Puppy Training

For many centuries now, humans have totally domesticated dogs. We have brought them into our society and, in most cases, expected them to act like us and to be a regular part of our families. We should accept that fact that, in doing so, we have caused some of our own human emotions to develop in our dogs. Dogs have learned to become jealous, neurotic, spiteful, hateful, and bored.

In adolescent dogs, between the ages of six to sixteen months, we find that these emotions cannot be controlled as easily as the same emotions in adult dogs. The same can be expressed by a human teenagers capability of exercising mature restraint when affected by the same emotions.

Can You Spare 15 Minutes?

The most common cause of chronic chewing is boredom, and if every dog owner would spend a little more time each day giving his full attention and love to his pet, much of the boredom chewing can be eliminated. Fifteen minutes a day is all it takes, its just that easy!

The Spiteful Boxer

Spite, another motivating factor, should also be considered. A story about a twenty-month old Boxer would be a great example in this case. Ever since he was a puppy, this Boxer had been an only child to a couple who spoiled him with lots of love and attention. The dog went along with them shopping, running errands, and visiting friends. He would walk gracefully and loved tagging along with his parents.

Then, a new baby had arrived and things changed. Suddenly, the dog found himself left in the car during errand trips. On one occasion, mom and dad returned to the car only to find the entire interior completely destroyed! The car seats, the padded dashboard, the upholstery, all ripped to shreds, totally obliterated.

The Boxer dog was venting his wrath the only way he knew how. This is a case of spiteful chewing, not jealousy. The canine was not jealous of the new baby in the family, but he was not willing to give up his former position in the family and go back to just being a dog.

Replace The Dog’s Target

The next time you catch your dog or puppy chewing a sock, shoe, or other object that hes not supposed to, take the object away from him, followed by a firm No! The object should be replaced with his own chew toy. The toy will take his mind off the object that he was chewing and wont make him think that you are taking something away from him.

And should your life suddenly change, while altering your dog’s life in addition (like having a new baby in the house), like the Boxer up above, be sure to pay attention to the new schedule and adjust your focus to avoid your dog’s destructive chewing. Your pet will need a little extra care and training to prevent such behavior and to settle in with the new changes.

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Destructive Chewing: A Simple Reason Why Your Dog Is Eating Everything In Sight

Before you can train your dog to stop his destructive chewing habits, you must first identify the type of chewing that your pet is demonstrating. There are different reasons why puppies and dogs engage in this habit, as well as a variety of ways to fix the problem. Therefore, identifying the type of destructive chewing is an important step in eliminating the issue.

There are different motivational factors for chronic and destructive chewing. The most common types are:

1. Puppy chewers
2. Spiteful chewers
3. Jealousy chewers
4. Boredom chewers

Puppies chew mainly for two reasons: to explore their new world and to soothe their aching gums during the teething stage. Dogs between the ages of six to eighteen months have a different motivation to chew: boredom (although this motivator can also apply to puppies as well).

Most dogs who are going through their adolescent stage have high amounts of energy in their systems. This energy, when not utilized or given the proper channel, can result in problem behaviors like destructive chewing. Chewing out of boredom between puppyhood and adulthood usually occur because the newness and excitement of the pets presence in the home wears off. The family does not pay as much attention to them as they used to when he was still a puppy.

A different motivating factor thats responsible for problem-chewing is jealousy. This usually occurs in adult dogs. It could be caused by having a new pet in the household, or because the family has turned their attention to something else, thereby, causing the dog to feel alienated.

For example, if you keep catching your dog chewing on your books, its very likely that he thinks that the books cause you to spend less time with him. The same reason can be stated for dogs who like chewing on their owners shoes. Our beloved pets felt that the shoes were responsible for alienating the owners attention. Each time you leave the house, the dog sees those shoes going with you and he will take his jealousy and frustration out on those shoes at any chance possible.

In this case, the best way to eliminate destructive chewing is as simple as spending more time with your dog. Spend ten or fifteen minutes with your pet before you start reading. Take him for a nice stroll, or maybe brush his coat before leaving the house. Most of the time, all it takes is giving your dog personal attention to get rid of these bad behaviors.

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When I was younger and living in San Diego, California, a mixed breed lab died a painful death which was eventually traced to the flea collar it was wearing.

Years later, in a small town in Texas, a puppy from a litter of 4 died, which was later found to be directly attributed to a flea collar device. The stricken puppy, however, had never worn such a collar he had chewed on one from another house dog.

And in New Jersey, an entire litter of puppies, 6 weeks old, succumbed to what was later determined to be caused from a flea collar. Yet, not one of the puppies in the litter had ever worn such a device.

In each of the above true cases, the attending veterinarian reported that the deaths were needless and could have been prevented if a few simple facts have been known by the owners of those dogs. Moreover, veterinarians agree that literally 100% of the fatalities which do occur as a result of flea killing devices could be prevented.

It is commonly known that heavy infestation of fleas and ticks contribute to death and disease. It is also known that more deaths and sicknesses are caused by fleas and ticks than are caused by flea killing devices. The sad part of it is that no deaths or severe illnesses should ever be attributed to flea collars.

Flea collars and the newer flea control medications can actually prevent deaths and sickness if but a few basic facts are known, and adhered to, by all dog owners.

In a recent poll which questioned a large section of dog owners across the United States, more than 90% believe that their dog’s flea collar merely emitted some kind of protective vapor that was repugnant to fleas and ticks, resulting in the pests dying off, due to the lethal vapor, yet without any repercussions on the dog’s health.

The fact is, the pesticide in any flea collar device doesn’t just seep through the animal’s fur as a protective vapor. Rather, it is absorbed into the bloodstream and metabolized by the liver. This has a strong effect on the animal’s entire system. The active ingredient in such devices is usually dimethyl phosphate. Used according to directions, and in proper quantities, this ingredient is fatal to fleas and ticks.

Serious problems can occur when a dog owner simply places such flea killing devices around their dog’s neck without taking the time to read the accompanying directions. Many times, though the directions are read, they simply are not taken seriously, nor are they followed.

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Choosing A New Puppy: Why Picking Your Next Puppy Could Be A Major Mistake!

An important factor to keep in mind when picking out a new puppy is your place of residence; hence your puppys new home. Do you live in an apartment, a condo, or a house? Is your home along the countryside or in the middle of a busy city?

Few dog owners consider this, but your living quarter should play a significant role in choosing the right puppy for you and your family. Three important factors to take into account are:

1. The amount of noise/barking that the particular breed is known for.

2. Exercise requirements and whether or not you activity level will compliment the dog’s needs.

3. Size restrictions enforced by the home owners association or your landlord (if renting).

A Common Misconception

A common misconception about dogs and their ideal living situation is that only small dogs are suited to live in an apartment, whereas large dogs should live in a rural house with a big space to run around in.

In reality, it is not necessary to have a big backyard to own a large dog, and small dogs arent necessarily fitted for apartment living. Many large dogs do very well in apartments and condos, while some small dogs are better off living in a rural home.

For example, if you are thinking about owning a Greyhound, you dont have to live in a country or own a big backyard to keep him happy. This breed is a sprinter, not a long distance runner. And although he enjoys a good jog with his owner, he will be satisfied with a 15 to 20 minute brisk walk in the morning and at night.

Greyhound dogs are also not known to be loud barkers, which makes them suited for apartment or condo living. The main concern with owning a large dog in a condo or a high-rise apartment is the owners strength in having to carry him up and down the stairs if hes unable to do it on his own, mainly because of age or injury.

On the other hand, most terriers, like a Jack Russell Terrier for instance, may seem perfectly suitable for apartment living because of his size. But his incessant barking may cause you to lose your apartment or have angry neighbors knocking on your door.

Many small breeds bark so much and have enormous high energy levels that it causes them to make a lot of noise, which in return officially makes them a poor candidate for apartment life.

Therefore, when choosing a dog, it is important to consider the breeds noise level, the amount of time you spend at home, and the amount of time you are willing to devote to exercising your pet.

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Choosing A New Puppy: What Tasks Can Your Child Handle With The New Puppy?

Once your new puppy is safe and sound at home for his first arrival, give your child certain tasks that can get her involved in taking care of the little doggie. These tasks should be assignments that she can easily manage, either on her own or with your help.

However, you should not give her too much responsibility over the puppy just yet. She should only do certain tasks that are appropriate for her age. Too much or too little responsibility can be discouraging to the child and can tarnish the relationship that she should have with your new pet.

What Can Toddlers Do?

Toddlers (up to three years old) can pick up the puppys toys and put them back in the basket. Toys that are left out can be a hazard both to the family and your puppy. Toddlers can also hand treats as a reward during training and for good behavior. And when its time for your puppy to go to the vet to get his shots, your child can be there to see that the little pup gets shots just like he does!

Pre-Schoolers & Young Kids

Pre-schoolers and young kids (up to eight years old) can help, under supervision, with feeding the puppy and making sure that his water bowl is never empty. Children around this age can also take the puppy out (with a leash) for bathroom breaks and can assist in bathing and brushing the puppy.

However, other grooming procedures like ear cleaning, nail clipping, and teeth brushing should be done by the adults and older kids. Youngsters can also hold the leash of a small puppy during walks, but have older children walk larger dogs.

Kids Ages 9 and Up

Kids from the age of nine and up should be able to do all of the above tasks. In addition, they can help clean up after the pet and help with housetraining and basic training commands, such as Sit and Come.

Even if some of the tasks mentioned are less than enjoyable to do, children should realize that doing these chores is part of owning a dog. Realizing all characteristics of a responsible dog owner early on in their lives can help them become informed and responsible adult dog owners.

Two other puppy tasks that your child can participate in, regardless of the childs age, are keeping the dog physically fit and mentally healthy. This can be achieved by regular exercise and socialization from the moment your puppy arrives in the home.

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