Pet Goddess

Anyone considering getting a dog must understand the absolute necessity of properly training and socializing your dog. It is never too early, or too late, to start.

There is an enormous amount of information and support available over the internet, as well as through your vet, animal professionals, and fellow dog owners.

If you feel the need, there are also self-help books, and professionals. Dog training schools tend to be pretty expensive, though, so if your budget will not allow for such as expense, then consider the less expensive options mentioned above.

By doing focused, dedicated research, plus patience and effort, you can gain the knowledge needed to start properly training your dog.

It should be rewarding experience, and no matter what the dog’s age, you should have the satisfaction of seeing good results quite quickly, if you are firm, fair and consistent.

Socializing your dog should start as soon as possible, under safe, controlled conditions. It is not recommended that you take your dog for a walk until it has had its full round of preliminary shots. But you can have people over to your house to met the new addition to your family. young and old, tall and short, with glasses and without, children of different ages, carefully introduce them to your new puppy or dog.

The Puppy’s Rule of 12 worksheet (also available at this site) gives excellent guidelines on all the things you should expose your pet to by the time it is 12 weeks old. Teach them to pet the dog by going under the head, not over it. They love to get their chests rubbed! Also make sure you handle both their head, and their rear end, to make it easier for any vet to handle him.

You should start brushing their teeth with a finger toothbrush as well. This will make make it much easier for oral examinations of your dog, and in case you ever have to administer medicine.

Handling the head is particularly important for terriers, since they are prone to react to movement, and can often snap by instinct (they were trained to keep down vermin, so beware of sudden movements around them until you are more familiar with their responses).

Your training sessions will be an excellent time for you and family members to bond with your pet. Just make sure that you are all on the same page about what is being taught, and what is expected. Otherwise, the new puppy or dog will soon try to play one ‘puppy parent’ off against the other, just like a human child will!

For those who think that dog training is unkind in some manner, such a putting them in a crate at night, nothing could be further from the truth. your new puppy or dog will feel more secure with an ‘alpha’ parent he can trust and respect, and rely upon to feel safe.

If he does not have an alpha parent, he can turn aggressive. If he is not treated with consistency, s/he will lack emotional maturity, and can often develop issues such as separation anxiety when left alone.

A happy, well-adjusted dog will actually gain a great deal of self-esteem from training. He or she will love to please you by performing the tasks you request, and will certainly not get into trouble through being bored because left to its own devices. Just like a child, your dog will respond to clear commands as to what is expected of it. also just like a child, it may not always wish to obey!

In that case, firmness but fairness is the rule. Above all, you mist be consistent. Don’t allow them on the sofa or your bed one day and then expect them to not do it in front of company. Again, in terms of the role of the alpha in the household, NEVER let them sleep in your bed.

As we mentioned above, some people think crate training is unkind, but wild dogs are actually den animals. They feel more protected and secure in a small, enclosed space such as a crate or kennel, or if you have a larger property, in a dog house. It doesn’t matter if they sleep outside of it in the rain or snow, the fact is that they have a secure place of their own.

For those of us who are city dwellers, a crate is an absolute must. Crate training will give your dog a space of its own away from the family and particularly any children or other animals that you might have. Their bedding, toys, and and other treasures can be kept safe, and it will aid you in toilet training as well, since most puppies will rarely soil their own den. The act of going outside the crate helps prepare them for the act of going outside the house. Putting them on a wee wee pad as soon as they step out of the crate will also reinforce this message.

Some crates have adjustable lengths, so as the dog grows, the crate can ‘grow’ with him to give him more space while still allowing him to feel snug. Modern pee pee pads are often treated with a scent to encourage them to go.

Crates are also excellent to make sure you small pup is not underfoot when there are visitors, meals are being prepared, or when you have to leave them alone. Just so long as they are not left in for more than an hour or two at a time, they should be fine.

It is also good as a ‘naughty corner’ to get them away from a dangerous activity. But never try to punish your dog after the fact, for example, long after they have peed on the rug. Hitting or rubbing the pet’s nose in it will never work. Praise them a great deal when they DO pee on the wee wee pad, and they will soon be happy to make you so happy.

Chose the proper locate for your crate, set it up, and leave it. Don’t move it around, and don’t allow children or other animals to play near or in it. If you have more two puppies in the same litter, it is fine to keep them together, but if you already have a dog and are introducing a new one into the house, never put them in the same crate together. The older dog can get very alpha and in trying to establish pecking order, might hurt the puppy.

Also, the puppy will need a lot more rest to recover from its excitement throughout the day, so try to make sure it is kept to a schedule and not allowed to stay up too late.

One other piece of advice is to never get a dog during the holidays. Your new pet should be able to fit in with your typical schedule, or else it will become used to you being home a lot on vacation, but then get separation anxiety when you return to work or school. Again, consistency is the key to training a well-adjusted dog.

With effort, foresight, and a good crate, along with the establishing of clear boundaries, you will be able to raise a happy, healthy, well-adjusted and well-socialized animal people you can trust, whom everyone in the family and neighborhood will be glad to spend time with.

Posted December 4, 2007 Comments(0)

Your New Puppy’s Shopping List

It is tempting to want to buy everything in the world to pamper your pet. While it is not quite true to say all it needs is love, there is also no need to go completely overboard.

There are hundreds of items to choose from and trying to choose the right products can be overwhelming for the new puppy owner.

So, here are some tips to help you select the basic puppy products you will need before you bring your new puppy home, including the ideal bowls, collar, leash, crate, and so on.

New Puppy Shopping List and Tips:

Crate
You need to purchase a sturdy wire frame crate with a plastic bottom tray which they sleep on, but which can slide in and out, is easy to clean, durable and offers good ventilation and visibility. See our guide to buying the right crate for your puppy.

Gate
You should have good quality plastic gates like the ones you use for child-proofing a home. They are both be safe and durable, and will keep your new puppy out of any room you don’t want him in. Plastic may crack if he chews at it, but it will not splinter like wood.

Bed
A thickish, slightly elevated bed style with soft polyfill lining conserves heat, and the elevated style protects your pet from floor drafts. This bed combines softness and comfort with durability. You will find it easier to buy a bed that comes with a removable cover, which you can throw in the washing machine. You can also buy a variety of covers to have a change, use one when the other is in the wash, or to match your décor if you wish. The bed should be able to fit in the back of the puppy’s crate.

Bringing Puppy Home
Remember that your puppy has been spending all its time with its mommy and litter mates, so its first night or two with you, it might get a bit lonely in its crate. Prepare for this with a small hot water bottle filled not too full, wrapped in a towel, and a ticking kind of clock, with the alarm turned off, also wrapped in a towel. Put both of these in the puppy’s bed, and he will feel the warmth and think the ticking is the heartbeat of his other companions.

Food
A great deal can be said about puppy and dog food, wet or dry. Dry is by far the most convenient, and contrary to popular belief, just as nutritious, if not more so, than canned food. You will have a lot less wastage, and can travel easily with your pet with a plastic tub of dry food, and another plastic tub for its water.
A puppy will need to be fed at least 4 times a day. Follow the instructions on the bag for their size, weight and growth stage. Don’t forget to increase the amount as the puppy gets older.
If you are fortunate and raise an emotionally secure puppy, he will grow up to be a “demand feeder”-that is, he will eat only when hungry, not wolf everything down in one gulp no matter how much or how little.
If you get a demand feeder, then they know they will always have food whenever they need it. You can leave a bowl down and they will finish it as needed.
If your dog is an eater, feed it once a day in the morning and once at night.
Remember that dogs do not get to eat every day in the wild, so if they don’t eat for one meal don’t panic. Above all, don’t try to tempt them with all sorts of different items. Like children, they don’t know it exists if you don’t feed it to them, so don’t create a finicky eater for yourself. If they don’t eat for a whole day, have a look for other symptoms which might indicate illness.
As a general guideline, read the label and look for foods with a single source protein and single source carbohydrate whenever possible. Examples would be lamb and rice, turkey and potato. The reason for this is that many dogs can develop allergies, so it is best to keep them on a hypoallergenic diet. There is no need to mix chicken, beef and fish, and we would avoid foods with fish and pork in them. Dogs do not require the kind of variety that humans seem to crave, so there is no need to alternate foods.

Biscuits and treats
These can add up in terms of calories, and also a lot of wheat flour and other ingredients which might trigger their allergies.

Bowls
Heavy stainless steel bowls with a rubber bottom and tapered sides are great choices for your new puppy. This bowl has some weight and a rubber bottom to avoid your pet being able to push it all over the floor or ground. The wide bottom and tapered sides make sure he can’t knock it over, though he might splash or step in it sometimes, so make sure it is not too large. Stainless steel is durable, easy to wash, dishwasher safe, and can;t be chewed or broken.

Chew Toys
Super durable rubber toys such as Nylabone® and Kong® brands are safe, durable and come in a variety of sizes and shapes. They can be loaded with treats which can keep a curious puppy busy for hours. Just make sure you never leave your puppy unsupervised with the toy. They are generally safe, but different breeds of puppy chew in different ways, and a shredded piece of rubber can wreak havoc with a puppy’s digestive system.

Other Toys?
Cloth-rope tug toy are pretty safe, but never get into a tug of war with your pet, as it can result in encouraging the puppy’s aggression. It can also damage its tender mouth and teeth.
Stuffed toys are generally not durable enough to withstand puppy chewing. Eyes and so forth getting swallowed is not healthy, and allod the stuffing everywhere from a gutted toy can be rather annoying to clean up.
Never allow dogs anything with rubber, or real animal bones. We do not recommend rawhide chews, pigs’s ears or other animal derived ‘toys’ on the grounds that the preservatives alone are extremely unhealthy, let alone the damage that a bone chip can do to a puppy’s digestive system.

Your puppy should not go out for walks until it has had all its shots, usually by its 8th to 12th week. But he will need the following for his trips to the vet.

Collar
Webbed nylon collars with a snap-together closure are the best choices. You can get the dog in and out of it quickly, and if the puppy ever gets tangled, it will pop open rather than choke the dog. Test the snap-together sample to ensure that the hold is strong.
Depending on the size of your dog, you may need one that adjusts easily as he grows or choose one for him as a puppy and another for him at his adult size. Some collars can be woven with your pets name and your contact number in the case his is lost or gets away. Otherwise, just hang his id tag on the ring. Consider reflective materials if you plan to walk your dog at night.

Identification Tag
You should have a permanently engraved plastic or metal tag with your pet’s name and phone number. They are durable and easy to clean. These are available by mail or do-it-yourself machines. Your dog should also always wear his rabies tag, another easy way for your dog to be identified if it is ever lost.

In addition, we recommend microchipping your puppy and using the Home Again monthly service. It doesn’t matter how well-trained your dog is. It might wander, get startled or even be stolen, and there is nothing worse in the world than wondering where your lost pet is and whether or not it is suffering.

Your vet can tell you more about micorchipping, and you can visit Home Again’s website for more information. http://www.homeagain.com

Leash
A sturdy, six-foot leather, nylon leash with a good quality metal clip that securely fastens to a metal ring on your puppy’s collar is a practical and versatile choice for everyday use.

When your puppy is allowed to go for full walks, or for training at home.

Training Aids
Though is sounds cruel, the metallic “choke chain”, with a metal leash to train your dog to walk properly down the street with you is actually a quick training aid. The choke chain is comprised of a length of metal with two loop rings at either end of it. Either loop can fit into the other, and is then attached to the metal leash, keeping the dog secure and under control. If the dog tugs, the metal chain tightens, hence the name choke chain.
It may sound cruel, but for high spirited breeds like terriers and large dogs, they will soon learn not to pull you over when you are walking.
The key part, however, is the metallic noise of the chain and leash if you give them a tiny tug when you are trying to train the dog. This can be especially valuable when you are trying to get your dog to cross the street properly. A little clicking tug, and, “Wait,” will mean more to them than no, stop, and so forth.

What About a Harness?
We recommend a harness for large breed dogs or puppies as they get older, particularly if they have a tendency to tug or you might need more control over their movements. But try the collar and/or choke chain first.
We also recommend a harness for squarely built breeds such as bulldogs, and any breeds known for respiratory or heart problems.
Buy a webbed nylon one, not too thick in the straps, and adjustable, and look for the ones that they can step into and which fasten with a nylon clip and the top and two rings, either side, which will both go into the leash clip. Any other kind is way too difficult to get on and off quickly.

Never leave your pet’s collar or harness on in the house. It should be associated with going outdoors, and organized training sessions.

Clothing?
A dog should have an easy coat for cold, windy, or rainy weather. Our favorite, though not always easy to find, is the Caddis dog blanket. This doggie raincoat is waterproof poplin on the outside, and lined with fleece, on the inside, with nylon clip closures at neck and around the waist. You can pretty much throw it over the dog’s head, and go out in even the most inclement weather.
Another good option is the fleecy step-in coat which attaches up the back with velcro. On really snowy days, our dog would wear one underneath, with the Caddis dog blanket thrown over it.
Sweatshirts are another good option, though beware of the length of them in relation to male dogs, who will often manage to wet their clothing.
So don’t spend a fortune on your puppy’s wardroe-after all, he will grow soon enough. But do be aware of the season when he becomes old enough to go for his walks, and dress him accordingly.

Posted December 4, 2007 Comments(0)

Many people complain they have a ‘bad’ dog, but the truth of the matter is, there are usually only bad OWNERS.

If they got the dog as a puppy, then the reason why their dog is badly behaved is because they did not take the time to train it properly. In truth, they were probably never trained themselves in how to raise a happy and well-adjusted dog which will not be a nuisance to everyone.

If the no proper puppy training takes place, it is not the dog’s fault that they don’t have good manners, and do not obey basic commands. It is the owner’s responsibility to take care of this and to teach their dog what is expected of them, both for the dog’s safety, and for that of humans.

There is plenty of information on the internet, most of it free, on the topic of dog training, what works and what doesn’t. Some of the information may contradict each other, but there are basic things you should expect of your puppy as soon as you get it.

The most obvious one would be toilet training, and obeying commands like stay and stop. If you follow the dog training information and guidelines you find in books and on the internet, no matter what kind of puppy or dog you own, it can definitely turn out to be one a pleasure to own.

You will be more than happy with the results for your puppy training, and everyone in the family will be able to enjoy your puppy: family, friends, and visitors to your house. You will be stress-free, and not have to worry about your dog being aggressive, or acting in an unpredictable way which might cause ham to himself and/or others.

It is really important that you learn how to get your dog to listen to your commands as soon as you get your puppy. Your tone should match what you ar trying to get the dog to do.

Start out with something small, and when they obey, praise them. Puppies are always eager to please and it will raise their confidence and give them emotional maturity and self-esteem. they will be eager to do it again, or learn more.

They may not be perfect all day every day, but reward their best efforts and don’t punish the harshly if they do anything you consider to be bad.
Successful puppy training takes time and patience, in the same way that raising a well-adjusted child does not happen overnight.

Above all, your dog training time, when you are with your dog one on one, getting to know your puppy, and figuring out what makes it tick, is a great bonding time for your both to enjoy. Puppies are very adaptable and you should see it respond and bond fairly quickly with you. The more time you spend with your new puppy, the more it will adjust to your way of doing things.

When not left alone, and kept occupied with challenging and interesting tasks, your puppy will be less likely to do the many annoying or destructive things which a bored puppy will do. These include chewing, destroying property or furniture, going to the toilet in inappropriate places, barking, and acting aggressive or hyperactive.

Whatever you do throughout the dog training process, never, under any circumstances use physical punishment, no matter how frustrated and irritated you might become at times. The tone of your voice should say it all when it comes to getting your dog to listen to your commands. You will learn better which tone to use for each task you are want them to perform.

Once you have completed just the basic dog training commands with your dog, you and everyone else around will definitely notice an enormous difference in them and will be very, very pleased to have such a pleasant pet to share their life with.

you will also set a great example for other people. Just think about it: if you see a loud, barking, uncontrollable dog on the street, you are certainly not going to think, “I wish I had a dog like that.”

Puppy training is time consuming, but you will get what you put into your puppy, out of your puppy multiple times over, because they offer unconditional love and are so eager to please. They are pack animals, and want to be part of a safe, secure, supportive pack. You must be the ‘alpha’ dog, the one in charge, who will keep them safe and secure.

If they think you are not up to the task, they will take to domineering and even aggressive behavior, not only in the house, but out on the street. So act as though you are in charge, even when you might be unsure of yourself in certain situations. Your puppy will take its cue from you.

If you encounter a large, aggressive dog on the street, for example, be safe and sensible, but do not act intimidated or scared. Walk straight on by at a safe distance, and your puppy will do the same (of course, you have to be sure that you do not take them out walking in public until they have had all their puppy shots. See our article on innoculations for more details).

Rewarding your dog is very important during the training process, so any time that they do listen to something that you are trying to say to them, make sure that you do give them praise, attention, and a treat.

We tend to avoid packaged treats due to the preservatives and wheat flour, which many dogs are allergic to. So to reward, or ‘bait’ the dog as they do in dog shows to get its attention, we like to use their own dry food. the act of hand feeding causes the bond to deepen. The association of a trick with a treat is also one they will catch on to quickly.

Even better, you can offer your dog a ‘bribe’ too without waving the treat in its face by carrying it in a small metal tin that rattles, such as an empty candy tin, filled with dry dog food. Just shake the tin before each command, and they will often come, sit, stay, give paw, and so on.

Again, this will take time and patience, but the noise of the tin helps them become conditioned to what is expected of them, and with persistence, they should be obeying your every command in no time.

Posted December 4, 2007 Comments(0)