Category: Puppy Advice

  • Is Goats Milk Good For Puppies?

    You’ve got a new puppy. The breeder or rescue where you got your puppy from has given you an information sheet on all the things you need to know about caring for the canine youngster. But you are desperate to do the absolute best by your pup so you start asking questions about what you can or cannot feed puppy to give them the perfect start in life. One of the common questions new dog owners ask is, is goats milk good for puppies? Well, read on.

    puppies

    Is Goats Milk Good For Puppies? These Pups Would Say Yes!

    Five adorable Jack Russell puppies are the picture of health after their lives were saved by St Helen’s Farm goats’ milk, after they lost their mum.

    Animal lover Lorraine Wright, who nurtured the puppies, along with her amazing story, are to be featured on more than half a million St Helen’s Farm goats’ milk cartons, nationwide during February.

    The puppies’ chances of surviving were very slim when they were first born in October. Their mum Georgie had to have an emergency caesarean and sadly died three days later due to complications.

    Lorraine, from Shepton Mallet, took over the maternal role but was fearful of losing the tiny dogs when they became seriously ill after drinking formula cows’ milk.

    In a desperate attempt to save them Lorraine searched the internet for help and found that goats’ milk had been successfully given to orphaned pups. She was sceptical but decided to give it a go as time was running out fast.

    She lovingly bottle fed the pups every two hours, day and night, using St Helen’s Farm goats’ milk and probiotic goats’ yogurt.

    Lorraine was using litres of milk and large cartons of yogurt every day as she tried to build up their strength using what she dubbed ‘The St Helen’s Farm Goats Milk Mix.’

    The pups enjoyed the taste, gulped it down and slowly but surely their weight began to climb.

    Now almost six months on the puppies are in the best of health and still enjoying the ‘St Helen’s Goats Milk Mix’ with their food.

    It’s not only the puppies that are enjoying the benefits of goats’ milk though, Lorraine has a mild intolerance to dairy products and now uses goats’ milk in her daily porridge too.

    She loves the taste and it has replaced the rice milk she had previously used. Her mum is also a convert and another fan, after discovering she loved the taste.

    Lorraine says the Jack Russells – Lavender, Brutus, Lottie, Toki and Fonz – could have died had they not been saved by goats milk.

    “I really thought the puppies were doomed. What happened to their mum was awful and I was beside myself with worry when they lost weight so dramatically on cows’ milk.

    I panicked and realised I had to do something quickly to save them. Some people said if I had one puppy at the end of week three it would be a remarkable achievement, but I felt determined to do the best I could for Georgie and try and save all of them.

    It was a frantic, worrying time hand rearing them all the way through to the New Year but all I can say is St Helen’s Farm is fantastic.

    The fact that all five puppies are here today full of life says everything; I can never thank the farm enough.

    I have even had other animal lovers and experts asking me about the St Helen’s Goats’ Mix, they are keen to use it themselves to help orphaned animals.”

    Yorkshire based St Helen’s Farm heard about the puppies when Lorraine wrote and told them about her positive experience with the milk and the farm decided to feature Lorraine and her story on the cartons in February.

    St Helen’s Farm spokesperson Mike Hind comments:

    “We were intrigued to hear Lorraine’s tale about her Jack Russell pups that are now thriving on our goats’ milk. After a very precarious start to life, all five pups had to be hand reared.

    They loved the taste of goats’ milk and have also developed a liking for our probiotic natural yogurt. Well done to all the pups, we are delighted with their success. We would be thrilled to hear from anyone else who has used our range to help animals as well as humans!”

  • How to Keep Puppy Learning Fun & Entertaining

    How to Keep Puppy Learning Fun & Entertaining

    Looking for fun games that your puppy can enjoy? Check out these tantalizing activities that you can get a puppy of any age involved in.

    Grooming Made Fun

    Probably one of the most important things to do is groom and brush your puppy. So what better way to start on the right foot than to make it a pleasant experience?

    It is important to teach skills like staying in place. Also of great importance is to get the puppy used to being touched all over and yet be relaxed the entire time. This grooming/touching procedure will create a tight bond while allowing the owner to maintain dominance over the puppy as it grows into an adult.

    This is important since there will always be nails to cut and teeth to clean, as well as rules to follow. Fun grooming practice builds a foundation tolerance within the young pup.

    It’s Circus Time!

    Puppies like jumping so why not play bar jumping games, just like they do at the circus?

    The first thing to do is walk over the jump with your puppy. The pup will probably follow at your side. If the puppy doesn’t want to go over the jump with you then encourage your puppy over the jump with a treat. Be sure to start with the jump on the ground, then increase the height as the dog’s skill level develops.

    Hide & Seek, What A Classic

    Who doesn’t like hide and seek?

    Playing hide and seek with your puppy can be loads of fun while at the same time introduces the puppy to the come command.

    First you need to have a leashed trained pup or one that can obey the sit/stay commands. Put the leash and have a friend hold the puppy, or if the pup can obey the sit/stay command without a leash then that is just fine.

    Hide close by, like behind an open door or a small piece of furniture. If playing outside then get behind a bush or tree. After a short amount of time, call the puppy in a playful tone of voice. Make certain that the leash is not being held.

    Once your pup finds you, give him a treat and/or simply tell him how good he is and love him.
    You should attempt to move farther away and making finding you more difficult as your pup’s skill increases.

    Let’s Go On A Treasure Hunt!

    Finding toys and objects is another classic activity that can be fun for your puppy.

    First, put your pup on a leash and tie it securely to a chair. Then place many toys and other objects on the floor while the puppy watches.

    Now go see your puppy, but have a toy that your pup likes in your hand. Just hold it while the pup observes for a minute and then toss it into the pile of stuff you made on the floor. Now let your puppy go and say repeatedly “Fetch, boy Fetch!”

    When he goes to hunt down the toy you were showing him be sure to give positive reinforcement and lots praise. Eventually you will be able to have your puppy sniff one object for a few seconds and literally dig it out of anywhere you hide it.

  • Puppy Personality Test

    Puppy Personality Test

    A puppy personality test enables you to conduct some (very) unscientific research prior to choosing your puppy. We’ve got four short tips to help you run a puppy personality test but be advised, like people, puppy personality transforms as a result of training, experiences and genetic influence that may not be present when you run the puppy personality test at a very early age.

    Here are four tests you can perform with each puppy if you are selecting from a litter of 7-weeks or older:

    1. Hold each puppy up so that its feet are a few inches off the floor. Observe its reaction: A normal puppy will struggle for a few seconds and then settle down. This reaction indicates spirit but also a willingness to accept authority. A dominant puppy will continue struggling and may howl and bite. A submissive puppy will just dangle passively and accept the situation or in severe cases, panic and submissively urinate.

    2. Hold each puppy on its back in your lap. Comfort it by stroking its belly and talking to it softly. Observe its reaction: A normal puppy will struggle briefly, then settle. This is the response that most buyers should look for. A dominant puppy will struggle constantly, howl, and perhaps try to bite. A submissive puppy will succumb and perhaps urinate or, in an extreme case, panic.

    3. Set the puppy on its feet on the floor. Then toss a ball or a crumpled piece of paper away from the puppy and observe its reaction: A normal puppy will chase the object, play with it, and perhaps bring it back to you if you call out to it. It will allow you to take the object away without much fuss. A dominant puppy will chase the object, take it to a corner, and ignore you when you call out to it. It may growl at you if you attempt to reclaim the object. A submissive puppy may not react at all to the object or may actually be afraid of it.

    4. Crouch down a few feet from the puppy and encourage it to come to you by clapping or whistling. Observe its reaction: A normal puppy will happily come over to you in a confident, playful manner. A dominant puppy will either charge you and jump up on you recklessly or completely ignore you. A submissive puppy may hide in a corner or come over cautiously and expose its belly, perhaps even urinating upon being touched.

    Let us consider extremely submissive behaviour to be far left of centre, normal to be at the centre, and extremely dominant to be far right of centre. Most buyers who are looking for a loving, trainable family pet should consider a puppy that performs as close to the centre as possible. If you desire a working or obedience dog, or if you are a robust, physically imposing person, you may wish to consider a puppy that is slightly to the right of centre. If you are a quiet, slight person, look for a puppy that is slightly left of centre.

    When dealing with a dominant breed such as the Rottweiler, Mastiff, or German Shepherd, you would do well to consider a puppy that is slightly left of centre. When dealing with a submissive breed such as the Maltese, Greyhound, or Wheaten Terrier, you might wish to consider a puppy that is slightly right of centre. In all cases, avoid the extremes.

  • How To Stop Puppy Chewing

    The sense of taste is well developed even in newborn pups. This has led to the marketing of several commercial substances designed to prevent destructive chewing by pups and mature dogs. If these are used regularly from the age at which conditioned responses are possible (3 weeks), investigative chewing may be minimised or prevented in later life, especially when teething becomes a stimulus for the problem.

    What Age Do Puppies Stop Teething?

    Puppies all vary by breed and individual personality types, but as a general rule puppies stop teething once their adult teeth start to come through. This means you will have a short period in the puppy’s early life when they will seemingly want to chew everything as a result of their teething pains.

    However, because the breeder would have to begin this type of regimen, and because most litters are raised under conditions that do not expose puppies to chewing taboos, correction is usually necessary.

    Almost every owner recognizes that pups need to chew, if only to teethe properly. On the other hand, few appreciate that a dog’s mouth is somewhat similar to the human hand as an investigative tool, or that the healthy development of nervous and muscle tissue depends on hearty chewing exercise. The usual procedure is to give a pup numerous chewables, hoping these will be so attractive that electric cords, rugs, clothing and shoes will be saved from destruction – and the pet spared a possibly serious (or fatal) injury. However, furnishing many different kinds of things to chew may lead the pup to believe that everything is chewable.

    Chewing appears to be an enjoyable experience for nearly all pups and many older dogs. So, the element of fun may also be part of chewing problems. The best approach to destructive chewing involves prevention and then guidance to chewable articles, such as a ball or bone. This helps the pup to discriminate between toys and inappropriate items. Practices that risk creating an orally oriented puppy include: playing tug-of-war, allowing personal belongings (socks, shoes) to be chewed, excessive attention to pup’s mouth during teething, and punishment for chewing taboos.

    Some pups are more oral than others. When this is coupled with an excitable or extremely inhibited nervous type, minor stress produces tension that tends to be released orally (rather than vocally or physically). Some of the causes for excessive tension in pups are: emotional departures and homecomings by the owner, excessive attention to the pup, social isolation, barrier frustration, delay of feeding, and boredom.

    When 2 or more pups live together, chewing may result from competition for articles. Also, pups play games. When these involve articles of some value, the owner often attributes such chewing to spite or revenge. “Sparky’s mad at me for leaving him alone, and he’s getting even.” This is seldom the case. Usually one or more of the aforementioned conditions are involved. As diligently as one might try to be a model puppy owner, it is obvious that few people can avoid all of the causes for chewing.

  • Bringing Your New Puppy Home

    The fun of bringing a new puppy home and introducing him to his new family is a very special experience. He will, of course, become a well-mannered dog, staying quietly at our side, eager to follow our every command. Well, it is a long road from the cuddly puppy to the mature dog, but with some effort and understanding it can be travelled successfully. It all begins with day one in the new home.

    The first few days a puppy is in his new home can be trying for both the puppy and the new owner because both are trying to adjust to a new situation. After all, the puppy finds he has been suddenly taken from his den and litter mates and is expected to immediately accept a new, foreign way of life. However, with patience and a sense of humour on the part of the new owner, the first few days can be accomplished with good feelings on both sides.

    Breeders and behaviourists generally agree that seven weeks of age (forty-nine days) is the ideal age for a puppy to go to his new home, with six to eight weeks being the most desirable age range. The six- to eight-week old puppy still needs a lot of rest and will take morning and afternoon naps. For the first day or two, however, he might be very excited and spend much of the day in motion, checking out his new home. As long as he is not hurting himself or anything else in the environment, let him investigate wherever and whatever takes his fancy.

    If the puppy is eight weeks old when he first comes home, be very patient with him. This is the fear period and sharp noises or harsh treatment will leave him with fear which may take months to overcome. Let him take his time getting acquainted with everything and do not take him to places where he will be subjected to loud and frightening sounds or activities. If possible, trips to the veterinarian should be arranged either before or after the eighth week.

    This Article Has Been Brought To You This Month By

    If the puppy is ten to twelve weeks old when you first bring him home, he will be more rambunctious, especially if he is one of the larger breeds, and he will sleep considerably less during the day. However, he is at an age where you can get his attention quite easily and where he will want to please you and stay close to you.

    Common natural behaviours you will experience include:

    – Howling
    – Nipping / mouthing
    – Crying
    – Soiling indoors
    – Chewing

    Believe it or not, many new owners panic when their pup starts to display one or all of these behaviours. In fact, some owners get so spooked, they convince themselves they have acquired a ‘naughty’ dog and may even return it to the breeder. Relax. All of these things are normal and expected. Puppies play, the mouth, they whine, they howl, they chew. In the early days it’s simply a case of managing and minimising the risks.

    You can cure your puppy biting (www.puppybiting.co.uk).
    You can cure your puppy’s howling (www.dogadvice.co.uk)
    You can housetrain your puppy very easily (www.k9magazine.com)
    You can stop your puppy chewing (www.dogtips.co)

    Enjoy your puppy, don’t stress and be prepared to spend some time digesting high quality advice and information on how to shape their behaviours.

    Don’t forget, you’ll get even more peace of mind by insuring your pup with a reputable provider – so tick that job off as early as possible.

    [sws_yellow_box box_size=”550″]

    Looking for instant advice on how to select the best pet insurance policy? We can help!

    Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance covers up to £7,500 vet’s fees per condition (option 2) – Click here for more information.

    [/sws_yellow_box]

    >> Highly Recommended: Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance – £7,500 Vet’s Fees & Up to 25{d4f4ff813a06e2c77cbb9c6effe011ebffe2f8986e44983e90e08c54deb62f63} online discount.

  • Why Is Puppy Socialization So Important?

    Puppy socialization is so important, it’s worth saying twice. A failure to properly socialize young puppies is one of the single biggest reasons for bad dog behavior in adult dogs. Behavior such as aggression (dog on dog), disobedience and general bad manners around other dogs, particularly in public. The long term benefits of a high quality puppy socialization plan simply can’t be stressed enough. You can’t wind the clock back after all.

    puppy socialization

    Puppy Socialization Can Start Early

    Proper early socialization of your puppy can have the positive lasting impact over the course of your dog’s life. It really is THAT crucial.

    Socializing your puppy is such a critical part of raising a well adjusted dog. Through early puppy socialization, your young dog can learn to fit into society, learn to live with humans and also with other dogs. This leads to a calm, adaptable dog who isn’t fazed by what they encounter in day to day life.

    If dogs are not correctly socialized, they may develop inappropriate behaviors when exposed to new situations or new dogs and people. This can include being overly aggressive or fearful in unfamiliar circumstances. Puppy socialization can help your pup adjust to the world around them at an early age.

    When Does Puppy Socialization Begin?

    Socializing starts when a puppy is still with its mother and with the breeder. A puppy first learns canine body language and pack structure from around three to four weeks of age, while playing and interacting with its litter mates. It is important that a breeder handles her puppies and plays with them regularly, to give them positive early experiences with people.

    The ideal time to bring your new puppy home is when he is eight weeks old. The period from eight to twelve weeks of age is very important for socialization, as your pup is very open to learning and enjoying new experiences. It is vital to take advantage of this stage of your puppy’s social development.

    Quick puppy socialization tip: It’s a good idea to invite friends and families to your house to visit, bringing with them their well behaved dog. You can also introduce your puppy to calm, well-mannered children. This type of puppy socialization strategy can allow your pup to learn in a relaxed, informal way.

    Puppy Socialization Classes

    Puppy preschool is also very important for your young dog. It allows puppies to meet and interact with other dogs of a similar age and level of development, as well as learning some basic obedience commands.

    This improves the communication skills of your puppy, as well as enhances the bond between dog and owner. It also allows your dog to sniff and explore in a safe and supportive environment.

    Other options for socializing your dog can include going to dog friendly places such as off-leash parks and beaches. It is vital to make sure that your puppy is up to date on its vaccinations, as there may be an increased risk of disease in these places. Also, you need to remember that the other dogs which are there may not necessarily be under complete control.

    There may even be under-socialized dogs who may frighten your puppy and set it back in its learning. It may even be better to keep your puppy away from these areas until he is more mature and better able to cope.

    It takes a lot of work and effort to socialize a puppy well, but it is an investment in his future, and will help him to fit into his world. Doing a good job will lead to a well adjusted and happy companion who can take anything in his stride.

    What’s The Most Important Word to Teach Your New Puppy?

    The most important word you can teach your puppy is his name. Getting him to recognize and respond positively to his name can really help during the socialization process.  Use your pup’s name in a positive context 100{d4f4ff813a06e2c77cbb9c6effe011ebffe2f8986e44983e90e08c54deb62f63} of the time. Don’t scold them using their name, use the word “No!” instead. Their name should evoke a positive response.

    The capacity to learn is born in every puppy, to a greater or lesser degree. Your puppy starts learning the moment he enters your house. (He starts learning about you and soon picks up on all your varying idiosyncrasies – whether you realize you have them or not, mark my words – your puppy will!). His capacity to learn grows as he does and is fully developed at the age of about a year. Although he’ll stop physically growing, he never stops learning and the early puppy socialization steps you take from day one can act as the building blocks to having the most well mannered, well behaved dog over the lifetime of your pet.

    Puppy Socialization Experiences From Owners

    How are other dog owners socializing their puppies?

    A question from a puppy owner on the best methods for deploying a puppy socialization strategy that works, elicited some excellent advice:

    Get the pup as much exposure to as many different things as possible (without scaring it )

    Elsie is just coming up to 16 weeks now.

    As a rough guide, she has been coming out with us (carried until she could go down) from 8 weeks old to shops especially garden centres and pet stores which are great for meeting people and seeing different things. She has met horses, cows, dogs, cats, alpacas, sheep, pigs, ducks, geese, chickens and been exposed to cars, lorries, buses, motor cycles, pedal cycles, boats, chainsaws, tractors, JCBs, pony & trap, carriage and four, . . the list is endless.

    However she is now, at 16 weeks happy and content in more or less any situation she finds herself in.

    She has also learnt to recall (instantly – but I know we will need to keep working on that to keep her focussed as she grows) she sits and waits for her dinner and also will sit when asked now.

    Interesting Puppy Socialization Disease Query:

    What are the risks of puppy infections vs reward for early socialization?

    Today I visited a dog training establishment to observe some puppy socialisation. When I said that it would be another 3 weeks before my puppy was fully protected from her jabs she suggested that, in her opinion, the benefits of early puppy socialisation outweighed the risk of picking up an infection.

    I make an assumption that the puppies attending will all have been inoculated (you don’t spend money for socialisation and training and not do basic health care), but the field is used for lots of dog work. At my vets there is a sign saying puppies that haven’t completed their jabs should not be allowed down on the floor for risk of infection.

    Any comments/feedback appreciated.

    BTW it was really nice to see loads of pups out having fun together…the younger/less sure pups were kept seperate from the older more boisterous one’s.


    A great question. Answered succinctly…

    More dogs are put to sleep due to behavioral problems than all other illnesses put together.

    To me it is a no brainer IF the environment is safe. My dogs come home at 7 weeks go on the ground immediately and do not have their first vaccination for a couple of weeks.

    None have contracted any diseases.

    Puppy Socialization Checklist: To achieve the best early puppy socialization results, be prepared to let your puppy get exposure to many new things, new people, new dogs. Be patient but be focussed on the fact that you can’t rewind the clock. Puppy socialization is absolutely crucial for the long term benefit of you and your dog.

     

  • How to Stop Puppy Chewing Wires

    How to Stop Puppy Chewing Wires

    Protecting computer, appliance, home entertainment and other cables and wires around the home from your dog or cat and, in doing so, keeping your four-legged friend out of harm’s way, is critical.

    Stop Your Puppy Chewing Cables and Wires

    – There are numerous products on the market today for covering household
    wires to keep your pet – and even small children – from chewing on
    them. An extremely inexpensive and convenient product to protect your
    wires is the split wire loom – flexible and durable plastic tubing
    with a slit down the side allowing for easy insertion of a cable
    bundle.

    – You can also cover any wires that are accessible to your small pet
    with spiral cable wrap – plastic wrap that keeps wires tightly bundled
    and also protects them from being chewed on by pets. Spiral cable wrap
    is also available in many colors to match a room’s decor.

    – For hiding excess cord length coming from your phone, computer mouse,
    or even window blinds, try the Cable Turtle. This nifty gadget
    protects wires from your cat or dog by letting you tuck the wires away
    neatly in a shell. The product is available in different sizes and
    various colors to match your decor.

    – If you have no other choice but to run a wire across an open floor,
    cord covers will allow you to easily hide and protect the cables from
    your cat, dog and other passers by. These covers will not only keep
    your pet from chewing on your wires, but will also keep your floors
    safe and clear from tripping and tangling hazards.

    – Keep cables off the floor and out of reach with adhesive-backed cord
    clips, which attach wires to furniture or wall surfaces. These cord
    clips are available in different sizes, and are ideal for phone cords,
    lamp cords, and even some computer cords.

    – Hide wires in your home office with a concealed surge protector, which
    encloses plugs and excess cord length to keep them from becoming a
    distraction to your pets. These safety-minded surge protectors not
    only keep your computer and phone wires out of sight, but also provide
    protection in case of a power surge or lightning strike.

    Puppy Safety Tips

    K9 Magazine’s Guide to Puppy Proofing Your Home

    If you have an adorable little puppy running around the house, the last thing you want to see is an accident where the little guy gets cut, poisoned, or stepped on.  However, accidents do happen and you should be prepared.  Better yet, it is best if you practice safety prevention rather than waiting for something bad to happen to your puppy.

    All it takes is just one little circumstance to go unnoticed which can cause a great deal of pain to your puppy. These little animals have an insatiable appetite when it comes to curiosity.  Everything they see and smell looks like a great adventure and from their point of view, it’s all open territory. They see no danger and instead move forward to check things out.  This is why you want to take the following safety prevention measures so that you can somewhat “puppy-proof” your house.

    1. The first thing you should do is look around every room of your home and try to dispose of small items that your puppy may swallow.  Puppies tend to try to swallow anything that they can get a hold of.

    Unfortunately, not all small items will safely pass through the dog’s intestines which can prove to be fatal.  Other times, your puppy’s system will try to gag and cough up the object which can go on for a long period of time.  If your dog does not get the object out then the intestine becomes blocked and can rupture.

    2. The second important home safety precaution to take is to hide or elevate your electrical cords and wires.  Every home has wires and cords that must be in each room, but if left hanging there, dangling like a treat, your puppy is guaranteed to be tempted to play with it.

    If he chews on these electrical items, your puppy is going to get hurt.  The damage caused by gnawing through to the inside wiring of these cords can cause a mild shock or worse, third-degree burns. And in many cases, the electrocution can be so severe that it may cause your puppy to die from the shock. It is best to elevate all of the wiring that you can and use heavy-duty tape to cover up the other cords that have to be on and around the floor area

    3. Last but not least, keep your home free from dangerous poisons and toxins that your puppy can ingest.  Remember, our pets use their mouth’s for virtually all investigations and because they are extremely curious, toxic items can be easily ingested with one lick. Such household poisons can include anti-freeze, rat poison, garbage, lead, and even chocolate.

    Puppy chewing wires

  • House Training a New Puppy

    House Training a New Puppy

    An excellent article on effective techniques for house training a puppy.

    Toilet training should not end with housebreaking.  If you want to avoid the unpleasant but necessary task of picking up after your pet in the street, it makes sense to train him to go before you leave home. This is not as difficult as it may seem but requires a fair amount of patience in the early stages.
    (more…)

  • Six Things to Consider before Golden Retriever puppy adoption

    Six Things to Consider before Golden Retriever puppy adoption

    Golden retriever puppies are among the best dog breed to adopt. They are intelligent, loyal and friendly dogs which makes them great for family pets. The places you can find a golden retriever puppy to adopt include dog rescue groups and humane societies. The dog lives for an average of 10 to 14 years so it is very important to consider some things before you adopt one.

    Firstly, consider the purpose of adopting a golden retriever. They make good house pets but terrible guard dogs. If you need a dog that will keep you busy during most of the times you are at home, then the golden retriever is the one to adopt. However, if you want a dog that will lay down for most of the day or one that will guard your home against buglers, other breeds are better.

    Secondly, consider where you will keep the dog once it joins the family. Golden retrievers are described as house dogs. You will therefore have to make arrangements for the dog’s housing needs. A common way to keep t indoors is having a cage to keep it in. however, you will need to train the dog to come to love its new home.

    Third, consider the places where you can get a golden retriever puppy to adopt. Adopting a puppy is quite challenging. This is because you never really get to know about its qualities until it gets home. Many of these dogs have the qualities of their parents. As you do not get to meet the parents, you will have to take the risk and adopt the puppy. However, the good thing about golden retriever puppy adoption is that the dog can be trained while it is young.

    Fourth, consider the puppy’s health before adopting it. They are very energetic throughout their lives. One way to identify a puppies health is to see if it’s energetic. Dull golden retriever puppies are most likely in poor health conditions. It will also be advisable to have a vet check up on the puppy for some of the diseases that are transmitted from parents to their young ones. These diseases might not be visible at first but might come to affect the dog as it grows.

    Fifth, you should also consider your health before adopting a golden retriever puppy. The dogs shed their fur throughout the year. This can cause allergic reactions in some people. If you are one of them, then its better to adopt a dog which in non allergenic.

    Lastly, you have to consider the lifestyle you lead. The golden retriever is an energetic dog which loves its owners company. If you travel a lot or are not interested in many activities, then the golden retriever is not the choice for you. The dogs can easily get bored and vent out this frustration on items such as furniture.

    Golden retriever puppy adoption can be a fun lifetime experience. It can be easy for people who have previously owned golden retrievers. However, if it is your first time considering the factors above will be of much help.

    If you need more information and tips on golden retriever puppies adoption, sign up for our FREE 10 part mini course on golden retriever caring at http://www.goldenretrievercaring.com

  • How Do I House Train My Dog?

    House training, house breaking, potty training or toilet training refers to teaching the dog when and where to go to the bathroom or to the designated toilet area. Everyone wants to have a dog around but nobody wants to clean the mess created by the pet especially if the accident happened on the carpet, on the bed or in other areas inside the house. The ease or the difficulty of house training the dog will basically depend on the persistence and on the methods used by the dog owner. The task of teaching the dog to eliminate in the designated area will basically depend on the training methods used and on the patience and persistence of the dog owner.

    House breaking the puppy is not the responsibility of the breeder. As with any other kind of training, the task of housebreaking the pet would be easier if started while the dog is still a puppy. Dog owners will notice that these animals are creatures of habit.

    Dogs that have soiled a particular area will return to the same place over and over again to defecate or urinate. It would be your responsibility to guide the dog so that the habit that will be formed is to relieve itself in the designated area. This task would be difficult for pet owners that are not at home most of the time. Don’t be disheartened as dogs being intelligent animals would adapt to the potty training in a very short time.

    You need to designate an area to be the dog’s very own toilet. Suitable areas can be the garage, a corner of the bathroom or in the yard. Dogs have to do their business after waking up, after eating and before sleeping thus you can take the dog to the toilet area during these times to eliminate. A pat or a praise given after the dog has eliminated in the correct place will make the dog repeat the good deed again. Dogs that are allowed to roam inside the house can have accidents thus an owner need to know the telltale signs that the dog is about to do its business so that it can be taken to the designated place right away.

    Dogs make wonderful companions but these animals are entirely dependent on their owners. Getting a dog for a pet entails a huge responsibility as aside from the food and the care that must be provided for the dog, various training will also be necessary to mold the dog into a wonderful individual that will be significant member of the family

    Find out more about how to house train your dog as well as information on dog first aid at Sarah’s Dogs.

  • Why Is My Dog Chewing Everything?

    Scratching, digging, rolling in mud, barking and chewing are common dog behaviors. Dogs are one of the most loved pets. These loyal and loving animals have indeed made of lot of change to human lives. In spite of the dogs loyal and loving nature, an owner may think of abandoning the pet because of its unwanted behaviors. Destructive chewing is one of the most common concerns of pet parents. A pet owner that needs to replace the things destroyed by the dog would certainly be annoyed by the pet’s excessive chewing habit.

    Chewing is a natural behavior of dogs. Three month old puppies are commonly seen starting to exercise the gums and teeth by chewing . Puppies, unlike humans, have no hands thus the mouth and the teeth are used to investigate their environment . Chewing things is the only way by which puppies satisfy their curiosity about their new world . Teething pains entices puppies to chew more. Babies are usually given teethers to ease teething pains and to strengthen the gums. Puppies that are not provided with chew toys would find their own teethers to manage their teething pains. This destructive chewing has other repercussions. A dog that has been chewing can swallow an object that can create a life threatening blockage. The chewing habit of puppies can be managed as it would be an easy matter to confine a small dog and provide it with harmless chew toys. The tendency to chew is generally outgrown by most puppies.

    A well behave dog that has unexpectedly developed an excessive chewing habit would naturally concern a pet owner. There has to be an underlying reason for the dog’s destructive behavior. Boredom, loneliness, inactivity are the most common causes of destructive chewing. Once you know why your dog chews. You must also know what to do when it chews. A dog is a social animal. A dog is not similar to a cat that would be contented to stare into space alone all day. Being a social animal, a dog would need a member of its human family or another dog to play with. As you would expect, dogs would not know the value of things. A shoe with the master’s scent would be a poor substitute but it would do for a dog missing its master. Being energetic, dogs have to be provided with opportunities to let off steam. Dog owners must be aware that it would not be a good idea to confine the pet with no toys or playmate inside the house as with most certainty, the dog will develop into a destructive pet.

  • Destructive Chewing In Dogs

    Destructive Chewing In Dogs

    The act of chewing seems to be a matter of individual orientation among dogs: some have an innate desire to chew as a pleasurable activity in itself, and some seem to have no need to chew whatever unless they’re driven to it out of sheer boredom.

    The phrase “destructive chewing” may sound redundant, because – by its very nature! – all chewing is destructive. Your dog has strong jaws full of sharp, pointy teeth: just about anything she starts to chew on is likely going to show the effects of it inside of a minute. So just to clarify, when I use the phrase “destructive chewing”, I’m referring to inappropriate chewing: the kind of chewing that’s focussed on your own possessions and household items, alternatively of on your dog’s own designated toys and chews.

    The three main understandings why dogs chew:

    – Most dogs have a instinctive desire to chew. It’s fun, it passes the time, and it’s a self-rewarding, self-reinforcing activity (for example, if she’s chewing on something that tastes good.)

    – Chewing provides a nervous, bored, or lonely dog with an outlet for her emotions. To an anxious dog, the repetitive act of chewing is soothing – it’s the doggie equivalent of comfort food.

    – Underexercised dogs often use chewing as a way of burning up nervous energy and giving themselves something to do.

    – How to forestall destructive chewing –

    Dogs are perfectly able of learning not to chew your material – you just have to put in a little effort first, that’s all.

    It is aslo possibly that your dog could be suffering from seperation Anxiety  read more here Anxiety Separation Dogs

    1. Take control of the site: manage your own possessions. Your first step should be to dog-proof your home. Even if you have the best-behaved dog in the world, there’s still no reason to test her self-command – after all, dogs explore the world with their mouths.

    Dog-proofing your home means taking whatever you don’t want to end up in her mouth, and making it unavailable. Consider her size and agility when deciding whether something’s out of reach: can she jump? Can she climb, or leap onto something else to reach the desired object? How tall is she when standing on her back legs?

    Common targets in the home include books, eyewear, clothing, shoes, garbage, and small crunchy appliances like cameras, cell phones, and remote controls.

    It should go without saying that all food needs to be put securely away: don’t leave snacks on low tables (or even countertops – you’d be surprised how acrobatic she can be when there’s food at stake!), put all food into containers or the pantry. Rinse your dirty plates clean of any food scraps before leaving them by the sink.

    2. Prevent her from learning the joys of illegal chewing. The more times she manages to bite a jawful of a forbidden substance – a chair-leg, a pillow, a run shoe – the more readily she’ll target those items in future. If you can prevent her from chewing your stuff in the first spot, it’s a lot easier for her to understand what you expect of her. Practically speaking, this means restricting her in a dog-proofed area until you’re confident of her reason? of the house rules.

    3. Don’t set her up for failure by blurring the boundaries between her stuff (OK to chew) and your stuff (not OK to chew). Don’t work your dog cast-off clothes, shoes, or towels to chew and play with: realistically, you can’t perhaps expect her to be able to tell the difference between your current shoes and the one she’s got in her mouth that you gave her five minutes ago.

    4. Provide her with lots of tasty alternatives to your stuff. If her environment is relatively barren of attractive, appropriate chewing objects, you can scarcely blame her for targeting your possessions. Remember, most dogs need to chew; if she’s an adolescent (under three years) or a puppy (under one year), her needs will be even more pronounced. Go on a toy and chew shopping spree, then give her two or three to play with at a time. Rotating the available toys every few days will keep things novel and interesting for her.

    5. Spend lots of time in active supervision. Yes, it might be easier for you to just keep her penned up in her crate, run, or the yard – but that’s boring and horrible for her, and hardly much fun for you either (if you wanted a pet that you don’t need to interact with, you’d have got a goldfish, right?) She can’t learn what you expect of her if she’s spending all her time boxed up in the dog-proof zone: she needs the opportunity to explore the boundaries of your expectations, so she can understand what’s appropriate and what’s not.

    6. When you catch her chewing something inappropriate, interrupt her by making a loud racket: clap your hands or make an “Ah-ah-aaaah!” noise. Then, immediately hand her a tasty and dog-appropriate alternative (a rawhide bone or other chew toy); as soon as her jaws close around it, praise her lavishly. There is no better way to get your dog to understand that chewing “her” toys equals praise from you, but everything else equals fuss.

    – hold a generative attitude –

    Above all, remember to keep your expectations realistic. You’re not perfect, and neither is your dog: there’s likely to be at least one incident where a treasured item is damaged by her curiosity.

    Particularly in the early stages of your relationship, she’s still learning the ropes: it’ll take awhile before she’s completely reliable (and even then, if she’s left by herself for too long or feels neglected, she may choose your stuff over hers to take her time and jaws with.) Remember to give her time to learn the rules, and plenty of ‘you-time’ to help her learn faster – and don’t forget to take precautions and keep things out of reach until she’s got the hang of the chewing rules!

    For more information on dog training techniques and how to deal with problem dog behavior (like chewing), check out Anxiety Separation Dogs. It’s the complete manual for dog ownership and is designed to fast-track your dog’s learning.
    You can visit the Anxiety Separation Dogs site by clicking on the link below:

  • Crate Training Your Dog The Easy Way

    Learn how to tap into your dog’s elementary den instincts, and make her more obedient—naturally.

    Like their ancestors, dogs are born, nurse, and later eat solid foods in a good enclosed area (called a den in the wild), and therefore tend to accept being confined to a crate when necessary. Teaching your dog that her crate is a safe site, and helping her make happy associations with it, can help you and your home survive behavior problems such as housebreaking and adolescent chewing.

    Having said that, a crate should only be used along with proper training, exercise, and socialization. With a few basic guidelines, you can use it as a valuable tool in a variety of situations.

    Crate Expectations

    Whatever the age of your dog, it’s important to present her to the crate gradually. Here’s how to make a good start.

    * Put the crate in an area of your home wherever you or others will be around. You may want to keep the crate in the kitchen during the day and your bedroom at night. To make your dog’s first experiences with the crate as pleasant as imaginable, put a soft blanket or towel (preferable one that smell like you) on the floor of the crate. Then throw a toy and some foods treats inside.

    * Do not use force to make your dog go into the crate. Instead, let her seek and find the goodies. When she enters the cage, praise her, and let   her come and go as she pleases. Play this game for several minutes. If your Boston Terrier takes to this game, close the door for a few seconds after she goes in. Increase the amount of time that the door is closed, but stay close to the crate while you offer praise and treats as this is one way of crate training Boston Terriers effectively.

    * Now that you’ve familiarized her with the crate concept, gradually get her used to being in the cage for longer period of time. Start feeding your dog her meals in the crate with the door closed. Leave the room while your dog is eating and then when she is just resting. When your dog shows no opposition, leave the house: First, go out for only 5 minutes, gradually increase your time away to 30 minutes. If your dog can stay in the crate for half an hour without getting agitated, she should be comfortable for hours.
             
    * Don’t overdo it. Try to use the crate for short times, both when you’re home and when you’re out. You shouldn’t confine your dog for more than 4 hours at a time and for no longer than a sum of 10 hours in any given day. Always give your Boston Terriers a special treat when you crate her. And remember, crated dogs need exercise and playtime too.

  • Potty Training An Adopted Dog

    Potty Training An Adopted Dog

    Adopting a new pet is one of the things that bring delight and squeals from children. It’s a happy occasion for both you and the family. Nonetheless, a pet, cute and squiggly as they are will, as all dogs do, mess the house. The new member of the household has to be potty trained as soon as the primary day.

    It is important to observe that canines may hold their bladder up to 5 hours, not more than that. In reality, canine being territorial animals will mark the territory by urinating each few toes or so. When the dog is new to a specific place that has not but been marked by different canine, expect the canine itching to mark each nook and cranny of the house, worse, that embrace the rugs and carpets. The following will walk you through to potty prepare the pup.

    As a result of you expect the pup to urinate you could possibly very effectively anticipate that it is bound to happen. Once you see a pup raising a hind leg, carry him outdoors to a delegated place the place the pup could relieve himself. Sometimes a pup that is good for adoption is about three months old. That additionally means that the puppy might maintain his bladder for a minimum of three hours. Refrain from waiting for that. Deliver the puppy out each two hours counting from the time when you first brought him outside. It is very important set up a routine and a schedule. Canine respond well to schedule and routine. Routines, repetitions, and schedules are the principle instruments used in training.

    Use the identical space every time. When you find yourself trough enjoying with the puppy, go to the spot. When the pet has completed consuming, go to the spot. Each two hours after that, go to the identical spot. Eventually, the puppy will get the idea. All it takes is patience and the way ready you are because bringing residence a brand new canine to the home will take responsibility. The hardest half is just until the pet will get used to the routine. Till then, the whole lot hangs on your commitment to elevating a housebroken dog.

    Likewise, feed the canine on a daily schedule. That means you could possibly predict and higher control the time when the puppy shall be relieving itself.

    In the same method, younger puppies will need to relieve itself in the course of the night. A younger pet is generally considered less than 4 months old. In that case, do give water to the pet before bedtime. Puppies which can be four months or more make it overnight. When the pet wakes up, the primary urge is to urinate, deliver him to the spot. After a nap, do the same. Establishing routines and getting the puppy accustomed to the spot will make him go there ultimately without being led.

    Even behind all these, accidents may happen. If the pup dirty a rug, a piece of paper or pieces of item, place the items in the spot. It would give the puppy the hint what the spot is for.

    It’s also essential to praise the pet the very second after the pet has relived himself within the spot designated. That may reinforce the idea and go there each time.

    Buy frontline for dogs online today and protect your adopted dog from fleas and ticks.  Frontline for dogs is highly effective and will keep your new pet free from fleas and ticks.

  • Everything You Want to Know About Housebreaking Your Dog

    Everything You Want to Know About Housebreaking Your Dog

    Housebreaking your new dog may seem like a daunting prospect, buy it’s usually pretty easy. No matter what age your dog is, the same principles apply: praise, supervision, confinement, and patience. Take your dog to his proper toilet area as often as possible, and praise him; supervise him at all times when he is in the house; and when you can’t supervise, confine him in some way. But above all, be patient.

    Right from the beginning, whether your dog is old enough to control himself or not, the real training needs to begin. Here’s how to do it:

    Rule out any medical problem first. Have him checked out by a veterinarian to make sure he’s fit. A “wormy” puppy with diarrhea can’t be expected to control himself.

    Feed low-residue food. Give him two or three meals daily of a well-balanced, low-residue food (your vet can recommend a brand), rather than leaving the food out all day. Be consistent in his mealtimes to make the times of elimination more predictable. Try to make the last meal no later than 5 PM to help your dog make it through the night. Picking up his water at 8 PM may also be helpful as long as he doesn’t have a medical problem (such as kidney disease) that would make water restriction dangerous.

    Select one area as his toilet. Take your dog to an area of the yard you’ve pre-selected as his toilet zone. Show him where it is (don’t expect him to find it on his own) at the times he is expected to need to eliminate: immediately upon awakening, soon after eating, and at exciting times (after meeting new people, after a car ride, before and after play). When you’re puppy gives you that “uncomfortable” look, take him to the toilet area immediately. A puppy usually needs to be taken tom his area approximately every 2 to 4 hours. An older Boston terrier dog may only need to be taken every 4 to 6 hours.

    Teach a cue word. When you get to the area and your pup begins to search for the right spot, say to him “Hurry up,” “Do your business,” or any other creative phrase. That phrase will soon act as a cue to spend him up.

    Always praise and play afterward-not before. Pay your pup lots of compliments immediately after he eliminates in the right area. Then play with him in another spot outside. If your pet doesn’t do his business in his area after about 5 minutes, bring him back into the house and either tie or confine him for another 5 minutes. Then take him out to the toilet area again. The second time around is usually successful.

    Supervise your dog in the house at all times. Always keep your dog with you. If you’re too busy to watch him, put him in his pen or confined area. Keep him in his pen (with papers when he needs them and without papers when he gets older) or confined area when you are not home.

    Never use punishment after the fact. Even if you’re doing everything in your power to prevent accidents, they do happen. If you catch your puppy in the act, clap your hands to startle him, and say “No!” Take him outside to finish immediately. If he does, praise him for doing a good job. If you find an accident, do not raise your voice, spank your pup, or rub his nose in it. You won’t make him afraid of having accidents, but you will make him afraid of you.

    Learn from hi mistakes. Keep good records of accidents. Use these records to predict when your pup needs to eliminate so that you can alter your schedule to prevent the next one.

    Neutralize the odor. When cleaning up accidents, use products that neutralize urine odor. Avoid products with ammonia, as these may genuinely attract young pets like Boston Terrier puppies to urinate in the same location.

    Be patient and positive. This last tip is the most important. It’s possible to housebreak just about any dog like a Boston Terrier, though it may have to be done at his pace.