Share your table with this pair of puppies! This ceramic salt and pepper set is designed to show off the best qualities of your favorite breed. The salt measures approximately 3″ x 3″ x 2″. The pepper measures approximately 2″ x 2″ x 3″.
$14.99
Housebreaking Your New Puppy
May 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment
No training is more basic for pet owners than that first important lesson: Do it outside!
Teaching your new dog to eliminate outside the home, not in it, usually starts between six and eight weeks of age. Dogs as young as four weeks have been started on the program, but at that age few have the muscular control to succeed.
Like any dog training regimen, trainer patience is just as important as the dog’s temperament. ‘Sit’, ‘stay’ and other behaviors can often be learned in a few days. House breaking usually takes weeks – sometimes as short as two, often a month or more.
As with other learned behaviors, it helps to observant for signs of the desired actions and enforce and direct them with a voice command followed by praise. In this case that technique works even more to the trainer’s advantage, since all dogs will naturally eliminate. The trick is to get them to do it when and where you want!
Watch for circling or squatting, then pick up the pup, say ‘outside’ and run outside. The puppy may circle some more, but will often squat immediately. As it starts, say ‘Go potty’ ( or some other unique phrase) in a clear, firm (but not angry) voice. Wait until it’s finished and praise lavishly.
You won’t always be able to observe the puppy about to begin, but don’t become angry or impatient when the dog eliminates indoors. It takes some time for the dog to learn to tell you it’s time to ‘go outside’. It also takes time for the muscles needed to control the bladder and bowels to develop.
Puppies need to potty every 2-3 hours, on average. If you haven’t spotted pre-elimination behavior within that time, take the dog outside anyway. Issue the command ‘Go potty’ and wait. At first, usually, the dog will have no clue what you want.
Again, even when outside, it helps to wait and watch for the desired behavior then issue the proper command. That helps the dog associate the command with the behavior. If the dog hasn’t gone after a few minutes and a few ‘Go potty’ commands, take it back inside for an hour. Of course, if you notice the pre-elimination behavior in less time, go outside again immediately.
Puppies have an astounding ability to quickly learn what their ‘alpha’ (the leader of the pack) wants. This is almost always accomplished by associating a verbal command with behavior, followed by praise. Punishment is usually counter-productive, and nowhere more so than in waste elimination training. Never rub your puppy’s nose in the accident.
Paper and/or crate training is preferred by some. A puppy can be trained to go on a newspaper, or on one of the chemically treated pads designed for the purpose. Some small breeds that live all day in apartments may not need to go outside at all.
The technique has a couple of downsides however. Unlike cats, dogs will rarely go in a perfumed litter box. Newspapers (even with the top layer removed after the dog goes) will eventually create an unpleasant smell in the house.
Also, long before the odor becomes perceptible to humans, dogs can smell their own distinctive odor. Dogs don’t find the smell unattractive – quite the opposite. So that spot continues to be the problem.
Dogs that are paper trained sometimes will prefer to potty indoors. Sometimes they’ll miss the paper by only an inch, creating a nasty mess to clean up.
Once the smell is in the carpet, the dog will often seek that area out as its proper ‘place to go’. This makes training the dog to eliminate outside even more difficult. Best to suffer a few accidents than to create a hard-to-overcome habit.
The keys to any dog training are patience, praise and consistency. Elimination training is the first test to be tackled for you and your dog.
Get more tips and advice on housetraining or dog training at Luvurdog.com/dogtraining
Puppy Mug & Kitchen Towel Sets
May 1, 2009 By
These cute gift sets are hard to resist! Everybody loves puppies and these adorable gift sets makes a wonderful present for any dog lover. The ceramic mug is dishwasher and microwave safe and the 100% cotton kitchen towel is screen printed with the same design. Size: Mug holds aproximately 11oz Towel 17″ x 31″ Breeds: Dachshund – out of stock Retriever Pug – out of stock Yellow Labrador Black Labrador Chocolate Labrador Chihuahua Boxer
$17.50 |
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Vaccines for Your Dachshund
April 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Vaccines are an important tool in keeping your Dachshund healthy, but a few do carry some risk of allergic reaction.Knowing which are optional and which are vital can help improve your odds of doing good without doing harm.
- Rabies
Rabies vaccine is among the most important for your Dachshund, as it is for any dog. While the disease is much less common today, the consequences of getting it are still so drastic – often fatal – that most vets still recommend it.
Rabies vaccinations are normally given every year to puppies and every two to three years thereafter.Most states require the vaccine and determine a specific schedule.That is being revised as research now reveals that immunization lasts three years or more.See your veterinarian for specific guidelines, but also seek a second or even third opinion and decide accordingly.
Serious side effects from the vaccination are rare, but may include swelling, hives, fever, or lethargy, along with decreased appetite.
Distemper shots used to be routine. Today they are still common, but schedules have lengthened.Current research shows that puppies given a series of shots will develop antibodies that last several years.First shots should be given at approximately eight weeks.As with any vaccine, the agenda can deviate from one part of the country to another, since prevalence and the associated risks of the disease vary geographically.See your veterinarian.
- Parvo
A vaccine to protect against the parvovirus is often combined with that for distemper, though it can be given separately.Keep in mind that “combo” vaccinations represent a slightly greater risk of allergic reaction.Combinations also make determining the source of any issue more difficult.
In some dogs, the immune system becomes hyperactive and produces facial swelling, redness of the gums and other symptoms.If a problem occurs, it normally happens within an hour or less, so stay near your vet’s facility after any vaccination.Watch your Doxie carefully.Have Benadryl in stock and call your vet at the first sign of a reaction.
- Hepatitis
This shot helps protect against infectious canine hepatitis.Once again, the disease is not common and the shot carries a small risk of allergic reaction.Moreover, the disease is serious enough that owners will want to review the subject carefully with their veterinarian and seek a second opinion before deciding.Being as modified live virus is used, kidney infections are possible following the vaccination.
- Lepto
Shots to immunized against the leptospira bacteria used to be routine, and in many areas still are.This is another vaccine that may cause a reaction and offers only short-lived protection against the disease.Since the disease itself is uncommon, this vaccination is considered “non-core” by many vets today.
- Bordatella
The Bordatella organism causes a fairly common condition popurlarly known as “kennel cough”.The name originates from the fact that the organism can be airborne and can spread when dogs are housed close together.It is not a serious disease, but does necessitate treatment when it arises.
If your Doxie does not come into contact with strange dogs this vaccine is probably not needed.Exceptions are in areas where the disease has gone unchecked, or when you intend to go on vacation and board your Dachshund.
Summary
Vaccines are a low-risk, outstanding way to protect your Dachshund against a wide array of diseases.But “low-risk” doesn’t mean “no risk” and what was once habitual has become a more thoughtful exercise, thanks to improved research.
Apprehension about vaccines is unfounded.Nevertheless, the risk of disease is not zero, either.However, careful contemplation of the benefits and risks will help maximize your dog’s health.
Case Study: Advice on People with Whining Dogs
April 24, 2009 By 2 Comments
Major and Princess are two Golden Retrievers that have matured in a pleasant suburban home together. The owner, Ms. Vicky, has no objection about the behaviors of the two dogs, with the exception of the fact that they whine incessantly. Seeing as her prince and princess do not have any aggressive tendencies, are not territorial, and do not have any other bad habits, she has overlooked this dog whining issue for years. However, as years passed by, the whining became annoying and Ms. Vicky began to speculate exactly why they are always whining.
In an effort to stop this behavior, she used her time to find the root of the problem. Dogs whine for a lot of reasons, including pain, fear, or boredom. In this phase , she thought that the cause of the whining was probably boredom, but she also felt that the other reasons should not be completely ruled out and so she decided to seek for the expert’s opinion. Toby and Josie’s owner brought the pair to the vet’s office to get more information regarding the the situation. The veterinarian believed that the whining behavior stemmed from Toby and Josie being left alone for a large portion of the day while Ms. Vicky was at work. Although Toby and Josie were placed outdoors, so they can play, do their business, and exercise at will, the pair was still lonely. Given that this behavior has never been checked, the dogs have acquired the habit as a sympathy ploy to get what they want. Ms. Vicky confirmed this idea and the next step of breaking the habit started.
First of all , Toby and Josie were noticeably not okay with their current condition of being left alone during the morning. To make her dearly loved prince and princess happier, Vicky hired a pet sitter who comes in twice a day to walk, pet, and play with Toby and Josie. Despite the fact that the whining was still present, they’ve observed that the two dogs seem to be much happier when their owner returns from work. If only Ms. Vicky did not let this whining to continue for such a long period of time and corrected the problem sooner, this new setup would have likely stopped the whining altogether.
In the mean time, the owner began to put into practice the new training method for the two dogs. Every time any of the dog whines, she firmly states “no whine”. She gives this command with a quick squirt of water from a spray bottle to get the dog’s attention. Once the dog stops whining, the Miss lavishes it with praises and treats. Once the dog stops whining, the Miss lavishes it with praises and treats. Certainly, activities like going outside cannot be punished , since many dogs whine when they need to take a poo.
This training technique accompanied with hiring of a pet sitter has dramatically changed the whining situation with Toby and Josie. Now, neither dog whines to get what they want! Furthermore, Miss Vicky finds the situation a great deal less stressful on both her and the dogs. If you too are experiencing a similar situation, consider following this case study to help break your dogs from whining. Always remember that pain or discomfort is a possible reason for whining, so regularly visit your vet to ensure your dog is always in good condition. Best of Luck! Cheers!
How To Stop Your Dog Biting
April 24, 2009 By 1 Comment
If you would like to find out more about what you can do if you have a dog who bites, then this guide will give you everything you need. In particular, we are going to discuss why a dog may have a desire to bite, a simple way to stop a puppy from developing a biting behavior, and how to deal with an aggressive dog. By the time you’ve finished reading this guide, you’ll have a better idea of what you can do about biting dogs.
The first thing to ask yourself, is why does your dog have a biting problem. A common reason behind a dog biting, is because they are feeling stressed or scared. This causes them to bite out of fear, and is commonly called fear biting.
Other reasons why a dog may bite is to express dominance, to show they are the pack leader, or if it’s a bad habit developed when they were just a young puppy.
In fact, if you have a puppy who bites – then it’s very important for you to take steps to prevent it from coming a bad habit. The reason why puppies tend to bite, is because this is how they learn to play with each other. Most of the time it is just a friendly nip, but it can become more serious if left alone. If your puppy often bites you when you’re playing and having fun with him, simply make a loud ouch or yelp noise. This will make him think he has hurt you, and he will learn not to do it again.
But what if your dog has a more serious dog biting problem? The first thing to do is take him to see your local veterinarian. Your vet will know if your dog has a serious problem, and can give you recommendations of a good obedience trainer who can fix this behavior. In the meantime, if your dog is likely to bite other people, you should consider using a muzzle to avoid any dangerous situations.
In conclusion, we have discussed why dogs bite, how to stop a puppy from developing a bad habit of biting, and what to do if you have a more serious dog biting problem. Now that you’ve read this guide, you should have a better idea of what to do if you have a dog who bites.
Dog Chewing Problems — Three Things You Need To Know To Stop Dogs From Chewing
March 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Are you frustrated with dog chewing problems? Why do canines engage in destructive dog behavior like this? How can you stop destructive chewing? Learn easy ways to stop dogs from chewing by reading this article.
Why Does My Dog Chew On Everything?
Puppies who are cutting teerth are notorious for chewing on nearly anything. If you’ve ever been around a human baby who’s teething, you know how chewing on a teething ring helps soothe those sore gums. It’s like this for puppies too. They’re in the process of losing baby teeth while adult teeth are coming in.Sore gums are the result, but chewing on things helps soothe the pain.
An older dog may chew for many reasons. One of the most common is that it helps to relieve stress and anxiety. When a dog chews, endorphins are released. These are chemicals that soothe and calm your dog. You dog doesn’t know about endorphins, but he does know that chewing on things makes him feel better.
Chewing also helps to keep your dog’s teeth clean and strong. Remember, if your dog is chewing, he’s not digging holes or barking, so there is an upside to this.
So chewing isn’t all bad. But chewing becomes destructive chewing when your dog chews on things other than his toys. How do you stop dogs from chewing on your toys?
How Do I Train My Dog Not To Chew?
You may be surprised to learn that your dog doesn’t know the difference between your stuff and his. Even if he has lots of toys to chew on, he’ll still chew on a chair leg because he thinks everything in the house is a toy. It’s up to you to teach him two things; that everything is not a toy, and that he’s not allowed to chew on things that belong to you.
Start by teaching him which toys are his. Play with your dog, using one of his toys. He’ll associate the toy with having fun, both with you, and by playing with the toy. Another way to teach your dog that his toys are wonderful is to get a toy you can stuff with peanut butter or another treat. He gets an instant food reward when he licks it out while playing with it.
If your dog picks up something that belongs to you, use the “drop-it” command, or clap your hands and make a noise to startle him into dropping it.As soon as he obeys you, give him one of his toys right away. When he starts playing with it, reward him. This is how you teach him that it’s good for him to chew on his own toys, but not good when he chews on yours.
You’ll still want to dog-proof your home, and put irreplaceable items away until you know you can trust him. Or else confine him to one room in your home where he can’t destroy anything when you have to leave the house.
Shouldn’t I Punish Him For Destructive Dog Behavior?
No. If you don’t catch your dog in the act, he won’t have a clue why you’re mad at him.All you’ll succeed in doing is teaching him to wait until you’re gone to start destructive chewing.
Dogs operate on rewards. If you reward your dog with attention (good or bad) for doing something, he’ll continue to do it, even if it’s something you don’t want him to do.Reward his good behavior with lots of praise, while ignoring his bad dog behavior as much as you can. A dog won’t continue doing something if he doesn’t get a reward for doing it.
Training your dog is an ongoing process that never really ends. In conclusion, you’ll find that an investment in a good dog training course will repay itself many times over in building a great relationship with your dog, while avoiding dog chewing problems.
If you’re dealing with dog chewing problems, visit No More Bad Dogs to learn more about a dog training course that will help to solve your problem.
