With Halloween fast approaching it?s important to remember that dogs are allergic to Chocolate and Raisins. Children should be reminded not to leave candy treats lying around where your dog might eat them. Costumes and makeup could also pose a hazard to your dog if he likes to chew, or if you have a new puppy in the house. If you have kids coming around trick or treating crating your dog might be the best option, I suggest giving him a Kong filled with a treat to keep him/her busy. Another option is to use the trick or treating to train your dog when someone comes to the door. Sit, Stay or a Down Stay prior to opening the door is a good way to reinforce your training. Keep in mind the costumes may trigger a reaction from your dog, so you should be prepared for it. Since Tricks are part of Halloween why not teach your dog a new trick to show off to the neighborhood children, or dressing him/her up for the occasion.
Archive for the Category »Puppy Care «
Keep your Dog Safe this Halloween
Toys for your Dog
There are a number of toys on the market for your dog and puppy and most of them are safe. For those of you that like Frisbees I recommend getting a soft sided one instead of the hard plastic which can be hard on your dog’s mouth and teeth. Chew toys like the Kong are great for chewing if you have an aggressive chewer or just need to keep you dog our puppy focused on something. Try filling the Kong with peanut butter and kibble then freezing it. This will make the treat last longer. Another option is soaking kibble in chicken broth, then freezing.
Soft squeaker toys or stuffed toys should only be used under supervision so that the stuffing is not eaten or the squeaker is not removed and possibly eaten. Make sure any balls are appropriate for your dog’s size. A large dog can easily choke on a small ball. Any toy that shows any wear or tear should be discarded. Dogs can get blockages from toy parts which can make them sick or require surgery.
Your Puppy’s First Weeks Home
It is very important to remember that a Puppy is just a baby.??? You have a certain amount of time in which to help your Puppy define his/her place in the world and in your home.? To start with, when you bring the Puppy home do not have every person in the world come over to meet them.? This is called flooding and it will do they Puppy no good at all.? You want them to feel secure in your home and you want them bonding with you and not being passed around like a Christmas toy by people who have no investment in how your Pup grows up.? Keep his or her world small and stable for at least the first 4 weeks that you have them.? This same rule applies when you’re walking the Puppy.? If you allow everyone to pick them up and kiss them the message your Pup is getting is that they are more important than you are and that is not an impression that does them any good as they get older and bigger.
The rule I follow with Puppy’s interacting with other dogs is simple, you have a ratio of 3 to 1 in terms of your Pup’s time with you as compared with other dogs. ?? The reason for this is simple, Dogs bond more tightly with other Dogs and you want to be the *Star* in your dogs life.? You want to encourage Puppy’s bond with humans first. and foremost.? This means that if he/she spends 15 minutes playing with another Dog or Puppy you want to then give them 45 minutes with you.? I would extend this rule to the instructions that you give your Doggie Daycare by telling the Daycare Facility that you wanted your Pup to have one on one time with a staff member.?? It may add a little bit of money to the bill but you will be paid back for that for the life of your dog.
My brilliant friend Patrice told me that Dogs who grow up in a stable home without chaotic experiences? will relate very quickly to any experience as they age because there are fewer triggers caused by lack of direction and bad experiences.
By making your world their world they learn to look to you first and that is what a good pet does.? They look to their parents first.? This doesn’t mean that they can’t have fun but that you want them to begin their journey with you and you alone.? You can also use this time to set boundaries for behavior that will benefit both you and them for the rest of your Dogs life.? You can teach a Puppy *sit* almost as they are walking in the door and they will never forget it which begins the foundation you will work from forever.
With a rescue Puppy it is crucial that you not bring them home and traumatize them with wild activity because they’ve been through enough and what they need is to associate your home and *your* family with peace and safety and boundaries.? I’m always horrified when I hear that someone brought their rescue Pup home and exposed them to 15-20 people in one weekend.? Trust me, they do not need that kind of attention because what they do need is calmness and rest.? And don’t let them trick you by ‘acting all crazy’, remember, they’re still just a baby.
