Easiest ways to potty train your pooch…

Many of you must have had sleepless nights trying to potty train your pooch. I know how frustrating it is when all your efforts go in vain. Some puppies are compliant and easily amenable to potty training but others are not. Sometimes it differs from pet to pet while at other times it varies with the breeds.

So, here’s a quick guide to potty training:

1. Never rush with the training and always be patient with your pet.

2. When you adopt a pup try to buy it from a reliable person who has already initiated him into potty training. This will save you many unwanted hassles.

3. Try to feed him dry food most of the time so that he passes solid poop.

4. If you can’t supervise his movements all the time keep him in a crate and also instruct other family members to follow suit.

5. It’s quite natural for puppies to make mistakes. So, keep him in a room which has washable flooring so that it’s easier for you clean it up.

6. Try to maintain a routine during potty training. His feeding time, bed time and wake-up time should almost be the same everyday.

7. If your puppy is on dry food he would need more water to keep himself hydrated. So what you should do is feed him at least 4 hours before bedtime and then make him urinate 2 hours before going to bed.

8. During the course of potty training take him to potty after every meal especially in the morning and also before going to bed at night. If he falls asleep after an active session of play and then wakes up accompany him to the place demarcated for pooping. This would help him to understand that this is the place where has to come when he wants to poop.

9. Try to give him a feeling that this is serious business. So, unless he’s done don’t play with him. But if he still doesn’t listen, confine him in a crate for sometime and again take him to potty. If he complies this time shower him with praises and also offer rewards. Also, wait for some time because they usually don’t finish in one go. So, give him ample time before you take him into the house.

10. Keep his potty spotlessly clean both for the purpose of hygiene and also because pets are oversensitive to odor.

11. There are certain signals which a pet usually gives when he wants to potty. They include turning in circles, sniffing the floor, or arching his back while walking. So if you notice any of these quickly rush him to the appropriate place.

12. If he tends to dart into the house, discourage him. Rather take him to the designated place immediately.

You can’t expect him to learn things in one go. So, you have to brace yourself up for accidents. Don’t scold him because you have to understand that he didn’t do it deliberately. As because he hasn’t yet been taught where to defecate he’s messing up places you wouldn’t want him to. So, give him some time before he adapts himself to this new habit graciously.

Little nest for your pet...

A good number of pet owners improvise upon buying separate dog houses for their dogs. Normally, the dogs are a bit noisy. They shed a lot of hair, pee anywhere and can be a real mess. Keeping dogs at dog house would help you save these kinds of situations. This does not mean that you would alienate yourself from your pet, but just manage them in a more appropriate way. While the idea of having a dog house may appear appealing at first, there are a couple of points to be considered in this regard.

First and foremost, a dog house should be built keeping in mind the size and stature of your dog. A dog house should be able to accommodate your dog comfortably and should not pose out to be an impediment to his lifestyle.

Secondly it is always better to place your dog house in some shady area beneath trees. It is important to incorporate a ceiling as a part of your plan so as to block scorching sun rays from affecting your pooch. Ideally the base material of the dog house should be made from that of wood. It does not only make the place cooler but also makes it aesthetically beautiful. The appearance of the dog house could range from classic to something of retro fashion.

Last but never the least; a home is an epitome of solace. It is one of the few places in the world that would wrap you with comfort and a kind of coziness that is rare to find. In some way, owning a home is like having a boost in your self identity. If that is so, why should our pets be deprived of having their own homes?

The ravishing dancer...

This doggy would certainly leave you scrambling for words. I have had my share of entertainment. Now its your turn friends.

Watch this cool video and have fun:

ABC’s of dog training...

The saying goes that dog is man's best friend. The authenticity of the statement cannot be over estimated. However, it is our human nature that we try to groom everything and everyone the way we want them to be, the way we feel is comfortable to us. It holds for everything around us including our pets.

You certainly love your dog, but can't let it behave in imprudent ways. For that, you really need to train your dog, groom him properly with etiquettes and make him so much so well behaved that you are not subject to social situations that could be embarrassing.

In order to groom your dog properly, you really need t take care of some essentials. First and foremost, it is absolutely essential to build a relationship with your dog. This is really important as your dog should understand what you communicate and respect you enough to follow your instructions. The relationship should be based on mutual trust and respect. He should have enough confidence and trust that what you suggest is for his benefit.

It is important to completely eradicate the old school of dog training that combined harsh techniques like beating and whipping your dog to train him. This makes him more stubborn and after some point he just refuses to take your orders. Make sure you provide your dog ample opportunity to socialize. Once he mingles with other dogs he gets to learn manners and imitates them. This proves healthy in the long run and your dog gets adequately trained with social culture and norms.

Have a safe Halloween with your doggies!

Halloween is round the corner and it’s again time for the ghouls and goblins to resurface and send shivers down our spine. But on this day of horror, several dog deaths are reported each year. So, the world’s largest and most trusted dog training company, Bark Busters, has taken up the initiative to offer dog owners tips on how to keep their buddies safe on Halloween.

What are the ways in which you can keep your doggies safe?

1. Don’t allow your doggy to stray outside.

2. Keep him in a separate room away from the main door. In case he is timid he might be terrified at the spooky sights and tend to flee. Or, if your doggy happens to be aggressive and restless, he might also end up doing the same.

3. If your dog looks perplexed by Halloween activities, behave with him as normally as possible. By behaving with him over cautiously you might send across a wrong signal that there is indeed something abnormal on this particular day.

4. Get your buddy accustomed to the Halloween costumes by start putting them on 2-3 days prior to the D-day. Otherwise, he may start regarding his owners as strangers. Never put on a mask while your pooch is around.

5. Some people are into the habit of dressing up their doggies in colorful costumes. Although some of them are amenable to the idea, most of them aren’t. So, slip him into a costume a few days in advance and check out his behavioral patterns. Otherwise, a bandana around his neck would do just fine.

6. Keep chocolates out of your dog’s reach because most of them contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener which is harmful to dogs. This leads to vomiting and diarrhea, and sometimes even death.

7. Keep candles out of your dog’s reach.

8. If you take your buddy with you to parties always hold his leash tightly. Never allow any stranger in disguise to approach him without your consent. No matter how well known a person is to you, but if he leaps in front of you in disguise, the dog might start believing that he would inflict harm to you. In this way you end up instilling in him a fear of strangers.

Remember to take these simple precautions before you totally immerse yourself in the Halloween activities.

Wonder doggies!

Look how these pooches are having the time of their lives at the Hundeshow. I want to doff my hat to both the doggies and their master for giving us such a lovely treat to watch.

Check out this awesome video!

Foods to avoid…

We are generally buoyed by emotion to feed our pets human foods without realizing how much harm it can inflict on them. Some of these food items can even take their lives.

Below is a food items table along with their potential harmful effects:

Name of food	Harmful effects on dog health
Grapes and Raisins	Damage kidneys
Garlic, onion, chives	Damage red blood cells
Sugarless chewing gum flavored with xylitol	Results in lowering of blood sugar levels with an overproduction of insulin in the body
Raw yeast and bread dough	Cause swelling in the abdomen, respiratory distress and compression of the veins. When yeast breaks down sugar in the dough there is a release of ethanol which is equivalent to the alcohol found in vodka
Chocolate	Methylxanthines present in chocolates can cause toxicity
Macademia nuts	Impair neuro-muscular system  resulting in movement difficulties

However, human medicines which do not find a mention in the list have been found to cause maximum damage. So, as a responsible owner you should not only keep them away from your pet’s reach, but also refrain from administering them to your buddy without consulting a vet.