Tips On Potty Training A Puppy

Bringing home a new pet is always an exciting and happy time that everyone in the family enjoys. There is nothing more beautiful than a new puppy with their boundless energy and excitement. However, before you bring your new puppy home, it is important you know how to potty train the puppy to ensure he/she doesn't ruin your lovely home. In this article we will be looking at a few do's and don'ts when it comes to potty training.

The first step is to establish a specific place where your dog can go to the bathroom. Of course, this should be somewhere outside, but you should pick one specific spot. Then, every morning, as soon as you wake up, you should take the puppy out to that spot and wait until they defecate. This may take awhile especially the first time, however, make sure to stay there for however long it takes! Once the dog is done, make sure to reward him with a treat or praise as positive affirmation.

It is critical that you repeat this behavior every single morning without fail so that the puppy learns that whenever he needs to use the bathroom, he has to go to that specific spot outside. If you are consistent, you will definitely be rewarded by having a wonderfully potty trained animal. However, I am certain there will be some mornings when you wake up late and may find that your puppy has done their deed inside your house!

It is very important that you don't yell at or punish your dog, since it would be an accident and not their fault. Simply remove your dog to the proper spot outside and clean the mess up. Of course, even if you do diligently potty train your puppy, remember that he is still a puppy and will make mistakes. Whenever this happens, make sure to firmly tell him "no" but never yell, scream or hit him! If you do, then this will probably cause your puppy to develop nervous and anxious behaviors which will create even more problems in the long run.

Lastly, when potty training your puppy, be aware of your own energy and try not to be anxious or inpatient. This can have a negative effect on an impressionable puppy which can elongate the potty training process.

What Causes Some Dogs to Get Car Sick?

A person getting car sick is bad enough. No one likes feeling nauseated from motion sickness and certainly no one likes cleaning up after the experience either! But even worse is when you have a pet that is prone to motion sickness.

A person who has a tendency toward car sickness can always plan ahead and possibly take a medication that relieves the symptoms or use some other method such as pressure point therapy to combat the problem. But a dog can't communicate its needs like a human. Often you don't know there's a problem until you hear that dreaded "urping" sound -- and by then it's too late!

What is it that causes a dog to get car sick? It's actually not all that different from humans. In fact, it's often just the luck of the draw, as it were. Some dogs, and even cats, are just plain prone to car sickness. But there are some things you can do to prevent the problem.

It's important to note that often motion sickness is a problem common to puppies. This is because the area in the ear that controls balance has not yet developed completely. As a result they get dizzy or off kilter and this manifests itself through nausea.

If your pup has gotten sick several times in the car he may also come to associate the car with these unpleasant feelings. Thus, he becomes his own worst enemy and may well be causing his own car sickness. In such a case, a little Dramamine or similar medication for car sickness may help. After a few uneventful trips your pup will hopefully stop associating the car with sickness and adjust to the experience. Some even come to love going "bye-bye in the car."

Since Fido can't tell you he's feeling sick, you will want to familiarize yourself with the telltale signs, which include some or all of the following:

- Squirminess, indicating he's uncomfortable;

- Listlessness;

- Whining;

- Constant yawning;

- Drooling more than usual; and, finally,

- Vomiting

If this has been a problem with your dog, plan ahead. Keep towels in the car and maybe even a room deodorizer for clean-up. Keep Dramamine in an accessible place -- your purse or the glove compartment, for instance.

Another important tip is not to let him watch out the side window of the car. Watching everything rush past him is bound to trigger the nausea! If he wants to look out a window, be sure he's facing forward. They actually make seat belts for dogs that restrict them to a forward position.

It also helps if you can keep the drive as smooth as possible. This means anticipating and avoiding as many bumps or potholes as possible. It may also help to keep a window cracked open at least a little to give him some fresh air.

Whatever you can do to ease your dog's discomfort will ease yours also and enable you to concentrate on your driving rather than the disaster slowly developing in the seat behind you!

What You Need To Do If Your Puppy Gets Sick

Puppies are fragile animals that need extra love and attention until they can grow into their full adult bodies. When a puppy becomes sick you may be confused as what to do to ensure that the puppy recovers fully. There are a few practices you can take to help your puppy heal and feel better about themselves throughout the entire sickness. Follow the advice outlined here so that you can rest assured that your puppy will be fine and that he or she will recover in a short amount of time.

First of all it is important to keep the puppy warm, especially during the colder months out of the year. Consider purchasing an extra blanket or two for the puppy's bed so that they can snuggle comfortably in between the sheets. Secondly, keep your home warm to allow your puppy a comfortable area to inhabit. Always make sure your puppy has plenty of food and water so that they can remain properly nourished to help combat their sickness. All of these things are important towards helping your puppy remain comfortable and healthy.

Have you taken your puppy to the veterinarian? Depending on the severity of the sickness, you may want to take your puppy to get checked by a veterinarian. He or she may be able to prescribe some medication for your puppy to take so that he or she can heal quicker. No matter what you do it is important to help make your puppy feel loved, especially if they just moved into your home not too long ago. Pet your puppy and give it genuine love to let he or she know they are accepted in your household, that way the puppy feels confident about its living situation.

One last thing you should always do in your home is clean it thoroughly. Remove as much dirt, dust, and grime from your home as possible. Avoid creating an atmosphere where the puppy can breathe in a lot of dust and other particles, this is not healthy for the puppy. Try your best to clean your home as frequently as possible not only for your puppy's health, but for your health as well. Also, clean your kitchen and bathroom thoroughly to remove the possibility of mold from accumulating throughout your home. Mold is toxic and can harm you, your puppy, and anyone else living in your home. Maintain a clean home and take care of your pet and they will be back to normal in no time.

Your Liability As A Dog Owner

Depending on where you live your liability as a dog owner can seem very confusing. Ensuring that you are fulfilling your legal obligations while giving your pooch love can be complicated at best. Some of the things you are liable for may even be surprising.

First you are of course liable if your dog bites or hurts someone. Generally this applies only when you are not on your own property. Walking your dog, transferring them to the vets office, or going to the dog park are all places this completely applies. It also applies to other dogs, so if your dog is rough with other dogs you need to watch it carefully.

This even applies if the person is on your property. It is your job to make sure that your dogs remain in your control at all times. Even a beware of dog sign will not excuse you from this liability. If a person is taunting your dog or trespassing however you are not negligent.

A good example of negligence on your own property is your mail carrier. We all know of the cartoons and jokes where a mail carrier comes to deliver mail and leaves the property injured by a dog that someone was not watching. While carriers expect to avoid some animals allowing your animal to terrorize the carrier daily or actually harm them can result in a lawsuit being filed against you.

Secondly you are responsible for any and all property damage your dog causes. In some cases owners may consider your dogs waste to be damage and you may be fined if you do not ensure that it is picked up and kept with you at all times. Beyond this shared fences and other such items with your neighbors are also covered.

However if you were reasonably attempting to control your dog you may argue that you are not responsible. Things like your dog breaking free of it's leash for the first time or tunneling under a fence that you didn't know had to be fixed can be examples of this. Not fixing these situations or allowing them to continue will however provide proof of your negligence should an incident occur.

Finally if your dog creates an unsafe environment you may also be charged with negligence. If your dog messes on a sidewalk and someone slips you may be sued. If your dog digs holes on public land and someone breaks their ankle you may be liable. And if your dog threatens the neighborhood cat and causes them to come to harm you may be liable.

These are very general rules and may not apply in your area. Many of these depend completely on your local ordinances and looking up the corresponding legal codes may save you some stress. However if you follow these recommendations you can be pretty sure you won't be found liable for the actions of your dog.

Controlling your dog and the environment around them will reduce your liability. Giving you more time to give your canine companion love without worry. In addition you will not be surprised by a lawsuit that seems to come from no-where.

Five Ways To Enjoy A Walk With Your Dog

Walking is a boring activity. It is also a very easy activity but that doesn't necessarily make you want to walk. Here is a list of five different ways to make a walk more fun and involve your dog. Try one or more of them to kick start not only your fitness but your dogs fitness as well.

Take a camera with you when you are walking. You can use it to take selfies of you and your dog as well as things that your dog finds interesting.

Once you are used to taking pictures turn your walk into a scavenger hunt. See how early you can find and photograph the first red leaf of the season. In the spring see how many early shoots you can see. Every season will have something you can find and take a picture of making you walk less but have more fun.

Get a companion to walk with you. Finding someone who you get along with and who also wants to get in shape is a great way to make your walk fly by. If they have a dog get them to bring it along so your dog also has a walking buddy. This is also a great way to make sure you get out and walk when you say you are going to do so. Set a schedule and meet each other in a convenience place for a nice stroll with good company.

Bring your children with you. Walking with a curious dog or child will often make your walk seem like less of a chore. Children and pets alike will often take the chance to explore taking you onto paths you haven't seen before and increasing your enjoyment of the walk. This is also a great way to tire them out so you have more time to relax after your walk.

Walk somewhere you need to go. For this method you should choose something you want and will enjoy rather than something you are dreading. See it as a reward at the end of your walk and you can enjoy both the walk and the proverbial pot of gold at the end of your walk rainbow.

Finally turn your walk into a time to catch up on music, podcasts, or news broadcasts. Get yourself a good pair of headphones and listen to something while you are walking. Choose something that will put you in a good mood and make you feel productive. This might even be a good way to get caught up on all that reading you have been putting off.

2 Reasons So Many Dogs Are Put To Sleep Each Year

In this article I would like to discuss 2 reasons that so many dogs end up in shelters and are put to sleep each year.

The first reason is a lack of proper house training. Training your dog to do it's business in the correct place (outside on the grass) is very important. It seems like dog owners seem to be very patient and be willing to make all types of excuses when their dog is a puppy and having accidents. However there comes a point, usually around 12 months old when the owners say we have to get this dog house trained or it will have to go to the shelter.

Unfortunately as you are aware there always seems to be an abundance of dogs without homes and because of that over a million dogs a year are put to sleep in shelters all over the U.S. According to the ASPCA about 1.2 million dogs are put to sleep each year.

So if you want to help cut down that number make sure you house train your dog early. If you need help you can always get the help of a local trainer that can guide you through the steps to make it happen.

The other reason so many dogs are put to sleep each year has to do with lazy dog owners. Unfortunately some new dog owners do not realize how important proper training including obedience training is for their dogs welfare. Yes, a dog that is trained is much more likely to stay in a home and not end up in a shelter. Sometimes dog owners are just simply too lazy to take the time to do that training. They just do not realize that with as little as 15 minutes of training a day they can have a well behaved obedient dog.

Dogs that don't get trained do all sorts of bad things including destroying furniture, chewing up the carpet, knocking the kids down and more. These are the dogs that finally get booted out the door and end up in shelters.

Let me tell you a little secret. Every dog is trainable. Some may be a little more difficult than others but they can all be trained to be good family members. So save a dog's life today by going home and training your dog, it will love you for it.

There Is More Than One Way To Train A Dog

There are actually several different ways to train a dog. Some methods are actually better than others and achieve better results.

DIY - Of course you can always train your dog yourself however the results are not always what you would hope they would be. Training your dog can be very a very enjoyable adventure if you know what you are doing or at least have a little help and guidance from a professional trainer.

Group Training Classes - These are usually the least costly method to train your dog with the help of a trainer. However that surely doesn't mean that it is good for everyone. First of all the classes are held at a specific time and you have to be there no matter what other plans you may have. If you miss a class there is usually an additional charge. Usually the dogs are so distracted by each other that they are not listening to the handlers instructions. The instructor has to divide his/her attention on everybody in the class so there is very little personal attention. So it seems that your issues never seem to get resolved.

Private Lessons - This is considered the most effective method to train your dog. Everything is done in the dogs home so there aren't any distractions. You will add distractions slowly to the training as the dog progresses with the training. The most important thing for you to remember is that the dog should be trained at least once a day for no more than a 15 minute session. Twice a day is even better and three time a day is the ultimate, but never more than 15 minutes in a session.

Board and Train - This is a method than if done correctly can give you a nicely trained dog. The program should be at least 4 weeks, 28 days. Anything less and the results will not be what you hoped for. Make sure that the program you are looking at includes the exercise that you would like you do to be able to do. The program should also include at least two private lessons after the training to teach you what your dog already knows. This is the definitely the easiest way to get a trained dog.

Teaching your dog the basic exercises is a must, and you may even want to go farther with some advanced training. Continuing on to advanced training can be a lot of fun and enjoyment for you and your dog.