If you are reading this article you might be thinking about buying a puppy; or already bought on. Congratulations on the new addition to your home! You now have a friend who is always ready to play, never too tired to go for a walk and one of the most loyal companions you will ever have. There are some things you are going to need to know about training your puppy. A puppy is only as well-behaved as his training allows.
During the first few weeks your puppy needs constant supervision to prevent accidents in the house. But it's easier to teach good habits now than it is to correct bad behavior later in life. Your puppy needs to start understanding what is and isn't acceptable in your home right away. You are the leader of the pack in the home and your puppy looks to you to work out what is allowed and what isn't.
It's important that your puppy starts to understand their boundaries. You will need to decide soon what the limits are - what furniture they may or may not climb on - what areas of the house they are allowed. Decide where your puppy will sleep and what they may or may not chew on.
Getting your puppy housetrained is not difficult and can be quick if you follow some of these tips. Make housetraining a painless and quick procedure by using the crate method.
The Crate method
The crate method is well known because it is one of the most humane ways to train a puppy. Your puppy will need to relieve himself after eating, drinking, running, playing. The frequency will depend on the size of your dog and also on the breed. Be careful - it can happen as soon as 15 minutes after any of these activities. One of the easiest ways to keep your home pee free is to keep a record of when he needs to go. Try to learn the natural schedule and take your puppy outside at the times when you know they are going to need to go. Plan your walks around this schedule. Take the puppy out when you expect they will need to urinate.
When your puppy is 10 weeks old until they are six months they will need to be walked between 5 and 10 times a day. Quite a task if you are not used to including a puppy in your daily schedule. Take turns walking the puppy. One of the most important things about housetraining you pup is that you do not return from your walks until he/she has urinated and done all his business.
If for some reason you need to go inside before he has gone you will need to take your puppy out every 15 minutes. Give lots of praise and affection when your puppy has done what you wanted. You might feel silly praising your puppy for going "wee wee" (or other!) but it is very important to the housetraining process.
Some tips for using the crate:
The crate method works and is one of the most humane ways to train your puppy. It works because dogs are naturally neat and don't like to eliminate in their sleeping area. If your puppy sleeps in the crate they will not want to mess in it. It's an instinctive desire to keep their sleeping area clean.
The crate should become a sanctuary for your puppy. A crate is your dogs' den in the house; their very own 'safe space'. Your puppy needs to associate the crate with positive feelings. Put your puppy’s favorite blanket, toys and treats inside.
Help your puppy get used to the crate by leaving the door open until the dog seems comfortable. It's important that your puppy is comfortable in the crate - the more comfortable they are - the less likely they are to soil inside.
Never use the crate as punishment. The crate must be associated with positive feelings. If your puppy does start whining, barking or scratching don't let them out. Establish a regular schedule. After feeding take you puppy outside until they have done their business.
Put your puppy in the crate at night - but make sure to take him outside before bedtime and first thing in the morning. Let your puppy play for a while after they have done their business. Don't give your puppy free reign of the house until they are housetrained.
Make a chart of when your puppy needs to go. Take the puppy outside within 15 minutes of eating, or any other time you know they will need to go.
After they have done their business; play with them for a while and then put your puppy in the crate for a nap. Repeat this throughout the day. After your puppy is fully housetrained you can leave the crate open during the day.
Some do's and don'ts when housetraining:
DO
- If you are going to be away for long periods of time put your puppy in an area of the house where you are prepared for accidents. Put newspaper in this area.
- Limit the food and water supply if you are going to be gone for long periods of time. If it's hot make sure your puppy has enough to drink (but remember what goes in must come out!).
- Praise your puppy when they are good.
- Be consistent. You don't want to confuse your puppy.
- Involve the whole family in the training process. Even small children can participate in the housetraining.
- Be realistic, you can't get mad with a puppy for not being completely housetrained. Accidents happen despite your most careful schedule.
Don'ts
- Don't ever use the crate as punishment.
- Don’t let your puppy outside of your designated area until they are housetrained.
- Don't reprimand your puppy for accidents.
If this all sounds like a lot of work - don't worry. Your puppy should be completely housetrained after about 6 months. Even sooner if you use the crate method. As your puppy gets older it will get easier. A well trained puppy will bring much more happiness into the home then an untrained puppy. Owner and puppy will be more happy and in tune with each other for years to come.
2008年8月28日星期四
2008年8月22日星期五
Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks
Whoever came up with the saying that you can't teach an old dog new tricks simply didn't know how to do it properly. Dogs of any age can be taught tricks and obedience by following the same, standard procedure. Regardless of the age of your dog, a patient and above all consistent approach to training will pay off very quickly.
The first step to training any dog is to establish a rewards system. The rewards system should comprise of some tangible treat, as well as a show of love and affection. Applying the reward system consistently will eventually create a recognition of what's right and wrong, and allow quicker results overall.
One of the most effective ways to train your dog to behave in a certain manner is by teaching it one word commands. Traditional one word commands, like 'sit' and 'stay' are vital in ensuring your dog is obedient whenever required. The first step is to reward the behavior, for example, sitting, whenever the dog happens to naturally sit. You will notice fairly quickly a recurrence in this type of behavior, if you take care to reward. Next, introduce the word, and only reward activity occurring after the announcement of the word. It is imperative that you say the word only once, and reward your dog for obeying, and withhold the reward otherwise. This should again help to establish a pattern of positive behavior in response to the requests of the owner. Although these techniques are most useful for basic obedience, they can also benefit dogs with behavioral problems, as well as allow effective training of more complicated tasks.
Additionally, working with older dogs to try and learn new tricks and techniques will help keep them mentally fresh. This means that, like humans, the dogs will remain more alert for longer, and really benefit from spending extra time on intellectual stimulation, and of course spending time with its owner. Take the time to dedicate to your dog, whatever its age, to help increase its happiness and maintain its mental capacity for longer.
Working with your dogs is an essential element of owner-pet bonding, and also helps ensure the respect necessary to ensure good behavior. By using some of these simple tried and tested techniques, you can teach any dog of any age how to behave acceptably in a variety of situations, and even teach them party tricks at the same time.
The first step to training any dog is to establish a rewards system. The rewards system should comprise of some tangible treat, as well as a show of love and affection. Applying the reward system consistently will eventually create a recognition of what's right and wrong, and allow quicker results overall.
One of the most effective ways to train your dog to behave in a certain manner is by teaching it one word commands. Traditional one word commands, like 'sit' and 'stay' are vital in ensuring your dog is obedient whenever required. The first step is to reward the behavior, for example, sitting, whenever the dog happens to naturally sit. You will notice fairly quickly a recurrence in this type of behavior, if you take care to reward. Next, introduce the word, and only reward activity occurring after the announcement of the word. It is imperative that you say the word only once, and reward your dog for obeying, and withhold the reward otherwise. This should again help to establish a pattern of positive behavior in response to the requests of the owner. Although these techniques are most useful for basic obedience, they can also benefit dogs with behavioral problems, as well as allow effective training of more complicated tasks.
Additionally, working with older dogs to try and learn new tricks and techniques will help keep them mentally fresh. This means that, like humans, the dogs will remain more alert for longer, and really benefit from spending extra time on intellectual stimulation, and of course spending time with its owner. Take the time to dedicate to your dog, whatever its age, to help increase its happiness and maintain its mental capacity for longer.
Working with your dogs is an essential element of owner-pet bonding, and also helps ensure the respect necessary to ensure good behavior. By using some of these simple tried and tested techniques, you can teach any dog of any age how to behave acceptably in a variety of situations, and even teach them party tricks at the same time.
2008年8月14日星期四
When Your Elderly Dogs Soils In The House Don't Shout
No doubt you have already faced the reality that we all get old. Loved ones won't be as strong or as healthy as they are now and will require more time and attention as the years go by. There is no denying that everything under the sun is subject to aging. Caring for the elderly is not easy and takes a lot of adjustments for all parties involved.
Dogs age too. They get older and weaker and can't do everything they used to be able to do. Your once spry, young puppy is now slow and might not be able to see or hear so well. Maybe he has arthritis or some other age-related affliction that makes it hard for him to get around. During this phase of your dog's life you will have to take great care to be patient and understanding.
One of the most distressing changes for both owner and dog is the bathroom issue. If your dog lives a very long time, you may find that an animal who has not soiled the house since puppy potty training begins to leave messes indoors. The worst thing you could possibly do at this point is overreact. If this happens, the first thing you will want to do is determine why the accident, or accidents, happened.
If your dog has arthritis or any other condition that makes it difficult to negotiate stairs to get outside, then he may simply be choosing to make a shorter trek to a spot in the house to eliminate. This is not the time to punish, but a time to think. Is there a way to make outside access easier for your dog, such as a ramp or simply a shorter trek? If your dog spends a lot of time in his bed, you may consider moving that closer to the doggie door.
On the other hand, if your dog depends on you to take him outside to eliminate, you may consider taking him on more frequent bathroom breaks or simply installing a doggie door so that he may take care of it himself whenever he feels the urge.
If bladder control becomes severe, or if your dog simply becomes very forgetful, he may eliminate on himself without even realizing it. At this point, you will simply need to take on the extra responsibility of keeping both dog and environment clean. You will also want to evaluate whether your dog's quality of life has decreased sufficiently enough to have him euthanized. A leaky bladder or bowels is not necessarily a sign that it is time for euthanasia, however, though it may mean more work for your family.
Unfortunately, many dog owners simply move a dog who has lived side-by-side with them for many years, to the outside. This can be traumatic and confusing to the dog, who may think he is no longer wanted by the family, or that he has done something terribly wrong. If this is the only option, make sure that you are able to schedule more time with your aging pet, and that you make time to bring him indoors for supervised visits, perhaps on absorbent doggie-sheets. During these visits, give him lots of love and affection.
The golden years of your dog's life can be bittersweet. You know that they won't be around much longer, but at the same time you need to remember that this is not the end of your relationship with your dog.
Dogs age too. They get older and weaker and can't do everything they used to be able to do. Your once spry, young puppy is now slow and might not be able to see or hear so well. Maybe he has arthritis or some other age-related affliction that makes it hard for him to get around. During this phase of your dog's life you will have to take great care to be patient and understanding.
One of the most distressing changes for both owner and dog is the bathroom issue. If your dog lives a very long time, you may find that an animal who has not soiled the house since puppy potty training begins to leave messes indoors. The worst thing you could possibly do at this point is overreact. If this happens, the first thing you will want to do is determine why the accident, or accidents, happened.
If your dog has arthritis or any other condition that makes it difficult to negotiate stairs to get outside, then he may simply be choosing to make a shorter trek to a spot in the house to eliminate. This is not the time to punish, but a time to think. Is there a way to make outside access easier for your dog, such as a ramp or simply a shorter trek? If your dog spends a lot of time in his bed, you may consider moving that closer to the doggie door.
On the other hand, if your dog depends on you to take him outside to eliminate, you may consider taking him on more frequent bathroom breaks or simply installing a doggie door so that he may take care of it himself whenever he feels the urge.
If bladder control becomes severe, or if your dog simply becomes very forgetful, he may eliminate on himself without even realizing it. At this point, you will simply need to take on the extra responsibility of keeping both dog and environment clean. You will also want to evaluate whether your dog's quality of life has decreased sufficiently enough to have him euthanized. A leaky bladder or bowels is not necessarily a sign that it is time for euthanasia, however, though it may mean more work for your family.
Unfortunately, many dog owners simply move a dog who has lived side-by-side with them for many years, to the outside. This can be traumatic and confusing to the dog, who may think he is no longer wanted by the family, or that he has done something terribly wrong. If this is the only option, make sure that you are able to schedule more time with your aging pet, and that you make time to bring him indoors for supervised visits, perhaps on absorbent doggie-sheets. During these visits, give him lots of love and affection.
The golden years of your dog's life can be bittersweet. You know that they won't be around much longer, but at the same time you need to remember that this is not the end of your relationship with your dog.
2008年8月9日星期六
Whippet Puppy And Dog Information
The Whippet is a sensitive, intelligent and sweet dog. They make good watch dogs. They need plenty of exercise and a safe place to let them run would be ideal. They are generally not to be trusted with other pets as they may consider them fair game. They are said to do well with other canines and children, especially if well socialized when young. As a reminder, never leave a child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.
*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the Whippet is 17 to 20 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 18 to 28 pounds.
*Special Health Considerations. Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Whippet is no exception. Be on the look out for skin problems, upset stomach, genetic eye disease and sunburn. This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.
She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.
*Grooming. The Whippet has a smooth, firm, short, close and easy to care for coat. She should be brushed and rubbed down with a damp chamois regularly. Brushing will help her maintain a clean and healthy coat, avoid mats, help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen your emotional bond with her.
Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.
Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet.
*Life Span. The Whippet can live between 12 and 15 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.
*History. The Whippet comes from Great Britain where they were used for hunting fast small game and later radcing. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1888.
Some Registries:
*UKC United Kennel Club
*NKC National Kennel Club
*CKC Continental Kennel Club
*APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.
*AKC American Kennel Club
*FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale
*NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
*KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
*ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
*ACR = American Canine Registry
Litter Size: 4 to 8 Whippet puppies
Category: Hound
Terms To Describe: Elegant, fit, speed, power, strength, balance, affectionate, friendly, gentle,
*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS
Pretty much odor free coat.
Makes a good watch dog.
*SPECIAL BAD POINTS
Does poorly in cold climates.
Makes a poor guard dog.
*Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.
*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the Whippet is 17 to 20 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 18 to 28 pounds.
*Special Health Considerations. Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Whippet is no exception. Be on the look out for skin problems, upset stomach, genetic eye disease and sunburn. This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.
She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.
*Grooming. The Whippet has a smooth, firm, short, close and easy to care for coat. She should be brushed and rubbed down with a damp chamois regularly. Brushing will help her maintain a clean and healthy coat, avoid mats, help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen your emotional bond with her.
Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.
Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet.
*Life Span. The Whippet can live between 12 and 15 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.
*History. The Whippet comes from Great Britain where they were used for hunting fast small game and later radcing. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1888.
Some Registries:
*UKC United Kennel Club
*NKC National Kennel Club
*CKC Continental Kennel Club
*APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.
*AKC American Kennel Club
*FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale
*NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
*KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
*ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
*ACR = American Canine Registry
Litter Size: 4 to 8 Whippet puppies
Category: Hound
Terms To Describe: Elegant, fit, speed, power, strength, balance, affectionate, friendly, gentle,
*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS
Pretty much odor free coat.
Makes a good watch dog.
*SPECIAL BAD POINTS
Does poorly in cold climates.
Makes a poor guard dog.
*Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.
2008年8月3日星期日
Buying A Dog - It's Easy Right?
We make purchases all the time. Walk into the store, pick your favorite, slap some money on the counter and head home. So why the hesitation when it comes to buying a dog? Don't worry, that hesitation is a good and healthy thing. It means your thinking. Much better than buying a puppy on impulse. We make enough impulse purchases for the little things. A new new puppy dog on the other hand, is a member of the family, and adding to the family is not something to be considered lightly. Here are a few points to mull over, that could make that future purchase a joyful one.Is your home a puppy friendly environment? How large or small is your home? The size of your dwelling should have an important weight in the type of dog you can live with. A energetic, large dog will need plenty of room to roam, and exercise in. While if you live in a small apartment, something smaller than a GreatDane puppy might be in order. How your going to keep your dog on your property, without it running around the neighborhood is something to think about as well.There are more costs to having a puppy, then just the initial purchase. Not much of a surprise there. It seems like everything we buy these days has a whole list of accessories,peripherals, and add- ons that come along. Puppy dogs are no different. The list can be long or short, but there are a few unavoidables. Food, immunizations, health care, and neutering are some of the most obvious things your dog will need. If your dog will not travel with you on long trips, then kenneling will be an expense to look into. Depending on your experience with dogs, perhaps dog obedience school is important. It can teach the owner more than the dog you know. Most cities, have some kind of registration that is required, and it's not usually a free service. A stable home can be important for a dog, as well as people. If there are any major life changes in the near future for the perspective dog owner, it could have an impact on the dog. Going of to university, moving to a new home, marriage, or lengthy overseas travel can all detract from an owners ability to care for a dog. Owner health problems, while often not foreseeable, can also change the life of a pet. If you know this is possible, it should be taken into consideration.Consider the sex of the dog before you make the purchase. Females are usually smaller, and a little easier to control then the males of most breeds. Females will come into heat every six months, so neutering may be an option here. Once you consider all the factors, a number of species will seem like a good choice, and others will not. It's an important exercise, but once you have carefully considered all these points, your purchase of a new puppy should be somewhat easier. It certainly won't be an impulse buy, and that's good for both you and your newest four legged member of the family.
2008年7月27日星期日
Pet Insurance : What To Look For
Keeping a pet is a rewarding experience which many of us enjoy, but it can also be expensive. As well as all the routine costs such as food and grooming, you can also come up against unplanned expenses such as vetinary bills through sickness or accident. These bills can unfortunately be very high, so to ensure that their pets can get the treatment they need many people decide that taking out pet insurance is a sensible way of helping to cushion these costs. But what should you be looking for in a pet insurance policy?The first thing to consider is what kind of pet you have. The cheapest kind of pet insurance is that for the most common pets - cats and dogs. Prices for these policies can be very reasonable indeed, amounting to only the cost of a few tins of pet food a month. If, however, you keep a more unusual kind of animal as a pet, then the price you pay may well be higher. Make sure that any policy you take out specifically includes your kind of pet, as many will exclude more 'exotic' kinds of animal.The main reason for considering pet insurance is cover for medical treatment, but there are some exclusions that you need to be aware of. Firstly, your policy will almost certainly not cover routine treatments such as vaccinations, flea control, or worming. Secondly, you won't be covered for any pre-existing conditions that were already known about when you took out the policy (you should also declare any existing conditions when you take out the policy, or you risk it being declared invalid when you come to make a claim).You also need to check your policy for claim limits: there may be a time limit of cover, so for example a long-term condition such as arthritis may only be covered for a period of 12 months, after which you will be responsible for meeting the bills. There is also usually a limit to the total cost of medical bill claims you make in any one year, but this is usually high enough to cover almost any conceivable situation.Another major reason for taking out insurance is to help you cover the costs of getting your pet back if it goes missing. Most policies will contribute towards advertising in local newspapers etcetera, and also to providing reward money for the safe return of your pet.Another very important part of your insurance cover is public liability, especially for dog owners. Even the calmest and most well behaved of pets could possibly cause damage to someone's property, or even cause an injury to a person. In this thankfully rare event, you could be open to huge legal bills and compensation claims - make sure that your policy includes a substantial amount of third party liability cover as standard.Finally, check whether the policy you're considering places a limit on the age of your pet. Many policies are only available to, for example, cats up until the age of eight years. As it is in later years that your pet is most likely to need treatment, it obviously makes sense to ensure your policy will cover this, especially if your pet has a few years under their belt!
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