Puppy Training at Seven Weeks

Housetraining

• The first step in training any puppy, no matter his age, is to establish house rules by housetraining him. Both the Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommend taking a new puppy outside at least every two hours for at least the first few months after he’s been adopted. A puppy’s bladder is small and needs to be emptied much more frequently than an adult dog’s bladder. Because of this, puppies should be walked immediately after they wake up, eat or drink. Without having instant access to an outdoor toilet, they will certainly go potty indoors. Housetraining a puppy successfully can take weeks or months and usually depends on the dog’s personality and intelligence.

Showing Leadership

• It’s common for dog trainers to tell owners that their dogs will never obey commands unless the dog being trained sees the person giving the command in a dominant position. When dominance training includes physical punishment or verbal abuse, especially with young puppies, the dogs being trained can quickly develop anxiety and phobias as a result. A more gentle way owners can establish leadership is by turning their backs and ignoring the puppy anytime he misbehaves, such as jumping on visitors, biting or barking. If the behavior continues, a trainer will usually put the puppy in a quiet room alone with a chew toy so he doesn’t get overly bored or destructive. After ten minutes, the dog is released. This method teaches puppies which behaviors are not allowed in their home.

Controlling Diet

• Owners and trainers help teach pets who’s the boss by feeding puppies on a schedule. A key rule when training a puppy is to never leave a bowl of food down for the puppy to eat on all day. Instead, owners make sure they are at home every time their puppies are fed and that they immediately take the dogs for a walk afterward. When training a puppy, an owner should also hand feed him for several weeks. If the puppy acts aggressive or growls while eating, it is common practice to immediately take the food away, wait five minutes and try hand feeding the dog again. Feeding on a schedule or hand feeding a puppy teaches the puppy who controls his food.

Praise

• It is important for owners of young puppies to show patience and remember that accidents do and will happen. Constantly scolding a puppy runs the risk of turning him into a timid and nervous pet, according to tips provided by the Humane Society of the United States. Dogs develop their behaviors based on what is expected of them, and praising a puppy helps teach him what behavior is expected. Whenever a puppy does something a trainer wants, the trainer will pet him, call him a good boy and give him a tasty treat or playtime with a favorite toy.

Socialization

• Owners can socialize a puppy by taking him to a dog park or arranging a play date with a friend’s dog soon after adoption. This is critical to his behavioral development. Properly socializing a 7-week-old puppy helps him learn social hierarchy and understand who his master is. It can also help prevent puppies from growing into nervous and anxious canines.

   

Teaching Children to Care for Pets

 

You’ve finally gotten that family pet that you and your children have always wanted. A pet can be a wonderful experience for children, teaching them about responsibility, love and how to care for another living thing. But it can take some work from you to teach children how to care for pets.

You may want to make a pet care chart in order to keep track of your child’s responsibilities.

Instructions

1. Talk to your child about their responsibilities regarding the pet.  Decide with your child what your child’s chores will be when caring for the pet. Be willing to negotiate and compromise. Perhaps you will take care of cleaning up after the pet, if your children take care of feeding and watering the pet.
2. Make sure your children’s chores are age appropriate. A 5-year-old child may be able to help you clean a hamster cage, but they won’t be able to do it on their own.
3. Make up a pet care chart that clearly explains your child’s chores. Whenever your children take care of a chore, check off a box or put a sticker on the chore chart. Give them a prize, such as a movie out or a pizza night whenever they get a certain amount of stickers or checks.
4. Teach children the benefits of having pets. Not only should they have the responsibilities associated with pets, but they should have the joys too. Teach young children how to pet dogs and cats and show them how to hold smaller animals such as guinea pigs and hamsters. Teach children to be gentle around the pet so your pet doesn’t fear your child. Allow children to feed, train, give treats and play with the pets so your pets become bonded to the children and not only to you.
5. Expect to remind your children of their responsibilities in caring for the pet. In a perfect world, you would not have to remind your children over and over again to do their chores, but children need the repetition. Expect to have to remind them, but don’t expect to have to do the chore yourself, unless your children are very young.

Tips & Warnings

•  A pet that has gone through some training will be easier for your child to care for.
•  If a pet becomes aggressive with a child, separate your child from the pet.

How to Remove Pet Odor

We all love our  pets, but we aren’t nearly so fond of the smelliness of our furry friends. Early  detection is the best way to remove pet odor from your home–this will give you  enough time to remove the odor before it becomes a permanent fixture.

Instructions

• 1. Find the mess. Use your eyes and nose to find the stains that you are trying  to remove. You can use a black light to illuminate the stains you may not  otherwise find. Lightly outline the invisible stain with a piece of  chalk.
• 2. Use a pet stain and odor removal product to get rid of the stain. Be sure  that it contains a biological odor eliminator so that it breaks down the stain.  Do a spot test first on carpet or upholstery in an inconspicuous place to insure  that there won’t be discoloration.
• 3. Remove stains. If the stain is fresh, put paper towels down and press into  the stain, absorbing as much moisture as possible, until it feels almost dry to  the touch. Follow the directions on and use the stain removal product to get the  stain and odor out.
• 4. Use a wet/dry vacuum if necessary. If there are a number of old stains or you  are having difficulty getting out with the stain and odor remover, use a wet/dry  vacuum with clean water to thoroughly clean and rinse both the carpet and the  pad underneath. Avoid steam cleaning as it will permanently set the  stain.
• 5. Wash pet bedding and any textiles in the areas where your pet spends the most  time. Use detergent and some baking soda to remove any remaining pet  odor.
• 6. Use carpet deodorizer when you vacuum and use a fabric refreshing spray on  upholstery and carpet once you have cleaned it thoroughly to keep it smelling  fresh.

How to Make a No-Sew Braided Fleece Dog Leash

Braided fleece leashes are gentle for training puppies.

Braided fleece dog leashes are soft to the touch and allow your pet to tug or pull with less discomfort to his neck. Fleece stretches slightly to absorb shock as a dog pulls forward on a leash. This results in less stress on his collar and your hands and arms as you walk or train your pet. Braiding the fleece strips together adds strength to the leash.

Things You’ll Need

• 2 yards fleece material
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Metal swivel snap
• 1 foot twine
• Colored duct tape

Instructions

1. Lay the fleece material out on a flat surface. Measure 2 inches from the edge on one short side of the material and mark it with a pencil. Open a tape measure and extend the tip across the length of material. Lock the tape measure and set it down on the material at the 2-inch marking. Place a pencil next to the tape measure and draw a line down the 2-yard length of material. Cut the 2-yard by 2-inch wide strip of fabric with scissors. Repeat this step to cut two additional strips of fabric in the same size.

   2. Hold the metal swivel snap in one hand. Fold one strip of fleece in half lengthwise. Hold the fold behind the swivel snap eye in a loop and thread both ends through the loop. Pull both ends tightly to form a lark’s head knot. Repeat this to attach the additional two strips. You will end up with three sets of two pieces of material hanging from the swivel snap.

   3. Anchor the swivel snap to a solid surface by clipping it to an object or use duct tape to hold it steady. Grasp the left set of two strips and cross them over the center set of two. Grasp the right set of two strips and cross them over the center set of two to form a braid. Continue this sequence until you have 2 inches of non-braided material. Keep tension on the fabric as you braid.

   4. Make a loop in the unbraided material with all six strands. Pass the loose ends through the loop and pull all the loose ends tight to tie a knot securing them in place.

   5. Cut a 1-foot length of twine with scissors. Hold the knot on the end of the leash next to the length of leash to form a loop about 6 inches around for the handle. Place one end of the twine about 2 inches below the knot on the leash portion and hold it in place with one hand. Use your other hand to twist the twine in a circular motion over the leash, the leash and handle junction and about 2 inches past the knot. Loop the loose end of the twine through the second to last revolution around the leash and pull it tight. Cut off any excess length.

   6. Cut a strip of colored duct tape about 6 inches long. Wrap the tape tightly around the twine to cover it from sight and secure the handle.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose your swivel clip size according to the size and weight of your pets. Large dogs that tug harder will need a larger swivel clip for strength.
• Use three different colors of fleece for a variation in style.
• You can use a permanent glue to attach the handle to the leash length if you have a smaller dog that doesn’t tug hard.

8 Ways to Train a Dog

Here is a great link to check!

http://www.wikihow.com/Train-a-Dog

Calming a Hyper Dog in the Car

Your dog should associate the car with a fun trip.

Driving can be stressful enough, but if you have a high-strung dog pacing from side to side in the backseat, or — heaven forbid — hiding under your seat or crawling around under your pedals, you have a real safety hazard on your hands. Unless a pup is well-socialized for car rides, even a brief trip can be an anxiety-filled experience. Keeping a hyper dog calm in the car takes patience, some common sense and desensitization, but the reward of being able to travel with your pet is worth it.

Secure the Dog

A dog who is hyper or anxious should never ride unrestrained in the car. Place your dog in a crate secured by the seat belts in the car, or fasten her into a crash-test certified dog restraint harness. Dogs are den animals; they often feel most secure enclosed inside a crate. Resting comfortably in her bed inside a crate that is covered with a towel may be just the thing to alleviate her anxiety. Lisa Peterson of The American Kennel Club advises to place the crate in the middle seat and row of the car — as opposed to the very back of an SUV — and have the dog facing forward to expose her to less movement and minimize motion sickness.

Desensitization

This approach will take time and dedication on your part, but can go a long way with pets who are afraid, uncomfortable or anxious in the car. Start by putting the dog in the car with you for several minutes each day; you don’t even have to turn the car on or drive away. Sit quietly and calmly with the dog, stroking her coat and offering lots of praise; then return her to the house. After doing this for several days, the ASPCA suggests introducing short rides for a couple of days, once or twice a day, always remaining calm and quiet while giving your dog praise. If the dog doesn’t exhibit signs of anxiety — panting, drooling, trembling or whining, try a five-minute drive in your own familiar neighborhood and slowly work up to longer drives.

Take Your Dog to Fun Places

If you only put your dog into the car to take her to the vet, you can imagine how she might associate fear with riding in the car. Alleviate this by making sure the majority of your car trips together are somewhere fun, like a visit with your friends, a puppy play date or a trip to the park, even if it’s just located down the street. Bring her along to pet stores and other establishments that allow dogs. Make it a happy time and she’ll come to associate a car ride with pleasure, not anxiety.

Diversionary Tactics

An exercised and tired dog is less likely to be anxious in the car. If you are taking your pet on a road trip, provide lots of stimulation before you go. Take her favorite ball or toy, and stop frequently to give your dog time to stretch her legs, potty, drink water and get some quick playtime in if possible. Give your dog a complicated treat that she has to work at to eat, such as a rubber toy stuffed with peanut butter or cheese. For severe anxiety or for carsickness, ask your veterinarian for advice. He may recommend an herbal calming agent or medication to treat the dog for motion sickness.

What Can Make a Dog Suddenly Growl at Someone He Loves?

Your well-behaved dog may growl at you for various reasons. A dog growls to provide a warning that something is wrong or to show that he thinks he is in charge. When you know your dog loves you, a random, uncommon growl toward you can startle you. Before you become afraid of your best friend, it is always good to find out what caused the growl in the first place. To prevent growls from turning into something worse, such as a bite or an attack, give your dog proper training to prevent such events from happening.

 

Food

• When you place, or drop, food in front of your dog, the excitement and opportunity to eat can be overwhelming to the dog. Your dog may let out a growl if you attempted to take the food away or if you get too close to it. If your dog is eating around other dogs, a growl can be common, as the dog likely is warning that he will not share with the other dogs. If a growl is directed toward you, it may be startling if the dog has never growled at you before, especially in this situation. Consider a few things before forming a fear. Was it a new type of food, a treat, a bone, something that fell off the counter that the dog knows he should not be eating? Situations like that may cause a growl. If your dog is eating out of his bowl and growls at you for simply walking by, then you may need to hire a trainer, or train the dog yourself, to nip that behavior right away to prevent a bite from happening.

Jealousy

• If your dog becomes jealous, a growl may arise. If you are playing with, or petting, another dog, your dog may see that as unfair, or upsetting, which will cause the growl toward you or the other dog. Your dog may get jealous of another dog around you, especially if you have not socialized your dog with other dogs. Start training to prevent the growl from escalating to a bite or attack.

Health

• When your normally well-behaved dog growls at you while you are petting him, there may be a health issue causing the growl. Pay attention to where you were petting your dog. Look for certain indications that an injury may be possible, such as if there is a cut or sore on the skin, the dog is limping or favoring a leg or if the area is swollen. Bring your dog to your veterinarian as soon as possible if you notice something may be wrong with your dog’s health. Your dog may also growl at you if you are attempting to clean a wound or administer medication.

Scared

• Dogs growl if they are scared or startled, just like a human may gasp or scream. If you sneak up on your dog, you may scare him and cause him to growl at you. If the dog is unaware that you are in the room or approaching him, the surprise may set off a growl as a warning that you startled the dog. If your dog is hard of hearing or losing his sight, you may need to try to let your dog know you are coming into the room by turning on a light or making noise like stomping your feet or talking to the dog.

Passing Away

• An elderly dog may growl when it is close to his time to pass away. Your dog may not feel well due to old age or because he is getting weak. A growl may happen as a sign that the dog is dying and wants to be left alone. At this time it is up to you to decide if you want to let the passing happen naturally or to euthanize your dog. If the dog is not in pain, you may decide to let the passing happen on its own, but if the dog is uncomfortable or suffering, euthanasia may be a better choice for your dog.

How to Train a Service Animal

A service animal is specifically trained to perform a service to a disabled person. A service animal is usually a dog and it is trained to serve and assist a person with everyday tasks. Service animals range from the familiar guide dog to help the visually impaired to a service animal that helps a mentally disturbed individual cope with daily life. Read on to learn how to train a service animal.

Socialize your service dog. A service dog must be able to socialize with people, animals and other environments and behave well in public whether indoors or out. Purchase whatever equipment may be necessary for the dog to wear. A guide dog for the blind wears a special harness, but many other service dogs don’t have special equipment except for a cape or sash that distinguishes it as a service dog. Train your dog to perform a service such as bringing you a needed item. Some pets have shown service dog aptitude by bringing their owner a needed medication and even the telephone in a crisis situation. Such animals can become working service dogs by expanding on these qualities by also including verbal commands, hand signals and other indicators to alert the animal when help is needed. Also, there are specific service dog training schools that can help by doing additional training or teaching you how to train your own animal. Take your animal-in-training out into the public to socialize him and get the animal used to other people and situations. There are equipment and patches available for the animal to wear that indicates he is in training as a service animal. A service animal can go anywhere his owner goes and prior arrangements are not necessary. Inform the public. When the animal is out in public others should not touch or talk to the service animal. Put a patch on the service animal’s vest that warns others not to touch, pet or talk to the animal because he is training. Use consistency and praise to train your service animal. Remember, if you are training your own service animal to do particular tasks for you, praise and reward him during the training sessions just as you would any animal you’re training. After he has graduated and become a service animal, these tasks become part of his everyday life. Just a brief thank you or a pat is all that is necessary after doing a service. Get help training your service dog. There are organizations that will help you train your own service dog as well. Contact one of the training schools in your area.

•  Be alert for a dog that has natural ability for service work. Sometimes a companion dog works out well with just some additional training specific to the service he will be performing. Then, of course, he will cease to be a companion dog and will be known as a service dog.
•  Sometimes it can take years to get a trained service dog so if you can train your own you can save valuable time.
• Distinguish a service dog from a companion dog by reading the definition in the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). If your dog does one thing for you and you are disabled as defined by the ADA, your dog is classified as a service dog. Certification is not required.

How to Train a Therapy Dog

A therapy dog requires different training than a service dog for the disabled. A therapy dog’s goal is to offer comfort and companionship to patients in hospitals, nursing homes, mental centers; or visit libraries and schools to “listen” to young children read. In addition to basic obedience training, therapy dogs need special training to pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen® Certificate Test (CGC) and Therapy Dog International requirements before entering a therapy dog program. Read on to learn how to train a therapy dog.

Choose a dog with a calm, friendly demeanor. Hyperactive dogs or those who show no interest in the world around them will not be good therapy dogs.

Use gentle, positive reinforcement to teach the dog basic commands. He must learn to come, sit, stay and down. All therapy dogs must be housebroken, have good manners and obedience skills.

Teach your dog it’s OK for strangers to approach you and talk with you. Your dog cannot become protective if someone touches you, shakes your hand or pats you on the shoulder.

Walk your dog in public places and take him to a variety of outdoor events, such as parades, carnivals or flea markets so he gets accustomed to unusual noises and crowds.

Educate your dog that certain behaviors are not acceptable, including jumping, sniffing, barking, licking and growling.

Maintain your dog’s health and appearance by taking him for routine check-ups with your local veterinarian. This experience will prepare him to allow the CGC examiner to groom him and inspect him without being shy or resistant.

Teach your dog to heel and not pull and strain on his leash. To pass the CGC test, he must walk with you on a loose leash to prove you are in full control.

Take your dog to the dog park to learn how to play well with others. A therapy dog must learn to show no more than casual interest in other dogs when you stop to talk with another dog owner.

 Tips & Warnings

•  Remember “down” is not a position that may be comfortable for your dog, so don’t try to make him stay in that position for long periods.
•  The dog must learn to let a stranger pet him.
•  It is very important that a therapy dog be comfortable with children and not respond negatively if a child tugs an ear or touches the dog in a way he might not like.
•  The dog can’t show signs of shyness, try to go another person or break position to pass the CGC test.
• The dog will be tested by a AKC Canine Good Citizen® evaluator before a designation of therapy dog is given.

How to Help a Shy, Timid Dog

Perhaps you’ve adopted a dog from the Humane Society and his timid behavior stems from a life of neglect or abuse. On the other hand, maybe the little guy has been timid from the moment his eyes opened upon the world. In any case, there are techniques you can try to help bring your shy pooch out of his shell.

Get down to his level. From a dog’s point of view, you’re a giant. Just your size is intimidating. Kneel down or sit on the floor when you’re coaxing your dog towards you.

Open your hands when you reach towards your pooch. If a dog has a history of abuse, it’s likely that a raised arm or a clenched fist is associated with pain. Keep your hands low and your palms outstretched towards your dog to show him you mean him no harm.

Speak in soft lyrical tones. Not only do loud voices scare timid dogs, they also associate low tones with discipline. Try keeping your voice soft but raising your tone higher to indicate an open and accepting mood.

Move slowly. Timid dogs will see quick, erratic movements as threats and will retreat. For this very reason, monitor young children in the presence of a timid dog. If a child waves his or her arms and the dog sees it as a threat, he may bite the child.

Avert your gaze. In the animal kingdom, a direct focused stare is a challenge. Dogs are naturally pack animals and if stared at long enough, will either assume a subordinate role and acquiesce or rise to the challenge and make a threatening movement. When a dog is already shy, a direct look can make him shrink away in fear.

Allow time for your pooch to come out of his shell. Trying to force him to submit to petting or behavior you think is appropriate may cause him to withdraw further. Instead, provide him with a soft bed in a secluded place and put tasty food out for him. Give him some time and space so he can see that you mean him no harm.

Bring another dog in to help a shy dog model positive behavior. Dogs imitate other dogs’ behavior. By introducing another pooch with a healthy attitude, your shy dog will learn that it’s OK to trust humans.

A frightened dog is a dangerous dog. He doesn’t want to harm you but if he feels he is backed into a corner, he may bite.