*Puppy Training Care Sheet Provided by Hill's Pet Nutrition

Getting Started You can turn your cute, rambunctious puppy into super puppy by taking a little extra time to shape the behaviors and personality you want him to have as an adult. Most behavior problems in puppies are very normal behaviors, but performed at the wrong time, in the wrong place or directed at the wrong objects. A little forethought, adequate supervision, appropriate confinement and early training go a long way toward keeping them out of trouble, not to mention saving the relationship and the home. You will want to begin obedience training soon after you bring your puppy home. Early training can help you gain control of your puppy, prevent a wide variety of problems and promote desirable behavior. If you wait until your puppy is six months of age or older to begin training, you will have lost valuable time. At an early age, puppies learn more quickly. Using positive reinforcement methods, training can start as early as 8 weeks of age. Too often, pet owners resort to punishment when they believe the pet has stepped out of line. Punishment is a poor tool for shaping behavior in most situations. Physical corrections and harsh scoldings are likely to bruise your relationship and can lead to more serious problems, such as aggression. Never swat, spank, thump, shake or yell at your puppy. Avoid doing anything that makes your puppy act frightened or reluctant to approach you.

Positive Reinforcements A very important rule is "Never take good behaviors for granted." You should have a mental list of all the behaviors you want from your puppy. Actively watch for them and reward your puppy whenever you catch him doing something right. Social or food rewards should be given for playing with toys, eliminating in the right place and being relaxed when you handle him. If you want your puppy to be relaxed and social around people when he grows up, you need to provide lots of positive social experiences when your puppy is young, especially during the first few months. Give your puppy plenty of opportunities to socialize with people and other pets. Have people of various ages and appearances frequently visit your home. Toys, play and treats can be used to teach your puppy to look forward to visits by unfamiliar people. And lastly, be sure to set your puppy up to succeed. Don't tease or play games that encourage play biting. Put things out of reach that a curious puppy is likely to get into or damage. Food, clothing and objects left on counter tops are just too tempting for most puppies.

House Training The principles underlying housetraining are very simple. You want to teach your puppy to eliminate on a specific surface or in a specific location, while at the same time preventing him from developing a habit of eliminating on any unacceptable surfaces or areas. Following are some tips for successful housetraining. Ask your veterinarian about paper training if it is not practical to take your puppy outdoors to eliminate. Keep Your Puppy within Eyesight Prevent your puppy from starting any bad habits in the home by keeping him within eyesight of a family member 100 percent of the time. When this can't be done, your puppy should be confined to a relatively small, safe area. Your puppy should be under supervision or confined until he has gone at least four consecutive weeks without soiling in the home. Create a Schedule Teach your puppy where to eliminate by frequently taking him to the desired area and allowing him to sniff around. Your puppy should go out shortly after he eats, plays, wakes up from a nap, before confinement and whenever he sniffs around like he has to eliminate. Feed your puppy two to three times daily on a regular schedule. Avoid feeding your puppy for an hour before confinement and before bedtime. Reward Good Behavior As your puppy eliminates, quietly praise him, and when he finishes, give a Science Diet® Puppy Treat or Science Diet® Puppy kibble as a reward. Reward him immediately, not after he returns indoors. Accidents Happen Puppies are not perfect and messes will occur. When this happens, do not make the mistake of punishing your puppy. This will damage your relationship and may actually slow down house training. If you catch your puppy in the act of eliminating in an unacceptable area, make a sharp noise (clap your hands, stomp the floor) without saying anything. You just want to interrupt the behavior, not do anything that will frighten your puppy. Then, immediately take your puppy outdoors to finish. Be sure to clean up any odor from floors and carpeting to help prevent resoiling. Wash bedding regularly and take your puppy out during the night if necessary, as sleeping on soiled bedding could slow down your puppy's housetraining.