Successful crate training can pay huge rewards for both puppy and owner. Keeping the mood light and fun will make life that much easier when it comes to crate training a puppy. Crate training plays an important part in your puppy’s development. Crate training a puppy is not difficult, but it does require constant effort.

Crate training a puppy is a very useful method for housebreaking any puppy. Properly crate trained puppies tend to be more secure and are easier to manage.

The Right Crate Is Essential When Crate Training A Puppy

One of the goals of crate training a puppy is to have the puppy think of its crate as their special place where they can feel safe and secure. When choosing a new crate for your puppy, it’s worth keeping in mind that crates are also pieces of furniture that may be in your home for a long time. Getting the crate size for your puppy is important, too small and the puppy will be cramped and uncomfortable, too big and they will tend to soil in corners opposite their bedding. Puppies should be made to feel that the crate is their special place; somewhere they can be safe and secure when they need time out.

Use Toys When Crate Training A Puppy

Toys can be use for rewarding good behavior when crate training a puppy. If your puppy is finding it difficult to sleep in its crate, give him/her a chewy toy at nighttime, this will keep them occupied till they fall asleep. Toys can play a big part when crate training a puppy. When leaving your puppy alone in its crate for long periods, always remember to leave him/her some of its favorite toys to play with.

Speed Up Potty Training With Crate Training

Make potty training fun and rewarding, never punish your dog when he/she has an accident in their crate. Crate training a puppy boosts your dog’s potty training significantly. Potty training while crate training a puppy may be challenging at times, but can be highly rewarding and well worth the effort in the end. Rarely will puppies intentionally soil where they sleep. If their crate isn’t too big, puppies are more receptive to going outside.

While crate training a puppy is not difficult, you’ll need to be persistent. Crate training a puppy is a must for the development of your dog’s social and behavioral skills. Puppies may resist crate training and their crate at first, but it will be worth it in the end. Crate Training is not about punishing your dog by banishing them to their crate for hours on end.

By Dermot Condell

Dogs are likely characters to enjoy the summer as much as humans. They like to sunbathe, swim, camp and even hike. Many factors of summer, especially the element of heat, can affect dogs like it does us. It can be devastating. Following tips to keep your dog safe and comfortable in the summer is much like the tips we follow for ourselves. Below are some basic tips to keep your dog safe.

-Always have plenty of clean, fresh water available to prevent dehydration.

-If the air quality index is unsafe for you, it is unsafe for your pet. Watch your pet closely while he is outdoors.

-If your dog stays outside while you are at work, always have plenty of water available, shelter from the sun, and shelter from summertime storms.

-If possible, a doggie door is the ultimate solution for your pet. He can escape into the house or garage if it gets unbearably hot and humid or if it is thundering and lightening. However, remember to make sure your doggie door is secure so that no one other than your pet can go through it.

-If you have a pool, protect your dog just as you would children from entering the pool when you are not around. Dogs can drown just as easily as children or even adults.

-Always keep an eye on your dog when he is swimming. Place some sort of bright article or flag at the steps of your pool high enough so that your pet can see it. Remember, they hold their head up when doggie paddling. This flag or article of clothing visually indicates to them where the steps are. When they swim they sometimes get tired and even exhausted and can become disoriented and anxious. Train them to swim towards the article in which you placed as the direction towards the steps, just in case they happen to get in the pool when you are not around. This could save their life.

-When hiking with your pet take along water for them and yourself. Stop on occasion to rest. When is the best time to stop? Follow your dog’s body language and your instincts. If he slows down significantly or lags behind… it is time for a break. If the dog is panting excessively, take a break. Panting is their way of lowering their body temperature. They do not have sweat glands like we do. Also, dogs can get muscle spasms just as we can from being over-heated or exhausted.

-To keep your pet safe at night, purchase a Pet Blinkie. Pet Blinkies are vibrant, multi-color lights that attach easily to a collar, leash or harness. Pet Blinkies are waterproof and visible up to 1/2 mile away.

-Take care of your pet during the summer just as you would yourself and the rest of your family.

By Susan Eaton

You’d like to have a puppy as a new family member. Now that the decision is made, you should take some time to read about where to buy or not to buy your pup…

It is not difficult to get a puppy, but when you want a good and healthy puppy there are places you should avoid to buy one. When you are looking for a puppy and see those adorable puppies in the local Pet Store it is alluring to take one home with you. But be aware most of those puppies are coming from puppy mills.

A puppy mills is a commercial business, the kennels are usually overcrowded and there is little or no attention for the puppies needs. The owner of a puppy mill is a breeder who produces puppies without a breeding program. Commercial kennels like this often produce many dog breeds. The dogs are living in overcrowded cages, often under filthy conditions, with no proper health care and food. When you buy such a pup it is likely it is not seen by a Vet and it did not get the proper puppy vaccinations.

Some puppies are taken away from their mother much to soon. A puppy should not leave the nest before he is at least 7 weeks old, 8 weeks is to prefer. Puppies coming from a Puppy Mill are very difficult to housebreak, not so strange, they needed to do their relieve sitting in an overcrowded cage all day.

Puppy Mill puppies often have health problems, or genetic diseases because the breeder did not test their dogs. A pup needs to be socialized, this means contact with adults, children, other dogs and the pup needs to go to other places like a playground, school or a ride in the car. When a pup is living isolated his behavior will be nervous and scared, he even may become aggressive later.

Not all local Pet store holders will get their dogs from a Puppy Mill, but they do get their pups from commercial kennels. They sell but do not feel responsible to give information to help you making the right decision about your new pet.

By Isabella Vreeken

Not only are ticks and fleas an annoyance for your dog and for you, unfortunately they can cause health problems. There are many different powders and sprays out there, but with their chemical-based formulas, they could be harmful to the pet’s health or to yours.

As we become increasingly conscious of the chemicals contained in many of the items we use for ourselves so more and more people are growing concerned about what is in the treatments they use for their dogs.

Don’t worry though those powders and sprays aren’t your only means of defense against these tiny and horrible tyrants. You can now fight them off with natural remedies that are safe for everyone and can be effective for your dog.

Do make sure to check out your local pet store. You will find that they offer many different products for your dog in respect of flea and tick care that are made from all natural ingredients. They have no chemicals that could be unsafe for your pets or family, but they have ingredients that are very effective in getting rid of the pesky pests.

They have powders and sprays with no harmful chemicals. You can find shampoos and special flea brushes to remove them from our dog’s coat. There are some treatments that you can apply directly to the dog’s skin that won’t harm the dog in any way, but will kill the fleas.

Another option is the special-made flea collar that helps repel the fleas but doesn’t have any harsh chemicals that could seep through the dog’s skin so there’s no risk with other pets coming in contact with the collar.

Keep your dog and your home clean. Bathe your dog at least once a week and brush out their fur daily if possible. Vacuum the carpets in your home and keep the pet’s bedding clean as much as possible.

Fleas and ticks thrive in warm, humid areas and they will lay their eggs in these places, so it’s best to vacuum these areas often. You can use products like borax or some dry powdered laundry detergents to sprinkle on the carpets to let sit for a few minutes. This kills the fleas and their eggs, so you can vacuum them up and be rid of them. Make sure your pets and any children aren’t around when you do it. They’re not known to be harmful, but it’s always best to be safe.

There are some homemade treatments that many pet owners claim to work very well. I would also recommend that you consult your veterinarian to make sure these treatments really are safe. Please alway use these treatments with caution. It’s also very important that you keep your lawn mowed and keep any foliage within the yard trimmed back, so the fleas have a tougher time getting to your dog.

If you take all of the preventative measures possible, you can eliminate the need for chemical-based treatments that could be harmful for your dog. Along with that, use environmentally safe products and your dog will be much healthier.

By Paul Duxbury 

If you are going to leave your dog alone for a long period of time then don’t be surprised with the behavior issues he might develop. Being alone, your dog deals with two big problems.

The first one is the physic and emotional discomfort, because he sees he is free and he doesn’t know what he is allowed to do and what he isn’t. Sometimes stress is added because he is afraid of doing something that can get him punished. The second problem comes out of the need of a dog to be permanently around people or other dogs.

I always trained my new puppies to stay alone in the house with a step by step plan. The first time I left my pup on his own was for only 15 minutes to see how he would react. The kitchen was a good place to start, not to big and easy to clean up. Next time I tried it for about 30-45 minutes. Most of the times it went well, just a short time of howling and a very happy dog when I came back. After a few weeks my dog could stay alone for a longer period without any problem. Ofcourse I asked my neighbor’s if my dog didn’t bark a lot while I was away.

If a little dog is to be left alone the entire day, then make sure he has enough water and that a big part of the room he is left into will be covered in papers. A small dog needs to satisfy his physiological needs every three hours. Do not under any circumstances leave the dog locked in the doggy house without given him access to water. You should let him stay in a small room, for example the kitchen. On my working days my small dog used an indoor potty, he learned there was a special place to do his business.

My little Chihuahua did not howl or bark but he started to tear up my magazines or chew on cardboard boxes when I went away for more then half an hour. I used a great tip on how to solve this habit. Every time I wanted to go out I showed my dog a special jar with doggie treats in it. While telling him he would get a treat when I was coming back, I placed the jar on a cupboard where he could see it. Again it was a step by step process; leave the house for 10 minutes, come back praise your dog and give a treat. Try 20 minutes, 40 minutes… and so on. After a little while my Chihuahua did not need those extra treats anymore.

When you go to work all day it might be a good idea to come home in your lunch brake or hiring someone to walk with your dog. This way he gets a chance to meet other people and dogs and help you prevent a home disaster.

Experts recommend us to spend a few hours a day with or dog and to introduce him to as many friends and neighbors as we can until he turns 7-12 weeks old, because at this age the puppy holds the capacity to understand some situations. My dogs came from breeders with home-raised pups, used to have children around and they were meeting other people from an early age.

If you have an adult dog, that needs to be fed only once a day, it is simpler. The dog will eat at night or in the evening when you get home. You will walk him in the morning, play a bit and then when you get back from work spend some time with your dog again. Try not to be out of the house more that 8 hours because he has a schedule, your dog knows exactly when he is given food and when he will be walked. If you don’t impose him a rhythm, the dog will be stressed and the house a mess. Years ago when I was working as a nurse, I was lucky to have a friend living next door with a dog, when we both had to work our dogs spend the day together. When working at night my dog never had to stay alone.

Never leave the dog alone when you are planning to go on a trip or on a vacation. If possible take him with you or if not, hire someone or ask some friends to take care of him.

It is important to make it up to your dog. If you have to leave him alone a lot during work days, try and spend more time with him on weekends and holidays. Behavior issues can be easily corrected if you just play more with the dog.