A rewarding part of training your dog at home is the bond that you will create with them or strengthening an already existing bond.  Whether your dog is a puppy or an older one, training is an important part of keeping your dog stimulated and healthy.

Teaching the basics at home like sit, stay, wait and come gives them the freedom to be off the lead whilst you know you are in control and your dog will respond when a command is given.

Any training should be reward-based, so give your dog a small treat when they get the command correct.

When you start learning a new command, also start practising in a quiet room, away from distractions and break the training into short chunks so that the dog does not get bored.

Remember to be patient with your dog, they may not pick it up straight away and finish the sessions positively.

You may well have read about this recently, as it’s been heavily reported on in the media, but dog lovers will soon be able to race alongside their pet in the first ever mud obstacle race made for canines and humans. The muddy dog challenge will be setup in six locations throughout the UK, and though these are yet to be confirmed, we can expect a few major towns and cities being mentioned. It’s more of a trial run for the first year to see what the reception is going to be, but it’s organised for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, so it’s likely all or most of the proceeds will go this this charity. A worthwhile cause, not just in terms of raising money, but getting yourself and your dog outdoors feeling fit with some competitive sprit. It will certainly be a great event to participate in to meet likeminded go owners, and we’re expecting big things.

With advice on toilet training puppies all over the place, potty training your new addition should be easy, well easier!

Puppies like babies will empty their bladder uncontrollably, it is only at a certain age that you can teach them control. Luckily for a new dog owner, this age tends to be when they are old enough to leave their mother.

Training should be started from day one, and consistency with your training is very important too.  Training should start by taking your dog outside at several intervals during the day, after naps, after meal times and allocated times in between. As your dog grows older the frequency of toileting will reduce, so less toilet breaks will be needed.

It is important to give your puppy treats and affection when they have done the task they were told to; this is how they learn. Never give them a treat otherwise. Each puppy will learn differently and at different rates, so be patient with toilet training your new puppy.