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  • Do You Need a Kennel?
  • Dog Kennels Keep Dog Owners and Dogs Happy
  • Keeping Your Dog Safe Inside with a Kennel
  • Why Large Breed Dog Owners Love Outdoor Dog Kennels

The Indoor Kennel: Crate Training Your Puppy

One of the most frequently asked questions is about house training new puppies.   “How do I get my puppy to stop peeing and pooping in the house?”

The most effective solution is to CRATE TRAIN your puppy.  Get a crate (or indoor kennel) and teach your puppy to use it. Crate training is a very efficient way to housebreak your puppy.

Some people HATE the thought of confining their dog.  If you’re one of those people  PLEASE consider the following.

Long ago, your darling puppy’s ancestors were den animals.  That love of  small, tight spaces still resides in your dog’s DNA today.  Being in a crate makes them feel comfortable and secure.

We confine human children all the time.   We use bassinets, playpens, and cribs for babies to sleep in or play in safely.  Think of your crate is as a crib for your puppy.

A crate keeps your puppy safely away from household hazards (cleaning supplies, sharp objects).   A crate also prevents your puppy from being destructive.

Crate training begins with choosing the right crate in which to kennel your puppy.   Remember, a crate that is just large enough for your puppy to comfortably turn around in is perfect.  Because puppies grow at an alarming rate and crates don’t grow on trees… buy a crate to fit the adult dog your puppy will become.  Then, make the crate fit your puppy by adding pillows to the back of the crate.

PetMate Vari-Kennel Traditional Pet Crate Giant is literally an indoor dog kennel… it’s HUGE. If your puppy is going to grow into a giant breed, then this is the crate for you.

You might be tempted to buy a crate too big for your puppy.  Remember, if your goal is to housebreak your puppy, then at least for the first year, the kennel you choose should be a relatively “snug” fit.  It needs to be small enough so that Fido can’t get away from the doo he’s deposited in the crate.  (That’s why you should add pillows to a crate that your puppy will “grow” into.)

Believe me when I tell you, Fido doesn’t want to sit his furry butt into his business anymore than you want him to do his business in the house.

So if housebreaking is the goal, choose a crate to fit the adult dog and then add towels/pillows/blankets to make the crate fit the puppy.

The Petmate Classic Kennel for Dogs is perfect for small toy dog breeds.  Larger dog breeds will need the PetMate Vari Kennel Ultra Traditional.

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About My Dogs

My dogs live here. You don’t.

If you don’t want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That’s why they call it “fur”niture.)

I like my dogs a lot better than I like most people. To you, they may be merely “animals”.
To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn’t speak clearly.

Actually, my dogs are BETTER than my children because:

1. My dogs eat less
2. My dogs don’t ask for money…. EVER!
3. My dogs were definitely easier to potty train
4. My dogs normally come when called
5. My dogs never ask to drive the car
6. My dogs don’t run up my cell phone bill to the size of a second mortage.
7. My dogs don’t smoke or drink
8. My dogs don’t care if they have the latest fashions
9. My dogs don’t want to wear my clothes (though they do like to sleep in them)!
10. My dogs don’t need a “gazillion” dollars for college , and then never finish.

Finally, I can fix my dogs and be considered a responsible dog owner. Not only that but I can crate my dogs for their own safety and comfort, something I devoutly wished I could do with my children when they were little!

Separation Anxiety and your Dog

Separation anxiety in dogs is a VERY real problem.  Whether your dog barks incessantly when you’re gone (and you get to hear about his antics from your annoyed neighbors) or whether he is destructive when ever you leave him alone, there are ways to correct this behavior.

First, remember that your dog is a PACK animal.  If he is the only one left at home, that is VERY SCARY for him.  In your dog’s mind, he’s been abandoned by his pack!

With that thought in mind, it’s also essential that you have a life.  There just are TIMES when Fido is going to HAVE to be left alone. 

Here’s a great post about Training Your Dog Not to Freak Out When You Leave.

The Dreaded Nail Trimming…

My inlaws recently called to ask how we handle nail trimming for our dogs.   Unfortunately, their "bundle of joy" is almost 2 and more than a bit spoiled, which made the answer a little more complex.

Dog Gone Blog has a great post on the subject of trimming your dog’s nails…. where one of the FIRST tips is to "get the started early".

Our answer to the problem…. is to use a Dremel.  We grand the dogs’ nails down with the sandpaper tip on the Dremel.  As long as you keep your hair out of the device, it works well.  The grinding keeps you from cutting too deep…. but again, it’s best to get the puppy used to the procedure so the dog won’t fight you on it.

How to choose a dog breed

Great post over at the Great Breeds Blog on how to choose a dog breed.

Is this Your First Dog?

If you are looking for the right breed, and you are a first time dog owner, you will definitely want to select a breed that is better for first-time dog owners.  Something like an Akita, German Shepard, Boxer or a Dalmatian may seem like a great idea – at first.  But, be aware that if you don’t have experience with dogs, you are in for quite a challenge.  A better choice might be a Greyhound, a Boston Terrier, a Golden Retriever or a Bull Terrier.

First time dog owners are chiefly attracted to a breed based on appearance.  However, a beautiful dog that is a challenge to control usually spells trouble for a first time dog owner.

When choosing a breed of dog, first time dog owners should look for the words "submissive" in the description of the breed.  Submissive breeds are usually easier to "manage" by first time dog owners.

On the other hand, breeds such as the Akita, German Shepard or Dachsund are all considered "dominant" breeds.  A dog breed with a dominant temperament may decide that there is a lack of "pack leadership" in your home and if you aren’t willing to step up, then your dominant dog breed will step in to fill the position as pack leader.

Pack leader means he/she eats first, sleeps in the best bed and rules the roost.  That means if your toddler "steps out of line" (from the dog’s point of view) then the dog will be the one to administer the discipline. 

However, submissive dog breeds, such as the Golden Retriever or the Shetland Sheep Dog don’t feel the intense NEED to be lead by a strong leader.  Your sharing of treats with your dog won’t be viewed as an invitation to "rule the roost".  Your Golden Retriever will gladly accept your role as leader, no matter how "poorly" you perform in that role (from a dog’s point of view).

RECALLED DOG FOOD & TREATS

Would a Yorkshire Terrier be good for us?

In today’s incoming email box:

My family and I are thinking about getting a dog.  We want a dog that does not shed, but doesn’t pee everywhere. We think that yorkshire teriers are so CUTE, but, would they work for us??

My reply:

Yorkshire Terriers are FABULOUS and FUNNY dogs.  However, the breed is known for having trouble "grasping" the concept of housebreaking. 

In response, there are many products you can purchase which serve a "diaper" function for your Yorkshire Terrier to keep your home from becoming his/her toilet.

I’ve seen/read and heard that the tiny toy breeds may NOT have the physical ABILITY to control their elimination habits, especially the toy tea cup varieties.  I don’t own tea cup or "hamster dogs" so I can’t address the issue from my personal experience, but rather from stories I’ve heard/read others tell.

California’s Mandatory Spay/Neuter Bill.

From the AKC  Canine Legislation Department

The Action Center for opposing the California bill to require mandatory  spaying/neutering of all dogs unless the owner qualifies for and purchases an intact animal permit has been updated with new sample letters, talking points, as well as a new flyer. We need everyone to weigh in on this one!

To view the action center, please click on the following link

   
 

Getting a puppy with a baby on the way…

Mike writes:

A quick question about dog ownership, if I may.

My wife and I have always wanted a dog, but because we both work we have never bought one. We believe it would be unfair to leave the dog at home alone every day.

My wife is now pregnant and will soon be giving up work for good. Would this be a good time to buy a dog? Or would it be completely the wrong time as the dog and baby may not take to each other? This would be our first dog and first baby!

Mike,

As a mother of three (two teens, one pre-teen) and owner of now down to only 2 dogs, I STRONGLY recommend that you wait to adopt a dog until your child is older.

First:  ENJOY YOUR BABY! My oldest is 19. Time flies so quickly.

A new puppy is as needy as a new baby. Believe me, you’ll understand God’s wisdom of giving you, on average, one baby a time shortly after your wife delivers!  Trying to potty train a new puppy AND get on schedule with your new baby is INSANITY!

WAIT!!!!  (I’ve made this mistake and I would LOVE to save YOU from making it as well!)

When I was pregnant with my third child, my sister accidentally ran over our beloved Cocker Spaniel and killed her in the driveway.  A few weeks after our third child was born, my husband returned from a shopping trip with a new Cocker Spaniel puppy in his arms.  It was, by far, one of the STUPIDEST things he’s ever done.  Before that dear puppy was 4 months old, we had to find him another home.  It was just TOO MUCH and it wasn’t fair for the dog to live his life in the backyard because of OUR stupidity! 

Caring for a new human is a FULL TIME JOB!  Chances are, you’ll be combining that full time job with another full or part time job to earn money.  Unfortunately, caring for a new puppy is also VERY time consuming.  There are only so many hours in the day .  Devote them to your new infant because there’s a better time to add a puppy to your family.

Second:  When your baby is 6-7 years old is a GREAT time to get a new dog.  If you get a dog now, the dog will be old (and possibly dying) when your child is 10-12.  If however, you wait until your child is 6-7, then the dog will be "crossing rainbow bridge" when your child is 16-19.  It won’t be any less painful, but when we lost our oldest dog, the 19 year old (who was 16 at the time) handled it MUCH better than my youngest, who was 9 at the time.

Third: If your wife is like me, when your youngest is 6-7, she may be feeling very "maternal"… but doesn’t want to have another "human" baby.  A puppy is a GREAT way to exorcise those "demons". 

Wait until the kids are older, then bring in a young dog.  The young dog/puppy will then bond strongly to the children AND the children will be old enough to properly bond with the dog. 

Congratulations on your impending birth!

Your Choice of Breed affects your Choice of Training Methods

Great post about Choosing Breed Specific Training.

Even the most popular methods use techniques that may not be suited for every breed or temperament of dog.

A trainer who evaluates each method based on the efficacy of the associations and motivators will be better equipped to match the appropriate obedience method with the dog’s individual temperament.

In other words, when you hire a dog trainer, ask how his/her methods work for your particular breed of dog.  The dominant Akita will respond differently to training than a passive and easy going Field Spaniel.

However, if’s also important to recognize individual traits in YOUR dog, not just the breed.  For  example, I am the proud owner of a LESS than passive and easy going Field Spaniel.  I’ve had other Field Spaniels who have required a feather approach to discipline while this rogue sometimes reminds me of a dominant Akita in his mannerisms.  Don’t get me wrong, I positively ADORE my Akita-like Field Spaniel…. but recognizing that he falls "outside the norm" is essential to effectively choosing the proper training method.

So keep your breed’s characteristics in mind as you interview dog training professionals.  What’s good for one breed may not work for your dog.