It’s so exciting to get a new puppy, but much like a human baby, you have to prepare your home first! Puppies like to chew, and can get into a lot of trouble if your house is not ready for them. Here is a list of things you can do to puppy proof your home, and keep your new furry baby safe.
· Poisonous plants – Believe it or not, there are a lot of plants that we keep in our home that can be toxic for our dogs. If you want to find out more on all the different types you can visit: http://www.cybercanine.com/toxicplants.htm
· Chewing – Puppies begin chewing at about four months of age, this means you need to make sure anything that can harm them, if chewed, is hidden or put away (electric wires, anything metal or plastic that will break or chip teeth). The same as baby proofing with a newborn, we must do this with a puppy, so chemicals or sprays need to be put up high. Puppies will chew on anything, including aerosol cans that can explode if punctured, and cause damage to the puppy’s eyes and face. Also put away anything you don’t want to be ruined, like your shoes or belts. Give them plenty of toys to chew on, so you will not have holes in the bottom of your furniture. There is also a great spray you can buy if the chewing becomes excessive called “Bitter Apple”. You can find it at your local super market or vet’s clinic. It’s a spray that tastes bitter, and makes the dog not want to eat or chew on anything that has the spray on it.
· Toilet – Always keep the toilet lid down. Puppies tend to play in the bowl, or drink the water. This can be very harmful if you use chemicals to clean the toilet, and may result in an emergency Vet visit.
· Crafts – If you have a craft room or are a person who likes to do crafts, make sure you do not have any needles, buttons, pins, or ribbons left on the floor or in reach of your puppy. Needles and pins can be swallowed, and cause internal damage. Ribbons, buttons or string can chock them, or also be eaten and be harmful. A good rule of thumb is if it’s harmful for a child, it’s harmful to a puppy as well.
· Pets – Small pets, such as hamsters, small birds, or just about any pet that a puppy could fit in its mouth, could be in danger. Be sure to keep all of your caged pets up high where the puppy cannot climb up to reach them. Not only are the small pets in danger of being eaten or killed, but your puppy can get injured as well. Breaking glass or the other pet fighting for its freedom can injure your puppy just as much. Never leave your puppy alone in a room with smaller animals!
· Children – Small children can be a danger to puppies as well as the puppy may be a danger to them. Children don’t know that squeezing the puppy can harm them. This goes especially for breeds with big eyes such as the Pug, French bulldog or Boston terrier. These particular breeds have pushed in faces causing their eyes to bulge. If squeezed to hard their eyes can actually pop right out of the socket, causing a lot of pain for the puppy, and a costly Vet visit for you. Puppies love to chew and what greater chew toy then a playful child who rolls around with them. The puppy is only playing, but this can hurt your child and may even cause them to not like the puppy or be afraid of it. Children also love to pull on puppy tails, and this is also a painful experience for the new puppy.
· Candy – Chocolate and raisons are toxic to dogs, so be sure to keep all sweets in an area where the puppy cannot get to it.
These are only a few things to watch out for when bringing a new puppy home. Only you know what hazards you have in your home, so get on your hands and knees and go through every room your puppy will be allowed in. Anything within eye’s view that can be chewed on, or harmful, needs to be put away or secured so the puppy cannot get to it. Your puppy is a baby, and much like a human baby, it needs guidance, training, and content supervision. Having a new puppy will keep you busy, but with the right environment and training, it can grow to be a loyal and loving companion for many years to come!
We all love to get gifts from our loved ones on Valentine’s Day, so let’s not forget about our furry friends. There are plenty of places to get gifts for your pets, but be sure you are buying something that will not be harmful to them. Here is a list of great Valentine gifts specially made for pets.
Gift baskets – You can make your own Valentine treats at home, or find stores that sale them. There are even places online that sell pet gift baskets that include toys.
Accessories – Collars with hearts, red leashes, Valentine bandanas, and pet clothes. These are all great gifts, but be sure to check for loose strings that could choke them.
Tags – It is always wise to have updated tags on your pets, and if you have not updated them recently, now is the perfect time. You can get gold charms of any shape, or plastic ones in any shape or color. These make great gifts because they not only look great, but they act as your pet’s identification if they ever get lost.
Doggy spa – This is one of the higher end gifts, but so worth it. Dogs have a lot of stress in their muscles just like we do, and a doggy spa can help release that and make them feel pampered. This is an example of a doggy spa in Arizona: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0h00T8C0mU
Home spa – If you want to pamper your pet, but can’t go to a doggy spa, don’t worry you can create your own at home. Give them a nice bath, with some extra grooming and attention. Clean out their ears, freshen their breath, brush their coat and give them a nice massage.
Quality time – If your pet really doesn’t need any more gifts, but you want them to have a special Valentine’s Day, just spend some quality time with them. Take them to the park, give them an extra long walk, play fetch, take them on a car ride through the country side, or just cuddle up with them and give a nice belly rub.
These are just a few examples of gifts you can give your pets for Valentine’s Day. However if you are creative, the possibilities can be endless. There are so many great things you can do, and give your pets. Above all other gifts, love is the best and most important of all. So be sure to give your pets some extra love and affection of Valentine’s Day!
Barking is a natural behavior for dogs; however there are a lot of things that can cause your dog to bark obsessively. Dogs that are lonely, bored, frustrated, frightened or unbalanced will bark more than dogs that are happy. If you keep your dog outside most of the day, you may think he is getting exercise, but the truth is all that running in circles, darting around, or pacing is more like fidgeting, or a nervous behavior. If you provide your dog with fun things to do, like a place to dig, or special toys to play with, then they can get more enjoyment out of being outside. Here are some things you can do to help your dog to not bark in your yard.
1. Exercise – This is on the top of the list because a dog that gets good exercise is more likely to sleep most of the day. They are more balanced and happy. By exercising, that does not mean letting your dog out in the yard, it means taking them for a long tiring walk or run.
2. Training – You can always hire a professional dog trainer, or you can buy a book and do it yourself. Teaching your dog obedience is a great way to establish trust. If you can get your dog to listen to you and want to learn, then you are becoming the boss, and in the canine world being the boss is the only way to get your dog to respect you. If you need further guidance there are plenty of shows on TV you can watch. A few of my favorites are Cesar Millan (The Dog Whisper) on National Geographic, and Victoria Stillwell (It’s me or the dog) on Animal Planet.
3. Social exercise – A dog that is outside most of the day will need more social involvement from you. Walks around the neighborhood, and dog parks are a good way to get them out and about. Bring them inside the house when you are home so they can feel a part of your life. You can also come home and groom them for some one on one time.
4. Attention – Your dog may be barking to get your attention. If every time it barks you go over and give it affection, then you are training the dog that barking equals attention. You can start by letting the dog bark once, and then let him go outside. When it barks twice let him come back in. Be consistent and only let the dog in and out when it barks the right amount of times.
5. Quiet – You can begin to teach your dog a word to keep him quiet. For instance you can use the word “Hush” or the sound “SHHH”. When the dog stops barking for three seconds, give him a treat and lots of praise. Each time that the dog begins to bark, repeat the training. As you continue to use this exercise, increase the amount of time the dog stays quiet before giving the treat. Before you know it you will see improvement. You have to be patient and keep practicing. You may not see results over night, but if you stick with it you should see improvement with in a matter of weeks.
If your dog is left alone or confined for long periods of time without supervision, it’s more likely to bark. Dogs get anxious and sad when they are alone, much like a child does. If you are gone during the day be sure to give the dog a lot of exercise before you leave for work that morning. If you stay persistent, you are bound to see a difference.
