Dog Training Tips

Dogs Love Crates

Many people are under the false impression that you can only crate train puppies and they refrain from crate training older dogs as they think it is too difficult.

There are also many people who think crate training is inhumane but done correctly this couldn’t be further from the truth.

The dogs crate should never be used as a place to be sent when punished.
When dogs have been crate trained correctly they actually enjoy the security of having their own place to stay.

Even at times when they are not expected to stay in the crate the dog will find comfort in it’s own area of the home.

Provided the crate is in a sheltered place and there is fresh water available they will be completely happy to have their own home.

Dogs often get possessive of their crate and other members of the family, children in particular, need to understand that this is the dogs special area that they must respect.

The crate should always be kept clean and where possible the dog should have a favorite rug or blanket to sleep on in the crate.

The crate should always be made accessible for the dog with the door open when they aren’t required to stay in the crate so they can feel free to come and go as they like and stay in the crate if they feel like resting at times other than those destined for the crate door to be closed.

Older dogs can find the crate a very secure place as they become less confident with themselves when getting older.
If an older dog does have a mishap and urinate or soil their crate it is very important that it is cleaned immediately so they will continue to enjoy their space.

Junk Foods for Dogs

There has been a marked deterioration in the general health of dogs since the introduction of processed dog foods.

Many of these foods offer very little nutritional value but it is their convenience and the fact that they have added flavors that ensure our pets get delight in eating them that have increased the sales and popularity of this food.

Just as we might like to eat foods that contain sugar, which is detrimental to our health, our dogs also like to eat these low value foods because they taste so good.

Most of the popular dog foods use by-products and are actually worse to feed our dogs than the scraps from our meal tables.

But therein lies another problem with many of the foods that we eat, unsuitable for dog consumption.
Some foods, as discussed in previous newsletters can actually be toxic to dogs so we are faced with the dilemma of knowing what is the best food to feed our pets.

The best solution that many people are finding is to prepare their own dog food using only those ingredients that will enhance the health of the dog.

There are several excellent books that teach you how to prepare your own dog food that will be nutritious and also cost effective.

Dogs find these foods tasty and they don’t need the added sodium, preservatives and coloring to enhance the look and taste of the food.

It is well worth looking at this method to ensure your dog gets the optimum health from their food.

Dogs love to socialize too

Dogs love to socialize and taking your pet to places that they have never been before is a great adventure that will help stimulate them both mentally and physically.

When they interact with other dogs and people they develop more social skills and will generally become better pets.

This is of course assuming that your dog has had some form of training and you are able to keep them under control in these situations.

If your dog has had some training and you let them socialize with other dogs while maintaining your control over them this often assists in taking their manageability to higher levels where you can take them more places without the fear of mishaps.

A dog that is well trained and gets sufficient social interaction with others is less likely to become bored and want to escape and roam the neighborhood.

It’s all part of good ownership and a good relationship to allow your dog to experience as many situations as possible in their life with you in attendance.

They can certainly be a man’s, or woman’s best friend provided we treat them in a similar manner and treasure them as one of the family.

Dogs can add so much fun and entertainment to our lives and they don’t ask for much in return other than food water and a place to sleep.

If only life was that simple with people what a wonderful life we would all have.

The simple things in life, like our pets, are always those things that bring the most pleasure at the end of the day.

Be Aware of Changes

One of the best things you can do for your dog besides regular exercise, good food, water and shelter, is to be aware of any changes that it might exhibit in all aspects of it’s life.
Particularly as dogs get older they might seem like they are just not interested in exercise any longer but this might be due to the fact that they are suffering from pain of some form or another.

Many older dogs suffer from arthritis and this can be very painful.
There are all sorts of remedies that can help your dog from natural remedies to ones that your local vet might prescribe.

Our beloved pets cannot talk to us and they can only hope that we are aware of their conditions by knowing what they are usually like and noticing any behavioral changes.

Even if a normally quiet dog starts whining or barking more often they might be trying to give you a signal that something is not quite right in their life.

A regular checkup at the Vet is a good solution to ensure that your dog is always in optimal health and that includes their mental state.

Older dogs can become depressed because they are no longer getting the required stimulation mentally and a depressed dog will suffer just as a human can do in similar circumstances.

If your dog starts to eat more or less food than normal this could be another sign that there is a problem and also if they gain or lose weight they could be suffering from some health problems.

Always be aware of their behavior and it will ensure that your dog has a happy and long life.

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