Posts Tagged ‘puppies’

What You Should Know About Crate Training Puppies

Monday, August 24th, 2009
by John Roley

When it comes to crate training, a lot of people might think of the crate as a place to go when the puppy is being punished. This is not true, as the crate is like a safe haven for your puppy to go, and once the puppy is used to the crate it will be his favorite spot to go to.

If you have a crate and leave it open, your puppy will start to go to it when he gets sleepy or when he gets confused. Although puppies tend to like crates, you shouldnt overuse one by allowing him to spend hours at a time inside of one.

As you are teaching your puppy to get used to his crate, you have to make sure that you do not let him out if he is barking or going crazy. Wait until the puppy calms down before you let him out. Before you know it your puppy will greatly appreciate the crate.

So when you are on the way to pick up your puppy, you should already have a crate set up in your home for when the puppy arrives. When it comes to the crate placement, any centralized area where there is not a lot of walk through traffic would be ideal.

Now that you have the puppy home for the first time you should have the door to the crate open. You want the puppy to familiarize himself with the crate as soon as possible, it can also help to put puppy toys or even a dog treat to lure the puppy inside. Make sure you reward the puppy when it enters the crate for the first time.

If your puppy stays in the crate on his own, praise him for it. Once your puppy starts getting in the habit of going into the crate on his own, you should place a new toy or treat inside for him to play with.

Now that the puppy is getting used to the crate, you can shut the door and monitor the puppies reaction. Some puppies may start to whine when the door to the crate is closed, this is normal you just have to make sure that you do not let the puppy out just because it is whining, wait until the puppy is calm.

Even though it may take some time, crate training is great for your puppy. You can use the crate when you need to leave, when you have family over, or for when your puppy has a medical condition such as diarrhea. If you use a bit of patience and never use the crate for punishment, your puppy should catch on to the crate pretty quick.

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Stop Your Dogs Biting Problem

Monday, August 10th, 2009
by The Willy Brothers

A dog that bites other dogs or humans is a hell of a problem for its master. We do hear stories about canines of all sizes, especially a Rottweiler or a Pitt Bull, mangling an unsuspecting passerby, or pouncing on kids who are playing around, or attacking other dogs. Though these reported instances may be rare happenings and not everyday occurrences, the fact remains that dogs do bite. That realization should be reason enough for every dog owner to nip the biting tendency of a dog in the bud itself, and preempt the possibility of it developing a biting habit.

There are preventative measures one can take to make their dog does not develop a biting problem. The best way to do this is to begin an anti-biting training program when your dog is still a puppy, by socializing them with other well behaved dogs. The other dogs will correct the pup on their own and help you to teach it not to bite. Training your dog early in life that biting, although instinctual, is not acceptable behavior is by far the best approach to having a dog that wont bite.

Since puppies remain with their biological family only for their first two months, the onus is upon the dog owner to play the mothers role in a dogs life. A pups main behavior training period is the four months from its birth, and that is why rescue dogs as well as dogs which are products of puppy mills are more likely to bite than those that are cared by breeders who are conscientious and reliable.

Puppy mills are dingy unhygienic places, commercial in nature, where all that the breeders are concerned about is the profit that they can make on a pooch. Puppies that are the products of these places have a wild temperament and have physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral problems. Since they have never seen good behavior, they have no idea what it is.

The good news is that if you have adopted a rescue dog with a biting problem, there is still hope for reform. It will be much easier, of course, if the dog is still a pup, but if you happen to rescue an adult with dog biting problems, it can still be taught to not bite.

Training a grown dog is not fundamentally different from instilling a habit in a young pup, except that one should go about it a bit gently. Surely, you cannot let loose amidst other dogs, a dog that has got a biting problem, with the expectation that the other dogs would train it; in the same way that a dog which bites children should not be let loose where children are playing. By doing so, you will only be inviting trouble for yourself.

Do the training in increments, walk the dog on the outskirts of the park until it gets used to the idea of other dogs being nearby, and gradually bring it closer and closer. Patience and dedication are the key ingredients to solving a dog biting problem.

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Why Pet Doors Are Good For Both Pets And People

Saturday, August 8th, 2009
by Bill Johns

Indoor pet owners already know how much our little friends depend on us. It can be extremely stressful to both you and your pet if you work outside the home and have to leave your pet home alone for long periods of time. Think about it, what if you couldn’t relieve yourself for eight to ten hour stretches.

We all love our pets. But we both know that sometimes they can get under our skin. Think about all the times you’ve been home trying to get something accomplished when your pet is persistent in trying to get you to let him out. It’s can be a hassle to stop what you’re doing and take him outside.

Bet you didn’t know you could solve these problems easily and inexpensively. With a pet door both you and your pet will have more freedom and lead happier lives. Imagine not having to come home from a long tiring days work to clean up the present your pet left on the floor.

Pet doors are relatively easy to install but you must follow directions and be handy with tools. You can always have a handyman do the installation fairly cheaply.

Before getting your pet door you will need some basic information. The height and width of your pet, What type of pet door is best for you. Patio pet door, electronic, or wall. There are many varieties available for you to choose from.

Don’t overlook the difficulty of installation. Sometimes they can be confusing for someone that doesn’t have much experience using the necessary tools and equipment. If you find that you cannot follow the installation instructions or it’s over your head simply have it hired out or perhaps get a friend or neighbor to help.

As with most everything pet doors are designed to fit individual needs and desires. Your final decision should take your own needs into consideration. While doing my homework I found the electronic pet door offered many advantages other types just couldn’t match.

Some pet doors do not allow for the safety and security of an electronic pet door. With the latter the door is sealed except when your pet needs to go in or out. Thus strays and other undesirables are kept out saving you a lot of headache should a squirrel or possum get in. Because it is tightly sealed it also saves energy consumption.

After your pet learns to use the pet door, both you and he can enjoy the many benefits your new found freedom brings.

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