Caring for Your Dog

Basics | Behavior Tips | Housetraining | Household Hazards | Supplies

The Basics

Dogs aren't toys! Dogs are living creatures with personalities and needs. If you don't want a dog, please don't get one just for your child! You will pay the vet bills. You will buy food and supplies, and you will care for the dog when your child grows up and gets busy with other things.

Behavior Tips

• Barking
  Chained dogs often bark out of frustration and loneliness. Just getting your dog off the chain will reduce barking. Some dogs bark more at night. Bringing your dog in at night should stop all barking!
  
  Dogs who are exercised and happy are less likely to bark. Walk your dog and let him get to know the neighborhood so he won't feel threatened by it. A tired, happy dog will sleep instead of bark.
  
  Teach the word "Quiet." After your dog starts barking, startle him with a noise (like calling his name) or by tapping a treat on his nose. When he is silent, say "Quiet" and reward him. Then you can use the command "Quiet" to stop barking.
• Begging
  Decide at the beginning that no one will feed the dog from the table. Don't allow guests to break this rule. Feed the dog before your meal, and he won’t be hungry. 
• Biting
  Every time puppy bites on your finger say, "Ouch". Not the way a person would say it, but the way a puppy would say it...high-pitched and loud! Puppy will think he's hurting you. Then ignore the puppy for a few minutes. Don’t grab, squeeze or pop them on the nose.
• Tearing Stuff Up
  Never leave your new dog alone in the house. You are asking for trouble if you let an untrained dog have full run of the house! A crate is best. Privileges are earned and your new dog must be mature and trained before you give him total freedom.
  
  Give him chew toy and rawhides. Let him get used to being alone so he doesn't chew out of nervousness. Gradually leave him alone for longer periods of time. Leaving and returning should always be low-key.
• Digging
  Provide your dog with his own sandbox. Bury toys in it and teach him it's okay to dig in there.
• Jumping On People
  When your dog jumps on you, back away or turn away. Don’t say anything or look her in the eye. Do this every time she jumps. Your dog wants your attention. Only give your dog attention when all four feet are on the floor.

There is tons of information online about dog training and behavior. Search for specific terms such as: dog barking, introducing new dog, dog jumping, dog aggression, submissive urination, etc. Dr. P's Dog Training site is a good resource.

Housetraining Tips

The Golden Rule of Housetraining is...
Never let an un-housetrained dog out of your sight while the dog is inside! Every time a dog relieves himself inside, it teaches him it’s OK. An un-housetrained dog should be either:

(1) Inside, with you watching him
(2) Outside
(3) In a crate

If you follow these rules, your dog should be trained in a week or two. Adult dogs can be housetrained, too!

• The best method is the crate training method. Buy a pet carrier or cage big enough for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down in. This will be the dog's “den” and sleeping place.
  Dogs are clean animals and want to keep their home and sleeping area clean. Even young puppies will try their best not to go inside their crate.
• On the dog’s first day home, let him wander in and out of the crate. Put a towel and some treats in it. Put the crate close to where the family hangs out, so your dog will feel like part of the family.
• Young puppies must go out many times a day. Young puppies need to go 30 minutes after eating or drinking. Older dogs need to go out four or more times daily.
• Take the dog to the SAME spot outdoors. The smell will remind him why he's there.
• When puppy relieves himself outside, PRAISE him, "Good Dog!!” and give him a treat. Praise is the key to housetraining! Your dog will learn that going outside means treats, and will be eager to go out.
• If you're inside and notice your dog starting to sniff and circle, grab him and take him out. If you catch him in “mid-stream”, startle pup with a noise and take him out.
• What if you notice a mess on the floor but didn’t see your dog do it? Clean up the mess without fussing at your dog. Dogs live in the moment and won’t understand that you are punishing him for something he did in the past. Rubbing your dogs’ nose in the mess or hitting him with a newspaper won’t work at this point.
• Use a cleaner that will kill smells and bacteria, such as Simple Green (grocery stores), Nature’s Miracle (pet stores), or vinegar and water. If you don’t clean the spot very well, the smell might make him go there again.
• At bedtime, take your dog outside and then lock him in his crate for the night. He'll make an effort not to foul his bed. Then take him outside first thing in the morning. Some young puppies may not have the muscle control to hold it all night and will have to go out during the night.
• Don’t feed your dog after about 6:00 p.m. This will help your dog make it through the night.
• Dogs can be left in a crate 4-6 hours. Dogs should not be left in a crate more than 8 hours. If you can’t come home during the day, consider leaving the dog outside.
• Tips: Hang a jingle bell on the door and jingle it when you take your dog out. He will learn to ring the bell when he needs to go out.
  
  Install a dog door. Dog doors are a wonderful invention! Dogs quickly learn to come and go on their own. You can buy dog doors at pet stores and discount stores.

Read a schedule of a typical day of crate training.

More articles and advice on housetraining, including hard-to-manage cases.

Household Hazards

• Anti-freeze (dogs love it but it is deadly)
• Pins and needles
• Medicine
• Paperclips
• Twist ties
• Chocolate
• Cleaning products
• Electrical cords and cables (Tape them to the floor or cover with plastic tubes made for this purpose.)

Necessary Supplies

• ID tag
• Quality food
• Chew toys
• Collar and leash
• Food and water bowls
• Crate 

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