Cesar's Way : The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems

by Cesar Millan, Melissa Jo Peltier

Cesar Millan is the founder of the Dog Psychology Center in Los Angeles and is the star of Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan on National Geographic Channel. In 2005, he was awarded for his work in rehabilitating sheltered animals. "I rehabilitate dogs. I train people." - Cesar Millan. Why is it that in America alone, there are at least 68 million dogs, but so many of them have problems? And their owners spends millions on them every year getting pampered. In this guide we learn about what goes on inside our dog's mind and we learn to develop a positive, fulfilling relationship with them. This book gives you a deeper appreciation of how your dog sees the world and it will help to make the relationship you have with your dog a lot more rewarding, and make the bond even stronger between you.

Cesar Millan is America's most sought after dog-behaviour expert. He's not a trainer but he has the ability to comprehend dog psychology. He takes us through the basics of dog psychology and behaviour. Millan's formula for a contented and balanced dog seems impossibly simple: exercise, discipline and affection, in that order. He shares with us how common behavior issues develop and how they can be corrected.

You will learn, to mention a few, that what your dog really needs may not be what you're giving him, why a dog's natural pack instincts are the key to your happy relationship, how to relate to your dog on his level, there are no "problem breeds", just problem owners, how to choose a dog that's just right for you and your family, the different between discipline and punishment and there is so much more.

This is the only book you will need to have for a more rewarding connection with you four-legged companion.

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Crate training for puppies is one of the easiest ways to deal with the challenge of housetraining a young puppy or even an older dog that has not be housebroken. Crate training works on the puppy's or dog's natural tendency to want to keep his or her own den area clean and free from soiling or waste material. Basically the crate replaces the "den" or whelping box, which the mother has already taught the puppy to keep clean.

Getting Started

The key components in using crate training successfully for a housetraining program include:

• Crate training for puppies needs to be comfortable and stress free for the puppy, especially when they are in the crate or becoming familiar with the crate.

• Line the crate with soft, washable bedding that forms a comfortable sleeping and relaxing area for the puppy or dog.

• Allow the puppy to enter and leave the crate at will, provide a few treats and toys in the crate to encourage the puppy or dog to go in, don't force the animal in.

• Spend some time around the crate with the puppy so he or she is comfortable in the area.

• Once they are going in on their own, close the door for a few seconds and then open it and praise the puppy.

• Gradually increase the amount of time the puppy is in the crate, encourage this to be the puppy's sleeping and safe area.

By making the crate a positive place, crate training your puppy will be simple and effective, but it will take effort on your part.

Crate Training and Puppy Housetraining

Once your puppy is going into the crate and is staying in there on their own you are ready to start the housetraining program. To do this it is important to feed the puppy on a schedule and know approximately how long after eating and drinking the puppy waits before toileting. Most puppies will have a delay of ten to twenty minutes, but smaller breeds may have to go to the bathroom within five minutes after eating. With this information then:

• Feed the puppy as usual, placing him or her in the crate that is in a visible yet quiet area of the room.

• Provide toys in the crate and monitor the puppy for any signs of anxiety or restlessness that may indicate they need to toilet.

• Just before the time you know the puppy normally goes to the bathroom after eating, remove him or her from the crate and take them outside to the toilet area.

• Wait five minutes and if the puppy doesn't go, return him or her to the crate without any negative consequences, then keep repeating this process every five minutes.

• If the puppy does go to the bathroom on the first trip, or when they do, give lots of praise and return them to the house, and leave the crate open in case they want to rest or relax.

Remember crate training puppies requires that the person in the house is on top of the crate training program. If you wait too long and the puppy does soil in the crate, don't punish the puppy, just clean the mess and start over. Housetraining can be simple using the crate training method, but be prepared for accidents and mistakes; learn and go on.

It is important that you not become one of the significant number of dog owners that don't think about the consequences of failing to train your dog. Puppy behavior is largely influenced by human interaction, especially when they are removed from their mother and littermates and are on their own at your home. Training puppies correctly is the first step in avoiding the dreaded Spoiled Dog Syndrome.

Puppy Behavior

Training puppies is a both a science and an art with owners needing to balance making training fun and positive and actually being seen as the alpha leader by the puppy. When owners don't establish that they are the leader, puppies will very naturally assume that they must be. These types of puppies will bark, demand their owner's attention, engage in destructive behaviors when they don't get attention and generally run the household.

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