Senior dogs are also believed to be less capable of bonding with their new owners. While this may be true for some cases such as for dogs that have lived with abusive families this is not necessarily the case for all aging dogs. It only takes time for them to build and close that bond. Once you have established its trust level and confidence on you though, it would be much easier for you and your dog to bond.

You should also check whether the puppy is purebred or mixed bred. It is often hard to identify a purebred or mix bred puppy, but try to use the source as an indicator. There are rescue groups that are breed specific, there are those that are aren't. Most animal shelters foster mutts and purebred alike.

Dogs on the other hand see humans as pack leaders although members of their pack nonetheless. Men therefore have to be obeyed and would need as much cooperation from the dog similar to how the dog will respond to a pack leader in the wild. In spite of all these, dogs are predators. They have always been and even behind centuries of domestication, they have not totally lost the instinct.

In fact, dogs being territorial animals will mark the territory by urinating every few feet or so. When the dog is new to a particular place that has not yet been marked by other dogs, expect the dog itching to mark every nook and cranny of the house, worse, that include the rugs and carpets. The following will walk you through to potty train the pup.

When the dog starts to nip, it is a signal that the dog have had enough, let the dog rest and do not allow another occasion to reach that point as it also teaches the dog to become dominant. Likewise, do not allow nor encourage wild behavior. The dog also appreciates hierarchy. If it learns from the start that you play dominance or is the alpha male, it would be easier to make the dog follow your commands.

The results of positive reinforcement are more permanent and lessen aggressive behavior. For both people and animals, chemicals are released in the brain creating pleasant associations when positive reinforcement is used. Basically, positive reinforcement is rewarding a dog whether by food, by a hug and embrace, and by play.