The Dogs

Widely recognized as the most popular and effective way to housetrain puppies the crate method utilizes your dog’s natural instincts. Dogs are naturally clean animals and will not by nature relieve themselves in the area where they sleep.

Knowing how to communicate properly with your dog lies at the heart of the housetraining process. Lecturing, yelling or other forms of punishment will not achieve the desired result. The key is to reward good behavior. Puppies are like babies, much too young to be held responsible for their bowel movements. Punishments are not the way to get through to your puppy. If you are going to use the crate method it’s vital that you learn about the proper, humane method to housetrain your dog.

Choosing the right crate

This is very important when it comes to the humane treatment of your puppy. A crate that is too small is very cruel. The puppy should have enough room to maneuver around and be comfortable inside. If the crate is much too large - the puppy might even relieve himself inside the crate.

The plastic varieties of crates are much easier to clean, durable and easier to carry around than the metal varieties.
It is also cruel to leave your puppy inside the crate for too long. Night time is crate time and often even very young puppies can go the entire night without soiling their crates.

You will want to slowly get the puppy used to the crate. The idea here is to create a positive feeling about the crate. Put a nice soft blanket inside and your puppy’s favorite toys too. You can also put some yummy treats inside to entice your dog.
Never, ever force your dog inside the crate. It is his sanctuary within your home.

Tips for housetraining

- Prepare the area that your puppy will spend most of its time in with a layer of newspaper.

- Designate an official toilet area for your puppy.

- Supervise (or have the children do it) until the puppy has relieved himself.

- If your puppy starts sniffing or circling pick him up and get him outside fast!

Golden rules for housetraining your dog using the crate method:

- Take your puppy out first thing in the morning.

- Take your puppy out directly after meals.

- If your puppy has had an accident be sure to clean the area thoroughly. Use a product that will remove the odor.

- Never punish your puppy for accidents. You would never yell at your baby and put her nose in her mess. Rather use positive reinforcement when your puppy does her business outside.

- Take your puppy out just before bedtime and make sure he does his business.

- Give praise freely where it is due. Treats, walks and positive reinforcement will go a long way toward getting your puppy to understand that eliminating outside is the goal.

Housetraining your puppy will take time and patience. The kind of dog and your methods will greatly influence how long it takes for your puppy to be fully housetrained.

There is a reason that the crate method is the most widely used housetraining method. It works well. Of course housetraining your puppy isn’t your only concern when it comes to raising a well behaved dog. You will also want to set some distinct boundaries. Puppies should not be allowed free reign of the house; at least not until they are fully housetrained. Your puppy is a sponge and above all - keen to please you. You are the pack leader and the puppy will look to you to figure out what is and isn’t acceptable in your home.

By deciding early what your puppy may chew on and what furniture he is allowed on you can eliminate confusion and behavioral problems later in life.

Steve Allison is a third generation of professional dog breeders along with his brother Gary. It all started with his grandparents in 1970 with the Boston Terriers and has expanded to Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Shih Tzu’s and Pomeranians. He is also actively involved with dog rescue and has a website that showcases the puppies they occasionally has for sale at All My Puppies Online Steve is also the co-author of two consumer guides, Carpet Secrets and Moving Secrets Guide

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1. Using tranquilizers.

This is illegal in many states but other groomers
still use them. It may be that the groomer is
afraid of aggressive dogs but it’s more likely
to be that the groomer is running a production
line and has no time to calm nervous dogs.

I never recommend tranquilizers - no matter how
mild - for small dogs. Ask your groomer if she
or he does this.

2. Leaving dogs unattended.

You might be surprised at how many dogs are
harmed and even killed at salons. The problem
is many groomers use a grooming noose (not as
bad as it sounds!) or collar to attach the dog
to the grooming table.

If the groomer leaves the dog alone, it’s easy
for a dog to try to free himself and wind up
choking or damaging his neck.

3. Taking shortcuts that violate breed standards.

It’s more time consuming and requires more skill
to scissor rather than clip dogs. However, if your
breed standard or style requires a scissor cut,
you should tell the groomer you want this.

If you don’t speak up, they’ll most likely use a
clipper. And if you expect hand stripping,
you better call ahead to make certain there’s
a groomer in the shop that even knows how to do that.

4. Not having facilities for dogs left all day.

This is only partly the groomers fault as many
shops are not set up to provide day care
for dogs, but owners use them that way. Some
shops do not have sufficient cages, fresh water
supplies, or staff to walk dogs.

If you want to drop your dog off on the way
to work, visit the salon in advance and ask
to be shown where the dog will be housed while
he’s waiting for you and what care he will given.

5. Using dog dryers improperly.

Many dogs every year are injured or killed by
groomers not watching closely enough while the pet
is in an enclosed dryer.

As a result of poor airflow and high temperatures,
pets get overheated in enclosed cages. The heat
simply builds up and the dog is overcome or in
extreme cases the dog may be burned by the pans
and the cages themselves as they get hotter and
hotter.

I think enclosed dryers should be illegal but if
your groomer is going to use one, ensure s/he
watches the dog, uses a timer, avoids high heat
and has another fan at the front of the cage to
encourage proper airflow.

Also a groomer should not use a hand-held hot
dryer on a dog drying in a stainless steel cage.
There is not enough ventilation for the air
to flow properly and the bottom of the stainless
cages get hot quickly.

These dryers are best used with wire cages that
have plastic bottoms or grates to keep the pet off
the hot floor of the cage. The grooming room should
be open and airy when using heated dryers
to prevent the room from overheating.

All the fans in the U.S., however, are no substitute
for watching the dog while he is being dried and
the mechanical devices are in use!

Louise Louis is a long-time dog person and
operates http://www.ToyBreeds.com

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Dogs should be kept on a regular schedule of washing. This is important to prevent skin and odor problems. It is also important to use a dog shampoo because it is formulated for a dog’s skin. Here are some steps to follow when it comes to washing your dog.

Make sure to use a shampoo that is for dogs and if you have a puppy, get a shampoo that is for puppies. People shampoo is just not right for dogs. It can dry out the dog’s skin. A dog’s skin is much different than that of people skin.

For puppies and small dogs, it is best to wash them in the sink or bathtub. Make sure to use warm water and not hot water or cold water. This will be much more comfortable for the dog and make it a more pleasant experience.

Brushing or combing prior to the bath will help remove tangles and matts in the dog’s hair or fur. This is a good idea because the tangles will become impossible to remove after the bath. Also placing cotton balls in the dogs ears will help to keep them dry.

The frequency of washing depends on the climate and breed of the dog. Generally speaking dogs should be washed once a week during the summer, once every two to three weeks in the spring and fall, and about once a month in the winter. This schedule is meant for healthy dogs and may vary if your dog has skin or health problems. It is best to check with your veterinarian if this is the case.

Begin your dog’s bath by gradually wetting the dog’s coat. Make sure the coat is sufficiently saturated and then apply enough dog shampoo to achieve a good foaming lather. Gently massage the shampoo into the coat. Only shampoo the dog’s head if necessary. Make sure not to get the dog shampoo in the eyes or ears.

Once you have achieved a good lather, rinse the coat very thoroughly and REPEAT with clean water. With your hands squeeze the water out of your dog’s coat. Lift or remove your dog from the tub and towel dry. You can also use a hair dryer to complete the drying. Make sure to comb and brush the hair as it dries especially if your dog has long hair. This will help prevent knots.

If your dog has a strong body odor, try thoroughly washing and rinsing. If this does not correct the problem, your dog probably has a skin problem. If this is the case, you should seek the care and advice of your veterinarian.

Many dog owners are reluctant to wash their dog regularly due to concern over removing natural oils from the skin and coat. Actually, many skin problems come from insufficient washing.

Regular washing is part of a good hygiene program for your dog. Since dogs cannot bathe themselves, it is up to us dog owners to take on this responsibility.

Author: Rachael Taylor
http://www.doggyfluffs.com

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