Start Your Pet Traveling At A Young Age

Even if you do not actually travel much, it's still a great idea to get your dog familiar with traveling. No matter how much you travel, your dog will still need to go to the vet at least once a year. And if you are like most dog owners who consider their dog a companion, you probably also take your pup to the park, lake, hunting, herding or many other places that require a car ride. So why not get the pup used to your vehicles right off the bat? The younger they learn; the more accepting of the idea they are. Imagine if you will the outcome of an unexpected, unavoidable, long distance trip with a dog who has seldom been in a car! I can tell you... it comes close to being a nightmare!

Puppy Travel Seat

Although training a puppy is not really effective until they are at least 3 months old, acclimating a pup to traveling can happen immediately. If your pup shows signs of anxiousness when traveling, start out with really short trips. Dedicate a few minutes each day or every other day to take a short trip around the block. Talk to them while you're traveling, reassuring them everything is OK, calming them and literally bonding in general. If the anxiousness continues, try other things such as lowering the volume of the radio if you have it on. Crack the window open a little to provide a bit of fresh air. And avoid smoking in the vehicle, especially with all the windows up! Continue to tweak with these things a little each trip until you reach a point where the pup appears relaxed and calm during your little trip.

Folding Soft Dog Crate

Once you get the dog accepting of short trips you can start increasing the travel time. Don't rush things, take the needed amount of time to keep the dog calm during the trips. As you increase your distance of travel you can also start reducing the number of times you do a trip each week if a busy schedule makes this tough on you. The important thing is to be consistent. Keep taking your pup on short trips like running to the bank, taking the kids to school, trips to the post office, short errands like these keep the pup comfortable with traveling.

While allowing your pet to get out of the house and go places you are also providing great mental and physical enrichment for good overall health. Always keep in mind that just like any passenger in your car, you need to ensure the dog's safety during traveling as well. Disciplining your dog to sit in one particular spot, as often as possible, works out best for everyone! Even if you feel the pup is too young to be trained, you can still make great progress in creating a happy environment when traveling with your pet if you provide a particular spot for your dog as early as possible. Pick a seat in the car that will most likely be available on every trip. My husband and I have several vehicles so the seat we use in the vehicle we are most likely to be in together is a different seat then the vehicle I seldom have passengers in. In the vehicles we use together, we use middle consoles or back seat positions. The vehicle I rarely have passengers in, my dog rides shotgun!

Plastic Dog Crate

Use a blanket, chew toy or other items your pet finds comfort in to help indicate this is the seat your dog should sit in. For those of us with smaller dog breeds, the use of a dog car booster seat, lookout or console seat can provide much more comfort to your dog since these seats elevate them high enough to see out the windows or catch a little fresh air if needed. Regardless of what size dog, whether you use a booster seat or not, always use a restraint on your dog. Keeping them secure in their seat instead of allowing the dog to roam around the cab will help reduce the risk of tragedy during accidents. Even sudden defensive maneuvers to avoid a collision can result in some serious injury to a pet who is unintentionally thrown into a dash or window!

Finally to solidify your pup's pleasure with traveling, praise them when you get to where you are going! Give the pup a treat or special little snack to show them what a good dog he or she was for taking the trip. In a matter of no time at all you can have your new puppy eager to hop in the car and go anywhere with you! And if you can do it without any car sickness or other adverse effects, that's a win-win situation for everyone! Happy travels!

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Start-Your-Pet-Traveling-At-A-Young-Age&id=9271797

A Poorly Behaved Dog, Not Separation Anxiety

I have written about separation anxiety many times and I always mention that it is always possible that the dog is not suffering from separation but is simply a poorly behaved dog. Well, I just found another poorly behaved dog that was misdiagnosed and I thought I would tell you how we solved the problem.

This dog was a 9 month old lab mix that came from a shelter and then was moved a couple of more times with its new family. The owners were using a wire crate (YUCK) for the dog when they were at work. Unfortunately, the dog had learned how to escape and was doing it on a regular basis.

The new family vet suggested medication along with training and behavior modification to help solve the problem.

When I met the dog owners they had already received complaints from neighbors along with a warning letter from their new apartment management.

We started the training and the dog seemed to do well with its new exercises however it was still noisy when they were at work so they decided to leave it loose in the apartment while they were gone. That wasn't good because it became destructive and started a new bad habit chewing.

When I received their phone call asking for help they told me this was the final chance for the dog it had to be fixed or else it was back to a shelter. I hated hearing that but understood so I suggested a new plastic crate that gives more of a den feeling than the old wire crate and a bark collar.

They followed my instruction and got the bark collar as well as an internet camera so that they could see what was going on with their dog using an app on their smartphones. The barking continued even with the bark collar properly fitted.

That evening they took the final step and purchased a plastic dog crate set it up and allowed the dog to play some retrieve the treat from the crate games. The next morning the dog went in the crate as they left for work. The dog barked for less than 5 minutes and then quit. Yes, peace for the neighbors at last.

So was it separation anxiety, no. That was my diagnosis from the beginning. What fixed the problem the bark collar? He barked through it with the wire crate. Was it the new den like crate? I think it helped tremendously. I have had several clients switch from wire to plastic with very similar results.

If you have a dog that barks and whines in the wire crate upgrade to plastic and see if that solved the problem. Remember that separation anxiety is not always the problem.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Poorly-Behaved-Dog,-Not-Separation-Anxiety&id=9029095

Why I Don't Like A Wire Crate

I always tell new dog owners that a crate is the greatest gift that they can give their dog. The reason is because dogs are den animals and they love having their own personal den. However quite often the dog owner gives their dog a wire cage and not a crate. In this articles, I will tell you why that is the wrong thing to do. 

A wire cage is not den like. In fact I always ask if you were in a wire cage looking out where would you feel that you are. The answer is always "In Jail". Exactly it does not have a den feeling at all. 

Petmate Sky Kennel

If you want a den for your dog the perfect crate is the plastic type crates that are approved for airline travel. They have a wire door in from however on the sides there are some small slits to allow in air. This crate is darker and if you choose the correct size it will give that den feeling that your dog wants so badly. 

So how do you pick the correct size for your dog, easy. You want a crate that is large enough for your dog to stand up, turn around and lay down. It should not be large enough for your dog to invite it's friends over for a party. This is a den not a cage. 

Most people find that over a period of time this crate becomes your dogs favorite place to rest, nap and even sleep. 

This type of crate is also the perfect crate to transport your dog and as I mentioned it is required for shipping via air. However it is also the perfect way to transport your dog via automobile as well. Being in a crate keeps your dog safe in case you slam on the brakes are involved in an accident. 

The wire type crate can be handy because it collapses but in an accident your dog is not protected as well and may even have a limp slip through the bars and injure or break a leg. I learned years ago to never use the wire cages. 

Here is one last warning about a wire cage. I have people that say we will simply throw a sheet over the cage to make it more like a den. That certainly does solve the den feel however I have seen several dogs that actually grab the fabric through the bars and pull it in and then consume it. That can be very dangerous and of course there is always the possibility your dog may choke. 

Plastic Crate

So invest in a plastic crate and give your dog that den that every dog wants. He will thank you for it!

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-I-Dont-Like-A-Wire-Crate&id=8808349

Advice For A New Dog Owner

If you have never owned a dog before or if it has been a long time since you owned a dog here are a few simple things that will make the entire experience a joy. Not only are you getting a pet but you are also giving a new home and a great life to a living breathing creature.

Crate

Plastic Dog Crate

In my opinion the very first thing a dog needs is a den, so that means a crate. However keep in mind that the wire cages you see at the pet stores don't look anything like a den. You want the plastic crate that is used to transport a dog via the airlines.

The crate should be big enough for your dog to stand up, turn around and lay down and no bigger. That is what gives it the den feeling.

Training

Every dog needs training. Size does not matter. Little dogs need training just like their larger cousins. Training establishes the master dog relationship and creates a bond between you and the dog. Plan early and find a trainer in your area that can teach you all the things that your dog needs to be a well behaved member of your family for the rest of its life. Owning a trained dog that you can be proud of is priceless so don't just go for the cheapest trainer you can find. You do get what you pay for so shop wisely.

Exercise

One of the most important things you can give your dog is exercise. Stop and think, it wasn't long ago that wild dogs ran all over our country. Then we domesticated them and brought them into our house. Their need to walk all day in search of food and water has been taken away.

Taking the time to walk your dog daily is just not a luxury for your pet it is a necessity. Your pet needs it to make him happy and mentally satisfied. Of course some dogs are not as active and do not need long walks. If you are a low energy person then be sure to pick a dog that fits your lifestyle and not a dog that needs to run 3 miles a day.

Health Care

Your dog needs a doctor just like you do. He also needs annual vaccinations and an exam to keep healthy. Find a veterinarian in your area that you feel comfortable with and he can let you know what is required to keep a healthy dog now and as it becomes a senior.

I hope these items give you some ideas about what is needed to keep a happy healthy dog for the rest of its life.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Advice-For-A-New-Dog-Owner&id=9210134