Puppy and Dog Basics Forum / puppy&dogBasics / puppyBASICS / Training/Safety

Teenagers

SpringRoad — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 16:13:34 GMT

We have a pup that just turned 1 March 9th. The last couple monthes he has been quite a handful. The biggest problem is leaving him home alone. He doesn't get left that often, but when he is left alone he has started going crazy. He literally clawed holes in our landry room walls and pulled moulding off the wall from around the door and chewed them to itty bitty pieces. Is anyone else having these kinds of troubles?

Potty Training

didi — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 09:03:03 GMT

Hello,

I am picking up my new puppy on Thursday, I already bought all the stuff he will need.I already have a dog who lives with my mom at the moment.

Now..the question...what type of technique did you use while potty training your puppy?

What I did with Gizmo, I gave him a space in the living room which was let's say closed with fence, and he was only allowed to go out when he is eating and playing...after sleeping/eating/playing I would take him outside to let him relive himself. It is not as cruel as crate, since he has lots of space in the fenced area
This is what I plan on doing with my new puppy as well, but do you have any other suggestions????

Tell us how did you potty train your puppy????

Potty Training Chihuahuas

AlohaMeegs — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:32:38 GMT

I have a 9 month old chihuahua and he just will NOT be potty trained!!!

I had heard that chihuahua owners use litter boxes due to their small bladders (thus needing to go very often) and also because in the winter they don't like to go outside. Well, I use the litter box but he will only go in there about 6 times out of 10. I have tried to give him lots of praise when he does go in there, but it doesn't help. Also, WHEN he DOES go in there, because he is a 'big boy' and lifts his leg when he pees, it sometimes goes right over the edge onto the floor anyway. I am starting to wonder why I even bother because it seems like I am always cleaning up after him anyway!

Does anyone have any ideas or tips for chihuahuas?? Are they able to be trained to go outside?? Are there litter boxes with extra-tall walls for 'big boys' who lift their legs?? HELP!

Training Verses Conditioning

ficionado — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 11:35:15 GMT

Training Verses Conditioning

Out with old ways bring in the new way of doing things.

Devices such as the Choke collars to Gentle Leaders, “Humph”,

What is right what is wrong?

But you ask what is conditioning if not training. It is the same but not the same. It is the frame of mind along with action between human handler and animal learning to communicate.

I am a Canine Stylist, This is the new term for my trade to date, however I have been a Dog Groomer for 28 years and I see a great cross section of pure breeds and crossbreeds. I am a second generation breeder of dogs, an exhibitor and have much experience in conditioning dogs over the years

I recognize well balanced pets to the pet that displays anxieties do to poor handling from owners, lack of socialization and poor breeding. These are all factors that play apart of a mannerly to unmannerly pet.

I will refer to Training as Conditioning from this point on.

Conditioning starts day one once that puppy is picked up and held in your arms to take home and become a member of the household.

Did you plan and envision rules and expectations of this pet regarding it daily care and household rules such as to mention a few:

· The puppies crate will be placed here,

· Out door potty regiment strategies,

· Exercise and feeding and potty schedule?

· When does Conditioning start but how…?

Cogitate these simply considerations. They are extremely important.

In my next posting I will expand on each.

Don't let planning slip to the wayside. Planning and carrying out the above does not need to be overwhelming.

Owner/handler must be steadfast, persistent with a dash of creativity in plans and rules. Consistency will prevail and if not you have to ask yourself why is it not working? What am I not doing right? Statistically 9 times out of 10 it is human error.

A small percentage of pets are unable to learn which is due to unknown issues in the make up of that specific pet.

You the pet owner can mold your pet into a well balanced happy fun puppy still expressing individual personality antics.

The following books I recommend are:

Cesar’s Way authored by Cesar Millan

Good Owners Great Dogs authored by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson

Stay tuned.

Cheers

Ficionado

How To Avoid The Butter Wrapper Caper

ficionado — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 10:30:22 GMT

How To Avoid The Butter Wrapper Caper

My friend Tracey owns a pug named Belle. Tracey was completely enamored by her perfectly pugnacious Pug. Although the name Belle means beauty, this Pug has some less than lovely eating habits…some might even call this Pug’s dietary mannerisms repugnant.

Common knowledge to any Pug owner is that Pugs own their owners. From the throne in their castle to all the subjects in their kingdom, this breed can be quite possessive of what they reign over -Belle is no exception. Belle expects to be endeared by every human, although she is only loyal to Tracey and her daughter, Kat. She has heart of a lion and demands all and any size canine foe to submit to her. Any dog that disagrees will incur her wrath. This has labeled her a bit of a scrapper in the neighborhood.

The taste palates of a Pug can be quite eclectic at times. For example, I am aware from my own experience that many small breeds, when pampered by being fed people food, become the most frustrating and finicky eaters; however, when it comes to a Pug anything goes. A Pug will not miss a meal -unless it is on death’s doorstep and even then I am sure a snack is considered. To prove just how indiscriminating a peckish Pug can be, Belle has been known to have a hankering to snack on horse dung when it is available. She always eats her kibble as if she hasn’t been fed for days.

Tracey had admitted, “On occasion a few situations Belle has slyly taken of vantage of when someone absent mindedly leaves food unguarded she steals people food and any morsels are fair game in her mind”. When Tracey has caught Belle in the midst of her guilty act her expression seemingly conveys, “You left it for me didn’t you? Oops! I miss understood.” Belle’s communicative expression is enhanced by her expressive face and bulgy eyes, which look as if they’re about to brim over with sorrowful tears. As Tracey looks in1to Belle’s apologetic gaze, it’s always inevitable that she sympathizes.

One weekend Tracey helped her fiancé with spring gardening while she and Belle visited. Belle, meanwhile, roamed freely as a guest throughout the house. She found some kitchen garbage that had been left unattended, which she proceeded to rifle through feverishly, like a miner panning for gold nuggets. Much to Belle’s delight, she had found a supreme reward-an entire greasy foil wrapper that once contained a pound of butter. Belle ravished the wrapper instantly. This caper was unknown to Tracey at the time of the crime, she admitted.

Belle began to have complications. Tracey noticed that something was most definitely wrong, when Belle vomited several times, displayed constant panting, restlessness and wobbliness. Tracey contacted her veterinarian Dr. Michele St Pierre of Waterloo area Animal Hospital.

Dr. Michele St. Pierre proceeded to examine Belle which included having done a series of x-rays of Belle’s abdominal area as well as an oral swallow of Barium. “The Barium shows up on x-ray as a contrast medium outlining the foreign object as the source of the problem in Belle’s stomach to intestinal tract”, explained Dr. Michele St. Pierre.

During surgery Dr. Michele St. Pierre had found several flat pieces of the foil wrapper which she said, “acts as stoppers” that plugged the entrance to the intestinal tract. Waxed, plastic or foil paper doesn’t break down and are known to causes blockages.

Remarkably it only takes about three days for the Intestinal Mucosal Lining to heal after surgery and a few days eating prescribe diet and ten days later sutures were removed.

Dr. Michele St. Pierre has treated about ten similar cases to Belle’s internal blockage a year and there has been a hundred percent survival rate due to prompt veterinarian care.

In past blockage cases Dr. Michele Pierre says, “She has removed gl***, children toys, branches, coins, rocks, bones, golf balls.” “Basically consider dogs are like toddlers they oral fixate on objects that help them to explore the world around them”. Pet owners need to survey their home from your young dogs’ perspective and be aware of what is in your pets’ reach.

Needless to say, Tracey and her daughter were distressed at the possibility of Belle dying. The love Tracey and Kat had for Belle outweighed any concern of the monetary cost of the surgery, a procedure that was necessary to save Belle’s life. Today, all is well and Belle's appetite is still ravenous. Tracey and her daughter now thoughtfully practice a safer food, food packaging and garbage policy since Belle still has the desire for snacking on whatever is in her reach. Even though she endured a terrible episode of a sick stomach and experienced a sore recovery from the surgery, Willie Coyote and crafty Belle have the same track mind in regards to food.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

SOME ITEMS TO BEWARE OF AROUND THE HOUSEHOLD

S.O.S PADS
CHILDREN TOYS
BONES
SMALL BALLS
SOILED FOOD WRAPPING
SOILED BANDAGES AND DEPOSED WOMENLY PRODUCTS
COINS

KITCHEN WASTE KEPT IN A CONTAINER WITH LID IN A CLOSED

CUPBOARD

BATHROOM WASTE REMOVED OR PLACED OUT OF PETS REACH
NEVER LEAVE STEAL WOOL PADS UNATTENDED ESPECIALLY AFTER CLEANING A BAR BE QUE

Written by Susan George