When the kids have all their friends over, when the steaks burn on the barbecue or when the Super Bowl is on TV - that's when Old Rex really needs a den. A dog house is the ideal retreat when your home resembles a parade ground. But why not have an indoor dog house? It is entirely possible. During times of stress, a dog crate is the joy of Rex.
A dog crate is usually a wire rectangle with floor although it can be made of a variety of materials. It can be purchased in a size suitable for each dog. It only looks like a cage with a door. f used properly it ties in directly with your dog's instincts to have a den as the core area of his territory. A dog crate is a sanctuary for your pet. From the puppy or dog's view it is not so much that he cannot get out but rather that humans cannot get in.
However, the crate is much more than a sanctuary. It is an extremely useful tool when housebreaking your dog - whether he be a puppy, adolescent or adult animal - because his instinct is not to soil his den. A crate is also valuable during periods of chewing since it prevents any household damage. It can be used as part of an overall obedience traububg origran ir sunoky as a way of confining the animal when his behavior is annoying. It can prevent him from geting into trouble whether someone is at home or not.
When your travel with your dog, the crate becomes a portable den providing security, comfort and safety in a strange place. Depending upon the size, it can fit into the back seat of a sedan or stationwagon. Confined in the crate, your dog cannot stick his head out the window or distract the driver.
Puppies usually accept the crate in a short time if not placed there in anger. Set it up in an area near family activity, such as the hallway or kitchen. Be certain it is away from drafts and direct heat sources. Make it cozy. Place a few toys, a towel or a familiar piece of blanket and an article of your old clothing inside. You can make it more of a dog house by draping something over the top and sides.
The crate should be long enough to permit your grown dog to stretch out and high enough for him to sit up without hitting his head. You can construct a partition for your puppy so there is just enough room to lie down or sit up. It must never offer more space than necessary or it loses its den-like quality. As the puppy grows, increase the space by moving the partition back.
The dog's
association
with the crate must
always be positive -
never frightening.
Nicki Meyer tells us in her important pamphlet, "A Pet Owner's Guide to the Dog Crate":
"Establish a 'crate routine' closing the puppy in it at regular one to two hour intervals during the day (his own chosen nap times will guide you) and whenever he must be left alone for up to three to four hours. Give him a safe chew toy for distraction and be sure to remove collar and tags which could become caught in an opening... Do not put water in , since it will only get spilled."
"At night, in the beginning, you may prefer to place the crate, with the door left open and newspapers nearby, in a small enclosed area such as a bathroom, laundry room, or hall; crying/complaining at 5:00 AM is easier to endure/ignore if you know that the puppy is not uncomfortable. Once adjusted to his new life, and if he has no intestinal upset, he will soon show greater bowel control by eliminating only once, or nt at all, and may be crated all night in his regular daytime place."
"Even if things do not go too smoothly at first - DON'T WEAKEN and DON'T WORRY; be consistent, be firm, and be very aware that you are doing your pet a real favor by preventing him from getting into trouble while left alone."
The dog's association with the crate must always be a positive one - never frightening. Some trainers like to place a food reward in the back of the crate before confining the dog inside. This creates a pleasant association with entering. Except at night, a dog should not be crated for more than four or five hours at a time. A crate should never be used as a daily long-hours convenience for a regularly absent owner.
Most dogs accept this usefull equipment. Some do not. If your dog proves to be miserable, frantic or hysterical, try leaving the door open. If that fails to do the trick it is kinder to abandon this idea. However, because of its usefulness it is well worth trying.
The Essence of Obedience Training
Ibedience training is another means for keeping your puppy happy. Obedience training brings order out of chaos and appeals to the dog's need for pack security. The canine mentality thrives on family life, leaders and followers, and a safe place to live.
Obedience traning is basedon the dog's acceptance of the human's position of dominance and the animal's desire to please. After the dog is taught an obedience command, he is praised for executing the command properly and corrected when he does not.
Praise or reward is usually in the form of an enthusiastic verbal compliment such as, "Good girl. What a good dog!" Sometimes it is a pat on the body. Many trainers use food tidbits for this purpose. A dog being obedience-trained works fo your praise or reward. It tells him that you are pleased and thus reinforces the teaching of each command. Praise may be given lavishly but should not be squandered. When training your dog, be certain he has really earned the reward. Every time you praise your dog, you are teaching him to do whatever he did just before the reward was given.
Obedience training
brings order out of
chaos and appeals to
the dog's need for
pack security.
A correction is a signal to the dog that he did not obey a command or execute it properly. The traditional correction is a tug of the leash, which is attached to a training collar. This communicates a negative message becasue it is usually accompanied by an authoritative "NO" from the trainer. There should never be any pain or abuse connected with this gesture. It is simply a means of communicating that the dog was wrong. Some trainers advocate the use of a noise-maker (e.g. empty soda can with pennies inside) for this purpose. Corrections must never be mistaken for punishments. Punishment is not humane nor is it an effective teaching method.
If you learn when and how to effectively praise or correct your dog you will have at your fingertips the primary means of communicating with him. Praise is the language of dogs and people.
Any questions that we can help you with, please feel free to contact us anytime.
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