Pet Dreams wishes everyone a Happy New Year!
A new year, a new journey!
Pet Dreams looks forward to the 2009 and wishes all our readers a successful year!
It is that time for a new years resolution, here are some helpful ideas for you and your dog to begin your resolutions….
• Exercise
Regular exercise has the obvious health benefits, but it also is a great time to bond with our pets. A simple daily walk helps a dog learn proper manners, provides some good quality time, and does wonders for the human counterpart, too!
• Health Check Up
A regular visit to your veterinarian is the best way to stay ahead of potential problems. Annual examinations of teeth, heart/lungs, and body condition overall will be less costly than waiting for a problem to develop and your pet suffering needlessly from complications of preventable problems.
• Good Nutrition
Like humans, pets who eat poor quality food just don’t have the health reserves than those that a good balanced diet. Poor skin, hair coat, muscle tone, and obesity problems can be a result of a poor diet.
• Good Grooming
No one wants to be around a stinky pet. Regular grooming — bathing, toe nail clips, brushing out coat, parasite control — not only make the pet more pleasing to be around, it is much healthier for the pet!
• Safety
Keeping pets safe is something most pet owners take for granted. However, take a moment to assess the toxic chemicals used in your house and yard. Are they necessary? Are all safety precautions followed? Where are household chemicals stored? Can your pet access these items? If toxins such as rodent poisons are used, can your pet access the rodents? Think too about enclosures for pets — is the fencing secure? Can your pet get caught or hooked up on the fence, a tree, etc. and choke or be stuck out in the weather when you are away?
• Information
Being informed is the best way to keep track of our pet’s health and well being. If possible, keep a medical log of your pet’s vet visits, medications, special needs, etc. to help keep track of your pet’s medical history. Knowing what is normal and not normal for your particular pet will assist your vet figure out what is wrong in the case of illness.
• Love & Attention
This is probably obvious, but too many pets are left outside in all kinds of weather, with very little human contact. Same goes for inside pets — those who are largely ignored for lack of time and busy human schedules. Take the time to focus on your pets and create/nourish that human-animal bond!
• Volunteer
Financial donations, donations of supplies or your time to a local shelter or rescue group OR to an organization which promotes the healing power of pets for humans (such as Delta Society)is always appreciated.
Good Luck!
Helpful Hints on Potty Training Your Dog….
Thanks to Riley Training Center for providing helpful and smart tips on potty training dogs……..
One of your first steps is to choose a place that you want your pup to eliminate. Once you have chosen the spot, always take your pup on leash to the spot and stand there for three to five minutes. If you don’t have success, take pup back inside and place them in their crate. When you are home, make this trip every hour or two and praise success with voice and treats to expedite the learning process. You pup will quickly learn that elimination bring tasty rewards.
Use a Crate. Most dogs love their “den” as long as it is the right size. If it is too big, part of it will become a bathroom. If it is too small, it is uncomfortable. Your pup should have enough room to stand up, turn around and lay down. When pup is in the crate, provide a food stuffed chew toy like a Kong so pup has something to occupy the confinement time. The crate should help you predict when the pup needs to “go” so you can teach pup where and why it needs to eliminate outdoors.
Outside Time: Puppies need to relieve themselves frequently. Ideally, your pup should go outside every two hours.
Same Time, Same Place: Take pup out on a six-foot leash and stand in the place you want pup to “go.” Praise pup for “going” in the right location.
Boo Boo? Show pup his mistake and let him know he was wrong with a firm “No!” Take pup outside and show him how you want it done. (Not literally!)
Don’t rub pup’s nose in “it” unless you want him to eat “it.”
Don’t smack him with a rolled up newspaper unless you want him to eat it. If you want to hit something with a newspaper, roll it up and hit yourself for not paying more attention to pup’s needs.
Feed to Succeed: A high quality, nutritional, highly digestible diet keeps odors, waste and trips outside to a minimum.
Take pup out:
- After eating
- After napping
- After a play session
- First thing in the morning
- Last thing at night
- When his eyes are crossed
The biggest key to house training success is consistency. The more consistent you are with pup, the quicker pup will give you the desired response.
We wish everyone a Happy Holiday!
We hope the best for you and your four footed friends during the Holiday season!
You may be traveling over the Holiday week/weekend with your pet. Here are some helpful tips on a safe travel…..
Properly identify pets with ID tags and microchips — Make sure your pets have ID and current rabies tags and are microchipped. To be extra cautious, give your pet an extra tag with the address and phone number of where you will be staying for the duration of the trip, in case they get lost after you arrive.
Train pets to travel in their crates — Whether you’re heading to your holiday destination by plane, train or automobile, getting your pets used to their crates will make the entire traveling experience less stressful. Even when not at home, pets still view their crates as a safe haven from stressful situations.
With a crate, size does matter — Crates should be large enough for pets to stand and turn around in comfortably. Remember to keep water inside the crate or allow for breaks every 3 hours where your pet can drink and stretch. Stainless steel water containers that hook onto wire crates are easy to use and clean up well.
Never leave your pets unattended – Just as you would never leave a child unattended, never leave your pet alone in a car.
Bring their health records– Many of us can’t remember the last time we got a tetanus shot, let alone remember all the shots and medications our pets have had. Take your pet’s health records just in case he needs to see a veterinarian during your trip. Be sure to check with your veterinarian to see if they would recommend heartworm prevention or treatment for fleas or ticks for the area you are traveling.
Crate Training Isn’t Just For Puppies….
The following is a program by which older dogs can be introduced or even reintroduced to crates as a place of refuge. The goal is to systematically desensitize the dog by making the crate appear as benign as possible.
The program may take time but it will work. Note: With any behavioral modification scheme, like crate training, the golden rule is that if there is no progress in 3 to 5 days, change the strategy. It is important to emphasize throughout training and beyond that the crate should never be a place in which the dog has any negative experiences.
Question of the day…….
Happy Friday everyone!
Does Eating Snow Equal Drinking Water?
Answer: Absolutely not.
The truth is that eating snow requires a tremendous amount of energy, and body heat to melt the snow in the first place, and the amount of water is several times LESS than the amount of snow was originally. A bucket of snow will melt down to a very tiny amount of water.
Snow Poisoning is a recent term for a dog who is essentially dying of thirst, surrounded by snow. It is extremely important to ensure that your dog has fresh water available at all times. There are heated water bowls available to prevent freezing and allow ease of drinking, even in the coldest temperatures. A dog needs more water in the winter as his body expends more energy in just keeping warm. Of course you should always have fresh water available in the house as well.
Whether you enjoy the summer or winter, you can’t deny the beauty of snow!
The Misconception About Sheltered Dogs……
1. “Shelter dogs are bad dogs.”
The majority of dogs in shelters are brought there by a change in circumstance. One of the top reasons for owner surrender is moving to an apartment where the landlord doesn’t allow pets.
Most shelter dogs are already housebroken and know basic commands. If you need a kid-friendly pooch, consider contacting a local breed rescue group. These groups usually place a dog with a foster family to evaluate its temperament.
2. “Purebreds don’t end up in shelters.”
Depending on which part of the country you live in, 33 percent to 50 percent of shelter dogs may be purebreds.
3. “Mutts don’t make good pets.”
There are benefits to being a mutt. Mixed-breed dogs tend to live longer because they don’t have the health problems caused by inbreeding.
Studies also have shown that mutts make just as good pets as purebreds — and maybe even better. When the American Temperament Test Society measured mixed-breeds for stability, shyness, aggressiveness, friendliness, self-preservation and protectiveness, 85.3 percent passed. That was higher than the score for purebreds like the poodle, beagle and cocker spaniel.
4. “Shelter dogs are unhealthy.”
When you adopt a dog from a shelter, the dog is fixed, heartworm-negative and current on all shots. You will want your regular veterinarian to examine the dog and prescribe any necessary treatment. ARTICLE
So don’t be tempted to spring a four-footed surprise on your family Christmas morning. Instead, let them help pick out your new, already-housebroken best friend. Take a trip to the shelter or call a local breed rescue group and give a deserving dog a second chance.
Please visit http://www.petfinder.com/ to find your perfect pet family member!
Helpful Hints on Indoor Training…..
Dog Training Examiner, Jeff Millman, offers some help hints on indoor training…….
Looking for an indoor activity to work on with your dog when the weather prohibits extended training and exercise? Try proofing behaviors that you have taught your dog.
Word Variations
This strategy teaches your dog to do behaviors on cue, but not to do the cue for another word. This is referred to as doing behaviors on cue and “extinguished” off cue.
Let’s start with “sit”.
- Say, “sit” to your dog, if he sits, reward him
- Say another word such as “ship”
- If he sits, either ignore him, say,”Eh! Eh!” or walk away from him
- Say, “sit” again and reward if he sits
- Alternate between the two until your dog does not sit when he hears “ship”
- When this happens, give him low-level verbal praise
- Continue adding more words one at a time such as “stem”, “slit”, “spit”, etc. and alternating between the new word and “sit”
- Eventually your dog should only sit with the correct cue and do nothing for the other words
- Then do the same thing with other cues such as down, come, etc.
Posture and Location Variations
It is very common for dogs to associate a specific body posture exhibited by their trainer. For instance, most people teach “sit” by standing directly in front of their dog. If you have done this, there is a good chance your dog associates your body position and posture as part of the “sit” cue. But, what happens if you turn your back and say, “sit”? Would your dog still sit? What if you were lying on the couch in a very different position and said the “sit” cue?
If you change your body position and your dog does not perform the behavior, do not say the cue again, but instead “help” your dog with a hand signal or other “helper” that you have established previously.
Here is an example showing how to teach your dog to do a behavior while you are lying on the couch.
- You might want to warm your dog up first by working on the behavior in your normal training position
- Once your dog is warmed up, lie on the couch and ask for the behavior
- If your dog doesn’t do the behavior, don’t say it again, but instead stand up from the couch and “help” your dog dog the behavior by using a hand signal or food lure
- Continue working like this until your dog does the behavior without the secondary help
Variations to Work On
Here are some suggestions of other changes that you can do to proof behaviors. Remember, ask only once and then help your dog do the behavior. Eventually he will make the connection and will understand to do the behavior because he heard the cue and ignore other movement or your body position.
- Turn your back
- Turn to the side
- Look at your dog, but cover your mouth when you say the cue
- Say the cue while you do jumping jacks
A lot of these suggestions are pretty silly and not very practical, but why not try them and increase your dog’s reliability? They are also great activities to give a bored dog something to do. Come up with your own variations to try.
Proofing behaviors is a fun activity that you can do inside with your dog and work on fine-tuning the behaviors that he already knows.
The Movie for All Dog Lovers!
With all the hype surrounding Marley & Me, it is encouraging to see the American Kennel Club and Twentieth Century Fox collaborate on educating the public on the responsiblies required when owning a dog.
Responsible Dog Ownership Campaign
New York, NY – The American Kennel Club®, in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox and John Grogan, announced today the launch of a new public service announcement (PSA) campaign tied to the upcoming film Marley & Me. The campaign can be viewed at www.akc.org/marley and features 60-, 30- and 15-second television spots and a print PSA designed to remind all dog lovers of the commitment it takes to own a dog.
Responsible dog ownership is something Grogan, the author of the best-selling book on which the film is based, knows better than anyone. Marley & Me recounts his life with his rambunctious Labrador Retriever, who quickly grew from an adorable puppy to 97-pound steamroller. In the PSA Grogan states:
“Puppies…they’re so cute. Until they’re not. Then they become 100 pounds of thundering, hairy, yelping, jumping, drooling, go-exactly-where-you-don’t-want-them-to-go… commitment. In a word: Marley.
I’m John Grogan. I was Marley’s very patient and loving owner for over 12 years. I know there is nothing like the joys and rewards of pet ownership but… someone’s got to be the responsible one… most likely you. “
The PSAs, part of the AKC’s longstanding public education campaign, remind potential dog owners that dogs are a big responsibility and that the decision to buy a puppy should not be taken lightly.
“Unlike other films and aspects of popular culture that idealize dogs, we think Marley & Me depicts a more balanced view of dog ownership and we want to underscore that further through this campaign,” said Daisy Okas, AKC’s Assistant Vice President of Communications. “Dogs bring us love, affection, comfort, security and unrivaled devotion despite our flaws, but there is a lot that is required of us in return for the wonderful privilege of having a dog. We applaud Fox and John Grogan for providing the public with an entertaining story that drives this message home to all animal lovers.”
“This heartwarming story about the trials, tribulations and lifelong commitment of owning a dog lends itself perfectly to a public service announcement campaign,” said Rita Drucker, Senior Vice President, Feature Films, Twentieth Century Fox. “We are pleased to be working with the AKC, an organization synonymous with the care and well-being of dogs for the past 125 years, in delivering the practical message Marley & Me sends to all dog lovers.”
Here are some helpful tips for keeping your pet
Healthy and Happy over the Holiday season!
- Keep table scraps out of your pet’s diet. “Salty, spicy and greasy” can be deadly for pets, Cook said. Fatty foods can cause a life-threatening condition called pancreatitis in dogs, and bones can splinter in an animal’s stomach.
- Chocolate should be out of reach of dogs because it’s poisonous. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous, with baker’s chocolate being the most toxic.
- Avoid sweets. A study reported in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association in 2006 linked xylitol, a common sweetener in baked goods, candy and chewing gum, with liver failure and death in dogs.
- Give your pet healthy holiday snacks. Recipes are available on the Internet or visit a pet store/bakery. Ask your veterinarian about healthy treats.
- Anchor your holiday tree. It’s a temptation for pets, and, if it topples, it can cause severe injuries. And keep pets away from the tree water as tree preservatives and sap can cause gastrointestinal problems.
- Never leave a pet alone with a lit candle or exposed flame, and be wary of exposed extension cords.
- Don’t let pets dine on holiday plants. Poinsettia, holly, cedar, balsam, pine and mistletoe are poisonous.
- Be careful about ornaments. Cats sometimes consume tinsel and other small decorations, which can block intestines.
- Don’t go off to a holiday party and leave your pet with access to table scraps or anything that might be dangerous.
- Don’t give a pet as a holiday gift.
Original Article
Welcoming a Puppy to a new home!
The Winter seems to be a popular time for families to invest in a new puppy, maybe they are looking for that perfect gift or know they won’t be going on any long vacations. Whatever your reason, it is important to think about their first night and how you want to introduce them to your lifestyle. Here are a couple helpful thoughts on welcoming your puppy!
Puppies are creatures of routine so when you first take them home they are going to whine a lot until they feel a connection with you and their surroundings. Never punish your puppy for whining but also realize that if you constantly attend to your puppy and hold him when he cries, he is going to use crying as a way to get your attention in the future. In new puppy care it is important to have a crate ready so your puppy has a comfortable place to sleep.
Your puppy may cry a lot the first few nights home so it is up to you to let your puppy sleep in his crate in your room or put him in a separate room with food and water. Some owners may let their puppies sleep in their beds with them but you do have to realize that it will become a habit hard to break.If you do decide to let your puppy sleep with you, make sure you are comfortable with it happening until your puppy is an adult dog. If you want to make the first night more comfortable in new puppy care, take a cloth or soft toy that your puppy had when it was with his mother and the rest of the litter and put it in his crate.
In new puppy care, it is important to provide a crate or exercise pen where you puppy is safe to explore and play under minimal supervision during the day (check out petdreams.com for safe cratewear). Make sure to leave the crate in an area of the house where you will be so your puppy can see what goes on around him every day. Provide some chewing toys because like human babies, puppies will put anything into their mouths and chew. Don’t leave any unsafe items out that your puppy could choke on and don’t leave any electrical cords exposed.
New puppy care may feel overwhelming at first but if you take precautions and make the right preparations, you will get into a routine that fits you in no time. Don’t stress out about your new responsibility.Instead, enjoy life with your new bundle of joy and take the steps necessary in the first few weeks of your puppy’s life so that the rest becomes a breeze.
Puppy Love!
