A Pet Parent's Life
You need to be your dog's CEO, mentor, teacher, parent, best friend,
protector, provider, fitness instructor, health counselor, obedience trainer,
nutritionist, personal shopper, cook, waiter/waitress, dishwasher, playmate,
friend selector, groomer, dog walker, pet sitter, chauffeur, pooper scooper
and leader.
Can anyone think of anything I left out?????
Successful Training
Timing is everything in dog training. You must address the behavior the
moment it occurs. GOOD DOG! Behaviors that are rewarded will most
likely be repeated. Praise is a very positive way to train your pet.
Canine communication
A few puppy potty signals:
Staring at you
Looking at the door or outside if she has eliminated outside
Sniffing and circling the floor, or even just getting antsy.
Remember, these signals may be quite short in duration, so be ready to
help her be successful.
Calming Nervous Puppy
To calm a nervous or frightened puppy while you are away from home
play some soft music, keep a television on, or make a recording of your
voice which will continually replay. Just may help!
From Diane's Doggie Do's and Don'ts:
Do decide on your house rules before bringing puppy home and be consistent with enforcing those rules.
Do use your dog's name with compliments and praise so he will associate his name with positives.
Do allow children to put dog food and water bowls down while puppy is watching.
Don't feed dog from the counter or table. Always put food in dog bowls. Or you can always cut up food to use for motivators and have dog perform for the food away from the table or counter
Don't leave garbage out where your predator can get into trouble
Don't leave your pet unattended in a parked car. Summer temperatures can heat the car to 120 degrees within 10 minutes. Can be dangerous or fatal for your pet. Use caution during the other seasons as the inside of your car still can heat up and retain that heat.
Don't leave small children unattended with any dog
Don't use your pet's name with a negative, i.e., "Max, NO." Just say, "NO," or he will associate his name with a negative. Use his name with positives such as praise.
Don't allow children to tease puppy with toys.
Don't allow children to rough house or play tug games with a puppy.
Chew Toys
For safety reasons, pay attention to how voraciously your dog chews
on a particular toy. Make sure the toy cannot be swallowed in part or
whole. If your dog destroys every toy on the market then you
should only give her toys when you can supervise her. And,
probably exercise her more!! Also, check for rough edges or loose
chunks, as the toy may need to be discarded. Dogs chew. They like
to chew. It can occupy their time and keep their teeth and gums
healthy. Complete dog toy information is included as an insert in the
puppy tape. But, here are 2 of my favorites for dogs. Kong toy is a
very hard rubber toy that bounces erratically and is tough to destroy.
You can smear peanut butter or cheese on the inside, hollow part of
the toy to keep your dog very busy. They come in a few sizes so ask
your pet shop personnel to recommend the appropriate size for your
pet. Rope toys are wonderful, soft toys that your teething puppy
should love. They come in different sizes and colors. Adult dogs
also enjoy rope toys.
If you have a question on a particular toy or need an overview on a
toy, please send the specific toy's name along with all the
information requested below along with your dog's breed and age.
Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement or rewards for desirable behavior can be verbal praise,
petting, playtime, exercise, games, and just plain attention and affection.
Path of Least Resistance
If your dog is jumping on you or mouthing you, just get up and walk away.
Withdrawal of attention is a powerful motivator!!
Socialization
Socialization, praise and training help build a dog's confidence.
Housebreaking
In addition to regular potty times, take puppies outdoors to potty after they
wake up from a nap, after about 15 minutes of play, & after about 20
minutes of continuous chewing on a toy. The play and chewing stimulate
the bladder to "go"
Food Motivators
It is not the quantity of food that motivates the behavior. You can offer very
small pieces of your dog's favorite treat or some special tidbit infused
with your enthusiasm and praise for effort and a job well done
Toys
Before giving your dog a new toy rub your hands all it to add your scent
to the toy. Chewing on something smells like you is comforting. Just
one of the reasons they go for your socks and underwear!
Leadership
One of the best gifts you can give your dog is to be his or her parent
and fair leader.
Learning New Skills Practice Sessions
Teaching your dog a skill will take repetition and reward until the
dog "gets it." If your dog successfully responds to a command
two or three times, you are done for that practice session. Praise
your dog for the great job then engage your smart pup in some
play activity.
Puppies
To prevent illness, keep puppy away from other dogs and
public areas until pup is fully vaccinated.
Allow your puppy quiet, undisturbed nap times and teach
children to respect these times.
When bringing puppy home, take pup immediately to a
pre-designated potty spot and let the pup relax, explore
and eliminate if needed.
When bringing puppy home, let him/her explore selected
areas of the new home under your supervision. This can be
a scary time for your new pet.
Obedience vs. Tricks
We seem to take more joy in teaching tricks such as sit up and
shake than we do with heel or down. If you look at obedience
skills as tricks, then your happy demeanor will be felt by your
companion and both of you will enjoy the process.
Flaking Skin
Could be a sign of parasites, a skin disorder or allergies.
See your Vet
Checking for pulse
One area to check, place hand against chest near dog's
left elbow.
Ears
A foul odor, redness or discharge could be sign of infection.
Ears should be light pink and clean.
Safety
Pesticides, snail bait, compost, chocolate, many plants
and antifreeze are toxic to pets.
Supplementation
Don't overload your pet's diet with supplements without
Consulting your Vet or a Vet educated in pet nutrition.
A high quality dog food may be all that is needed supplemented
with certain raw veggies or certain fruit. Overloading supplements
can compromise a good, balanced diet.
Obesity
Overweight dogs may be more prone to arthritis and heart
disease. If you run your hands down your dog's body you
should be able to feel ribs. Also if you look straight down on
your dog you should see an hourglass shape for most breeds
Exercise
Dogs should be walked at least 20 minutes twice a day.
10 minutes one direction and 10 minutes back. Easy!
Butt scooting
Your dog may have impacted anal sacs, parasites or a.
medical problem. See your Vet
Pet odor
Could be caused by an ear infection, skin infection,
gum or tooth disease, a stick or object stuck in the pet's
mouth, or possibly a kidney problem. A smelly pet may
be a sick pet or just a dirty dog. See your Vet.
Grooming
Different dogs have different grooming requirements. Brushing
helps remove debris from coat, removes dead skin and
dead fur and excess oils.
Water
Have clean drinking water available at all times.
