What You Need To Know If You're Getting A Dog For Christmas

In this article, I'm going to discuss the choices and preparations you need to make if you're bringing home a dog or puppy for Christmas. The decisions you make could prove to be either the best decisions for you and your new four-legged friend, or an absolute nightmare! There are sure to be things that you simply haven't thought of.

First things first... what you can expect

Since your new dog or puppy will be untrained at this point, you can expect toileting on the carpets and floors, biting, ripping, barking at night, as well as chewing on the furniture. This, of course, could lead to tons of stress and expense, and the dog being returned with a classification of "too difficult to handle."

However, with the correct approach, getting a dog for Christmas will be a decision that you will be glad you made for many years to come. Yes, it's the proper training, not the dog, that makes all the difference in the world.

Here are the things you must consider up front:

1. Choose the right dog!

When considering getting a dog for Christmas, think about a dog that would suit both you and your lifestyle. Ask yourself, "Would I really prefer a dog or a puppy?"

For instance, an older dog's character and personality is easier to see so you can tell, for example, if the dog is on the lazy side or is a real firecracker!

Another good thing about older dogs is you won't have the headaches associated with 'potty training' which is very time-consuming and requires almost your constant presence.

Other things to think about are the size of the dog (strength and feeding), the amount of shedding (cleanup), as well as the amount of energy your dog will have. Please take your time in making this decision.

2. Time commitment

The time requirement needed for a dog varies considerably from dog to dog and also varies over the dog's lifetime. As you would expect, more time is needed for young dogs and puppies up to age 2. Older dogs tend to be content to just sleep and lie around all day.

How much energy a dog or puppy has is vitally important to consider when making your choice of dog because you also have to keep in mind how much exercise your new dog will need.

For example, if you bring home a high energy Border Collie or Boxer dog, they will need more exercise than a St. Bernard or Pug. High energy dogs require as much as three half-hour walks or runs each day. Lower energy dogs, of course, require much less of a time commitment. Be sure to match YOUR energy level with the dog of your choice.

3. Prior setting up of the home

One thing you do NOT want to do is what many new dog owners do... bring your new dog or puppy home and then realize that you need to construct a fence, close openings in an existing fence, or put other safety measures in place to keep the dog or puppy from escaping from the yard. If your dog can't run around the yard, this can prove to be extremely stressful for both you and the dog and therefore should be taken care of first before the new dog arrives.

Other important things to consider are... 

If you're bringing home a puppy, you will need to provide a small area for containment. Consider purchasing a puppy pen or cage or create a safe place where your puppy can sleep or go when you simply need a break. This could be a washroom, bathroom, or laundry room.

Also consider getting some chew toys or other items that would be safe for your dog to chew.

Decide early which areas will be okay for your dog and which will be considered out-of-bounds. While training your dog, you'll want to keep any possible destruction or damage to an absolute minimum.

4. Remember that training begins as soon as you arrive home

Here's a word of caution: Don't be fooled! Dogs can often seem tame when you first get them and then completely change when you get them home. For the greatest chance of success, prior preparation and planning is not only crucial, but smart!

Getting your new dog home first and then looking for problems is what most people do and later regret. This lack of planning only helps your dog to develop bad habits that you'll spend unnecessary time and energy working to correct.

If you follow the advice in this article, getting a dog for Christmas will be a decision that will bring you and your new dog or puppy much joy, happiness, and love for many years to come.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?What-You-Need-To-Know-If-Youre-Getting-A-Dog-For-Christmas&id=8157093

3 Effective Tips To Get Your Dog To Sleep At Night

It's simple - if your dog is awake at night, you'll most likely be awake as well. With all the barking, whining and fussing around, it will definitely be hard to get a good night's sleep. As a dog parent, it's important to find out what causes your pet to be up during nighttime. Does he get hungry or need to do his business during the wee hours? Is he uncomfortable in his sleeping space? Knowing why he can't sleep will help you solve the issue much faster.

Here are some effective tips to get your dog to sleep at night:

Include more physical activities in your dog's daily routine

Canines have all this energy. If they're not used up throughout the day, it may be one cause why they're having a hard time sleeping in the evening. To ensure that their energy is used up, take him on a daily walk or run, play a game of fetch or have him play with active dogs. When he expends energy, he gets tired and will most likely feel sleepy as bedtime approaches.

Let him know that it's bedtime

Dogs have no concept of time, that's why it's important for you to establish both a daytime and a nighttime routine. Familiarize him with a night routine which he'll eventually know will shortly lead to bedtime. You can start by feeding him dinner then playing for a bit. After a while, you can put away his toys and turn off the lights to let him know it's time to sleep. Over time, he'll know this routine by heart and he'll have an easier time going to bed.

Make his sleep space more conducive

Puppies who are used to crates may feel more comfortable sleeping in one. So if you recently transitioned your pet to his own bed, it may be one reason why he's having a difficult time snoozing at night. Observe where he is most comfortable sleeping and make it even more conducive - provide a long-lasting dog treat or his favorite toy to make him feel that his sleeping space is a spot that is his own.

The best thing to do is to let your dog associate sleeping and his sleep space with positive things. This way, he will be more comfortable and it will be easier for him to relax and snooze at night.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?3-Effective-Tips-To-Get-Your-Dog-To-Sleep-At-Night&id=9747684

4 Dog Etiquette Tips

Most people just don't realize how important doggie etiquette can be. They just don't get the fact that as a dog owner they have certain things that they are responsible for about their dog's behavior. So let's talk about a few of those doggie do's and don'ts. 

Jumping On People 

This is a big one! It is just really wrong to allow your dog to jump on people. Your dog could knock them down if it is a big dog and even scratch them or get them dirty. It's just plain wrong. 

So how do you keep it from happening, simple, training? Yes, training your dog not to jump on people is really not difficult and will allow your dog to be welcome in more places around people. If you just simply are not going to take the time to train then KEEP your dog on leash and far enough away from people so it cannot jump on them. This is the doggie etiquette #1 rule. 

Pick Up The Poo 

Yes for those dog owners that walk their dogs through the neighborhood be a good neighbor and pick up your dog's poop in the neighbor's yard. As a dog owner I am sure that you wouldn't want strange dog poop in your yard so simply do unto others and pick up the poop. It's easy and your neighbors will love you. 

Barking Dogs 

Does your dog bark all day in the backyard while you are at work? If so you probably have some unhappy neighbors. It can keep the person that works nights awake during the day and the neighbor's baby can't sleep, you get the idea. 

So how can you fix it? Here are just a couple of ideas. Bring your dog into the house while you are gone. You can use a crate if you are concerned about your dog being destructive. The second option is a quick fix by investing in a bark collar. Bark collars are much more sophisticated than in years past and it can be an easy solution that will have your neighbors loving you again. 

Dog Parks 

This is a big one and has a lot of dog owners concerned at the dog park. When you bring your dog to a dog park keep an eye on it. Dog parks are not a place for you to bring your dog so that the other dog owners have to watch it and scold it when it gets out of line or a bit too aggressive. It's your job so take it seriously. 

These are just a few tips that you should consider if you really want to be a good thoughtful dog owner. Your family, neighbors and friends will love you and your dog for taking the time to do these things.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?4-Dog-Etiquette-Tips&id=9209090

The Top 3 Tips When Adopting A Dog

When it comes to getting a dog, there is nothing more rewarding than adopting. However, many people don't use the top 3 tips when adopting a dog in mind and find themselves frustrated from the very beginning. Instead of helping the dog, and themselves, settle into a new life, they end up fighting against the dog and reaching the end of their rope rather quickly.

1. The dog doesn't know the rules of the house, where they are, or what is expected of them. As the owner, it is important to set down these rules, follow them carefully, and make sure the dog is rewarded when they follow them. Dogs who are confused or don't feel at home will often act out leading to property damage, or a dog that seems to never obey. Making sure that they feel comfortable and know they are welcome will go a long way.

2. Reward, don't punish the dog. While many people will say to punish an animal when they do something wrong, usually this just leads to them being confused. Putting them in their crate when they act up is okay, but hitting them and yelling rarely solves any issues. Instead, be on the lookout for the behavior you want and be sure to reward it as it happen.

Rewarding instantly like this will make the dog realize they have done something good and is most likely to make them behave that way in the future.

3. Finally, be consistent. Take the pooch out every few hours to potty, put them away at the same time every night, feed them in the same space, and keep the same rules. This lets them know they are safe and loved. It can also help when training because they know exactly what to expect. Canines like to know what they need to do and that they are doing it well, being consistent is the best way to ensure that they are going to be a loyal and faithful animal for years to come.

Sticking to these 3 tips when adopting a dog can help them fit in better in your home. It can also relieve the stress of bringing a new animal into the home and make it easier on you as well. Helping them feel safe and you feeling like boundaries are being followed can be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Top-3-Tips-When-Adopting-A-Dog&id=9098962

How Can I Make House Training My Puppy Easier?

House training a puppy can be a difficult process. Many dog owners get frustrated at the process because it does not progress as fast as they would have liked it to. Perhaps your puppy just isn't 'getting it.' Every puppy is going to present different challenges to it's owner throughout the house training process. However, there are common instincts that will help facilitate house training. Below, we will discuss some of the tips that you can use in order to house train your puppy as soon as possible without complications.

Tips:

1. Never Let Your Puppy Soil The House.

The first rule of puppy house training is that you simply cannot let your puppy soil the house. This will only encourage the behavior in the future. By keeping your puppy in a crate as much as possible, you will be able to effectively reduce the chances of your puppy going to the bathroom inside of your house. This is a good way to prevent them from going in the wrong place.

2. Reward Your Puppy Every Time.

The next thing that you are going to want to be sure that you do is to reward your puppy every time they happen to go to the bathroom outside. This will help your puppy understand that going to the bathroom outside is a good thing and associate it with praise.

3. Never Punish The Puppy For Mistakes.

It is also important that if your puppy happens to make a mistake, never punish them. After all, your puppy has no clue what you are punishing them for. Punishing your puppy is only going to lead to them being scared of you and fearing you. They may even start to disobey you.

4. Put Puppy On Regular Feeding Schedule.

It is also essential that you place your puppy on a very tight feeding schedule. That way, your puppy is going to be able to train their own bodies as to when they are going to have to go to the bathroom and when they are going to eat. Usually puppies like to go to the bathroom after they eat. Therefore, always take your puppy outside after they eat and reward them for going.

Being patient, developing a schedule and being consistent are very important things to consider when house training a pup.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Can-I-Make-House-Training-My-Puppy-Easier?&id=9037816

Can We Housetrain An 8 Year Old Dog?

This is a question I was asked recently and of course, I said, absolutely. This dog had literally been peeing and pooping in the house all its life. The elderly lady that owned it simply never took the time to housetrain her dog.

She felt that this breed was difficult to housebreak so why bother. However it turns out that she said that about every dog she ever owned. Now she is in hospice care and her daughter has agreed to take the dog if we could get it housetrained.

It seemed pretty straightforward and yes we have housetrained dogs this old before however there is now a twist in the problem. We always use a crate and I also like to get the dog out of the house and on the grass as much as possible so that the grass becomes the preference of where it does its business.

But guess what? This dog has recently been diagnosed as being allergic to grass. Well we were not going to quit just because of that. We actually helped the client create a potty area using a small hard plastic kid's swimming pool. Inside the pool we installed some artificial turf that you can get at any of the big box building material stores.

Then we bought a puppy exercise pen and stuck the potty pool inside. Now we have an enclosure that she can put her dog in until it does its business.

But wait we are not finished, there is still more.

We want the dog to be in one of three places for the next 4 - 6 weeks to create the new house training habit. The dog MUST be in one of these places at all times:

1. The crate

2. The potty pool area

3. Attached to the dog owner with a leash so that it cannot wander off and do it business in the house.

After 5 ½ weeks of training, she started allowing the dog to have some freedom in the house. She also followed my directions and removed the puppy x pen from around the pool so that the dog had access to it without having to be placed in the pool.

SUCCESS!!! Yes, this 8-year-old dog is now house trained and living a happy life with the new owner instead of being sent away to a shelter.

If your older dog needs potty training take the time to do it. It's never too late.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Can-We-Housetrain-An-8-Year-Old-Dog?&id=9021148

Things You Need to Know To Survive Your Puppy

When I talk about surviving your puppy I am talking about what you need to know to survive and co-exist with a puppy between the ages of 8 and 16 weeks. This can be a very exhausting and trying time for a new dog owner.

During this period there is the excitement of a new family member and the agony, like getting up in the middle of the night to take the newest family member out to do its business.

Hopefully this article will give you some things to consider and make this period with your dog just a little bit easier for both of you.

1. House training - yes this is job #1 at this point in your new dog's life. Forget about puppy pads, they just don't work. Instead use the crate training method. Make sure you get the correct crate. It should be big enough for your dog to stand up, turn around and lay down and that is all, no bigger.

Dog Crate

2. Crate - make sure you get the right one. No wire cages, you want the plastic type crate that is more of a den like place for your dog. Dogs are den animals and your new friend will learn to love his den.

Grannick Bitter Apple

3. Biting - all puppies do it and it can be very annoying as well as painful. Get some Grannicks Bitter Apple and spray it on yourself when the dog feels a need to chew on your hands for example. The dog learns that you don't taste good and simply quits. This product does not stain anything and is safe to use.

4. Sleep - as an 8 week old pup your new friend needs plenty of sleep and does not need to be carried all of the time. Babies and puppies also need to sleep to be healthy and happy.

5. Exercise - as your puppy gets older exercise is important to keep the little guy happy and calm. Play retrieve games but never tug-of-war. Walks are also a great way to get exercise for both of you.

Getting through those first 2 months can be tough for some people. In fact believe it or not some people actually find a new home for their dog during this period because it becomes too much.

If things seem like they are simply too much to handle make a call and find a trainer that can help you get through this rough period.

Source:Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8979356

10 Tips for a Happy, Healthy Dog

We all want the best for our canine companions. Here are ten simple ways to help your dog achieve optimum health and improve behavior. 

1. Double your exercise. Whatever the amount of exercise your dog is currently getting - double it! Exercise is one of the best ways to improve behavioral issues and keep your dog healthy and active. Go for a long hike, play a game of frisbee or take a run, just get 'em moving! 

2. Improve nutrition. I highly encourage my clients to read pet food labels carefully, and choose a food that will supply your dog with high-quality nutrition. Just as what we eat influences our mood, energy and behavior as humans, your dog's food is equally influential. Avoid foods that are packed with fillers such as meat by-products, wheat, corn, gluten, sugar (in all of its elusive forms) and chemicals. Believe it or not, a poor canine diet can lead not only to health problems, but behavioral issues as well. 

3. Incorporate constructive play into your daily routine. Play is a vital part of any dog's life, and it serves many purposes. Constructive play is a great form of exercise for the body and mind, and it serves as an outlet for many canine instincts. It also teaches your dog patience, self-control and attentiveness and can be a great supplement for obedience training. Constructive play is anything that is fun and engages a dog's instinct to track, trail, hunt, chase, retrieve, jump or run. 

4. Get out there and socialize! Proper socialization is what makes for a well-adjusted, confident dog. Make it a point to introduce your dog to 10 new people and 10 new dogs every week, even if she is well beyond her puppy years. The more adventures you can have with your dog, the better! Just be sure to stay tuned to her body language and excitement level - if she is uncomfortable or overly stimulated when meeting other dogs or humans, she made need work in this area. Talk with a professional to decide on the best way to handle social situations.

5. Rest up. Adequate rest is very important in the life of a dog - on average they sleep 12-14 hours per day! Dogs can become cranky and irritable when they aren't getting enough sleep, and this can contribute to bad behavior and poor health. Make sure that your dog has a comfortable, quiet place to retreat to when she is in the mood to get her zzzz's on. 

6. Give her a home within her home. It is important that your dog feel like she has her own space, or den, within your home - a place that is just hers where she can go when she is nervous, uncomfortable, tired or just wants to be undisturbed. It is her retreat, her safe space. Provide a comfy crate, or dog bed, and teach her that this is her spot. Once she is comfortable and happy to be in her den, you can teach her to go to her place on cue. 

7. Give her a job. People are often surprised to learn that dogs like to work, but it is an essential component in your dog's sense of belonging and purpose. Providing a form of adequate employment is especially crucial for working and herding breeds - it is ingrained in their genetics to perform a function. Without sufficient work to do, these dogs are likely to exhibit behavioral issues due to lack of stimulation and boredom. Giving your dog a job can be as simple as strapping on a doggy backpack during your walks or hiding stinky treats around the house so she can do some scent work. Agility work and advanced training exercises (teaching complex tricks and cues) are also excellent ways to send her to work. 

8. Keep up your training. Obedience and manners training isn't just for puppies. In fact, if you want a well-behaved, obedient dog for life, you'll need to keep up training for the life of the dog. Furthermore, advanced cues, such as a long-distance down stay in a high distraction environment, will typically require at least a year of training and a certain degree of maturity in the dog. Ongoing training (even just 5 minutes a day) will result in a patient, responsive and highly self-controlled dog. Not to mention it provides an awesome mental (and often physical) workout, and enhances the bond between human and dog. 

9. Proper grooming/hygiene. While over-washing your dog is definitely not encouraged, regular bathing and grooming is important. Poor hygiene and lack of grooming can result in skin irritations and infections. Overgrown nails can make walking painful and difficult. Dog's experiencing discomfort and pain are more likely to exhibit behavioral issues, and are more prone to biting. 10. Give 'em some love! Dogs crave human companionship and affection, and we should certainly be providing plenty of it. Make a point every day to have a nice, calm cuddle session. It is important to remember, however, that attention/affection is a form of reward, and will reinforce the behavior that it proceeds. For example, if your dog is highly excited and you give affection, you are inadvertently rewarding the high excitement and corresponding behavior. Be sure to give affection responsibly at the appropriate times.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?10-Tips-for-a-Happy,-Healthy-Dog&id=9411137