I brought Rufie up from a puppy, and believe you me, a strong willed dog can be hard to train! Here's what I found to be valuable when training a puppy:-
1) Toilet Training
The best way is to teach the dog to only 'go' when outside. If this is impractical, you can buy commercial 'dog potty' products. Make sure you always use the same command, (such as 'Potty') and praise him highly when he gets it right. Remember - consistency is the key to ALL training!
2) Walkies!
Get a rhythm going, so your dog knows when it is walkies time. A short walk after meals, and a longer walk in the morning and evening are best. Sometimes (especially when young, your puppy may NEED to go outside. It's smart to establish a signal so you can tell when he's desperate. Pawing the front door, or fetching the leash are good ones - you can't misinterpret them. Don't forget to use the 'potty' command when outside, and reinforce his behavior with praise when he gets it right.
3) Accidents
Accidents happen - puppies in particular have less than perfect bladder control.If an accident occurs, be firm, and use the 'NO' word strongly, then take him to the designated area. Don't delay - if you do, he won't be able to understand why he is being scolded.
4) Clean up
After the act, clean up. Use plastic bags (sandwich bags are good). Make sure you don't come into contact with it - use the 'inside out' bag trick, and deposit the waste as fast as you can in the nearest litter box.
5) Litter trays are for cats
Unless your dog is a small breed, you will probably have trouble 'litter training' him. Even a medium sized hound can make more mess in a litter tray than you would believe. However, as an emergency measure, they can be valuable - at least you confine the mess to one area. Don't forget the praise reinforcement! Watch out your pooch doesn't start trying to eat the litter pellets - you will never know what your dog thinks is 'tasty'!
6) Territory!
As your dog grows older, you may suddenly notice him starting to pee around the house again. This is his 'territory marking' behavior, and is natural, if undesirable. You can spot this because the spray will be only a small amount, and very pungent. If you catch him at it, let him know this is NOT OK. Afterwards, douse the area with a mix of vinegar and water - he will stay away from that area long after you can't detect the smell.
7) Consistency and immediacy.
The key to all training is consistency. With a dog, you also need to be immediate - even 30 seconds and your dog will have no idea why you are praising or scolding him.
I used these tips to train Rufie, and if you liked this article, I would appreciate it if you go cast a vote for him at http://petmillions.com - it doesn't cost anything! His number is 1049, and you can vote for him at http://www.petmillions.com/?vote=1049. Thanks, and good luck training your pet! Marc.
