Your canine’s nails grow by the same process your own nails grow. Over time, they’ll extend to the point you’ll be able to hear them clicking against the ground. They should be trimmed before this occurs.

Many owners consider nail trimming to be a part of their dogs’ normal grooming routines. It’s important to realize, however, that a periodic trim is essential for your pet’s health. If you allow his claws to become too long, they can break and cause pain and bleeding. In some instances, they can curl under, and put pressure on the soft tissue of your canine’s paws. For this reason, learn to trim your dog’s claws properly; then, trim them on a regular basis.

This article will first explain why trimming your dog’s toenails may be challenging. You’ll also learn the procedure for trimming them as well as a few tips to make the task easier.

The Challenges Of Canine Nail Trimming

Most dogs loathe people handling their paws. They walk on them all day, and are extremely protective of them. In some cases – especially during the summer – their paws may hurt after walking on hot asphalt. As a result, they’re even less inclined to let others touch them. This is one of the reasons trimming your pooch’s claws may be problematic. Unless he is accustomed to your handling his paws, he may show resistance.

The second challenge is that many people who try to trim their canines’ toenails do so incorrectly. This happens because they’re unaware of the nail’s anatomy. There are nerves and veins that course through part of the claw. If they are cut, your pet will experience significant pain (as well as bleeding). A lot of owners make the mistake of cutting too deeply rather than merely trimming off the edge. A single poor experience is enough to make any dog resistant in the future.

With these challenges in mind, we’ll now explain how to do the job properly.

The Procedure: Step By Step

First, collect everything you need prior to beginning. Use toenail clippers that are specifically designed for canines (ask your dog’s veterinarian for recommendations). You should also have styptic powder available to stop bleeding, if doing so becomes necessary.

Second, look at your pet’s paws to determine how much to trim. Plan to take off anything that extends beyond the pad.

Third, while you are positioned to firmly hold your canine and prevent him from moving, use the clippers to trim the claw below the quick. The quick is the light, pinkish part of the toenail where the nerves and blood vessels are located. The cut should be made at a 45-degree angle. If your dog’s claws are long, make several passes to trim off the edges rather than a single large cut.

Fourth, don’t forget about your canine’s dew claws. Unless they were removed, he will have one on each paw. You’ll find them located a few inches higher than the other claws on the inner side of the paw.

Tips To Make Trimming Nails As Easy As Possible

Get into the habit of trimming your canine’s nails frequently – try to do so once a week. Not only does this prevent them from clicking against the ground and curling backward, but it also helps the quick recede. As it recedes, you’ll find it easier to trim the nails shorter without causing pain and bleeding.

Also, spend a few extra dollars to invest in a high-quality pair of clippers. They’ll last longer, and make the job much easier.

If your canine is unaccustomed to having his paws handled, practice with him each day. Do this before attempting to trim his nails. Hold his paws for twenty seconds at a time, and discourage him from biting you. Praise him and give him treats to reward his compliance. Gradually lengthen the amount of time you hold his paws until he is completely comfortable with the experience. Then, trim one or two nails at a time.

Learning to trim your dog’s claws is simple. But it may take time to acclimate him to the process. The benefit is that you’ll help your canine avoid painful problems down the road.

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Your canine wants to please you. The problem is, there is no way for him to know what behaviors you consider acceptable or unacceptable until you inform him. Essentially, he must be trained. This is the reason professional breeders strongly recommend enrolling dogs into obedience classes. There, they will learn how to behave in ways that please their owners.

A lot of people choose to train their pets at home rather than paying for professional classes. The right approach can be very successful. This article will share the “laws” of dog training that have proven effective for millions of other owners. With these guidelines, you’ll be able to teach your pet how to be a more pleasant companion.

Start With The Basic Commands

The simpler your command, the more motivated your pet will be to respond. Save those that are more complex for later. Begin with the basics: sit, heel, stay, and come. Once he has mastered these commands both on and off his leash, move on to more difficult ones. For instance, teach him to “drop it,” “go to your place,” and “look at me.”

Always Use Positive Reinforcement

Many owners assume they must either reward or punish their pets based on whether they respond correctly or incorrectly (respectively) to commands. Avoid punishing your canine. If he responds properly to your instructions, reward him with praise and a treat. If he fails to do so, withhold his reward. That alone is sufficient punishment, and will motivate him to succeed.

Make The Sessions Enjoyable

You want your canine to look forward to the training sessions. First, keep them under ten minutes; short sessions will help you retain his interest. Second, end each session by giving him a command he has already mastered. This gives you an opportunity to end by praising him and giving him a treat. Your pet will look forward to the next time he can earn both.

Practice With Distractions

Your dog may be able to easily respond to commands he knows well in the relative silence of your home. The environment might pose few distractions. After he has mastered certain commands, practice outside where people are walking and cars are passing. Doing so trains your pet to ignore things that are occurring around him, and instead focus on you. This skill may one day become valuable if you need to get his attention quickly.

Shorten Your Commands

Brevity is important since your canine can become easily confused with longer commands. Whenever possible, use single words. For example, tell him to “sit” rather than “sit down.” Tell him to “stay” rather than “stay right there.” The shorter, the better.

Train Him To Be Patient

Training your dog to “stay” for extended periods teaches him to control himself and remain patient. Begin by telling him to stay for ten seconds while you stand nearby. Once he has done so several times in a row, increase the time to twenty seconds, and stand a few feet away. Continue to do this until he can remain calmly in his spot for sixty seconds while you stand ten or fifteen feet away from him. Also, establish a word that releases him from his spot (e.g. “Done!”) so he’ll know when he has responded correctly.

Provide His Reward Quickly

Your dog must be able to recognize the reward he is receiving (e.g. a treat, praise, etc.) is due to a particular behavior. If you wait too long, he may fail to associate one with the other. Provide praise and treats within a second of his correct response. This helps ensure he’ll connect his actions with the rewards, and respond correctly in the future.

Training your canine is essential to helping him become a better companion for you and your family. It’s the only way he’ll know how to please you. Even if you enroll him into professional obedience classes, take additional time to train him at home.

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categories: dogs, dog, pets, canine, dog training, dog care, dog behavior

Most owners are unfamiliar with the nature of a typical dog pack. They understand intuitively that canines live, and often migrate and roam, in groups. Many people are also aware there is a social order that prevents discord from festering within the pack. This order is the reason canines can live, work, and defend their homes together for years without significant problems. Owners who want to better understand why their pets behave in certain ways would be well-served by exploring how a dog pack works.

Below, we’ll take a glimpse at life within a typical pack. We’ll start with an overview of how canines interact with each other in such an environment, and explore their motivations for doing so. You’ll also learn how your dog’s behaviors are influenced by their instinctive pack mentality.

The Hierarchy Of A Pack

Most groups are limited to ten or fifteen dogs, and are usually composed of both males and females. Research has suggested that such groups follow a clearly defined dominance hierarchy. That is, there are no true peers in the group. Each canine has more authority than the ones below him, and less than the ones above him. Two animals do not occupy the same position.

In groups of mammals, including humans, this organizational structure has been shown to minimize the level and frequency of conflict among members. This is likely the reason there are few fights among those in the same pack. If a dog that is lower in the hierarchical structure challenges one with a higher status, the former is usually punished or driven away.

Life In The Pack

The canine with the most authority of the group is its leader. While this position comes with advantages, it is also one with important duties. The leader enjoys control of the pack’s resources. For example, he gets to choose the best food for himself; he is able to select where he will sleep; and he gets to pick a mate for himself from among the group. The leader is responsible for organizing and leading the group’s migration in the event moving becomes necessary. He must also guard the home and resources from marauders.

As mentioned earlier, lower-status dogs must concede to those above them. For this reason, life in the pack for them tends to be stressful. Researchers claim, however, these dogs tend to do well during migrations since they have learned to adapt to a constantly changing situation within their group.

How Your Dog Perceives Your Family

While canines realize that people are not dogs, they still perceive them through the lens of their pack mentality. Within your household, this means your family represents his group. Strangers represent potential marauders who come to steal resources. This is an important dynamic for owners to understand, especially when children are involved.

Recall that in the wild, the hierarchy is clearly defined. There is no confusion regarding which dog has more status and authority over another. In a domestic home, however, many canines become confused about the hierarchical structure when young children are present. Some begin to think they have more status than kids. If a child behaves in a way that suggests a challenge to the dog’s perceived authority, the pet may react as he would to a subordinate. This is the reason is it critical to establish your family’s authority over your pet.

When Canines Become Aggressive

Many owners are surprised when they observe their canines becoming increasingly aggressive with them. In a pack, such dogs are usually the beta group members. They rarely assert themselves against higher-status dogs because doing so leads to immediate retribution. Owners, on the other hand, are often loathe to punish their canines when they demonstrate mild aggression toward them. Instead, they wait, and hope the problem resolves itself. The dog predictably becomes more aggressive when it is clear he will not be punished.

The above discussion is useful in the context of understanding why your pet behaves in certain ways. Much can be traced to his instinctive pack mentality.

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categories: dogs, dog, pets, canine, dog training, dog care, dog behavior

For decades, owners have relied on identification tags around their canines’ necks to minimize the likelihood of losing their pets. The tags normally hang from collars. If an animal control officer finds your pet, a quick look at the tag will identify you as the owner. A single phone call may be all it takes to be reunited with your canine. Why, then, are so few pets reunited with their owners after becoming separated from them? Some are fortunate enough to be placed within new homes. Others are euthanized.

This can occur for a number of reasons. Collars can break, or fall from a dog’s neck. Identification tags may be damaged. The tags can also become worn down to the point of being unreadable. For this and other reasons, microchipping pets has become popular. In this article, we’ll explain how it works, and clarify a few common concerns owners have about them.

How Microchips Work

The chip is very small; it is no bigger than a grain of rice. It is inserted under your dog’s skin between his shoulder blades, and emits radio waves that carry information about your pet. The chip, built of silicon, can be implanted with a specially-loaded syringe by a veterinarian or a trained employee at a qualified animal shelter. Doing so only requires a few seconds, and poses no more discomfort than a typical vaccination shot.

The radio waves transmitted by the microchip are coded to be read by a special scanner. When the scanner is held over the chip, an alphanumeric code is displayed. This code is unique to your dog, and can be cross-referenced with a database. The database entry lists your name and contact information, all of which you provide at the time of the chip’s implantation.

If your canine becomes lost, and ends up at an animal shelter, the shelter employee can use the scanner to read his chip. Even in the event your pet’s collar has fallen off, and his I.D. tags are too worn to read, the chip will give the employee everything he or she needs in order to contact you.

What Happens To The Microchip Over Time?

The chip is designed to remain under your canine’s skin throughout his life. It does not need to be recharged, cleaned, or removed for any purpose. Normally, the tissue underneath the skin binds with the chip, and thus prevents it from migrating to other areas of your dog’s body. This binding process usually occurs within the first twenty-four hours following implantation.

There are times, however, when the chip moves, though this seldom causes a problem. The microchip will not become lost or migrate outside your canine’s body. Moreover, animal shelters and veterinary clinics realize there is a chance of migration. If they are unable to locate the microchip between your dog’s shoulder blades, they will usually scan his entire body.

What Is A Universal Scanner?

The microchips are designed by different manufacturers. Each manufacturer designs their chip so that it transmits the radio waves on a different frequency. When the microchips first debuted, each frequency required a different scanner. This created a problem. For many animal shelters and veterinarians, buying a separate scanner to read each manufacturer’s chip was cost-prohibitive. As a result, many stray pets with microchips implanted arrived at shelters and clinics that lacked the necessary scanners to read them.

This problem led to the design of a universal scanner that was capable of reading each manufacturer’s microchip. Animal shelters and veterinary clinics could now purchase a single reader, which helped ensure all strays were scanned. This development has no doubt prevented many lost pets from being euthanized.

It’s important to realize that microchipping, while being a valuable method for identifying lost canines, is fallible. Mistakes can occur. For this reason, continue to use ID tags on your pooch, even after having him microchipped.

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Most canine behavioral problems are due to a lack of restraint. Dogs never learn to control themselves, and instead sate their curiosities and desires with little regard for etiquette or meeting their owners’ expectations. For example, they’ll jump on guests; they’ll run outside whenever the opportunity presents itself; or they’ll bark incessantly until their owners give them attention.

Professional trainers recommend making your canine work before you allow him to satisfy his curiosities and wants. For example, if he wants your attention, he must remain silent and seated on his haunches for ten seconds. This helps him develop self-restraint. It also makes him a more pleasant companion for you, your family, and your guests.

In this article, we’ll provide a blueprint for teaching your canine discipline and self-control. Consider the following tips an addendum to your pet’s current training program.

First Things First: Laying The Foundation

Most of the effort you’ll invest with this training will be spent motivating your dog to comply with simple commands. If he has not already learned to “sit,” you’ll need to train him to do so before proceeding. You’ll also need to train him to “stay” or “lie down” when you tell him.

These three commands are essential to helping your canine develop self-restraint. Each requires very little time, and can be done with short 5-minute sessions throughout the day. Repetition and treats will prove invaluable.

1 – Make Him Earn Your Attention

Dogs love the attention of their owners. They are willing to set everything aside (with the exception of food) to play, be petted, or simply be next to their owners. The problem is, a lot of pets gradually become more demanding of attention. For example, your canine might walk up to you, and nuzzle your hand with his nose. Or he might bark until you respond to him, even if you do so in anger. From his point of view, any type of attention is better than none.

If your pet does any of these things, make him sit calmly for a few seconds while waiting for your attention. Once you give him the command, ignore him while he waits. If he does so successfully, give him a treat and praise him.

2 – Help Him Maintain Composure Before Meals

Dogs love food. It enthuses them in a way few other stimuli ever will. For this reason, your pet may become overly-excited when you prepare his meals. For example, a lot of canines will jump up and down, or turn in circles while they wait. Some may even begin barking impatiently when their owners dawdle. This is poor behavior that should be curbed.

Command your dog to sit. Make him wait until you have placed his bowl on the ground in front of him. If, due to a lack of self-control, he refuses to sit, remove his bowl and food from sight, and leave the room. Return after a few minutes and try again. He’ll quickly learn to comply.

3 – Make Him Work Before Taking Him For A Walk

Canines love to take walks nearly as much as they love food. Being outdoors gives them a chance to see the neighborhood, smell new scents, and meet other pets and their owners along the way. The slightest hint you’re about to take your dog for a walk may excite him. A lot of canines with very little self-restraint will run to the door, and begin barking in anticipation. Some may even start to scratch the door as they wait for their owners. This behavior can – and should – be discouraged.

As before, command your dog to sit patiently and quietly until you arrive to place his collar and lead. If he fails to comply, put both away and return to your seat. Ignore him while he waits, even if he barks. Then, try again after a few minutes. He’ll learn that he needs to obey your command in order to go outside.

These exercises are simple, but play an important role in helping your dog develop self-restraint. Over time, he’ll learn to wait patiently if he wants to do the things he enjoys.

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Landlords and property management companies often disallow tenants with dogs from living in the apartments they oversee. The reasons are varied, but most focus on whether the pets will create an atmosphere that is unpleasant to other tenants. Moreover, some landlords have had less-than-ideal experiences in the past with other tenants who were pet owners.

Despite some resistance, canines and apartment living can go together. Many property managers are willing to rent their units to owners as long as specific conditions are clearly defined in the rental contracts. We’ll approach this issue from two perspectives below. First, we’ll assume you already own a dog, and are looking for an apartment to rent. We’ll then assume you already rent an apartment, and would like to adopt a canine.

When You’re Looking For An Apartment

The most important thing to do when searching for an apartment for you and your pet is to be forthright with the property manager. A lot of owners, fearful they may be turned away, attempt to move in with their dogs in tow. If discovered, and your rental or lease contract prohibits canines, you can be evicted.

Be honest. Ask the landlord whether pets are allowed prior to moving in. If you’re using a broker to help you find a rental unit, make sure you inform that person of your pet.

Once you find a facility that accepts dogs, take the time to carefully review their pet policies. Don’t assume you know what it includes. Read it point by point to uncover any specifics that may be problematic. For example, if the facility limits the size of the pets on their grounds, and you own a Great Dane, you may risk a violation, fine, and even eviction. It is far simpler to familiarize yourself the expectations upfront.

When You Already Live In An Apartment, And Want A Dog

Suppose you’re currently a tenant, and would like to adopt a canine. Don’t assume your apartment complex accepts pets. A surprisingly large number of tenants adopt dogs without finding out whether pets are welcome at their facilities. They then find themselves in the unfortunate position of having to abandon their pets, or find another place to live.

First, carefully review your rental contract. Are pets mentioned? Are they allowed? If so, what restrictions apply? Second, check with your landlord or property manager, regardless of what is detailed within your rental agreement. The reason is because policies often change. Your original contract may prohibit canines, but your property manager may have since begun allowing them.

Being A Responsible Tenant And Pet Owner

Now suppose you’re living with your dog in your apartment. You’ll need to juggle being a responsible tenant and meeting your pet’s needs. For example, your neighbors will frown upon constant or late-night barking. If it persists, they will complain to your landlord.

You’ll also need to be vigilant about picking up after your canine. Two or three mistakes may be all that is needed for complaints to reach your landlord about you and your dog.

Also, make sure you keep your pet on a leash when you’re outside unless doing otherwise is explicitly allowed. One of your property manager’s main concerns is the threat of a lawsuit should a tenant’s pet harm someone on the property.

While you’re preventing your canine from becoming a nuisance to other tenants, you’ll need to care for his long-term health. This means taking him for daily walks, and providing veterinary care and grooming. It also means preventing him from consuming pesticides and other chemicals that may be used on the property’s grounds.

In the end, you’ll find renting an apartment while caring for a dog is a rewarding experience. While doing so requires patience, effort, and attentiveness, it also provides the type of companionship only a canine can offer.

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Canines “run away” for many reasons, most of which are misunderstood by their owners. Many people believe their pets run in order to escape from an environment they dislike. In reality, dogs are only doing what is in their nature. We’ll cover this in more detail below.

This article will first explain why the term “running away” is a bit of a misnomer. While some canines do actually abandon their homes, most roam. This difference forms the core of why the behavior is so often misunderstood. We’ll also explain the most common reasons pets roam, and provide a few tips for curbing the behavior.

Roaming Versus Running Away

Dogs are descendants of wolves. They are pack animals, and thus roaming is natural to them. Outside the confines of domesticated life, it is a large part of their daily existence. They roam from their dens to hunt food, scout for potential dangers, and to explore their surroundings. In most cases, they stay within a few miles of their dens, and can easily find their way home through natural instinct.

In the city where pavement has replaced the range, and vehicles cloud the environment with pollutants, it is much more difficult for a canine to find his way home. Making matters worse, roaming is far more dangerous since it can lead to capture, injury, or death.

When dogs actually run away (as opposed to roam), they usually do so for one of two reasons. First, they run to escape elements they perceive to be dangerous. This might be the case if they feel threatened by their owners, or their immediate environments. Second, they run away to acquire a reward they deem more desirable than their current circumstances.

Understanding the differences between roaming and running away is essential to understanding the triggers that spur canines to do the former.

Common Reasons Canines Roam

The drive to reproduce is instinctive in canines. This is the reason intact male dogs are more inclined to roam than those that have been neutered. When they become aware of estrogen in the air, their instinct prompts them to pursue it.

Another reason dogs roam is the promise of food. If your pet has identified a reliable source of food in a location other than your home, he may be motivated to visit it. This behavior is rarely a reflection of hunger. Instead, many dogs have a persistent craving for food, and will go to great lengths to satisfy it.

Lack of mental stimulation is another common trigger. If you routinely leave your canine home alone during the day with nothing to occupy his time, he will become bored. He’ll begin to look for an alternative source of stimulation beyond the confines of your backyard.

All dogs have an innate predatory instinct. This, too, can motivate them to roam. Given the opportunity, your pet might escape in order to hunt for prey. His goal is not to kill or eat his prey, but simply to track, chase, and catch it. If you take him to a park, you may observe him doing this with resident squirrels and other rodents.

Steps To Take To Curb Persistent Roaming

If your canine has developed a habit or escaping and roaming the neighborhood, invest the time to curb the behavior. First, make sure the fence surrounding your yard is tall and durable. This is important for keeping your pet inside, and keeping other animals from gaining entry.

Second, provide your pet with a number of toys with which he can play during times when he is left alone. Make sure he also has easy access to plenty of drinking water and food if you leave him for long periods.

Third, take him for a walk each day. Routine exercise is critical for his long-term health, but will also help him burn off pent-up energy that might otherwise prompt him to roam.

Fourth, have your canine neutered. As mentioned earlier, intact male dogs are more likely to roam due to their reproductive drive.

By taking the above four measures, you can successfully curb your dog’s tendency to escape. This will help ensure he avoids possible injury or worse.

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Bringing a new dog home, and introducing him to your other pets, can be challenging. If your current pet has lived alone with you for years, he may dislike the idea of now being forced to share “his” space with another animal. On the other hand, if you have recently brought home a young pup, he may look forward to having the company of another canine. Every case is unique, and should be approached accordingly.

Below, we’ll offer a few tips that will help make the transition as smooth as possible. The following suggestions will minimize the likelihood of confrontations between your new dog and resident pets.

Buy Necessary Supplies In Advance

By the time you bring your new canine home, you should already have a bed, crate, water and food bowls, collar and lead, and toys waiting for him. These will make him feel much more comfortable in his new environment. Make sure you keep your resident pets away from these supplies prior to the arrival of your canine. Otherwise, they’ll leave their scent on them, which represents a claim on the property.

Wear The Scents Of Your Current Pets

When you pick up your dog to bring him home for the first time, wear clothing that has your current pet’s scent. The reason for doing this is to prepare your new dog for what awaits him at your home. He’ll understand that he’ll be sharing space with another pet.

Also, leave your resident pets at home when you pick up your new canine. This will give him a chance to become accustomed to their scent. It will also provide an opportunity for him to spend time with you without your other pets vying for your attention.

Allow Your Current Pets To Smell Your New Pet’s Scent

When you arrive home, have a friend remain outside with your new dog while you go inside to greet your resident pets. You’ll have the canine’s scent on you, which gives your current pets a chance to get acquainted with it. They are unaware they’re about to gain a new “friend”; smelling his scent is a valuable first step.

Next, confine them behind closed doors while you bring your new dog inside your home. Let him explore his surroundings at his own pace. After a half-hour, place him in his crate in the center of your living room. Let your current pets into the room, and supervise their behavior. They will be able to smell your new canine’s scent, which will already be familiar to them. Likewise, your canine will be familiar with their scents.

Making The Introductions

Don’t encourage your pets to interact with each other. Sit down nearby with a book, and pay attention for any signs of aggression. Let them investigate each other in their own way.

Every pet is unique. Some will display enthusiasm for the new addition to your family. Others will seem confused and hesitant, but will slowly become more comfortable. If your new dog and current pets interact well together, provide treats to encourage that behavior.

After forty or fifty minutes, let your new dog out of his crate. By this time, all of your pets will have become acclimated to each others’ company, and had time to gain a level of comfort. Be observant of their interaction, and stay ready to respond to the first indication of aggression. Otherwise, step back and let them mingle.

They may attempt to play with one another; they might ignore each other for awhile; or they may investigate further through close-up sniffing. Let them interact at their own pace. As before, stay nearby so you can intervene if any of your pets show aggression. There’s minimal chance of this occurring, however, since they have had plenty of time to grow accustomed to each other.

It’s important to avoid favoring your new canine. During the first few weeks, you’ll want to spend time with him in order to establish a bond. But take care to make sure your other pets don’t feel ignored. With the above approach, your pets will eventually see each other as friends within the same “pack.

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categories: dogs, dog, pets, canine, dog training, dog care, dog behavior

Adopting and caring for a canine is always a rewarding experience. In exchange for food, shelter, exercise, and regular veterinary care, your pet offers loyalty and companionship for the remainder of his life. Dogs that have lived in puppy mills, however, pose a unique challenge for owners. The treatment they received at the mill will likely have made them distrustful of people, and fearful of anything that is unfamiliar to them. Owners who adopt such dogs must take a few extra steps toward making them feel comfortable and secure in their new homes.

In this article, we’ll describe how puppies are treated in mills so you’ll understand the reasons such pups are hesitant and fearful of others. We’ll also describe the typical behaviors puppy mill dogs exhibit once they’re rescued. Lastly, we’ll provide a few suggestions for helping your canine feel comfortable within your home.

Inside A Puppy Mill

Puppies are treated poorly in mills. Their physical and mental health take a back seat to revenue. The mill generates this revenue by breeding the pups in their care. But there is a key difference between the breeding activity that takes place in a mill, and that which is done by professional breeders.

Professional breeders do everything possible to minimize genetic problems in the canines they breed. Mills take no such precautions. Instead, they breed pups without consideration for the likelihood that defects may pass to the litters. For this reason, many of the puppies born from this process are saddled with eye, dental, and joint problems.

The pups at the mill are usually housed in overcrowded pens. The living conditions are often dirty to the point of being unhygienic. Moreover, the dogs seldom receive the basic essentials they need to stay physically and mentally healthy. They rarely see the sun, or have access to a constant source of clean air.

When a puppy is adopted from a mill, the transition to a “normal” life can be jarring to him. You may notice behaviors in him during the first few days in your home that seem odd.

Establishing His Personal Den

Keep in mind that everything is new and potentially frightening to your new pet. When you bring him into your home, he may appear especially hesitant. This is because he has lived with fear his entire life. He has learned to dread the unfamiliar.

First, establish a room – or part of a room – as his personal den. Place bowls for food and water in this area along with newspapers on which he can urinate and defecate. Having an area to himself will make him feel safe, and slowly build his confidence.

Second, after a week has passed, begin acclimating him to a collar and lead. Place both on him for short periods, and let him drag the lead as he roams throughout your home. This will help him become accustomed to the feel, and prepare him for going on walks.

Minimizing Fear And Stress

Because your puppy’s exposure to the outside world was so limited while he was at the mill, he may be easily startled by unfamiliar noises. For example, the sound made by a vacuum cleaner may frighten him. A toaster, television, and blow dryer may also cause him stress. Desensitization training will prove invaluable for helping him become used to hearing these sounds. This type of training takes time and requires patience. But it’s the most effective way to minimize your canine’s fear and stress of routine noises that occur in your household.

Once your dog begins to feel safe and secure within your home, he’ll explore on his own. He’ll start to peek into other rooms to discover what lies beyond the confines of his personal den. Over time, he’ll gain confidence regarding his place within your life, and look to you as his best friend.

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categories: dogs, dog, pets, canine, dog training, dog care

Dogs love to chase vehicles. Unfortunately, doing so often leads to their injury or death. In some cases, they chase an automobile until it stops, at which point they run into its back end, and damage their spine. In other cases, the canine is hit by another car.

Another problem is that drivers who see dogs lunging into the street are likely to brake quickly, or swerve into oncoming traffic. This poses a serious danger to other drivers and pedestrians.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the reasons canines chase vehicles. If you’re able to pinpoint the trigger, you’ll be more effective in curbing the tendency. We’ll then offer a few suggestions for discouraging the behavior in your pooch.

Understanding Why Dogs Chase Cars

Your dog is a natural predator, even if he doesn’t seem so. This can manifest in different ways. For example, if given the opportunity, he’ll stalk and chase small rodents. If he happens to corner one, he’ll rarely follow through in harming it. The reason? Because stalking his prey is a game for him. He has no intention of harming or killing the rodent.

The same is true when your canine chases people riding bicycles, kids on skateboards, or even other pets. It is the mark of a normal, happy, and well-balanced pooch socializing with others.

There are a few breeds that have a stronger predatorial sense than most. For them, the act of stalking and catching their prey is not a game. If they catch their prey, there is a good chance they will kill it. While this level of stalking is rarely directed toward vehicles, it is possible. It is also difficult to control.

Even though chasing cars comes naturally to a dog, the tendency can be discouraged before it becomes a problem. The key is addressing the behavior as early as possible.

Preventing The Problem Before It Starts

When your canine first shows signs of interest in passing vehicles, immediately call his name to capture his attention. Once he looks at you, and keeps his eyes on you, praise him and give him a treat. This trains him to understand that ignoring traffic and giving you his attention when you call results in a positive outcome. This will prove invaluable if you accidentally release his leash while traffic is passing nearby.

A lot of owners assume that because their pets only chase vehicles while behind a fence, the behavior poses no danger. In reality, it does since the tendency reinforces itself. Eventually, your dog may jump into the fence out of excitement, harming himself in the process. Thus, you should take the time to curb the behavior.

Curbing An Existing Tendency To Chase

If your canine has already developed a habit of chasing cars, you’ll need to first test his ability to come when you call him. This is critical. Everything revolves around his perception that you are the priority. Start by testing him in a quiet environment with no distractions.

After he consistently responds to your commands, take him to a park or similar setting that offers distractions without the danger of traffic. This will teach him to ignore other things, and focus his attention on you.

Next, test his ability to focus near semi-busy streets. Make sure you keep a tight hold on his leash to prevent him from bolting into traffic. Many dogs will respond consistently to their owners at home or at a park, but will lose their focus when presented with the opportunity to chase a car. Be wary.

Many canines have been injured or killed as the result of chasing vehicles. Train your dog to ignore traffic, and listen to your voice. It may one day save his life.

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