I’ve done several episodes recently on the responsibility of raising a puppy. The main thing to remember once you take ownership of a puppy is that they need obedience training, and you have to practice with them. Follow the guidelines below to improve your practice sessions and the predictability of the puppy's learning of obedience skills.

1. Daily practice is essential. Practicing once in a while will not work.
2. You have to practice correctly, the way a professional dog trainer has taught you.
3. Short training sessions several times a day are better than a single long session.

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

People call me to discuss puppy training, and their entire focus is on potty training. This happens a lot. The goal of this episode is to shift new puppy owners' focus to the bigger picture of raising a puppy beyond potty training and crate training.

A dog trainer can only provide tips on potty training, crate training, play biting, and other issues because we don’t live with the dog. Most of the unwanted behavior stems from the environment and from the owners' lack of leadership.

The bigger picture includes:

• Setting rules and boundaries,
• Creating a structured schedule
• Obedience training
• Leash training
• Socialization

It’s impossible to potty train a puppy without all of these elements of raising a puppy. Work on everything at once, and you will spend very little time on potty training. Two things in particular help with potty training: 1) when a puppy can stay in one place, and 2) when your puppy is tired.

The main thing you need to do for effective potty training is to control the puppies' space inside the house and NEVER take your eyes off of them unless they are in a crate just big enough for them to lie down.

Above all, get rid of pee pads.

PRO TIP: Monitor their water intake by giving them 1 ounce per pound of body weight. If your puppy weighs 10 lbs, give them 10 oz of water throughout the day. That means about 2 ounces of water five times a day. After they take a drink, they will need to go potty 2-3 times within the next hour.

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

My dog Dixie has been diagnosed with heart disease after a routine checkup before teeth cleaning. They found a heart murmur, then, from an X-ray, found an enlarged heart and congestion in her lungs. I have created a GoFundMe account link in the show notes with more details.

Start-Up Fees:

• Including adoption or breeder fees, initial vet visit, microchip, supplies, and training.
• $2000-$8000

Monthly Expenses:

• Food
• Medication (heartworm, flea, and tick prevention)
• Daycare
• Dog Walker
• Grooming
• Treats and toys
• Pet Insurance
• For Dixie, this is about $700/month

Annual Expenses:

• Vet visits
• Shots (rabies, distemper, parvovirus, etc.)
• Bloodwork
• Boarding (when out of town)
• For Dixie, this is about $500/year

Unexpected Expenses:

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Parvo, distemper, flu
• Parasites and worms
• Ear infections
• Heartworm
• Injuries such as broken bones or joint problems
• It can cost anywhere from $500 to $10,000 or more.

Resources: https://bowwowinsurance.com.au/pet-community/pet-talk/top-10-most-common-health-problems-for-dogs/

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

Many people underestimate the level of responsibility needed to raise a puppy. Listen to my first episode of Puppy Talk called Owning a New Puppy is a Lot of Work.

The Truth:

1. Raising a young puppy starting at 8 weeks old is a part-time job.
2. Hiring a dog trainer may not help. It’s not the solution.
3. You have to do the work yourself, with the help of a coach.

The Myths:

1. Puppies only need affection and play
2. Teaching your puppy the command “no” will solve everything
3. Punishing the puppy by yelling or using force is important

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

Being an effective leader and building trust in your dog requires a skill set grounded in effective communication, temperament, and focus.

What to do:

1. Make sure your communication is crystal clear. Trim the fat. Tell the dog what you want and reward them for doing it.
2. Set your dog up for success. Make it impossible for them to fail and let them have fun in the process.
3. Stay focused on “teaching” the dog what you want them to learn.

What not to do:

• DO NOT talk to them so much, especially with repeated commands, where they check out
• DO NOT yell at your dog.
• DO NOT show frustration and lack of leadership skills.
• DO NOT use physical force with your dog.
• DO NOT over-correct your dog. The focus should not be on stopping a behavior, but teaching an alternative behavior.

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

Building structure for your puppy in one of the best things you can do to help raise a happy, healthy, and obedient puppy. In this episode of Puppy Talk I discuss the why and how of puppy structure.

Why?

1. Structure creates calmness in the puppy.
2. Structure creates an opportunity for the puppy to succeed, not fail
3. Structure helps you, the puppy owner, have more control over the puppy’s behavior, obedience, and discipline.

How?

1. Stick to a routine: wake up, potty, short walk, training, eat, play, potty again, and nap.
2. Your puppy is in school and needs a balance of math, English, history, and science. Recess can come after the other subjects.
3. DO NOT replace the essential subjects with play and affection. This is having your puppy in recess all day long.

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

For dog owners:

1. Always keep your dog on a leash. Listen to podcast episode 118.
2. Never allow your dog to bark or lunge at another dog or people. Create distance immediately if this happens.
3. Work with a trainer to prevent rectivity. Teach sit, wait, “watch-me” as alternative behaviors to reacting to stimuli.

For parents of children:

1. Never allow your child to pet a dog unless the dog is on a leash and calm.
2. Never have your child reach their hand toward a dog's face or put their face close to a dog's face.
3. Only allow the child to pet the dog on its side while the dog's owner holds it calmly on a leash.

Related Episodes: #118 on October 7, 2025, and #97 on April 7, 2025.

News story on WHNT News 19: https://youtu.be/JdtAaPczUoc?si=3CmznHd_sHV08uT9

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.

Embarking on a career as a dog trainer may seem daunting. With vast knowledge to acquire and numerous pathways to explore, it can be challenging. Yet, by breaking it down into straightforward steps, the journey becomes manageable. In this episode, I will guide you through the essentials of starting out, from enhancing your expertise to establishing yourself as a reliable professional in your community.

RESOURCES:
Podcast Website: http://puppytalkpodcast.com
Sponsor Website: http://www.topgundogtraining.com
Dale's books: https://www.amazon.com/author/dalebuchanan

Top Gun Dog Training in Huntsville, Alabama. Dog Trainer near me. Puppy Training in Madison, AL. Dog Behavior in Huntsville, AL.