How will my dog and my new baby get along? Will I have to get rid of my loyal, furry companion in order to ensure the safety of my child? These are the questions that plague many dog owners as they anticipate the birth and homecoming of their first child. The good news is that even though the process of introducing your dog to your newest family addition is a careful and cautious one, it's not impossible. With some pre-planning on your part, you can train your dog to get along with your child and can raise your child to respect and love your dog as much as you do.
Getting Your Pet Used to a Baby
So, you're expecting a baby. Congratulations! This is a time of change, discovery and joy like no other. If you are a dog owner, however, your happiness may be tempered by thoughts of your dog and how your "fur baby" will react to all of these monumental changes. Fear not! If you start preparing your dog for the baby's arrival well in advance of the baby's due date, you should be able to minimize any associated conflicts or problems.
If your dog currently has access to all rooms in the house, get him used to not entering which ever room will serve as the nursery. Keep that door closed so your dog will not consider it part of his regular territory. Then, get the dog used to your being in the room without him. Keep the nursery door closed while you're assembling baby furniture or decorating the room. This way, the dog will learn that even though there is activity there, he is not a part of it. Make sure, though, to pay a little extra attention to your dog once you leave the nursery and return to his territory.
Has your dog been to obedience school? If not, now is a great time for you both to go. Not only will it allow you to spend some quality time together before the baby comes, it will give you the tools necessary to control your dog's behavior. It will also help your dog get used to being in a room full of activity, other dogs and (maybe) children. This aspect of obedience school is an especially important one if your pre-baby household has been a relatively quiet one.
Another way to get your dog used to some of the noises a baby brings is to buy some tapes of babies crying. Start playing the tapes at a very low volume until the dog seems not to notice the sound anymore. Then, gradually increase the volume until it reaches a realistic level (the process should take place over days and weeks, not all in one day). When your baby cries at home, your dog will be less startled.
When your baby finally comes home, keep the dog away from the infant for the first few days. He should already be used to baby noises, but get him used to the baby's smell by putting one of the baby's blankets in his resting or sleeping area. When it's time to introduce your baby and dog to each other, keep the dog on a short leash and reward him during the introductions. This will reinforce the idea that the baby is a positive thing. Also, pay attention to your dog while he and the baby are in the same room. This will help your dog avoid seeing the baby as a threat or something that is taking you away from him. No matter how well trained your dog is, though, never leave the baby alone with him.
Take extra care as your child enters the crawling and walking stage. Depending on the breed, your dog may be absolutely terrified of this little crawling creature or he may view your child as prey. Neither of these scenarios is permanent, though. Your dog just has to get used to your baby moving itself around as opposed to being carried around. Keep your dog next to you while the baby is crawling or walking and reward him for being still (this is where the obedience training comes in really handy!). Your dog will most likely get used to your child's new movements in no time at all.
Sabtu, 22 September 2007
How To Improve Your Dog's Behavior Through Exercise
We've all heard the old saying "idle hands are the devil's tools." The popularity of the adage stems from its validity. Those who are not able to keep themselves busy are far more apt to fill their time with inappropriate acts. If re-written to apply to man's best friend, the notion that "idle paws are the devil's tools" would ring true, as well. A dog who is not sufficiently engaged in physical activity is far more likely to present behavioral challenges.
Often, we hear complaints about dogs who are simply uncontrollable. They engage in destructive behaviors without any apparent or obvious reason. They may dig the dreaded backyard holes, destroy property or simply be difficult animals with whom to get along. These problems can be the outgrowth of any number of things, but quite often the root cause of such difficulties nothing more than idleness. A dog that is not sufficiently exercised will find other outlets for his energies. Unfortunately, when left to his own devices to find an outlet, a dog may very well choose less than appreciated activity.
Professional trainers have long understood the value of exercising a dog. Not only is the physical activity beneficial to the animal's health. Regular exercise in a controlled manner also serves to decrease the likelihood of destructive and inappropriate behavior. Instead of needing to invent means by which to expend his energy, the dog is exercised in a directed manner and incidents of inappropriate behavior decline.
Put simply, if you don't find a way to wear out your dog, your dog will find a way to wear you out! His idle paws will become a source of great frustration if not otherwise occupied. Thus, exercising your dog consistently will improve his behavior a great deal.
Many dog owners, however, find it difficult to find ways to sufficiently exercise their pet. This could be due to schedule or space limitations. Fortunately, there are a variety of means to exercise a dog.
The most traditional means of dog exercising remains one of the most effective: simply walking the dog can do wonders. We too often have a tendency to reduce walking the dog to a jaunt as short as is necessary for him to tend to his elimination needs. Although dog walking certainly serves this purpose, it is important to recognize that the act of walking one's dog also holds the promise of improving his behavior through exercise. Instead of cutting a walk short once his "business" is done, it is better to continue the walk for a longer period of time. Use the walk as exercise-as well as a great bonding opportunity.
Often, we hear complaints about dogs who are simply uncontrollable. They engage in destructive behaviors without any apparent or obvious reason. They may dig the dreaded backyard holes, destroy property or simply be difficult animals with whom to get along. These problems can be the outgrowth of any number of things, but quite often the root cause of such difficulties nothing more than idleness. A dog that is not sufficiently exercised will find other outlets for his energies. Unfortunately, when left to his own devices to find an outlet, a dog may very well choose less than appreciated activity.
Professional trainers have long understood the value of exercising a dog. Not only is the physical activity beneficial to the animal's health. Regular exercise in a controlled manner also serves to decrease the likelihood of destructive and inappropriate behavior. Instead of needing to invent means by which to expend his energy, the dog is exercised in a directed manner and incidents of inappropriate behavior decline.
Put simply, if you don't find a way to wear out your dog, your dog will find a way to wear you out! His idle paws will become a source of great frustration if not otherwise occupied. Thus, exercising your dog consistently will improve his behavior a great deal.
Many dog owners, however, find it difficult to find ways to sufficiently exercise their pet. This could be due to schedule or space limitations. Fortunately, there are a variety of means to exercise a dog.
The most traditional means of dog exercising remains one of the most effective: simply walking the dog can do wonders. We too often have a tendency to reduce walking the dog to a jaunt as short as is necessary for him to tend to his elimination needs. Although dog walking certainly serves this purpose, it is important to recognize that the act of walking one's dog also holds the promise of improving his behavior through exercise. Instead of cutting a walk short once his "business" is done, it is better to continue the walk for a longer period of time. Use the walk as exercise-as well as a great bonding opportunity.
Housebreaking Your Puppy
You're the proud owner of a new puppy. Unfortunately, you are also the not so proud owner of a soggy living room carpet. It doesn't take long to realize this can't keep happening. So what do you do? It might just be time to housebreak your new pet.
Housebreaking may sound painful but relax. It really isn't all that difficult. It is your dog's natural tendency to want to keep its living area clean so once the home is firmly established in your pets mind the problem will be resolved. There are several ways you can assist the process to move faster.
The first thing you want to do is be sure your pet is healthy to start with. If your pet has not been to the vet already, make an appointment. Your dog should be checked for overall healthiness and for conditions that would make house training difficult, such as cystitis and kidney or bladder dysfunction. While your pet is visiting the veterinarian, ask to have them checked for worms and parasites also by way of a fecal exam. Also bear in mind the truthfulness behind mothers' wisdom when she said "You are what you eat." A poor quality dog food, in addition to contributing to a poor nutritional state, can cause digestive problems resulting in loose stools, thus contributing to your pup's inability to control itself.
The most important part of housebreaking your pet is close supervision. This is necessary because your puppy learns by repetition. If you see your dog showing signs of needing to relieve itself, then immediate action must be taken to get the animal outside to its designated area. Consistency in training is critical. Do not think being lax because it's cold or dark outside is acceptable or your pet will adopt these same attitudes.
Housebreaking may sound painful but relax. It really isn't all that difficult. It is your dog's natural tendency to want to keep its living area clean so once the home is firmly established in your pets mind the problem will be resolved. There are several ways you can assist the process to move faster.
The first thing you want to do is be sure your pet is healthy to start with. If your pet has not been to the vet already, make an appointment. Your dog should be checked for overall healthiness and for conditions that would make house training difficult, such as cystitis and kidney or bladder dysfunction. While your pet is visiting the veterinarian, ask to have them checked for worms and parasites also by way of a fecal exam. Also bear in mind the truthfulness behind mothers' wisdom when she said "You are what you eat." A poor quality dog food, in addition to contributing to a poor nutritional state, can cause digestive problems resulting in loose stools, thus contributing to your pup's inability to control itself.
The most important part of housebreaking your pet is close supervision. This is necessary because your puppy learns by repetition. If you see your dog showing signs of needing to relieve itself, then immediate action must be taken to get the animal outside to its designated area. Consistency in training is critical. Do not think being lax because it's cold or dark outside is acceptable or your pet will adopt these same attitudes.
How To Housebreak Your Dog
irst, don't think that you are being mean to your dog by training him or her. Dogs are pack animals by nature. They need to belong to a pack. When your dog became part of your household your dog became part of your pack.
That makes you the Alpha Dog - the Leader of your pack.
Your dog wants you to be the leader. Your dog wants to know that there is a strong Alpha Dog giving orders and keeping the pack in line.
The very first thing you need to do as the leader of your pack is to housebreak your dog. In the wild, dogs (wolves) are trained early not to do their business in the pack's den, and it is vital that you train your dog not to do its business in your den (your house).
Most dog experts agree that the best age to housebreak a puppy is between 8 and 12 weeks old.
If you are housebreaking a puppy, one of the best ways is to use a crate. Believe it or not, puppies like crate training. For a dog a crate is like its ancestral den and the confined space in a crate gives your puppy a sense of security and safety.
NEVER use the crate to punish your puppy. The crate is NOT a jail. Your puppy's crate is its happy and safe home. Never lock a young puppy in a crate for more than 2 hours - three hours tops in an emergency.
That makes you the Alpha Dog - the Leader of your pack.
Your dog wants you to be the leader. Your dog wants to know that there is a strong Alpha Dog giving orders and keeping the pack in line.
The very first thing you need to do as the leader of your pack is to housebreak your dog. In the wild, dogs (wolves) are trained early not to do their business in the pack's den, and it is vital that you train your dog not to do its business in your den (your house).
Most dog experts agree that the best age to housebreak a puppy is between 8 and 12 weeks old.
If you are housebreaking a puppy, one of the best ways is to use a crate. Believe it or not, puppies like crate training. For a dog a crate is like its ancestral den and the confined space in a crate gives your puppy a sense of security and safety.
NEVER use the crate to punish your puppy. The crate is NOT a jail. Your puppy's crate is its happy and safe home. Never lock a young puppy in a crate for more than 2 hours - three hours tops in an emergency.
Langganan:
Postingan (Atom)