14 Tips for Crate Training Your New Puppy by Peggie Arvidson-Dailey

14 Tips for Crate Training Your New Puppy by Peggie Arvidson-Dailey

Your new puppy is arriving and you have heard of crate-training, but are not sure how to make it work for you and your newest addition. From years of experience as a pet-owner, lover and specialist, I have learned some things about crate training that Id like to share with you.

Crate training is wonderful part of an overall family training program if handled correctly. Your puppy will feel secure in his space if you make it a pleasurable experience from the very beginning by following these 14 tips.

1.Get a crate large enough to allow your pup space to turn around, stand up and lie down for a nap.
2.Put a soft blanket in the crate, preferably with his mothers scent on it when you bring him home.
3.Make sure to put his toys for chewing and a treat or two in the space furthest from the door.
4.Put the crate in a corner of room where he can feel out of the way, yet have access to you.
5.Let your pup wander in and out of the crate to get a feel for it, the crate makes a nice den for your puppy and he will likely take to it for comfort and solace when he is tired, over-excited or worried.
6.Remove your pets collar/s before closing the crate to avoid any choking;
7.Have a bottle of water with ice hooked to the crate if you will leave your puppy for more than an hour;
8.When its time to be crated, tell your puppy Crate or Bed and show him to the crate. You may put a treat in there if you have been training him with treats.
9.Dont ever: scare him into the crate, put him in there as a punishment or otherwise encourage a negative connotation to the crate.
10.Practice this several times a day during his first few weeks home. Leaving him in the crate for short intervals while you leave the house. He will soon realize that you come back and let him out.
11.If your dog needs something to chew, make sure you give him a toy that he cannot shred, break or otherwise harm himself with. If he is an aggressive chewer, I recommend the Galileo Bone by Nylabone.
12.When you let your puppy out of the crate, immediately take him outside to relieve himself. For very young puppies, this will likely be every 4 hours. (on average a puppy needs a break in as many hours as he is months oldif your puppy is 4 months, please give him a potty break every four hours)
13.When you are leaving, or putting him in the crate, give him his command, Crate, praise him gently when he complies (but do not get effusiveyou dont want him to get all riled up!) and then leave without a commotion.
14.Upon returning, open the crate and let your puppy come out at his own pace. Dont make a big fuss, simply praise him gently, put on his collar and leash and take him outside.

Crate training is a valuable asset to any training program for new puppies and can help enhance your relationship with your canine pal. A happy and comfortable puppy will mature into a well-mannered and loving companion.

About the Author
Pet-Care Expert, Peggie Arvidson-Dailey, is the author of How to Maintain Your Love Affair With Your Pet and the founder of Peggie's Pet Services. To learn more about maintaining YOUR love affair with your pet sign up for FREE how-to articles and FREE teleclasses, visit http://www.peggiespets.com

So, you've decided to kill your pet! by Mariangie Gonzalez

So, you've decided to kill your pet! by Mariangie Gonzalez

The other day I was doing a research online for an article I was writing and I came across an article, which the author started by saying: "Euthanasia, is often the hardest thing to do, yet the greatest act of kindness".

Then he went on explaining the "grueling" suffering and the guilt the pet owner goes through before making the decision, how it affects the whole family, especially the kids.

But then he explains euthanasia in the most loving way I've ever seen someone describe a murder. I remember "simple and peaceful" were some of the words he used, he even gave recommendations on how to avoid stress during the ride to the vet's clinic.

The GREATEST act of KINDNESS? To whom? That little bundle of love didn't know what was happening, he just knew that he was the happiest guy when you got home from work, he assumed you loved him back because you took him to walks on the park and you pampered him with professional grooming every once in a while. Little he knew that:

1)You were slowly poisoning him with the cheapest discount store pet food, that didn't have the proper nutrients, but in turn was filled with toxins.

Processed pet food suppresses the immune system and leads to liver, kidney, heart and other degenerative diseases. You are going to be shocked when you know the nasty things that are used to manufacture your pet's food, if you want to read the most shocking report on pet food click on: "What's Really in Pet Food".

2) Your choice of grooming products was the reason of his constant itching.

Commercial pet shampoos contains many toxic and destructive chemicals such as the foaming agents sodium laureth sulphate and cocamide betaine. These strong chemical de-greasers strip the hair of up to 4/5 of its natural oils and eventually produce sore, dry scalp/skin conditions and irritate the eyes.

3)You lead him to the degenerative diseases that put him in that cold, stainless steel table wondering: "What's next?"

If you would have considered holistic pet care, for your furry friend, you could have been able to treat conditions even before the symptoms showed up and maintain your pet in balanced wellness avoiding him unnecessary pain, because holistic is not something metaphysical as many people may think, it simply means treating the body as a whole.

You don't have to kill your dog (or cat), you have a choice: PREVENTION- that is the GREATEST act of kindness. It's never too late to start taking good care of your pet, remember, we're talking about the one who's proud to be seen with you even if you're ugly, the one who stays by your bed when you're sick, the one who in the event of inverted positions, would not hesitate to take good care of you. Start now!
About the Author
Mariangie Gonzalez is an Agronomist with a major in Animal Science & Pre-Veterinary and runs the day-to-day operations of her home-based business which carries aromatherapy products, natural remedies, nutritional supplements and much more. She can also help you start your own home-based 100% natural pet supplies business, you can visit online at: http://www.MindBodyAndPaw.com

Who is the Gourmet? You or Your Dog? by Rene Alexandrea

Who is the Gourmet? You or Your Dog? by Rene Alexandrea

Thinking of cooking up a storm for your pooch? And that I assume youre having difficulties in convincing your pooch eating his premium dog food.

There are two issues hereHome-cooked meals verses commercial premium dog food.

Whether or not one is better than the other is a matter of preferenceyou not your dog. And whether or not your dog becomes a demanding gourmet is also depending on you; not your dog.

In choosing varied gourmet diets for our dogs (diets which are quickly becoming expensive), we fall into an anthropomorphic fallacya tendency where human characteristics for animals.

Dogs and all animals are creatures of habit. A pup raised on an ordinary feed (even hes strictly on commercially packed food) will grow to like it, sometimes shunning rarer delicacies in favor of "the usual."

Occasionally, your pooch may clamor for your steak while his own kibbles waits in his bowl, hell eventually go for his regular meal if other temptations dont compete. Variety is not as crucial to him as it may seem to you.

Dogs are not finicky eaters by nature. We inadvertently create this problem by substituting food for love. We think that every time our dog does something cute, we should give him a treat. After a while, our dog wants nothing but treats, especially if they come from our plate or the refrigerator!
If you feed your dog a variety of food in hopes that one will appeal to him, he will demand a greater and greater variety, and you will have created a finicky eater! Choose a high-quality food and stick to it. Do not feed table scraps or give in-between meal snacks to your dog.
Some "gourmet" dog foods (and especially dog "treats") are designed to appeal more to the human purchaser than the animal consumer. Color-blind canines are indifferent to the pastel hues that beckon the buyer of dog candies. We pay extra for such gimmicks because we consciously or unconsciously equate human tastes and needs with those of our pooches.
What matter most to them is the taste, not the shape, size or colour. Dogs dont know a clue about calories that gamey treat can add to their waistline. So is up to us to be the sensible one to give treats in moderation. If possible, limit it to training and party times.

Dogs become finicky when they are given too great a variety and by overfeeding. Im not surprise that at this stage, they may already have weight and health issues to add to their existing dilemma.
If you do change foods, do it gradually by adding a bit of new food each day to the old food. The reason for this is that the digestive flora gets used to one food and a rapid change can cause diarrhea and digestive upsets.
If you choose a high quality food, there is really no need for vitamin supplementation. You will pay more for premium dog food, but you will use less because a small feeding amount has more nutrients and is more thoroughly digested.

And if you should decide on home cooked meals instead, just remember that you should depart from a complete and balanced pet diet in favor of a more specialized program. These reasons may include age, disease, or even stress.

A good rule of thumb to apply to your dogs diet system is If it aint broke, dont fix it. And with this notion, your pooch will soon know you are truly the GourmetThe Boss.
About the Author
Rene Alexandreaa former professional show-dog handler, breeder and volunteer at animal shelters. She has written numerous articles from dog behavioural problems to dog party themes. Get a Free copy of her 21 ways of Budgeting Tips & Thrifty Ideas ebook at http://www.small-dogs-breed-lovers.com Spend Less and Pamper More.