Getting The Basics Right: What You Need To Consider When You Get A Puppy

There is so much you need to think about when you decide and make the commitment to get a pet dog. In theory, this is an additional member of your family unit. Whether you have children or not, they are part of your family, and so you do need to ensure that they are treated this way. It is a big commitment to make. One that requires your love, devotion and attention. 

A puppy especially can be quite demanding, as everything is going to fall on your shoulders in terms of what they learn and their level of care. There are many things you need to be considering now that you are a puppy owner, here are some of the things to think about to help you get started on this new journey.

 

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Think about the level of activity they are going to get

When you first bring your puppy home, the last thing you are probably thinking about is the level of activity they are going to get when it comes to dog walks and such. However, it is only a matter of weeks before your puppy will be allowed out of your home, so it is definitely worth thinking about.

You may want to think about booking puppy training to help you with the basics and start off on the right foot. In terms of walking, they may likely won’t be up to long walks in the fields or hills, so working out a route close to home to build up the stamina will be a good place to start. 

Are they left alone for too long?

The next thing to think about would be how often and for how long they are or are going to be left alone for. Puppy's need love and attention, and will not thrive being left alone for too long. Before you make the commitment you may have already given some thought to this. It could be that you change your routines with working, or call on friends and family to help you by visiting your puppy often. It might be worth taking the time to consider this carefully before making the commitment. It isn’t fair on you or the puppy if it is something that you can’t commit to.

Do they have everything they need?

The next thing you will want to think about is whether or not they have everything they need. A puppy won’t be toilet trained at first, this is something that you are going to need to do yourself. So it may be time to start thinking about toilet pads that can be laid on the floor. You might also want to think about a bed, a designated area for your puppy if you don’t want them sleeping on your bed or with you. It is also going to be a good idea to think about other things such as vet appointments for vaccinations, grooming products, blankets and dog leads.

Are you sure this is right for you?

Finally, the last big question to ask yourself is whether or not this lifestyle change and commitment is right for you and your life right now. It a big decision to make, and one that shouldn't be taken lightly.

Let’s hope reminding you of the basics and what is needed when taking care of a puppy helps you make the right decision for you.

Kids And Dogs: Tips That'll Make Them Pals For Life

Kids love dogs, and yours might have already started asking you if they could get a new pet to join the family. Dogs and young ones can be great friends, and watching them play together is a joy for most parents to see. However, it’s important to remember that dogs are still animals and can be quite unpredictable at times, even those that are extremely tame. So, it’s important that you teach children the correct way to act around dogs so that there is no chance of them being in any danger.

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They Shouldn’t Approach A Dog Without Permission

First of all, it’s important that you teach your child never to approach a strange dog or puppy without permission from the owner. If you visit jeffbrooketeam.com, you’ll see that treating a dog bite can be very expensive, and that most of them are caused by dogs that were previously unknown to the bitten individual. So, make sure your children know not to go up to any unknown dog on their own, as there is no way of knowing what its temperament will be like. If you ask the owner before you or your child stroke the dog, then they will be able to warn you about any potential risks.

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Never Run To A Dog

One of the main things to remember is that dogs can be easily worried or scared, so it’s best not to do anything that might shock them. That means it’s best if individuals never run towards a dog, as this could kick in some of their wild instincts, and they might think that they are being chased.

Children might be very likely to run towards a dog to say hello, so it’s worth teaching them that they shouldn’t do this. They need to be calm and collected when they see and approach a dog and should walk up to it as slowly as possible.

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Stop Them From Patting The Dog’s Head

Your child will no doubt want to pet your new family dog or any that they meet while they are out and about. Before they do, though, you need to teach them the correct way to do so. If it is a dog that doesn’t know your children too well, they should start off by stroking and scratching them on the chest.

Once the dog and children get to know each other better, then they can start to pet them on their back. However, it’s important to know that children should never pat a dog on its head or around its mouth. This can be quite a sensitive area, and stroking them near the head and mouth can irritate them. If they really don’t like being petted and strokes in this area, they could lash out at your children. 

For a complete guide on petting dogs, you can check on out at vetstreet.com.

Hopefully, your kids will now be good friends with all dogs!

Show Obedience And Stop Making These Common Dog Training Mistakes

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When you add a puppy to your home, it is important to start training as soon as possible. This takes time and patience. However, many dog owners make a lot of mistakes when training their furry friends. As we have already mentioned at http://www.familydisasterdogs.com/, a poorly trained dog is likely to show signs of disobedience. Should you be welcoming a new pup into your home soon, or if you have recently homed a furry bundle of joy, these are the training mistakes you need to avoid.

1. Focussing on negative reinforcement

We all perform better with a bit of positive reinforcement, and dogs are no different. Yes, there is a time for correction, but care needs to be taken. Some forms of negative reinforcement can be dangerous for a dog, as seen at http://samthedogtrainer.com/, so offering a reward rather than a punishment will make your puppy’s life a better one. Too much negative reinforcement can lead to problem behaviors in the future and the possibility of an unhappy dog. It may be better to distract the dog when you know they are about to do something they shouldn’t and offer a reward for following your signal. Eventually, they will get the point.

2. Offering too many treats

Dogs love to eat, so if there is the prospect of food, they are bound to behave accordingly. However, there are a couple of problems here. For starters, too many treats can be unhealthy. You should only offer something nutritious, such as the wholesome products at http://veratreats.com/ rather than titbits of food or anything that could be dangerous to a dog’s health, such as chocolate. Then, consider the times when you don’t have treats with you. If your dog only behaves well because of an edible reward, you are going to run into problems. There are other ways to reward your dog, such as praise, play, and a gentle pat on the head. Dogs look to their owners for approval, so your tone of voice and facial expression can be a greater reward than a tasty morsel.

3. Training in one area

You will be spending most of your time with your dog at home, but don’t limit training to the house. Otherwise, your dog may not behave accordingly when outside, or in somebody else’s home. The training needs to be consistent, so make sure your dog pays attention to you wherever you are. Your dog needs to know boundaries, both inside your home and in other places you are likely to visit, so vary the places where you carry out your dog’s training.

4. Doing the training alone

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Everybody in the family needs to be consistent in the training of your dog. There will be mixed messages if one person lets the dog jump onto the sofa, for example, and another member of the family doesn’t. There may also be behavior problems with the dog when it interacts with other members of the family. Therefore, everybody needs to be on the same page, using the same commands and keeping to set boundaries. Otherwise, you will have a very confused animal on your hands.

5. Forgetting to practice

Dogs are quick learners, but like any of us, practice makes perfect. Whether you are trying to get your dog to learn new tricks, or are focussing on rescue techniques, you need to keep practicing, so your dog doesn’t forget. This goes beyond the puppy stage, so don’t assume your dog will remember everything you have taught him in his early stages. As with humans, continued mental stimulation is needed when your dog gets older.

6. Long training sessions

Many of us struggle with our attention spans, and your dog is no different. If you train your dog for long periods at a time, they are going to get bored and tired. Read the advice at https://www.thespruce.com/ on efficient training techniques. They recommend 15-minute sessions and give you tips on how best to fill that time. Your dog is going to get distracted and confused if you give too much information, so keeping things simple and focussed in short bursts will enhance your dog’s learning.

7. Forgetting individuality

What works for one dog may not work for another. One dog may be motivated by food; another may have a natural desire to please its owner without rewards. Therefore, don’t assume the methods of training you have used for a dog in the past will work for your new pup. Tweak what you are doing, get to know your animal, and experiment until you find out what works best.

8. Repeating commands

Common among many dog owners is the constant repetition of a command. If the dog doesn’t sit the first time you command him to, there is the temptation to repeat the command until he does. There is a problem with this. The dog is learning that he doesn’t need to sit the first time and will only begin to follow the command once it has been repeated. Say it once and say it firmly, and if he doesn’t respond, take the dog somewhere else and repeat the command. Eventually, the dog will get the point, and you won’t get frustrated by having to nag your dog to do as he is told.

9. Clicking too much

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The use of clickers can be effective in training, but only if used properly. If you click too many times or stop associating the click with a reward, it will eventually become ineffective. There is some useful advice at https://www.wikihow.com/, helping you and your dog get the most out of clicker training.

10. Giving up too early

Training a dog takes time, patience, and consistency. Many dog owners give up on training too early, either due to the frustration that their methods aren’t working, or they think the dog has been trained to an acceptable level. As discussed earlier, training needs to happen throughout a dog’s lifetime, not only at puppy stage. Then, the training methods need to be tweaked if something isn't working. There are many dog training facilities for those who struggle to train their dogs, so extra help is available if you run into problems.


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