Dog and Puppy Supplies and Tips

Archive for November, 2009

There are many good reasons why crate training your puppy is a good idea. Your puppy will become housebroken more quickly, will have a safe place to stay when you can’t watch her, and will have a comfortable space to call her own when she wants to nap away from the action.

But keep in mind it is up to you to train your puppy to use the crate. For many people crate training is very hard as you may have the tendency to give in to your puppy is she cries.

Like with a baby, training can be harder on the trainer than the one getting trained.

Here are some tips to help you get started.

1.  Make it so the puppy sees the crate in a positive light.  Leave the door open so you can explore the crate together in a non-threatening way. Allow her to walk in and out of it; don’t shut the door on her yet.

2.  Put her things in the crate. You want her to not only be comfortable when she’s in it, but you want it to have familiar smells. Her mat or blanket and maybe her favorite toy are options.

3.  Put the crate where she can still be a part of your life. For example, put it in the room where you watch TV and not outside around the back corner of the house. She wants to see and monitor the action.

4.  Start putting her in it for very short periods of time. If you say “kennel”, walk over to the crate, throw a treat in it, and matter-of-factly shut the door when she goes in, she’ll be okay with it for a short while.

The best time to start this is right after a play session when she’s tired. Do not leave her in there for very long. You’ll want to gradually build up to longer and longer sessions. Eventually when she hears the word “kennel”, she will go inside the crate and wait for her treat.

5.  Never give her attention if she is whining to be let out. If she whines and you let her out, she’s learned this is the way to have you open the door and every time you do that, you reinforce this behavior.

6. Remember the crate is not a substitution for your attention. If you’re home and able to watch your pup, then don’t put her in the crate. Better yet, play with her often and encourage her to use the crate when she wants to rest.

7.  Puppies do not like to “go” where they live, so it usually doesn’t take too long for them to learn to hold it while they’re in the crate. This means you must be diligent in letting your dog out often to relieve herself.

Crate training your puppy results in a puppy who is housebroken fairly quickly, has a safe place to stay when you’re not around, and has her own haven.

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Buying any puppy dog is a huge decision. You are planning to bring a new member into your family. This decision will affect you and your family for nine to 16 years or more. Doing the research to find the best dog breed for you and a responsible dog breeder is so important.

First you need to decide on what breed of dog you want. Some things you should learn about the breed you choose are:

* The full grown size of the breed
* The average lifespan of the breed
* The general temperament and disposition of the breed
* Grooming and coat care requirements
* Learn what potentially inherited health problems this breed is prone to?

Looking for dog breeders is often as easy as opening the classified advertising section of the newspaper. Other sources can be found by checking the Internet, pet supply stores, dog shows, a friend’s recommendation or asking your Veterinarian if they know a local breeder they can recommend.

Get to Know the Dog Breeder

Have a list of questions prepared to ask the dog breeder when you contact them. Based on their responses you will be able to tell if they are reliable, professional, trustworthy and if you want to purchase a puppy from them.

Your list of questions should include the following:

* Are the puppies raised in a home or in a kennel?
* Does the breeder raise several different breeds of dogs?
* How long have they been breeding dogs?
* Are the father and mother on the premises?
* Can you visit them?
* What is the age of the puppies?
* When can you take the puppy home? 8 weeks should be the youngest.
* Do the puppies have a Veterinarian certificate of health?
* What shots and deworming have the puppies had and when?
* Are the puppies crate or paper trained?
* Have the puppies been around small children and socialized with people?
* Are the Registration papers and transfer applications completed.
* Will you be given the lineage of the puppy and a family tree?
* Does the breeder have a written contract for you that specifies your rights and the breeder’s rights?
* Does the breeder have a Health Guarantee and Veterinary Health Certificate along with the contact information for the Veterinarian that examined the puppy?
* Will the breeder give you references? A good breeder will be happy to give you references of clients who have purchased a puppy who will be happy to share their experiences with you.

* Will the breeder supply a New Puppy Care Kit which includes:

- Registration application papers
- Veterinarian Certificate of Health
- Dates of inoculations, deworming and any procedures done
- Puppy Care Instructions
- A small supply of food the puppy is eating to help the puppy adjust to his new home.

A Responsible Dog Breeder Wants to Know You

The responsible dog breeder always has the best interest of both the puppy and the clients in mind. They should ask you questions as well.

Some of the questions may seem personal. A responsible dog breeder will want to get to know you to make sure that the puppy is the right choice foryou.

Some of the questions they should ask you are:

* Have you owned this breed of dog before?
* What do you know about this breed?
* What attracts you to this breed of dog?
* Do you plan to show or breed the dog or is it for a pet?
* Do you have any other dogs or cats?
* Do you have any children in your home? What are their ages?
* What type of home will the puppy live in? Apartment, single family home in a neighborhood or on a farm?
* What size of yard do you have? Is it fenced? What kind of fence?
* Is there anyone at home most of the day or will the puppy be left alone for long periods of time?
* Where will the puppy be if left alone all day?

Some breeders may ask to visit your home before selling you a puppy. As a buyer, you will want to checkout where the puppies are raised and look at their parents.

Your heart may go out to the puppies you see for sale in a pet store. You should never buy a puppy from a pet store since most come from a puppy mill or a breeding farm.

They are sold on a first come, first serve basis with little to no background information. Questions aren’t asked of the buyer and no attention is paid to the future of the puppy’s welfare.

Responsible dog breeders will help you find the puppy that is right for you. They will be happy to give you tips on raising and caring for your new bundle of joy. A good dog breeder will want to stay in touch with you after you have taken your puppy home.

They will want to know how you and the puppy are adjusting to each other. A responsible breeder will want to assure you they are available to answer your questions or address any concerns you may have.

As long as you do your research homework and find a suitable dog breed and a responsible dog breeder, it’s a sure thing that you will find the perfect puppy.