A good point to remember when training a puppy.

Maintaining a routine for your puppy or dog is very important.  A puppy develops confidence and will learn faster when they have a reasonably consistent pattern to each of their days.  A fairly regular time set aside for play, sleep, feeding all helps, especially with the potty training.

Note that I say a fairly regular time here.

I know people who have taken establishing a routine to the extreme.  Rigid with the times their puppy is to eat, sleep and play.  So of course the puppy, as it grows, becomes set in this rigid routine expecting to get up, eat, play or go for a walk at a definite time.  Canines have built in clocks I swear!

So along comes the time when the owners want to sleep in one weekend. Yup, they now have a very upset, whining, and finally barking dog on their hands.  Their dog’s internal clock is saying it is time to get up and get going!  This can happen with feeding times, walks and so on.

Establishing a routine is very important.  But you still must be a little flexible when training a puppy. 

Vary their feeding times by working up to 10 or 15 minutes either way and when older vary the times even further.  

Same goes with their time for getting up in the morning.  Vary that time slightly as well, gradually letting them wait longer once they are older and have good bladder control.

Occassionally change the spot you feed your puppy, the location of their bed and even where you take them for a walk. You will end up with a more adaptable adult dog that will handle small changes in their daily routine without a single whine.

So be sure to establish a routine that incorporates a certain amount of flexibility.

More tips are found throughout Puppy Training Secrets Revealed