Puppy Potty Training

Some owners call every treat, simply, a treat. Others use different words for different types of treats. Biscuit might be used for a commercial dog biscuit, while cookie might be used for a real cookie or cracker.

Biscuit Time

I like to establish a scheduled Biscuit Time. For example, right after breakfast. Dogs love patterns and quickly learn to look forward to Biscuit Time. In this expectant frame of mind, they are ready and willing to listen to their new word and to associate it with its tasty object.

There may be one disadvantage to a fixed Biscuit Time. Some dogs become too rigid about it. They start getting restless, pacing or whining or nudging you. They may even become upset if you’re late.

With such dogs, adhering to a schedule is NOT a good idea. Break them from the pattern by offering the biscuit at RANDOM times –one day in the morning, next day in the afternoon, next day in the evening.

With pattern-oriented dogs, occasionally skip the biscuit altogether. This makes them less expectant, and thus less stressed when everything doesn’t happen according to their expectations.

Now, what should you do at Biscuit Time?

Ask your dog, “Want a BISCUIT? Who wants a BISCUIT?
How about a BISCUIT?”

1) Proceed jauntily to the cupboard and take down the box. Rattle it and repeat with excitement, “Want a biscuit?”

2) Let your dog watch you take the biscuit out of the box. He may already be excited, but if this is your first time doing this, and he’s never had one from this box, he may not know what it is. You may need to hold it near his nose to give him the idea.

3) I should mention that there are some dogs who couldn’t care a fig about commercial dog biscuits. To get them excited, try a cheese cracker or oatmeal cookie.

Now the next time your dog is troublesome ask him “Want a Biscuit?” and see what happens!

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