S.O.S. - Tips On Living With Your Family

Have Realistic Expectations of your Dog

Gracie the pup Unrealistic expectations for our dogs ,seem to be a very common problem. Training a dog takes time.

People call me and say, my dog bites and I can't stop him. I ask how old is your dog? Answer: he is 11weeks old. This is a teething time and needs be dealt with by providing things to chew on.

Another person tells me they can't housebreak their dog. As I listen I hear that she works all day and the 8 week old puppy is in a crate for 10 hrs. She explains there is something wrong with this dog, because the books say that dogs will not go in their crate. This is true - dogs don't want to go in their crate - but will if forced to. This person needs to have a friend come and let the dog out at least 2 times a day at this age to play and relieve its self. Older dogs have these same problems.

People don't know what to do. Knowledge is a powerful tool. Dogs do not think like humans; You are the teacher, if you do not know how to train your dog you must get help. Read or take lessons from a trainer with a lot of experience. Find a trainer that you are comfortable with. Some dogs are so smart they will learn in spite of their owners. But God help the ones that don't. Those dogs are in for a lot of stress as well as the owner. Sometimes they are given up, abandoned to the next owner and the next until, well for me that's to painful to think of.

The answer is knowledge. Do not blame the dog, it is a animal! You are suppose to be smarter. Sometimes finding the right person for that dog, is the gentler way for your dog. Finding someone that is able to train the dog and knows what they are doing. Some dogs are simply with the wrong person. What ever the case may be, be responsible and spend the money to get help or find the right home. Unfortunately, we live in a throw away society but we must care for the animals that come into our lives. These are living creature that feel and they need to be respected. Be kind and gentle, these pay great rewards. Having a great relationship with your dog will enrich your life as well as theirs. You will spend many happy hours together!

Be Blessed and open to learn new things!
Go after knowledge; it is a good friend!
Brenda

Understanding Your Dog

Understanding your dog sounds like an easy thing to do, especially for the new puppy. After all, they are so cute and cuddly and just need food, water, and love, right? Yes but also dogs need a lot of help from us so they know what we want. So many dogs will learn in spite of their owners but a happy dog will learn more quickly and be happy to do so. Here are some hints to help train your dog no matter that age or breed.

The more senses you use in teaching the quicker the dog will learn:
Tasting - treats
Seeing - luring (follows the reward into command)
Hearing - speak the command
Touching - reward by petting
Smelling - smells the reward

Happy Training,
Brenda Saling

Crating Your Dog

Here is a little story I'd like to share to tell you about crating:
Our Border Collie, Easy, will open our refrigerator when we are not home! So one day I was outside helping my husband and Easy got into the fridge and snuck out a can of cat food that I had opened that morning and left the top on. Well, he got the top of the can caught in his mouth with his tongue under the lid! Thank God the can was one of the larger cans of food, he got it stuck with his mouth open or he would have been able to pull it and tear his tongue up and probably bleed to death. We were able, with help from our Lord Jesus, to save him before anything worse happened and all went well.

Ever since then, we usually crate him we are not in the house. Crates are a wonderful tool, when used in moderation; for short times. It is cruel to use a crate for a puppy for 8 to 14 hours as the owner is away at work. If you crate, please do it according to the age and temperament of the dog.

Small tidbit: One of my clients told that Baby's R Us had a refrigerator lock for children. The lock works well, as long as we remember to use it!

When to Get a Dog

The first question should always be, "What do I have to offer a dog?" Not just, "What will a dog do for me?" Unfortunately a lot of people get dogs for the wrong reason. So here are some questions to ask yourself and your family before getting a dog. You should give this a lot of thought before adding a dog to your family:

How much time do you have to spend with a dog?
Dogs are pack animals and they spend all had an night with each other. You and your family will be their new pack. Dogs need vet care at least once a year, if your dog is healthy. Dogs will need to be bathed. They also need to be brushed quite often depending on the breed.

Research your breed, use Internet or books in the library. Visit at least two breeders of the breed you would like. Consider a mixed breed or shelter dog. Dogs are mostly born good and taught bad. Consider house training for example, from start to finish it takes most dogs 6 months to a year to become house trained and that is if the dog is properly trained. Puppies need to be taken out every 20-40 minuets to start and schedule food and water on time, ideally 3 to 4 times a day.

Spend time taking a training course from an experienced trainer with multi-breed experience and at least 10 years in the field. Short sessions 2-3 times a day 5 minuets each is a good start. Puppies need to be introduced to lots of people, children, sounds, and smells at this critical time. They need toys to play with, things to chew on. Your furniture works quite nicely if you do not supply the chew things they need.

Most important is dogs live 12 to 20 years, they should have a loyal owner to hang with. The Bible says a good man cares for his animals, but even the kindness of a bad man is cruel. The reminds me of how I have heard, for over 30 years, how someone will comment how their dog has a large fenced in yard, a big dog house, and food and water. But, from the dog's point of view, they would say "I am so sad. I love my owner but he only comes to see me once a day and maybe he will throw a ball for me once a week. I have no one to be with, to touch, to play with for 23 hours a day by myself everyday." Please don't do dogs a favor just to live alone outside, or in, day after day. They are pack animals and they need a pack; they think and feel and get sick just as we do.

Many people bring home a dog thinking they will automatically behave. When the dog starts to act out, they are sold or given away again and shuffled from home to home. I'd say at least half are sold or given away again and again 3 or 4 times until they are fortunate enough to get a good man to take them and give them the attention they need. The end is good but most of these dogs go to the pound and are killed because there are no homes for them as we are a throw-a-way people and our dogs are the ones who suffer.

Dogs are wonderful animals and can give so much to a person and family and really enrich our lives, so please really think about all that is involved with bringing a dog home and be prepared to give them the love they give us.