A Healthy Italian Greyhound

Because housebreaking is never easy, but tends to be tougher for Italian greyhound owners, this is an important article for most IG owners. Sometimes I think it’s just because they’re so cute and what they leave is so small that they get away with it, but then I always remind myself of Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer, who tells us that it’s the humans that need the training… so here’s your training for the day.   Remember to be consistent! 

Housebreaking your Italian greyhound dog is not dissimilar to housebreaking any other kind of dog. Overall, housebreaking your IG will be about supervision, giving a lot of opportunities to use the restroom, and limiting freedom until it is earned. While the Italian greyhound is sometimes considered a bit more difficult to house train, it is not any more difficult than any other smaller dog. With patience and consistency, it can be done successfully.

Schedule and Routine:
This is one of the most important parts. Dogs thrive on routine, and you must consistently walk your dog for bathroom breaks. The duration relates to the age of your Italian greyhound dog. The younger the dog, the more frequently it needs to go. For example, an 8 week old puppy might need bathroom access every 15-30 minutes while you’re there.

Feed on a schedule as well. This helps to create a more reliable potty schedule. Dogs usually have to go at certain times if fed on a schedule. Always remember to walk the dog around key times: always when he wakes up, within 15 minutes of eating or drinking, following a play session, and just to take him if it’s been awhile. If your Italian greyhound has an accident, step up the frequency of your walks. If you’re using an indoor potty, make sure to be taking the dog to that with the same frequency as outdoor walks.

Supervision and Limiting Freedom:
This is usually one of the biggest problems. We give young puppies and dogs way too much freedom when it hasn’t yet earned with a reliable history of no accidents. Always take your Italian greyhound dog for a potty walk prior to a free-time period. Then, close all the doors in the house and baby gate off any open areas so that you can supervise him better.

Not allowing him the whole house means you and he are in the same proximity to one another, allowing you to pay more attention to him. This way, he isn’t able to discreetly disappear to another room for an accident. When your IG becomes more reliable, slowly give him more freedom in the house, but not before then!

When you are not able to supervise the puppy or if you will be gone, you need to confine the puppy to a smaller area. Crate training is the most ideal, but many people prefer ex-pens. You will need to cover the floor of an ex-pen with newspaper, but be advised that many puppies play with that.

I suggest crate training for those times you are gone or overnight. Just don’t leave a puppy for long stretches in a crate without a walk, break, or playtime. Consider using a dog walker, family member, friend, or neighbor to walk your Italian greyhound dog at least once during the day if you must be away for a longer duration.

Watch Body Language:
Learn what signals your Italian greyhound dog gives. All dogs give signals, but they may be subtle. Pay attention to:

o Whining
o Barking
o Pacing
o Restless
o Coming to you and away more than once
o Attempting to disappear
o Sniffing the floor
o Circling

These are all signs of a dog that might need to be walked. The better you get at reading your Italian greyhound dog’s signals, the fewer accidents you’ll have.

Lea Mullins, a dog enthusiast, shares tips on housebreaking an Italian Greyhound Dog. Check out http://TrainPetDog.com to learn more about training your Italian Greyhound Dog.

Your approach to dog training has a big impact on the actual training results that you will get.  As long as you have the right mindset about dog training, you can be sure that your puppy will grow into a well-mannered dog that you can be proud of. Aside from having the right mindset, you would also do well to follow the most useful tips and tricks of dog training. Here are the top five dog training tips that will help you mold your dog into a positive addition to your family.

Dogs are pack animals and naturally look to their pack leader for guidance. Therefore, you will have to establish your role as pack leader in order to gain control over your dog’s behavior. Pack leaders normally control the food supply, so a good way to establish leadership would be to always feed your dog only AFTER you have eaten. You should also set a feeding schedule and stick to it.

2. Use positive reinforcement.

Dogs respond best to positive reinforcement. One of the best ways to ensure success in dog training is to reward good behavior and ignore unwanted behavior. This will encourage your dog to repeat those behaviors that earn him praises and treats, and refrain from exhibiting behaviors that get him nothing in return. Be careful not to use punishment in training your dog, as this will only alienate him and make him regard you as an adversary. Rewards and positive reinforcement not only help ensure success in dog training, but also helps strengthen your bond with your dog.

3. Set realistic goals.

You can’t ensure the success of your training unless you have a concrete goal to start with. Of course, you will have to keep your goals realistic; otherwise, you will just be setting yourself up for failure. For example, it is okay to expect your dog to master the “sit” command in two to three days, but you can’t expect him to jump through hoops within the same time frame.

4. Learn proper timing.

Proper timing can spell the difference between success and failure, where dog training is concerned. When you see your dog sniffing and circling around, immediately give a firm NO and then lead him to the designated elimination area. If you wait until he has done his business before scolding him, he won’t understand that he is not supposed to make a mess inside the house. In the same way, you should praise your dog or give him a treat the very moment he exhibits a good behavior. This will make him understand that he has just done something that pleases you.

5. Be patient and consistent.

Stay calm even when your dog makes mistakes. Yelling and showing impatience will get you nowhere. Give your dog enough time to learn each command, and always use the same words and hand signals when you give these commands. Consistency and patience are the keys to successful dog training.