Maureen – Puppy and Dog Training

Meet the Chihuahua

October 17, 2026 by Maureen

Two chihuahuas sitting side by side on a cream linen blanket in soft window light: a glossy short-haired fawn smooth coat and a long coat in cream and tan with feathered ears and a pl

If you are looking for chihuahua breed information before bringing one home, the useful questions are practical ones.

Although beagle-type dogs have existed for over 2,000 years, the modern beagle dog breed was developed in Britain around the 1830s from several breeds. It is believed that the Beagle breed was developed from other scent hounds including the Talbot Hound, North Country Beagle and other English hounds. Beagles were bred as scent hounds, and … Read more

Hazards of Potty Training a Puppy In The Winter – Bundle Up

August 23, 2017August 15, 2015 by Maureen

Potty training a new puppy can be a bit of a challenge at the best of times but during the winter you are faced with many more obstacles for this task. So just keep in mind when you are potty training a puppy in the winter you are going to be faced with a few more challenges.

First thing you are going to need is some warm clothes for you and your puppy. You can get winter coats for your puppy and also some booties. There are a wide variety of coats that you can purchase but I would try to get a coat that you can get on and off quickly and easily. Also I would invest in the booties for your puppy. They will prevent snow and ice from getting on his/her paws and freezing. There could also be some type of foreign object hidden in the snow that the boots may protect him from.

The Best Way To Potty Train A Puppy

April 21, 2019August 10, 2015 by Maureen

The best way to potty train a puppy and help him learn good bathroom habits, is to use a crate. Dogs don’t like using the bathroom near where they sleep or spend much time, so take advantage of this natural preference of dogs and teach them at a very young age to use the bathroom outside or in a desired area.

Dog training is an activity that needs to be done frequently. Therefore when trying to potty train your new puppy you need to be repetitive. When trying to get your puppy to eliminate you need to be saying the command word that you have picked out. This will help the puppy learn what is expected of him.

Most people use the words “Go Potty” when trying to potty train their new puppy. Also when you are asking your puppy to Go Potty you need to say it with an upbeat tone and great enthusiasm. Puppies do respond to the tone of your voice.

Be aware that you are not going to have a perfectly trained puppy overnight. Teaching your puppy new behaviours can be a lengthy process that will involve success and setbacks. Training a puppy requires that you have a lot of patience.

Positive Dog Training

August 27, 2017May 15, 2015 by Maureen

When it comes to dog training there are many opinions on this subject. Over the years there have been many changes to the way trainers train dogs. Today most trainers try to use positive dog training methods. With earlier methods it was believed that a dog had to submit to its owner, so some of the methods used in training were quite harsh. Equipment such as choke collars and prong collars were frequently used to get the dog under control. A dog learned to obey or they continued to receive harsh treatment.

As we learned more about our canine companions we learned that dogs would do just about anything to please us. Positive dog training methods became the accepted method as we observed that puppies and dogs would obey for some type of treat, whether it be their favourite scrap of food or their favourite toy. Many police dogs today are rewarded with some sort of a tug toy or ball when they perform well.

The one aspect of dog training that has never changed is consistency. When you are training your dog you need to be consistent. By being consistent your dog will better understand what you are trying to convey to him. It will cause a lot less confusion for him. If the dog is being raised in a family atmosphere you need to make sure all family members are on the same page.

If children are going to be involved in the dog training it might be a good idea to make up a chart of things that need to be done. It is especially a good idea to keep track of their feeding schedule. Not all puppies are the same so it is handy to know how long after drinking and eating that your puppy needs to relieve themselves.

Choosing The Right Dog

August 26, 2017May 15, 2015 by Maureen

Bringing home a new puppy can be a very joyous time but before you take that step you should back up and make sure you know what you are getting into. Choosing the right dog now can possibly save you a lot of aggravation down the road.

Here are some things to consider when choosing a dog. What size dog do you want. Do you want a big dog or a lap dog. Can you handle a large breed dog? Most large breed dogs do need a lot of exercise and more room than a small dog. Are you an active person or are you more of the couch potato variety human?

choosing the right dog — high energy dog