Crate Training your dog, Humane?

Crate training a dog can help ensure the dog has a humane life, what do I mean? Well when dogs are not crate trained, the odds are they will not be 100% reliably house trained. As they get older their freedom is restricted and they are often banished to a life as a yard dog. If crate trained when small as they grow without the accumulation of bad habits their freedom increase and they tend to become stable, reliable house pets, enjoying many years sharing our home.

When I discuss the concept of crate training with pet dog owners they often look a little befuddled. I know exactly what they are thinking in most cases before they even open their mouths. Pet owners think of their dogs as family members, loved ones in some cases even our furry kids. Why would we want to put them in a crate?

There are many benefits to crate training a dog, especially if you have a puppy or a young dog and you are in the process of house training. I often ask people, especially those with small children, if they ever used the baby pens. ?Of course they reply, I would have never had any peace or quiet?. Well a crate for a puppy is the same concept as a baby pen. You would never leave your baby or child unsupervised, free to wander the rooms of your house where they could injure themselves. Puppies, like small children need a place they can go when you are not available to watch every move they make, a safe place where they can hear, see and smell you without being underfoot. A crate is a safe, quiet place your dog can go when they want peace and quiet, to snooze or just to withdraw into their own sanctuary. I have never met a dog that does not enjoy their crate if the crate is introduced into their world correctly.

There are many benefits of crate training your dog not just for housebreaking but also to prevent destructive behaviors such as chewing, counter surfing and trash exploring, especially while you are away. When a pet is injured or sick a crate is an ideal location for them to rest and, should you ever need to evacuate your dog you will be grateful if you can safely contain your dog on a long journey, in a shelter or in compliance with a hotel?s pet policy.
Contrary to what many may think, a crate is not a tool for punishment, or a long term confinement tool. With training, an adult dog can remain in a crate for up to 8 hours but will need plentiful amounts of exercise before and after crating and an assortment of toys for mental stimulation during its time in the crate.

There are many different sizes, models and varieties of crates. The more durable crates designed for airline travel, in my opinion, do not make the best crate for home use as they tend to be bulky and restrict the dog?s view of their environment. For my dogs, I use the canvas/mesh style of crates for their daily use and that is where they often disappear to be alone while we read or watch television. This design provides for shaded visibility, they fold easily, are durable and can be moved or stored with little problem. Many pet stores provide the metal wire crates that collapse and can be easily moved around the house. These are good crates for large dogs and dogs that may chew. They also come with accessories such as water bowls, fans to keep your pooch cool, and fabric covers to blend them into your home d?cor.

To start the crate training process make going into the crate a game. Dogs should be encouraged, not forced, into their crates. To generate interest feed them in the crate with the door left open, throw in the odd treat or toy and within a short period of time you will find them happily exploring the inside of their new place delighted to find a surprise. As time goes by gently close the door giving them treats for staying quietly inside, progress on to actually fastening the door and then extend the period of time you leave them in their crate. Remember, offer treats and toys to go in and do not let them out if they are barking or pawing at the door. You want to let them out when they are calm and quiet or they will learn very quickly that if they bark or paw the door opens. If you work on this and make it a fun happy place for your dog you will soon find them choosing to snooze in their crate as happy as can be.

Download a FREE Crate Training E-Book. Visit http://www.888DogSmith.com and look under the resources tab
or Call Rachel Williams 561-271-3033

Introducing Pets to a New Baby

It is important to remember that no child should ever be left alone with a pet;
even the "best" pet may hurt a baby. Close supervision is mandatory
when an infant/toddler and a pet are together.

Anticipate schedule and household changes that may occur when the baby arrives; try to implement these changes well in advance of the actual arrival of the baby. This may mean spending less time with the pets, pet segregation from certain areas of the house, teaching the pet to stay off the furniture, awakening at night, etc. Practice Tranquility Training Exercises with your pet prior to the arrival of the baby.

Prior to the arrival of the baby, obtain a recording of a baby crying. One resource is www.soundsscary.com, Soothing Sounds CD with baby noises. Play on low volume for 5–10 minutes multiple times daily. During sessions, have the dog do basic obedience commands and reward good, obedient, calm behavior. Gradually increase the volume at successive training sessions until the recording is played at true baby crying volume. If at any time during increases in the volume the dog appears to be agitated, return to a lower volume and progress more gradually. It may be beneficial to start carrying around a baby doll and rewarding the dog for good behavior around the "baby." Get the pet used to new baby product odors and furniture by having them in the house prior to arrival of the baby.

Get pets used to pulling on hair/ears by initially doing it very gently and rewarding them for good behavior with a treat/affection. Gradually increase the intensity of the pulling until you mimic what a toddler may do.

Do not allow pets to get into the crib or sleep in areas where the baby will be sleeping/resting.
For particularly anxious dogs/cats, consider placing a canine pheromone product (DAP—dog appeasing pheromone R ) or Feliway R (cat calming pheromone) diffuser in the house about 2 weeks before the baby's arrival.

After the baby is born, bring some of the clothing that the baby has worn in the hospital home for the pets to smell.

When you bring the baby home, have another person hold the baby so that you can greet the pets.

Once things have calmed down, introduce your pets one at a time to your new baby. The pet must be controlled during the introduction. Leashes and head halters or harnesses can be helpful. Have one person hold the baby while sitting comfortably on a chair. Another person should be carefully monitoring your pet's behavior. At any sign of aggressive or unacceptable non aggressive behavior (i.e., crawling on top of baby), interaction with the pet and the baby should be immediately interrupted. Aggressive behavior should result in immediate isolation of the pet and contact with your veterinarian. Unacceptable, non aggressive behavior should result in redirection of the pet to do an alternative behavior (e.g., sit); desirable behavior is rewarded.

If there is only one spouse at home during the first few weeks that the baby is at home, then the pets should be restrained or confined in the presence of the infant. Tethers, crates, or baby gates may be helpful.

Usually when a new baby enters the household, the adults ignore the pets when the baby is active and give the pets attention when the baby is sleeping. Inadvertently this teaches the pet that the baby is something negative (baby equals no attention) and that the absence of the baby is a good thing. This is the opposite message that we want to give our pets. Therefore, make a point of trying to pay attention to the pets when the baby is active/present. This can be done with verbal engagement or if two adults are present, one adult can attend to the baby and the other adult can pet or play games with the pets. When the baby is sleeping, you should pay less attention to the pets.

From Blackwell's 5 Minute Veterinary Consult
For more information on Training contct your local DogSmith www.888dogsmith.com or Rachel on 561-271-3033

Does your dog demonstrate signs of fear and nervousness when left alone?

Does your dog demonstrate signs of fear and nervousness when left alone? Separation anxiety has become a bit of a “catch-all” phrase in the dog world but dog’s can experience varying levels of anxiety, fear and nervousness when left on their own. For serious cases with complex causes, especially if your dog has become self destructive, consulting a Dog Trainer who is a qualified Behavior Analyst is recommended.

When trying to help your pooch become relaxed and calm when left alone the first thing you should do is take it to your vet so you can be sure its nervous behavior isn’t caused by a medical condition.

Once your vet has determined your dog is physically fit the next step is to make sure your pooch is getting adequate exercise and mental stimulation. And however much physical and mental exercise Fido may be getting now, increase it. Just like humans, exercise will help your dog’s brain regulate mood and reduce nervous behavior. Exercise alone will often reduce your pooches anxiety and nervousness. A dog that is well exercised will be more relaxed and less likely to display destructive behaviors. A tired dog is a happy dog.

Diet can also be a factor. Poor quality foods use ingredients like corn which can alter the brain’s ability to moderate mood by causing an imbalance in amino acids and brain functioning. The result of these imbalances can be an animal that becomes agitated, impulsive, obsessive and over-reactive. Always ensure your pet is fed a high quality diet free of corn, wheat, soy, hormones/steroids, by-products, artificial colors/flavors, or chemical preservatives.

Dogs often display anxiety, (pacing, whining, barking, inappropriate chewing, etc.) out of pure loneliness and boredom. If you suspect that boredom may contribute to your dog’s anxiety look into some of the excellent interactive toys now available for pets. You can even use toys that will dispense your dog’s meals keeping it mentally stimulated figuring out how to get its breakfast. Your pooch may not even notice you’ve gone to work.

Another important technique for your dog’s general well being is to make sure your dog is getting quality “face” time with you and your family. They are pack animals and we are their pack. And there is nothing like enrolling your dog in an obedience or agility course, using strictly positive methods, to help build a strong relationship between you and your dog. Also, consider putting your pooch into daycare or hiring a dog walker. Your dog will greatly benefit from the additional exercise and companionship.

Finally, one of the most effective methods of ensuring a happy, confident and well-mannered dog in general is to ‘crate-train’ it. A properly crate-trained dog feels relaxed, safe and secure in its crate (download our free e-book on crate-training).

Whichever of these techniques you use, success will come with time, patience and consistency. And under no circumstance should you punish your dog for anxious behaviors as that tends to make the condition worse. Remember, if your dog’s condition seems severe, especially where it may harm itself, consult a Canine Behavior Analyst. A Behavior Analyst is equipped to identify the root cause of your dog’s destructive behaviors and can guide you through a customized program of training tailored for your particular situation.

The DogSmith website has a great collection of Dog Training and Pet Care articles. Articles range from simple training tricks for pet dog owners to more academic articles written for those wanting to become dog trainers. Check out this link to the article section.

The DogSmith also offers a selection of FREE E-Book downloads, crate training, house training, pet nutrition and more. To download a FREE E-Book visit this link

Sign up for The DogSmith monthly newsletter where The DogSmith has a recommended featured product each month, training advise and tips for pet care.

WWW.888DogSmith.com or call your local DogSmith Rachel Williams on 561-271-3033

Manage our dog’s barking

So our goal is to manage our dog’s barking so that it isn’t a nuisance. In order to properly do this we need to set reasonable goals so rather than try to eliminate all barking let’s start with an achievable goal such as reducing the frequency of the barking or shorten the duration of the barking.

Our first step will be to determine what triggers the undesirable barking. In many cases what triggers a dog’s bark can be quite complex and difficult to determine. In these situations you are far better off consulting with a professional dog trainer who is an accredited behavior analyst. If you suspect the barking is caused by fear or anxiety then you will definitely need the help of a professional. Both fear and anxiety are incredibly complex emotions in a dog which will require a detailed plan to resolve.

But if the cause of your dog’s barking is straightforward (the doorbell, passing pedestrians, other dogs, children etc.) then you may be able to simply manage the situation. If management techniques do resolve the problem and you can easily maintain them then this approach may be the most effective for you.

The first thing you need to do is to make sure your pooch is getting adequate exercise. And however much they may be getting now, increase it. Much like humans, exercise will help the dog’s brain regulate mood and reduce impulsive behavior. Exercise alone will often reduce excessive barking. A dog that is well exercised will be more relaxed and less likely to react to whatever may normally trigger their barking. A tired dog is a happy dog.

The next step is to make sure your dog is getting quality “face” time with you and your family. Dogs often bark out of pure loneliness and boredom. They are pack animals and we are their pack. If it is boredom that you suspect is the primary trigger for your dog’s barking then look into some of the excellent interactive toys now available for pets. You can even use toys that will dispense your dog’s meals keeping it mentally stimulated figuring out how to get its dinner. Consider putting your pooch into daycare or hiring a dog walker. They will greatly benefit from the additional exercise and companionship. And a properly crate-trained dog feels safe and secure in its crate (download our free e-book on crate-training).

When problem barking is caused by a specific trigger like a doorbell, then you will need to concentrate on 1) not rewarding them for the barking when the bell rings and 2) replacing the barking with a different behavior when the door bell rings.

We often unconsciously reward our dogs for undesirable behavior. For example; if our dog reacts to the doorbell by barking and then jumps on guests we often try to control their behavior by holding them and talking to them. This attention is just what your dog was looking for.

Instead, if you teach your dog an alternate behavior, such as finding its favorite toy whenever the doorbell rings, then it will be distracted and physically unable to bark at the doorbell as it holds its favorite toy in its mouth. So first teach your dog to find its favorite toy using plenty of rewards. Once your pooch is reliably and enthusiastically finding its toy when you tell it to “get your toy” then you are ready to practice the new behavior (getting the toy) when the doorbell rings.

Have a friend or family member ring the doorbell. Just when your dog starts to react send it to find its toy. When it returns to you with the toy, reward it generously. Do this repeatedly over a period of days. And don’t forget the rewards. Don’t be surprised if your pooch looks for its favorite toy at the sound of the doorbell without any prompting from you. If you successfully master this behavior you can then apply it to a number of situations where you want your dog to “get your toy” rather than do whatever it is doing. Remember, even after your dog has mastered this behavior you will need to occasionally reward it with treats or lots of love to remind it of the value of “get your toy.”
Niki Tudge

Niki Tudge is the owner and founder of The DogSmith, America’s Dog Training, Dog Walking and Pet Care Franchise. To learn more about joining the DogSmith visit http://www.888dogsmith.com/franchise.html Niki achieved her Canine Behaviorist Diploma in England and Dog Obedience Training Diploma in the US. Niki is an Endorsed member of the National Association of Dog Obedience Trainers and a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and The Association of Animal Behavior Professionals. Niki is also certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. You can reach Niki via email at NTudge@888dogsmith.com or http://www.888DogSmith.com

Call Your local DogSmith, Palm Beach County, Rachel Williams, 561-271-3033