The Dog Chicks

New Dog Training DVD

2008-03-03T23:44:36Z

Em & I are both Happy to announce the release of our first Dog Training DVD called Ask Receive Celebrate Dog Training, it features Karen Lanoue-Lambrecht. Karen is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer; she started out working under a well known Behaviorist at Angell Memorial Hospital in Boston MA. Karen has her own business called Pawsitively Obedient which she started back in 1995 over the years she has help many pet dog owners with their dog?s. Karen?s experience and knowledge of dog?s made her an excellent choice for our DVD?s and after seeing the first DVD I?m sure you will agree. Even if you have had dogs for years you will learn something new, dog training is always evolving with new and inventive ideas. In our DVD we introduce you to Ask Receive Celebrate a simple technique that makes working with your dog fun. Karen will show you training aids like a head halter and harness along with a leash and collar. By using positive reward base training Karen will show you how easy it is to have your dog Sit, Stay Come and Down. Karen also shows you how to gain better control of your dog with attention training. This Dog Training DVD is packed full of basic dog training techniques that will have you watching over and over again. If you would like to order our DVD please go to http://www.arcdogtraining.com . We?re currently working on a new DVD for puppies which should be released this spring.

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Potty Training Your Dog

2007-12-22T00:07:40Z

Bringing home a new puppy or adult dog can be a fun and rewarding time, the one thing that everyone will face will be housebreaking your new dog. Even adult dogs that may have already been housebroken can still have accidents in a new environment. There are a few steps you can take to make the transition as easy as possible.

Take your puppy out on a leash or if you have a fenced in area watch him you need to know whether or not your pup goes potty or not.

Keep to a Schedule; Make sure you are consistent when you take your new puppy or dog out to go potty. Feed you new puppy or dog at the same time each day, most puppies will need ot go potty shortly after eating so be sure to take them out soon after eating. Give your puppy at least 10-15 minutes to go potty if they don?t bring them in and either crate them or keep them under close supervision and try again in 10-15 minutes. Keep doing this until your puppy does go out side. Many people make the mistake of not staying outside long enough only to come in and have the pup have an accident. This is not the puppies fault but the new owners for not staying out long enough.

Young puppies should go out at least every 2 hours, keep in mind their bladders are small and the nerves that maintain bladder control don?t develop until they are at least 12 weeks of age. Expecting a young puppy to hold it longer is unfair and setting the puppy up to fail.

?Don?t encourage accidents by leaving newspaper down or using piddle pads around your home. These items send the wrong message and will confuse your puppy.

Crate training is one of the best way?s to potty train your new pup, most dogs do not want to defecate where they sleep. Keeping your pup crated when you?re your not able to watch him will keep your puppy from having accidents in the house.

Use a command when you take your puppy out eventually they will learn what you want them to do. When your pup does go potty use the command and then praise them. You puppy will soon understand what you want and will be quicker to respond to what you want once he understands.

If your pup has an accident in the house don?t rub his nose in it, this is an old wives tail and has no training value. The only time you can reprimand for an accident is if you catch the puppy in the act of going potty. At this time a short ?No? is enough and then take the puppy out side to finish going potty.

Be Patient it takes a time for your new puppy to learn the schedule and to figure out what?s expected of him. He/she will soon catch on, as your puppy gets older you can lengthen the time that he will need to go out.

Housebreaking an adult dog is very similar to housebreaking a puppy, you need to keep to a schedule and be consistent with potty breaks. Some adults can be harder to housebreak because they have old habits to let go of, if you have a male dog that marks you may want to consider a belly band. In most cases adult dogs will housebreak quickly once they have figured out what is expected of them.

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Crate Training your Puppy;

2007-12-22T00:28:47Z

Crate training your puppy or dog is one of the best and safest things you could do for him or her. Crates offer your dog their own space or as I like to call it their own bedroom in your home. Crates replicate the den like environment that the dog?s ancestors and current relatives the wolves use. It can offer protection from other animals in the home or young children but in most cases it?s just a good place to sleep. Crate training your dog makes it easier to housebreak your dog or puppy and will also make it less stressful if your dog is ever hospitalized. There are 2 main types of crates, plastic and wire, each has it?s own pluses and minuses. If you?re dealing with an adult dog you may find a wire crate easier to acclimate your dog too, the open feel of them makes the dog more likely to enter them. Wire crates are easy to store most of them fold down for easy storage or transporting and have a tray that pulls out for easy cleaning. The down side to wire crates is if your dog has an accident it could seep out side of the crate and wire crates are not allowed on airlines.

Plastic crates are more enclosed and if an accident occurs it will contain it, they can be harder to clean and to store as they are only in 2 pieces and can be cumbersome to move. There are some plastic crates that fold down but they are limited by size. If you have small children you may want to opt for a plastic crate as hands, fingers and toys are less likely to get put in the crate. There is a 3^rd style of crate which is a soft sided but I only recommend these crates for dogs that are already crate trained and don?t try to escape the crate.

Which ever style of crate you choose make sure it?s big enough for your dog to stand up in and turn around. If your buying for a puppy make sure the crate will fit you pup once grown. When you are housebreaking a puppy you want to limit the space they have in a crate if they have too much room they are more likely to have an accident. Many wire crates have panels that allow you to limit the space in the crate and you can move it as your puppy grows. It?s harder with plastic crates as a panel won?t work, I?ve used cardboard boxes as a substitute and just replace them as needed.

To get your dog use to the crate start off by putting some treats in the crate, don?t close or lock the door just allow your dog to retrieve the treats. If your dog won?t go in just give him a little time, you may have to up the anti with the treats by using something he can?t resists. Do this for a couple of days, once your dog feels comfortable going in and getting the treats put some treats in let your dog go in and get them and close the door. Leave the door closed for 10-30 seconds, you want the dog to know it?s ok in side the crate but that you will also let him out. Continue to do this over several days while you increase the time in the crate. You may find using a Kong filled with a treat helpful to lengthen the time in the crate. Don?t give in to your dog?s wining this will just teach him that you will let him out any time he cries, but if your dogs should panic or appear to hurt himself let him out immediately. It may take several days to a couple of weeks to truly acclimate your dog to the crate, puppies do adjust faster. Put the crate in an area of the home that still gets traffic, dogs are social animals and even if they are in a crate they don?t want to be away from their family.

For quick cleaning use baby wipes to clean the inside of plastic crates or the tray for wire crates and if for some reason you plastic crate needs major cleaning try the foam bathroom cleaner to remove any dirt or soil.

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Please don?t buy a puppy from a Pet Store;

2007-11-14T05:31:20Z

Before you purchase a puppy, we ask you read through this page and visit the links provided. A Puppy Mill is any dog’s worst nightmare. Dogs kept in puppy mills are there only for the purpose of reproducing. Females are bred every heat until they are worn out. All animals are kept in small cages with little to no human contact. The parents are not screened for genetic health problems and puppies leave the mother too early so that they can get to the pet store when they are still little and cute. Puppies raised in this manner lack the proper socialization as young puppies and will display health and behavior problems later on. House training is often difficult.

If you choose to purchase a purebred puppy you should look for a reputable breeder. Finding a reputable breeder does take a little home work, but in the long run it is well worth the effort. A reputable breeder will NEVER sell puppies to a pet store no matter what a sales person may tell you. A reputable breeder will screen all inquiries from those wishing to purchase their puppies to ensure a happy home for both the puppy and the adopter. A reputable breeder breeds for the love of the breed, not to make a profit. In fact, if an animal has had proper genetic screening and medical care, it is virtually impossible to make a profit. To start your search check out www.akc.org and look for a specialty breed or all breed club in your area. A reputable breeder is usually competing with their dogs in either the Breed ring or the Obedience ring. Even if you don’t plan on showing your dog you should still look to purchase a dog from someone that is. Not every dog born in a litter is a show dog, in fact usually only 1 or 2 may make that grade and the rest are sold as loving, healthy family pets. If you are going to purchase a pure bred dog you are better off owning the brother or sister of a champion, knowing the same consideration of the breeding went into your dog as did the Champion litter mate. When looking for a reputable breeder ask as many questions of the breeder as you can. A good breeder will not be put off by questions, and in fact may ask more questions of you than you do of them. Ask about the hereditary health problems of the breed you are interested in. No breed is free of hereditary health problems but a good breeder will do their very best to limit them with health screening of the parents. Costs on purchasing a puppy from a reputable breeder vary, and in many cases they may be cheaper than a pet store but in the long run you will save because you will be getting a healthier animal which means less trips to the vet and less heartache when the dog cannot be saved.

There are a number of breeders that are referred to as “back yard” breeders, or “hobby” breeders. These breeders do not screen the dogs they breed for health problems and usually have very little knowledge of the breed. The do not compete with their dogs - they are simply looking to make a quick dollar off their dog. These breeders should be avoided just as pet stores should. If you can’t afford to purchase a pure bred puppy from a reputable breeder then PLEASE check out your local shelter or rescue for a puppy. Many times pure bred pups come into these groups, simply because a baby was born or the owners moved away. There is nothing wrong with these dogs, other than a former owner who was not committed to them.

Please remember that a dog in a shelter is not necessarily there due to behavior or health problems. Most are wonderful family pets who just couldn’t stay with their families. There are private rescue organizations who specialize in specific breeds and can help you with the specific needs of the breed you are interested in. Try searching www.petfinder.com for the breed you are interested in, and you may be surprised how many you find!

http://www.nopuppymills.com

http://www.puppymills.com/

http://www.turner.com/planet/promotions/puppies/prisoners.html

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“It’s freezing outside,,,,time to walk the dog.”

2007-11-14T04:39:09Z

I can’t tell you how much I dread the coming of the cold New England winger more every year. The fact that I have a gorgeous Border Collie who is immune to cold and damp weather forces me to rise up and embrace the *joy* of walking in the dark and in the cold.

Do I like doing this?

No, most often I don’t but there are a few nights when the sky is clear and the look of happiness on Bae’s face as she’s catching the Frisbee are enough to remind me that I did the right thing. After all, my ancestors were Norwegian farmers in the midwest and they had to deal with the cold without central heat or fleece pajamas so who am I to complain?

I’ve learned that it only seems like the worst activity in the world until you get out there and then it’s not so bad. Plus, I can avoid both myself and my Dog gaining the winter 10 pounds if I am able to keep “walking in the cold”.

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The Loss of a Pet

2007-11-02T04:55:18Z

Loosing a family pet is very traumatic for everyone in the family, there are a number of on-line recourses to help you and your family members through your loss. Some offer grief counseling others information and message boards. Please check these sites for more information and services offered.

? C.A.R.E. Pet Loss Hotline http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/CARE/

? UC-Davis Pet Loss Support Hotline http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/petloss/

? Pet Bereavement message Board http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ptbereavemen

? Arizona -Companion Animal Association of Arizona www.caaainc.org

? Massachusetts Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine
http://www.tufts.edu/vet/petloss

? New York College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University.
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/Org/PetLoss/

? Association of Pet Loss and Bereavement is a nonprofit association concerned people who are experienced and knowledgeable with pet death. http://www.APLB.org

? The Delta Society is a nonprofit organization that provides
information on the human-animal bond. www.deltasociety.org under
the Learn section (pet loss and bereavement).

? Various Articles by Moira Anderson Allen, M.Ed., on pet loss and
bereavement. can be found at www.pet-loss.net

? Washington State University College of Veterinary medicine
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/plhl/support.asp

? Pet Loss Bulletin Board
Best friends has a pet loss support forum for people dealing with pet loss. To join or visit the Prayers healing and support bulletin boards go to http://bestfriends.org/theanimals/forums/

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Dogs come in 2 colors

2007-11-02T04:14:14Z

According to Scientists at Stamford University dogs come in 2 colors Black and Yellow, they have determined this after doing gene research. Dogs do come in a variety of colors but they all stem from these 2 colors. An Irish Setter is just a different shade of yellow as is the apricot poodle. A chocolate lab is just a lightening of the black gene the same would hold true for a grey or blue dog. According to the report a Dalmatian which is a white dog with black spots is genetically a black dog. I remember someone once telling me that the Great Pyrenees was a black dog with a big white spot, I guess this can hold true for many dogs like the harlequin Great Dane. I Guess this will make people rethink what color their dog really is.

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I almost entered a pet store today….

2007-11-01T02:47:25Z

I?ve heard about this place and never been near it but this afternoon I was in that area and I though *Heck, I should go in and see how bad it really is just so I have had the experience*.

And as I was about to pull into the parking lot I remembered that the second I walked in I would be flooded with helpless animals that I would not be able to help and I would be reminded that their parents were existing in puppy mills and would never get help.

So I kept driving.

I know many pet store dogs who have good homes and I think that their people should send money to puppy mill rescue in the off chance that they will be able to help their dog?s parents. My family got our first dog, 75% off, from a department store pet shop and she was amazing. She came from Kansas which is a pretty big puppy mill state. Surprisingly, the Amish in PA are among the biggest puppy milling community because God gave them power over the animals and the animals bring them money.

But back to the fact that I let my guard down for a few minutes and almost entered a store which represents everything that I despise about people making money by using animals. And, in a way, this tiny event in my life made me appreciate my Dogger friends because when I told Christina what *I almost did* she was horrified because she knew what seeing those little faces would have done to me.

I would have remembered them forever and would have been able to do nothing to help them.

If you want to learn about how bad this is go here:

http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/

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Going Green

2007-10-30T02:56:43Z

Along with having my dogs I also have parakeets and finches, having birds has brought a new awareness to many of the things I use on a day to day basis. I no longer cook with Teflon pans I now use stainless steel, Teflon if over heated will give off a gas that will kill any bird in the house if it does this to a bird imagine what it’s doing to your lungs. I limit my use of air fresheners and only use ones that are ECO friendly, the majority of air fresheners are a hazard to birds, some of them can contain formaldehyde which is not good for anyone. I’ve gone back to the cleaners my grandmother used vinegar in water is my main one which is a great cleaner and also a natural disinfectant. If I need a little more a few drops of detergent goes a long way. Vinegar is a money saver for sure and cleans just as well if not better than the more expensive cleaners on the market. I use ECO friendly paint after reading that regular paint can give of fumes for years and it’s healthier for my birds, dogs and myself. Having birds has made me rethink what I bring into my environment which I know will just make my home a healthier place for my dogs, my birds and myself. I’m not suggesting everyone run out and get a pet bird but with more information about the environment and more products being ECO friendly we should consider what we are bringing home to our environment and make our homes a safer place to be.

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Keep your Dog Safe this Halloween

2007-10-27T00:41:26Z

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.

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