David wanted to know about puppy crate training in anticipation of his new Bouvier puppy arriving: “I will be getting a Bouvier puppy in September. He will be my second Bouvier. Great dog. My first one was very easy to train, but I was a little lax with him. This one will be different. Do you recommend crate training for every puppy? Puppy Crate Training For Every Dog? Do you notice differences between puppies that are crate trained and those that are not? I have many training books, since Read more [...]
Puppy Training Diary Episode #12 – Changing Dog Food + Intro To The Down Position
June 20, 2012 by
Gidget, the Malinois puppy is now 10 1/2 weeks-old, or thereabout. In this video I explain why I’m switching foods and also show how I introduce a puppy to the down-position. This is her first time being placed into the down-position.
Puppy Training Diary Episode #11 – Keeping Your Puppy Entertained
June 18, 2012 by
I found this in the garage, from a dog we had years ago– it’s called a boomer ball. It’s hard on the outside– virtually indestructible. It has a twist off cap, where you can open it and fill the inside with sand. The more sand you put in it, the more difficult it is for your dog to push– giving him a better workout. This toy is fantastic if you have a new puppy. Especially one like this, where there is no limit to the number of things you’ll need to keep her mind stimulated. You can find Read more [...]
Puppy Training Diary Episode #10 – This Would Screw Up My Puppy If… –
June 18, 2012 by
This would screw up my puppy, if… I was a rank amateur. Fortunately, I know what I’m doing and the results will show it. In this video, I’m teaching “Gidget” the 10 week old Belgian Malinois puppy, the place command. In the beginning of this video, you’ll notice that I should have pulled the chair with the bowl of food on it, closer to the place board. It would have made things a lot easier and allowed me to grip the leash shorter. Or I could have used a painters apron (which you can buy at Home Read more [...]
How To Know When Your Puppy Is Tired & Happy – Puppy Training Diary Episode #9
June 18, 2012 by
Turn up your speakers! More an observation of behavior than a training video, per se. Puppy snoring… Too cute! Belgian Malinois puppy at 10 weeks of age.
Prey Drive In Puppies – Puppy Training Diary Episode #8
June 18, 2012 by
Adam talks about when this Belgian Malinois puppy’s “prey drive” started to come out, and what that means for later training…
Using Food To Teach Your Puppy New Commands? – Puppy Training Diary Episode #7
June 18, 2012 by
In episode 7 of the Puppy Training Diary, Adam introduces the puppy to the place board, which he’ll use later as a foundation training tool. Adam also demonstrates using meal time to get your puppy to form new associations to commands– in this case, the “Sit” command.
Watch Adam Get Punked By This Belgian Malinois Puppy – Puppy Training Diary Episode #6
June 18, 2012 by
It would be easy to merely post videos when everthing goes right and the puppy behaves perfectly. Other trainers might be tempted to re-shoot this video when the puppy was calmer and more mellow. But this is a puppy training diary, not a propaganda film. Watch Adam get punked by this Belgian Malinois puppy and see what it’s like to deal with a high drive, high energy breed when they’re in a rambunctious state of mind.
This Makes Raising A Puppy 1000X Easier – Puppy Training Diary Episode #5
June 18, 2012 by
This one thing makes training a puppy (the one in the video is my 9 week-old Belgian Malinois puppy) 1000X easier. A must-have for anybody wanting to maintain their sanity while raising a young puppy, the right way!
Two Quick Tips For Puppy Crate Training – Puppy Training Diary Episode #4
June 18, 2012 by
Adam reveals two quick tips for puppy crate training that make the first week with your puppy much, much easier.
How To Socialize Your New Puppy To The Outside World – Puppy Training Diary Episode #3
June 18, 2012 by
Adam talks about how to socialize your new puppy to the outside world. In this video, he’s taking “Gidget” — his Belgian Malinois puppy for a ride in a shopping cart at his local big box pet store. Note: There is always a risk of parvo, before your pup has had all four rounds of shots. You’ll have to way the risks vs. the rewards. Some vets recommend not letting the puppy leave the house before four months of age, and I’m not in a position to say this is bad advice. You’ll have to make your own Read more [...]
Why You’ll Want To Carry Your Puppy To Her Potty Area – Puppy Training Diary Episode #2
June 18, 2012 by
It may seem obvious to some, but this video demonstrates an amazingly simply thing you can do to reduce housebreaking accidents by up to 90% during the first week after you’ve brought your puppy home.
Puppy Training Diary- Meet Adam’s New Belgian Malinois Puppy
June 18, 2012 by
This is the first episode of The Puppy Training Diary… where we’ve adopted Gidget– an 8 week old Belgian Malinois puppy, and we’re going to document every step of development, from puppy to adulthood using the same techniques I write about in my book– Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer– which you can download and start reading almost immediately, at DogProblems.com. The Belgian Malinois is one of the most high drive, high energy dogs you’ll find. And although there are breeds that would Read more [...]
Puppy Training – How long to keep puppy in the crate?
June 18, 2012 by
Adam answers some discussion forum questions about crate training a puppy.
Stop Puppy Biting The Way A Professional Dog Trainer Would
April 15, 2012 by
Stop Puppy Biting Different people’s idea of “aggression” in regard to how to stop puppy biting can vary quite a bit and that, of course, can change my suggestion on how to proceed. If your puppy is 7 or 8 weeks old, you’ll want to just redirect the puppy biting behavior towards a toy or a chew bone. If your puppy is simply in an ultra rambunctious state, the first thing to do is to take him outside. This type of behavior frequently indicates that your puppy needs to eliminate. (And yes… Read more [...]
How To Discipline An Aggressive Puppy
November 30, 2011 by
Jenna wrote to us about how to discipline her aggressive puppy: From An Aggressive Puppy To An Aggressive Dog? “I’m very worried – my 9 1/2 week old shepherd/pitbull/lab mix puppy has been showing signs of aggression towards me, and I’m worried he’s going to turn from an aggressive puppy into an aggressive dog. He attacked my hand when I went to remove his leash after a walk around the park. I tried to grab him and say “no”. When he bites hard I grab his mouth and clamp down and say no until he Read more [...]
Is Your Puppy Trying To Dominate An Older Dog?
November 29, 2011 by
Cathy wrote to us about her puppy training to constantly dominate and harass her older dog: “Hi Adam and all: I’m reading the book, and have gone through a lot of your dog training site material. I have some concerns about my puppy that I’d like some advice on: She’s a retriever mix, about 3 months-old. We also have an 8 year-old female pug. This puppy is just relentless with the pug; biting constantly around her legs and neck and jumping on her back. Any corrections have been ineffective, everything Read more [...]
Dealing with Strange Housebreaking Issues
September 11, 2011 by
Cruzmisl writes to me about some strange housebreaking issues: “I took my 4 month old Great Dane out for a long walk in the woods today and everything was great. We were gone an hour and everything was as usual. She came in the house, took a drink from her bowl upstairs and then went downstairs to take a drink from her other water bowl. Why she does that I have no idea but I follow her down anyway. I don’t trust her when she’s out off my sight and I like to wipe her mouth (she hates that though). Read more [...]
Keeping Your Puppy From Eating Too Fast
September 11, 2011 by
TeamK writes to me with a puppy training issue: Our female black lab came from a litter of 12. Brought her home at 7 1/2 weeks. She is now 11 1/2 weeks. At first of course we figured it was how they needed to eat just to get food, but it’s gotten worse. She eats SOOO fast – inhales her food. Tried feeding in smaller amounts, feeding from hand, but still inhales. We also have from day one been around her when she eats,putting our hands in dish or by dish – but now that just makes it worse -she Read more [...]
Potty Training a Puppy
September 11, 2011 by
Jandon writes to me about potty training a puppy: I’m about three weeks into potty training my (four month old) puppy and now he comes and sits in front of me as a signal to go out. I take him out and he usually does his buisness rather timely. The problem is that he does this about every twenty minutes now. I don’t want to ignor him because the one time I thought I would just wait because I know he can hold it for hours when he is in his crate,he wizzed in the house. I do give him a treat/praise Read more [...]
Training Your Puppy To Stop Biting His Leash
September 11, 2011 by
Cokersmoses writes to me about puppy training to teach your puppy to stop biting the leash: Hi Adam, On a past post you gave the following puppy training advice with a older puppy biting their leash: The easiest way is to use a leather leash, and then just pull the leash fast, across (and out of) his tongue, as he tries to bite it. It will give him a slight burning sensation. He won’t like it, and when he realizes this happens every time he tries to bite the leash, he’ll stop. You should Read more [...]
Should I Socialize My Puppy To Other Dogs
July 4, 2011 by
Dear Adam: I am becoming more and more frustrated with puppy training and trying to socialize my young German Shepherd dog (7 months) to other dogs (and bitches) and he is a good natured little fella but almost every dog he meets wants to fight him. To his credit he has responded in a totally bewildered non aggressive manner but I am getting worried that when his testicles drop he’s going to click all of a sudden and get his nasty head on. These other dogs seem fine until they meet him. All Read more [...]
Puppy Training Progress
July 4, 2011 by
DAVE AND LINDA WRITE: Hello! I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirit. I enjoyed your book and believe I have the basic idea. [The book they're referring to is, "Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!"] However, Our 7 month old Rottweiler puppy is displaying behavior that has me a little confused. The commands that we are having trouble with are down and come. She will only go down when I go to grab the lead, then she hits the deck in a flash. ADAM: At this age, you should Read more [...]
The Truth About Crate Training
July 4, 2011 by
HILLARY was courageous enough to step forward and ask: I would like [to know] the truth about crate training. I have heard many people strongly advocate crates, but I am having trouble finding this method of housebreaking and training “nice”. ME: “Nice” is simply a value judgement you’re placing on a training tool because you’re looking at your dog as if he were a human. And that’s were you’ll run into trouble. See, dogs are motivated by drives and instincts which are completely different than Read more [...]
Are Two Puppies Better Than One
July 4, 2011 by
The following issue about puppy training came up on our discussion forum. The major issue to recognize is that: Most people get two puppies because they’re worried about one dog being lonely. So they buy two puppies so that they’ll keep each other company. And while this logic sounds good from a human perspective, it is often fraught with problems. What happens is that the two pups end up spending the vast majority of their time bonding to each other… rather than to humans. And this ends Read more [...]
