer has taught you.
3. Short training sessions several times a day are better than a single long session.

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

People call me to discuss puppy training, and their entire focus is on potty training. This happens a lot. The goal of this episode is to shift new puppy owners' focus to the bigger picture of raising a puppy beyond potty training and crate training.

A dog trainer can only provide tips on potty training, crate training, play biting, and other issues because we don’t live with the dog. Most of the unwanted behavior stems from the environment and from the owners' lack of leadership.

The bigger picture includes:

• Setting rules and boundaries,
• Creating a structured schedule
• Obedience training
• Leash training
• Socialization

It’s impossible to potty train a puppy without all of these elements of raising a puppy. Work on everything at once, and you will spend very little time on potty training. Two things in particular help with potty training: 1) when a puppy can stay in one place, and 2) when your puppy is tired.

The main thing you need to do for effective potty training is to control the puppies' space inside the house and NEVER take your eyes off of them unless they are in a crate just big enough for them to lie down.

Above all, get rid of pee pads.

PRO TIP: Monitor their water intake by giving them 1 ounce per pound of body weight. If your puppy weighs 10 lbs, give them 10 oz of water throughout the day. That means about 2 ounces of water five times a day. After they take a drink, they will need to go potty 2-3 times within the next hour.

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

My dog Dixie has been diagnosed with heart disease after a routine checkup before teeth cleaning. They found a heart murmur, then, from an X-ray, found an enlarged heart and congestion in her lungs. I have created a GoFundMe account link in the show notes with more details.

Start-Up Fees:

• Including adoption or breeder fees, initial vet visit, microchip, supplies, and training.
• $2000-$8000

Monthly Expenses:

• Food
• Medication (heartworm, flea, and tick prevention)
• Daycare
• Dog Walker
• Grooming
• Treats and toys
• Pet Insurance
• For Dixie, this is about $700/month

Annual Expenses:

• Vet visits
• Shots (rabies, distemper, parvovirus, etc.)
• Bloodwork
• Boarding (when out of town)
• For Dixie, this is about $500/year

Unexpected Expenses:

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Parvo, distemper, flu
• Parasites and worms
• Ear infections
• Heartworm
• Injuries such as broken bones or joint problems
• It can cost anywhere from $500 to $10,000 or more.

Resources: https://bowwowinsurance.com.au/pet-community/pet-talk/top-10-most-common-health-problems-for-dogs/

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.