Dog Ownership Responsibilities

In addition to the joy of getting a new dog, you have also taken on a lot of responsibilities. Of course you must feed your new pet, take care of her health, groom her and give her lots of love and attention. Many animal lovers do not think any further than this. However, discipline is also a very important part of owning a dog.

Behavior Problems

Proper discipline can help prevent behavior problems later in your pet’s life. House breaking is the most common form of training. However, a caring owner will often go a lot further than this. Your pet's obedience will lead to a stronger bond between the two of you, as well as meaning less frustration and annoyance. Your pet starts learning and shaping behaviors early in life, so that is the best time to start with dog training basics. Recent scientific study has revealed that the best time to train a puppy is from seven to twelve weeks of age as they are most impressionable at that age and they have not yet learned bad habits. If you wait until later to train your new puppy, he will be more difficult to train and he will have picked up some annoying habits that will be difficult to eliminate.

Puppy Training

You can never start too early with puppy training. Many people hold the mistaken belief that puppies less than six months are too young to train, but this is simply not true. You can start shaping a puppy’s behavior the moment you acquire him if it is done in the proper manner. If you do some research, it is easy to find plenty of dog training books, websites about pet training and obedience training tutorials. You may even consider hiring a professional instructor. Ask your veterinarian or friends if they know of any reputable trainers in your area and shop around for the person who is right for you. Whether you hire a professional or train your puppy yourself, use the reward for good behavior, not the punishment for bad behavior type of training. You will always get better results for rewarding your puppy when he does something right than you will by punishing him for doing something wrong. Like little children, puppies have short attention spans. By the time you catch him and punish him for a misdeed, he will have no idea why you are punishing him and just think you are mean. However, if you quickly give him a treat after he does something right, he will remember that after a few repetitions and learn that a particular action or response results in something good.

Obedience Training

There are many aspects to dog obedience training and not everyone wants to get the same experience out of it. Some people will be content with house breaking, leash training and basic obedience to simple commands. Many dog owners do not realize that they can change or prevent problem behaviors such as barking, whining, digging, growling, chewing and aggression. Yet all these behaviors can be addressed with proper teaching. Decide what tutelage is most important for you and your pet and make sure you are willing to invest the time and energy into a program that will yield the desired results.

Professional Trainers

If you decide to use a professional trainer, be sure you keep the breed of your dog in mind when shopping around. Some breeds may be harder to train than others, so some trainers may prefer not to work with them. Alternatively, some trainers may specialize in certain breeds, so they will have more success with your pet than another trainer may have. Even if you are teaching your pet yourself, there are books and information geared toward certain breeds. Do not get discouraged if you are told your breed is hard to train, just look for proven methods to use. The hardest work always yields the greatest rewards.

Owning a pet is a big responsibility, but the right attitude can make it fun and rewarding. Do not think of your canine companion as an object for your amusement, but as a living creature that can become a treasured friend. Dogs are motivated by their owner's pleasure, so if you work together, the dog training process will be an important step in your relationship. You will learn to trust one another, which will allow you to enjoy the pleasure of each other's company. Teach your dog what you want and expect from her and she will give you that and more in return.


Until next time,

Teia

Teach Your Child to be Safe With a Puppy

It has been said that a dog is “man's best friend” and that a well trained dog can provide much love, fun and security. However, you must remember that a dog is an animal, one that can be dangerous and inflict serious injuries and even cause death. It is, therefore, vital that just as you would train a puppy at an early age, you must educate your children in the correct ways to deal with a canine. ALWAYS remember that when a child and dog are 'loose' together that they MUST BE under adult supervision.

Children must always understand that a dog, especially a puppy, is not a toy, a doll or teddy bear. Children love being cuddled and hugged, kissed and carried around, but they also know that at times they become grumpy and irritable when adults fuss over them too much. Well, a dog is exactly the same. They do not want to be disturbed when eating or resting or sleeping but they cannot say “go away' or cry. When they get grumpy, they may snap at the offender.

Adults must be aware that young children may unwittingly encourage puppies to chase them, often leading to play biting. The puppy sees the child as one of its own and in the excitement of play an injury can occur. So this is another reason why there should always be adult supervision. Older children and even adults can be guilty of over-stimulating an excitable puppy one minute and then telling it off for the same thing a minute later and even worse hitting it the next! Adults should avoid and definitely should not let children play aggressive rough games with any puppy. This may result in an aggressive dog or a dog with behavior problems later on. Likewise, taunting or making a puppy jealous can have serious implications in an adult dog. Remembering its puppy days, an adult dog can misjudge a situation and react in the wrong way.

Children should be encouraged to leave the puppy alone unless it comes to them for attention. If they want to play with the dog, they should call it by name and get it to come to them. Just as humans dislike close face-to-face interaction so do puppies. So, children must learn not to push their faces into the dog’s, because they could risk a painful nip. Children should also be encouraged to put their toys, clothes, shoes etc. out of the reach of a puppy. This prevents the puppy from claiming these items as its own. This solves two possible problems. One, a child trying to pull items away from a dog could get bitten and two, the possibility of the pup swallowing an item leading to a painful (for the dog and the adult’s purse) trip to a veterinarian.

The most important lesson, though, is to teach respect for a living animal. Children must understand the need to give a dog space, let them have quiet time and then when together to be quiet and gentle with one another. The same rules really apply with children interacting with one another. Living with a dog or dogs will enrich their lives as long as they learn to understand canine language. Caring for a dog encourages responsibility and develops empathy. There are so many positives in a child - dog relationship, providing a responsible adult has trained the dog and the child in the correct ways of living together.

Until next time,

Teia

Seven Steps to a Happier Pet

There is a big responsibility that comes with having a pet. It is not to be taken lightly. It is up to you to make sure that your pet's needs are met and that you have done everything in your power to make your pet's life a happy one.

If you aren’t willing to make your pet a member of the family and interact with him or her on a daily basis, then don’t get a pet. I know this sounds harsh and belligerent, but daily I see far too many pets that spend their whole life chained to a post in the back yard. How would you like to spend your whole life chained to a post twenty-four hours a day? I’m sure that you would not like it and neither does your pet. Treat your pet like you would like to be treated.

Here are seven easy things you can do to make sure that your pet has the best life possible:

1. Make sure your pet has an ID tag. The ID tag tells where your pet lives and any medical conditions your pet may have. If your pet wanders off, the id tag may be the only thing standing between your pet and being put down at the pound or being sold to another owner.

2. Prevent behavioral problems by enrolling your pet in a behavior training class before it acquires any bad habits. This tip will make both you and your pet happier for the entire lifetime you are together!

3. Get your pet checked by a veterinarian at least once a year and be sure that your pet receives vaccinations for diseases prevalent in your area. In addition, some behavior problems can be health related and taking your pet to the vet on a regular basis will help you with tip # 2.

4. Prepare for disasters. Your pet cannot read the escape plan you have made for your family in case of a flood, fire, or other disaster. Make sure your escape plans include someone in your family having the job of gathering up and removing your pet(s) from your home and taking them to a safe place. Please do not make this the job of a young child. You could lose both of them.

5. Plan for the future. Who will take care of your pet if something happens to you? Make sure you have a "godparent" for all of your pets. This should include short term care as well, in case you are in the hospital, incapacitated, or have to go out of town.

6. Learn to avoid dog bites by training your dog and your family. This is especially important for children. Every year 4.7 million children are bitten by dogs. Eighty percent are bitten by dogs they know and have been in daily contact with. See for more information and how to videos. (The site is part of The Humane Society web site.)

7. And last but not least - Have a heart - Be smart - and have your pet neutered or spayed as soon as they are old enough. If you can't afford to have your pet spayed or neutered go to the following two web sites to see if you qualify for a voucher to pay for the procedure. or . In addition, a number of cities in both the United States and Canada have spay/neuter programs where you can get the procedures done for a reduced cost. Check with your city hall information department. Note! Contrary to popular myth, a spayed or neutered pet is healthier than a pet that is left intact. There are fewer incidents of certain types of cancer and fewer incidents of aggression. Pets that have been spayed or neutered tend to gain weight more quickly, so more exercise is recommended after they have healed from the operation. One other note on this subject. Have the procedure done by a vet, not a well-meaning friend or local farmer. These backyard procedures have resulted in numerous medical complications and in a lot of cases death or disfigurement of the pet involved.

My mom and dad had me spayed and I have been healthier since that time. It breaks my heart to see so many unwanted pets put down each year because their mom and dad didn’t care enough to have their pets spayed or neutered and unwanted pregnancies occurred. Don’t be part of this unfortunate problem, be part of the solution. Get your pet(s) spayed or neutered.

There you have it!

Seven simple steps to keep you and your pets happy for a long, long time.

Until next time,

Teia

What You Need to Know Before You Buy Your First Puppy

Your children want a puppy. All your neighbors have dogs, and your children want one too. It’s the dream of all children to have a dog like Lassie. However, if this is your first puppy, there are important things you need to know before you commit to buying a dog.

First, dogs take time and puppies take even more time.

Having a puppy is like having a 2-year-old. Until we are trained (see the second entry), we require almost constant supervision. After we are trained, we still require supervision until we are older - much older. If you can't entertain us nearly all day, you may want to consider two dogs, or taking us to puppy daycare, or maybe a cat would be better for your family. If you consider two puppies, be very careful. A few years ago, my dad got two males from the same litter. Until they established who was the dominant male, there were a lot of fights. Once that was established, they got along well. The next time they decided to get two dogs, they got two females, my step-sister and me. We’ve been with them for nearly five years and we are very jealous of each other, with any excuse being a good excuse for a fight. Although lately, we’ve been getting along a bit better. I think that the best combination would be a male and a female. However, if you are not planning on breeding the dogs, get them spayed and neutered at 5 - 6 months of age. Also remember that male dogs have a tendency to raise their leg and wet on furniture (to mark their territory).

Second, puppies need training, and so do your children.

You can pretty much ignore cats, however that is not the case with dogs. You have to train us to go outside to wet and do our bowel movements. You can start by training us to do this on paper or puppy training pads which are available in all pet stores and the pet section of major chains like Walmart. Once we have mastered this, then slowly move the paper toward the door. When we have learned to do it on the paper beside the door, then move the paper outside and make sure that we have many trips outside. Once we have learned that we have to do it on the paper outside, you can slowly make the paper smaller and smaller until there is none left. Alternatively, you can train us to go outside from the first day you bring us home. Just make sure that you take us outside at least once every half hour and preferably once every 15 to 20 minutes. Always praise us when we do something outside. Make a real fuss of us and give us a small treat when we come back inside. I was a winter puppy and I learned to go on the snow. When the snow all melts, I have trouble remembering to go outside because the dirt, grass and gravel in my yard don’t feel right. I’m lucky though, because my mom and dad put down training pads so I can go on them if I have a sudden need to go. This saves their floor from getting damaged.

You will need to take your puppy to several puppy classes and possibly more classes when your puppy is grown. Dogs are dependent and you need to teach us proper behavior.

If you have children, they need to take the classes with their puppies so they can learn how to interact with their new pet.

Third, puppies cost money, sometimes, lots of money.

Ok - this isn't unreasonable, but you need to be prepared to add your puppy into your budget. You will have many expenses, especially when you first get your new puppy. We need toys, rawhide chew bones, vaccinations, a dog licence, and don't forget the food, possibly a dog house, collars, clothes (no really - it’s a big business - you'll be tempted!) veterinarian bills and training (see above).

Dogs are one of the most expensive pets around. Most puppies become part of the family - and will cost you like part of the family. Don't go into this venture thinking we’re cheap. The initial cost of a puppy will depend on whether you choose to get a pure bred dog or a mixed breed dog. Pure bred dogs usually cost considerably more to purchase than a mixed breed dog.

Fourth, remember that puppies grow into dogs.

I know that's obvious - but you need to be sure you know how big your dog will be. If you have young children, your puppy may outweigh them within a year. Do some research so you know how big your cute little puppy will be when he's a full grown dog. If you purchase a pure bred dog, the seller should be able to tell you how big the dog will be when full grown, what it will look like and many other factors. However, a lot of purebred dogs come with breed specific problems. For example a number of breeds have a high incidence of hip dysplasia which is very expensive to deal with and very painful for the dog. Mixed breeds are less prone to inherited problems, but you are never sure exactly what you are getting until the dog is full grown. What looks like a cute little puppy could end up being a 185-pound behemoth when full grown (this happened to my grandma - she got a nice chubby little puppy which grew into a dog that was half the size of a black bear and he looked like one too). So, if your pet is a mixed breed dog, look at its paws. Usually, a puppy will grow into its paws. Big paws on the puppy mean that you will have a big dog when full grown. Little paws usually mean a little dog. However, while this is a good yardstick to judge the size of your dog when full grown, it is not infallible. Sometimes dogs with small paws grow into quite large dogs.

Fifth - Dogs need exercise.

People need exercise too - so this can actually be an advantage if handled properly. Puppies need room to run and play. They need people to play with and they need toys to play with. If you lead a very sedentary lifestyle, be sure you pick a dog breed that is low activity.

The larger the dog, the more room and exercise it will need. You will need to walk your dog several times a week. Be sure and plan that into your schedule now - or you may find your puppy running around the house all day without you. Always remember that a bored puppy will frequently get into trouble because we need something to relieve the boredom. Chewing things and scratching flooring, furniture and bedding are some of the things that we do to amuse ourselves when we are bored.

Owning a dog can be a very rewarding experience - even if this is your first puppy. Your dog will become one of the family and be a faithful companion for life. Be prepared for your new puppy, and it will be a great adventure for both of you.

If you are getting the puppy for your children, I can guarantee that within three months or less you will be looking after the puppy as the children will find it far too much work and responsibility. Always remember that getting a puppy is a lifelong commitment. It is not fair to get us and then abandon us when the novelty wears off.

Until next time,

Teia