Surroundings Archives - Edie MacKenzie

How To Crate Train A Dog

December 16, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Crate training, also called kennel training, teaches a dog to spend time in a plastic, wooden or wire enclosure called a dog crate. A common misconception is that this is cruel, when in fact dogs actually love the security of the crate.

The crate simulates the den environment of a wolf, so not only is crate training humane, it actually draws on natural canine behavior.

When should you start crate training? On the first night you bring your pup home. You should of course have already bought a crate, and hopefully you got one with a sliding panel. Adjust the panel so that you give the puppy just enough space to lie down and turn around. Don’t be tempted to give the pup more space than that.

Use a soft towel as bedding, rather than a blanket. The towel will be just as comfortable, but better at mopping up any spills.If you got your pup from a breeder, ask if he has a strip of bedding which has her mother’s scent on it. The scent will help to pup relax and settle in quicker.

Put the crate in an area that will allow the pup to interact with the family. Don’t put the crate in a secluded spot as the puppy will feel isolated and take longer to settle. Remember that dogs are social creatures by nature.

At night you should put the crate in your bedroom – at least in the early weeks. The puppy will kick up a fuss at first. This is only to be expected, as she’ll be frightened by her new surroundings and most likely missing her mom and littermates.

Don’t feel you have to respond to every whimper though. Do this and she’ll soon figure out how to get you to come running.

Before you know it she’ll be quite happy to sleep in her crate. As she settles into the household you can start thinking about moving her out of your bedroom at night. She won’t like this at first and won’t be afraid to let you know it, but hang tough and she’ll soon accept the new situation.

Soon the crate will be her favorite spot in to whole house, and you’ll find it’s where she prefers sleeping.

Another benefit of crate training is that it makes potty training so much easier. Dogs are hygienic animals. They will not ‘go’ in their sleeping area. So crate training teaches your puppy to ‘hold it in’, from an early age.

Remember though that a puppy does not have the control of an adult dog, so give her regular toilet breaks every hour or so.

If she starts making a fuss and wanting to go out, get her outdoors right away. Give lots of praise when she relieves herself outside and your potty training will be much easier.

Read more about crate training puppies, dog behavior, dog health and other interesting dog advice at http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com.

3 Advantages to Hiring a Dog Walker

September 15, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Advantages to hiring a dog walker are:

1. Improved behaviour at home
Have you experienced any negative behaviour from your dog, for example chewing, boredom, hyperactivity anxiety aggressions and/or barking? If your answer is yes, you may consider increasing the number or length of walks with other dogs per week.

Behaviours like the above mentioned come from frustration. Frustration comes from a lack of exercise. When it comes to dealing with behaviour issues, adequate exercise for the breed and energy level is the first thing addressed. Once the energy is removed, the dog can focus on following commands. A provides socialization and exercise that makes city pets calmer, better behaved, less aggressive, friendlier and cause fewer complaints.. A calm mind comes from a well exercised dog!

www.westenddogwalking.co.uk is a resource for dog owners. The website provides information about dog walkers and their prices in Glasgow (UK) and surroundings. Travel Fans also find information about traveling with a dog.

When To Start Training And Socializing Your Dalmatian Puppy

December 31, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

Socialization and training your Dalmatian puppy need to start the very day of his arrival in your home. You should not address him without calling him by his name. A short, simple name is the easiest to teach because it catches the puppy’s attention quickly, so avoid giving him elaborate names. Always address the pup by the same name, not a whole series of pet names because the latter will only confuse your puppy. Say his name clearly, and call him over to you when you see him awake and wandering about. When he comes, make a big fuss over him for being such a good dog. He will then quickly associate the sound of his name with coming to you and a pleasant experience.

It is not too soon to start familiarizing him to the feel of a light collar, which can start as early as several hours after his arrival. Chances are he may hardly notice it or he may struggle, roll over, and try to rub it off his neck with his paws. You can divert his attention when this happens by offering a tasty treat, a toy, or by petting him. Before long he will accept the strange feeling around his neck and will no longer be aware of it.

Next is the lead; attach it and then immediately take the puppy outside or try to redirect his attention with things to see and sniff. He may struggle against the lead at first, biting at it and trying to free himself. Do not pull him with it at this point; just hold the end loosely and try to follow him if he starts off in any direction. Normally his attention will soon turn to investigating his surroundings if he is outside or if is taken into an unfamiliar room in your house; curiosity will take over and he will become interested in sniffing around the surroundings. Just follow your Dalmatian with the lead slackly held until he seems to have completely forgotten about it; and then try to get him to follow you.

Do not be rough or jerk at him; just tug gently on the lead in short quick motions, repeating his name or trying to get your Dalmatian to follow your hand while holding a bite of food or a favorite toy. If you have an older lead-trained dog, then it should be easier to get your Dalmatian puppy to follow along after him. In any case, the average Dalmatian puppy learns quite quickly and will soon be walking along nicely on the lead.

————————————————————–

Click Here Now – -and watch Chet’s Free Dog Training Video.

————————————————————–

Dog Behavior Problems – Window Jumping and How To Prevent It

June 25, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

When your dog escapes to achieve social interaction in the neighborhood, the owner must establish a very strong leadership role or you’re end up with dog behavior problems.

This tends to fulfill its need for socializing within the confines of its own home, a step necessary for complete correction. This can be accomplished through basic obedience command responses, practiced daily over a 6-week period.

Some problems of this type have been solved by installing frosted glass in the dog’s favorite escape window, eliminating its view of the outside.

However, several dogs have switched to other windows when this has been done, so the owner must be prepared to face this possibility.

The more important adjustment is to eliminate the social gratification formerly sought, such as “bumming around.” If neighbors are feeding or otherwise accommodating the dog, their help must be sought to stop this.

It is always necessary to determine when the dog jumps out of a window. If it occurs shortly after the dog is left alone, the owner must leave the house, sneak back to the premises and apply some strongly distracting stimulus as the dog begins to prepare for the freedom leap.

In every case, a period of initial anxiety behavior, such as whining, pacing or barking, precedes the actual leap.

If the jumping occurs just before the owner arrives home, the owner should arrange to come home earlier than usual to apply the corrections.

Just as in barking cases, the distracting stimuli should not be painful, but should take the dog’s mind off its anxiety.

This may involve a rap on a door some distance from the escape scene, and even stomping on the roof while monitoring the dog behavior problems by listening through an air vent.

If jumping is associated with fear of surroundings, it is necessary to change the area in which the dog is confined (the simplest method) or to switch the dog’s emotional association with the area from fear to contentment.

This may be difficult because the fearful response usually occurs when the pet is alone; conditioning requires the presence of the owner or some other intervening factor.

However, if the dog has been severely punished in the area, especially at homecoming times, it is often practical for the owner to stop the punishment and virtually ignoring the dog behavior problems when arriving home.

Any interaction between the owner and dog at other times should consist of play, training work for command responses and quiet activities, such as just sitting around.

This sort of dog behavior problems correction takes several days to weeks.

Recent Blog Posts