Tag: <span>Young Pups</span>

How to Choose a Dog Crate for Your Pup

We all love our canine friends and want them to be comfortable both in and out of our homes. Giving them special homes of their own is one of the keys to this comfort. When we buy a dog crate, we want to be sure we are giving our pets the best, and before we can do this, we need to know a few things.

What Size Is Your Dog?

You can’t start looking for a crate until you know what size you need. Your first steps are to take the height, length, and weight of your dog. To find the height, measure from the shoulder to the floor, and for length, find out the distance from nose to tail.

One thing to note is that if your dog is not full grown, you could be letting yourself in for multiple purchases. If you would rather buy one crate, instead of measuring do some research to find out the average size of the adults in your puppy’s breed. Purchase based on this calculation.

Another point to consider is that your cage must accommodate not only your dog but also whatever you choose to put with it. Toys, dishes, and especially cushions might require you to increase your measurements in order to keep your dog comfortable.

What Are Your Dog’s Needs?

Crates are generally metal, plastic, soft-sided, or wooden. The kind of crate you buy will depend first on the strength of your dog. Of course, you don’t want to buy a crate that he or she will destroy in a matter of minutes or hours, so you need to consider the different materials available and their advantages and disadvantages. Metal crates, for example, are unbelievably strong if made well, but they are pathetically weak if not.

You also need to look at your puppy’s individual personality and issues. If your puppy suffers from separation anxiety, for example, you will want to go with a plastic crate which keeps it from seeing too much. Should you plan for your puppy to stay outside, you will need a wooden crate to protect it from the elements. Then, too, if you want to crate train your dog, you will be happier with a metal option as they are easier to clean.

However, it is possible that no one particular kind will seem to suit your pet, in which case you might need to get creative. If you want the strength of the metal but the emotional security of the plastic, for example, you can try covering a metal crate with blankets.

What About Very Small and Very Large Dogs?

For the miniatures of the dog world, you will need to be extra careful. Although these dogs will not have the strength of bigger dogs, there are peculiarities to which you must pay attention. For instance, small mouths can get into small gaps and chew, so make sure the doors of your crate are particularly secure. Likewise, if you are crate training, it is especially tricky to get a crate the right size for a small dog. You want to choose one big enough for it to be comfortable but small enough to prevent its sectioning it off for doing its business and resting.

Similarly, for large dogs, you want a crate that will keep them comfortable but will not give them room to run around. A crate is a resting place, not a play yard. Wooden crates are often suitable for exceptionally large dogs outside, while metal ones may work best inside.

There are a number of factors in choosing a suitable dog crate for your pet, but the best judgments will come from knowing your animal well. There is no crate perfect for all dogs, but there is one just right for yours.

Why Every Puppy Deserves a Comfortable Dog Bed

There are several reasons why every puppy deserves a comfortable dog bed.

Health

The first reason is that it is going to be good for their health. This is because they are going to have a more comfortable place to sleep. This means that they are not going to be restless and will have a better nights sleep. When your dog does not get enough sleep at night, then they are going to be more irritable and will be more likely to get in trouble. If you have an overweight dog, then the lack of sleep is going to affect their health.

Weather

The second reason is that it is going to be some extra insulation in the weather. This means that your dog’s body temperature is going to be better regulated no matter what the weather is outside. When the dog’s temperature goes up and down, it is going to cause them to get sick. It is usually a good idea to check on the dog’s temperature when it is extremely cold or hot outside to make sure that their temperature is regulated while they are trying to sleep on their bed with the mattress topper.

Furniture

The third reason is that you are going to be able to preserve the bed that they are sleeping on a little bit better. This is even going to be better than the dog sleeping on your bed. This is because they are going to be a lot less likely to twitch and turn while they are sleeping if they are comfortable. Plus you are not going to get woke up by the kicks at night. This also means that the dog is going to have more space to move around in their own bed without any restless sleep.

Comfortable

The fourth reason is that everyone including the dog is going to be able to get a comfortable nights’ rest. Even though you might love the fact that your dog is sleeping with you, there is going to come a time when it is going to become annoying. Plus all of the fur that the dog is going to leave behind on the bed is going to be hard to clean and can cause you to have some allergies. But your allergies is going to be a lot better when they are leaving all of that fur in their own bed.

Space

The fifth reason is that the dog is going to be able to have their own space. This is going to be a place where they are going to feel safe. Since dogs sleep for a long period of time, they are going to need a comfortable place where they can curl up and rest sometimes during the day. This is one of the best ways that you will be able to make sure that your dog is happy. But you will need to make sure that you get the right dog bed.

Dog Training Basics

A puppy can be a great addition to the family. Puppies are fun and they are great companions, however, owning a puppy is a lot of work. When the puppy first comes home, it is important that you start training him immediately. Not only will this save you a lot of stress and aggravation, it will also save your furniture and floors. Training a puppy isn’t as difficult as you may think. As long as you are patient and you know what you are doing, your puppy should learn quickly.

#1 Teach Your Dog His Name

The first thing that you should do right when your puppy gets home is to teach him his name. He is going to need to know his name when you are calling him or scolding him. When you are speaking to your puppy, use his name often. You may be tempted to use cute nicknames for your puppy, however, this is a bad idea. Calling your puppy by more than one name will only confuse him. To start teaching him his name, call him from the other side of the room. If he comes to you, reward him with a treat. You should do this several times a day. Within a few days, he will know his name.

#2 Decide the House Rules

When your puppy comes home, you are going to need to think about the rules. Is he going to be allowed to jump up on the furniture? If he going to be allowed in the bedrooms? These are rules that need to be decided early on and you need to stick to them. If you let the puppy on the couch one day and then yell at him for jumping on the couch the next, he will become confused and he will never learn the rules.

#3 Potty Training

Potty training takes a lot of time and even more patience. Your puppy is going to need to go out to the bathroom several times each day. If you are home with your puppy all day, you should take him outside every hour. When he does his business outside, you should praise him and reward him with a treat. If your puppy messes in the house, you should use a strong, stern voice to let him know that what he did was wrong. You should never, under any circumstances, hit your puppy for going to the bathroom in the house. This won’t help him learn, it will only make him afraid of you. If you are not going to be home all day, you might want to put your puppy in a crate while you are gone. This will keep him from doing his business in the house. If you focus on your puppy’s training, he should start going outside every time within a few weeks to a month. You need to remember to be patient with him.

#4 Avoid Biting or Nipping

It is important that you stop your puppy from nipping and biting as soon as the behavior starts. If he is biting or nipping at you, use a stern voice and tell him no. If you have bonded with your puppy, you should pretend that he is hurting you when he bites. This may scare him enough to never bite you again. If all else fails, give your puppy a chew toy to take his focus off of biting you. When you are in a situation with your puppy where he will normally bite or nip and he doesn’t, praise him and give him a treat as a reward.

#5 Keep Your Puppy From Jumping

When guests come to your home, they aren’t going to want your puppy jumping all over them. It is important to break your puppy out of this habit early on. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to stop the behavior. Start by having someone walk in your home. When the puppy jumps on them, tell the puppy in a stern, strong voice to get down. You can also point at the floor to let your puppy know what you want him to do. If he listens, praise him and give him a reward. Next, wait about 10 minutes and have someone come through the door again and repeat the same steps. He might not get it in one training session, however, after a few days of training, he will learn that he cannot jump on your guests when they come through the door.

Important Tips To Remember

• It is important that you understand how your puppy thinks. If you find that you dog messed on the carpet but you don’t know when it happened, you should not reprimand him. Puppies and older dogs live in the moment. This means that a few minutes after they break a rule, they will forget. If your puppy messed on the carpet an hour before, he won’t know why you are reprimanding him later.

• Praise and reward are the best training tools that you have. While using a strong, stern voice is a good idea if your puppy breaks a rule, you should never, ever use corporal punishment. If you hit your puppy, he will grow up nervous and afraid of you.

• When training your puppy, you cannot take a day off. In order for your training sessions to be effective, you need to be consistent. This is the only way to turn your free-spirited puppy into a well-behaved member of the family. The only way to make him learn is to be patient and consistent with the training.

Training your puppy properly is very important starting the day you bring him home. The sooner he learns the rules of the house and he starts following them, the sooner you will be able to enjoy your new best friend.