Archive for the ‘Dog Training’ Category
Why Is My Dog Peeing in the House?
When a house trained adult dog starts having accidents, it’s important to get to the root of this behavior as soon as possible. There are many different reasons why your pet might be having accidents and each cause requires a different course of action.
Having accidents in the house can be a sign of several different medical problems, including infections, kidney disease, tumors, and spinal cord injuries. Female dogs who are spayed or elderly may be struggling with incontinence due to a lack of estrogen. Dogs that are on medication for another health problem may have accidents as a side effect of their medicine. If you’ve noticed any other unusual symptoms in your pet, such as changes in appetite or activity level, make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible.
Once medical problems have been ruled out, you will want to look at any environmental causes for your dog’s accidents. Dogs are very sensitive to human emotions and the stress caused by birth, death, divorce, or other life changes can cause them to start having accidents. Even smaller deviations in your dog’s daily routine, such as a schedule change related to the working hours at your job or remodeling the house and having unfamiliar people around, might create problems. Stabilizing your dog’s routine so he feels safe and secure should take care of the problem.
Regardless of the reason for your dog’s accidents, do not punish your pet by yelling, spanking, or rubbing his nose in the mess. In addition to being an ineffective deterrent, punishing your pet in this way is likely to make him start urinating in hidden places that will make getting to the root of the problem even more difficult.
Remember to clean up after your dog thoroughly each time he has an accident. It’s important to use an enzymatic cleanser designed for pet urine to remove all odors. If the accident has not been properly cleaned, the residual odor may cause your pet to continue seeking out the same spot to eliminate.
Treat Your Dog to Max & Ruffy’s
When dealing with indoor accidents related to behavioral issues, Max & Ruffy’s mini bites are perfect for positive reinforcement training. These premium USDA certified organic dog treats come in tasty flavors like 327 B.C. (Banana & Coconut), Tree of Life (Coconut, Molasses, & Flax), and 24 Carob Gold (Strawberry & Carob).
How to Help a Dog Who Is Afraid of Storms
Storms can be quite frightening for many dogs, but there are a few things you can do to help your pet overcome his storm phobia.
Any dog can develop a storm phobia, although herding breeds such as Border Collies seem to be the most affected. If your dog has separation anxiety or is afraid of other loud noises like fireworks and gunshots, storm phobia may also be a problem.
There’s no clear explanation for what triggers storm phobia, but many vets suspect that dogs dislike the combination of thunder, lightning, wind, and barometric pressure changes. There are also low-frequency rumbles before a storm that can irritate a dog’s sensitive hearing.
One easy thing you can do to make storms less stressful for your dog is to provide a safe place for him to go when the weather turns bad. This could be the bathroom, the basement, or an open crate in a windowless room. Play soothing music to help block the sound of the storms outside. Offer distractions such as a few treats and a game of fetch as needed.
Not all dogs respond well to them, but a snug fitting shirt or wrap may help calm an anxious pet. Compression garments apply gentle pressure, which has been shown to soothe anxiety for many different animals.
In severe cases, your vet may be able to prescribe an anti-anxiety medication to keep your dog’s storm phobia under control. Medications can be given on a daily basis or used whenever the forecast calls for stormy weather.
Tasty Treats for Man’s Best Friend
Max & Ruffy’s selection of natural and organic dog treats are as close to homemade dog treats as you will find. With yummy flavors like 327 B.C. (Banana & Coconut), Tree of Life (Coconut, Molasses, & Flax), and 24 Carob Gold (Strawberry & Carob), you’re sure to find something your pet will love.
How to Keep Your Dog from Jumping Up to Greet People
When two dogs meet, they like to sniff each other’s faces to familiarize themselves with each other’s scent. Since humans are naturally taller than their canine companions, it’s common for dogs to try to jump up on people as a way to try to reach their faces and explore their scent.
A dog who jumps up on guests is problematic for several reasons. Even if this behavior doesn’t bother you personally, your dog could knock over a child or an elderly person by jumping on them. You also want to avoid having your dog think it’s OK to jump on someone who is carrying heavy packages or holding an infant, as these situations could both result in serious injury.
To train your dog to greet people while keeping his or her front paws on the floor, here’s what you can do:
When you enter your home, do not pet or otherwise greet your dog unless her front feet are on the floor.
If your dog jumps, stand still and look straight ahead with your arms and hands on your chest. Do not look at your dog until she’s stopped jumping.
When your dog behaves properly, immediately reward her with attention or a small treat such as a mini bites training treat from Max & Ruffy’s.
Once you’ve successfully taught your dog how to greet you, ask a few friends to come over to help you teach your dog how to greet guests. Use positive reinforcement, including training treats from Max & Ruffy’s, for this task as well.
If you are struggling to teach your dog not to jump up when greeting people, you may want to enlist the services of a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT). A trainer can provide more detailed instructions and work to overcome any additional behavior issues your dog may have.
Choosing the Right Training Treats for your Dog
Treats can provide a great incentive when you’re training your dog to master skills like how to greet people without jumping. Max & Ruffy’s treats are made with 100% percent organic, human-grade ingredients and come in a variety of tasty flavors designed to appeal to your dog’s taste buds. Unlike many other types of pet treats, they also offer added nutritional benefits to promote your dog’s overall health and wellbeing.
Tips for Housetraining Your Puppy
The goal of housetraining your puppy is to teach him that there are times to play, times to eat, and times to potty. Here are some tips that can help make the process easier for you:
The best time to housetrain a puppy is between 12 and 16 weeks of age. A puppy who is older can still be trained, but the process will take longer.
Signs that your puppy needs to eliminate include barking, squatting, sniffing, circling, or scratching at the door. Watch your puppy carefully to learn his signals.
As a general rule of thumb, you should take your puppy outside at least once every two hours. Use a leash to immediately lead him to the designated bathroom spot and say “Go potty” in an authoritative voice to help remind him what to do. Do not go for a longer walk or playtime until he has successfully eliminated.
Give your puppy a treat immediately after he’s finished eliminating. If you wait until you’re back in the house, your puppy might not understand what the treat is for. Pet stores sell special treat pouches that clip to your belt to make it easier for you to access dog treats while holding your puppy’s leash.
At nighttime, it’s best to pick up your pet’s water dish about two hours before you plan to go to bed. This will reduce the odds that your puppy will need a potty break in the middle of the night.
Do not be discouraged when your puppy has accidents. Mistakes are part of the learning process, so it’s pointless to punish your puppy for having an accident in the house by trying to rub his nose in it or scolding him. If the damage has been done, simply clean the soiled area and move on. If you catch your puppy in the act, say “outside” in an authoritative voice and immediate take him to his designated outdoor bathroom spot. Give him a tasty treat if he finishes eliminating there.
Using Max & Ruffy’s Treats to Housetrain Your Puppy
Max & Ruffy’s treats can be a helpful part of the housetraining process, since puppies respond best to positive reinforcement. Our USDA Certified Organic mini bites treats come in a range of tasty flavors and are made using only the highest quality human-grade ingredients.