dog owners

It is not a particularly pleasant experience to walk into a room to find that your puppy has had “an accident” in the middle of the floor. This is especially true for the first time puppy parents. And let’s face it, losing our temper and being angry is often our first reaction. What do you do? How do you train your dog to do his “business” outside? Before we answer those questions, here is a list of “Do’s” and “Do not’s” on how to help the process go a little smoother:
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There are lots of things to look forward to when adopting a puppy: cuddling, playtime, kisses, and the pitter-patter those four tiny little feet. One thing that dog owners do not look forward to, however, is housebreaking their new puppy. A notoriously challenging task that can try your patience and lead to some embarrassing moments, housebreaking is a necessary part of puppyhood.

Dog Tails’ Puppy Month continues with the best advice we can find to quickly and successfully train your puppy to “go outside.” Trust us, we’ve been through it all with our dogs, so we understand!

Based on our experience and what we’ve learned from dog trainers around the country, we believe that there are three universal rules of housebreaking your puppy:

1) Consistency

Dogs thrive on routine, especially when they are young. Housebreaking is no exception. The “Dog Whisperer” himself, Cesar Millan, asserts that daily consistency is the key to successfully housebreaking your dog.

Even before you bring your puppy home for the first time, work with your family to a devise a daily dog schedule. Meals, walks, playtime, sleep, trips outside – try work in these activities at the same time every day. Your puppy will soon learn to associate these times with these activities. “7:00AM, I eat. 7:30AM, I go outside. 8:00AM, I play with toys…”

When creating this schedule, be sure to include plenty of “potty breaks,” and not just first thing in the morning and before bed. A good rule of thumb from the Humane Society of the United States: a puppy can typically control his bladder for one hour for every month of age. Because of this fact, Millan suggests scheduling “potty breaks” at various times throughout the day, including immediately following each meal, after waking up from a nap and after long play sessions.

Finally, be aware and vigilant about where your puppy spends his time in your home. Set clear rules about what rooms are off-limits to the puppy, and make sure everyone (even the kids and visitors), follows them. You can use baby gates to help enforce these rules, or you can talk to your DogWatch dealer about indoor hidden boundary solutions.  These safe, small, wireless systems will teach your dog to recognize “off-limits” areas, such as formal rooms, kitchen counters, couches and even the cat litter box. Your DogWatch dealer can help you design a system for your home, and work with you to determine the right age for your puppy to start training with an indoor boundary system.

We know it will be challenging to fit a rigid schedule into your fast-paced, crowded, multi-tasking life. Just remember: establishing a routine and sticking to it is the fastest way to rid your house of puppy “accidents.”

2) Commitment

Neglecting the routine, on the other hand, can quickly lead to housebreaking failures and months of frustration. This brings us to the second rule of housebreaking – be committed. Teaching your dog important lessons like housebreaking when they are young is a great way to set up your pet for a healthy, well-behaved future.

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Spring is finally here, and we are excited! At DogWatch Hidden Fences headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, we are enjoying the warmer weather, longer days and, of course, the absence of snow. Yet even if you didn’t just emerge from a long, cold, snowy winter, we still think spring is a time to celebrate. And who better to celebrate with than your dog! Our suggestions: pencil in some extra playtime in the backyard, take your dog to a nearby park or waterfront, schedule a doggie playdate, or try one of our yummy dog treat recipes, featuring fresh spring ingredients!

A Strawberry Smoothie for Spot?

A dog smoothie? Won’t that be messy? Not if you try Doggy Dessert Chef’s appealing recipe, which takes all of the irresistible and healthy goodness of this warm-weather treat and packs it into biscuit form. Strawberries are typically in season in late spring/early summer, so now is the time to try this out. Plus, bananas are another healthy, safe fruit for dogs. Pair these with a smoothie of your own, and you’ve got a relaxing treat for the both of you to enjoy!

The recipe can be found here. Cooking time is 15-20 minutes, and you’ll need a blender. (Note: these treats contains milk, so they are not suitable for lactose intolerant dogs.)

Give Peas a Chance!

Fresh peas – from English to snow to sugar snap – are also in season. Peas are healthy for dogs, providing them with a good source of the B vitamin Thiamin, phosphorous, and potassium. Plus, many dogs love them! Peas make a good treat for training because of their small size. For a more filling snack, you can try this easy-to-make “salad” recipe from CrazyCrumb-Dog-Treats, featuring peas, apples, broccoli, carrots, chicken and more. All you need to do is chop and serve – making this the perfect recipe for busy or cooking-phobic dog owners. This treat is also gluten-free, making it a great option for dogs that are allergic to wheat.

Is Your’s Dog’s Breath in Mint Condition?

Did you know mint is also in season in spring? The popular herb is also a great ingredient for dog treats, since it adds flavor while also helping freshen your dog’s often-stinky breath. We found two recipes featuring mint that we are looking forward to trying out. The simpler recipe, from the blog The Daily Bark, needs only three ingredients: fresh mint, water and unsalted crushed crackers. After mixing these ingredients together, pop them in the freezer until frozen and voila, a quick, cool snack for your pup!

The second recipe, found on eHow.com, is a bit more complex, and requires one unusual ingredient – activated charcoal. This ingredient is found at most drugstores, in tablet or powder form. Other than this unusual additive, these treats are easy to make, will last up to six weeks, and your dog will love them. Try the recipe out here, and tell us if it works!

Do you have any favorite homemade dog treat recipes? We’d love to try them out. Share them in the comments below, or via Facebook or Twitter. We wish you all good luck in the kitchen, and a happy spring to you and your dog!

Strawberry image: jcmar.net via Flickr.

Pea image: timlewisnm via Flickr.

Mint image: Quinn Dombrowski via Flickr.

The tragedy of last month’s Japanese tsunami reminded us yet again that disasters can strike at any time. After all of the devastating footage, we were relieved to see any good news. This video of an owner reunited with her beloved dog affected all of us.

This story also made us think about our own pets. Is there anything we as pet owners can do to prepare for extreme weather or other unexpected events? We’ve researched this important issue, and compiled some key steps that you can take to keep your pets safe.

ID Your Pet
ID tags are always a good idea, even in everyday situations. Should your pet become separated from you, an ID tag with the pet’s name, your name and your contact information will help rescuers find you as soon as possible. If your pet has any urgent medical needs or conditions, it should also be explained on the pet’s tags.

Microchips offer a more permanent tagging solution for pet owners. These chips, implanted under the animals skin, contain registration numbers that can be obtained via a handheld scanner. Shelters and animals hospitals across the country can then contact a registry, and uncover owner contact information and pet medical information. Microchipping is increasingly popular among pet owners, and the process of inserting the chip is quick and does not even require anesthesia. If you are interested in learning more about microchips, contact your veterinarian.

Pet Alert Sticker
In addition to tagging your pet, you can also tag your home. Pet stores, as well as the ASPCA, offer Rescue Alert Stickers (like the one shown at the right) that you can place on your window to alert rescue workers to the animals in the house and the contact information for your vet. To order a sticker from the ASPCA, fill out the form found here.

Pet Emergency Kit
Another important preparedness tip is to create an pet emergency kit that you can quickly grab in the event of an evacuation or other emergency. The website Pet and Animal World has put together a detailed list of items to be included. The entire list can be found here. The ASPCA has a similar list found here. Some of the key items to include, according to these and other experts, are:

Bottled water
A week’s worth of food (canned and/or dry)
Portable food and water dishes
Travel crate or carrier, or sturdy leash for bigger pets
Litter and disposable litter boxes – aluminium roast pans will work (cats only)
Current photos of your pet(s)
Toys and blankets, to help keep the pet calm in new environments
Medical records
Extra supply of any medications

We encourage you to visit the ASCPA’s website to learn more about disaster preparedness tips, especially for those of you with birds or smaller animals (gerbils, hamsters, etc.) who want additional information about those pets. We also value your feedback on this issue. Have you been through an evacuation or other extreme situation? What steps did you take to protect your pets? Do you have any advice for your fellow pet owners? Tell us in the comments below, or on our Facebook page.