.If you have small children, will you be able to train your puppy as well as taking care of your own young family? Trying to train a puppy while training your own children, doesn’t usually work unless you have set times during the day for the puppy on his own. Trying to train a puppy whilst your children are wanting your attention, will only confuse and upset your puppy.

Is this the best possible time in your life to own a puppy? If your life is hectic, busy or emotional then it isn’t. You might feel that you would love the companionship when it suits you, but it is a two way relationship that requires most of your time and energy, so wait until the time is right.

Have you done your homework on the breed of puppy you want ? It is so important to make sure that this is the breed that would best fit in your home and family. If you have a small flat, you might want to stay away from an energetic large breed dog and if you have small children, you might want to look into finding a breed that is usually good with children. Read up on the different breeds and visit some breeders and ask for as much advise as they can give you – it is well worth the effort as a dog is for life.

Dogs which have not been trained or properly introduced to their dog kennel, may initially resist confinement, particularly for a long period of time. Please bear in mind that training takes time and doesn’t happen overnight.  You will know what you want from your puppy, but your puppy or newly acquired dog won‘t.  SO PLEASE BE PATIENT!

How to train your puppy to use a dog kennel:

Ideally, dog kennel training should begin when your dog is a puppy and once he accepts that the dog kennel is its “den”, you should have very few problems getting him to enter the dog kennel or stay in it for several hours.

NEVER push or shove the puppy into the dog kennel or use it as a means of punishment

LET your puppy go in an out of the kennel of his own free will and coax him with his favourite bedding, toys or treats.

GIVE your puppy lots of gentle praise when he goes in of his own accord.

NEVER leave your puppy tied up unattended in the dog kennel for more than 2-3 hours during the day.

Where necessary, I’ve even known puppy owners to put the dog kennel in their bedroom at night until their puppy felt secure.  Putting a soft dog bed inside the kennel is a good idea or you could initially try and find something with your scent on it as this will help your puppy to feel more comfortable and will also increase the bonding process.

Using these gentle methods of dog kennel training, your puppy will get used to the idea of the dog kennel being his special “den”, a quiet, private place where he can sleep or rest in peace, knowing that he is safe and secure.

All puppies need to be toilet trained and puppies need to relieve themselves often (approx. every 20-30 minutes).  Puppies, like adult dogs, dislike soiling their sleeping area or den, so your dog will either whine or bark when he needs to go to the toilet.  Respond quickly by taking him outside and he will soon learn to tell you when he needs to go outside for the toilet and he will know that you approve.

If you can’t always take him outside immediately, then why not take a look at some of the toilet training aids such as the Ugodog – an innovative product from the USA which can help you with toilet training in the house.

ALWAYS PRAISE your puppy after it has relieved itself in the designated spot.