Puppy training starts the first day you bring your new friend home. As much as it may break your heart to scold your precious pup, you now fill the parental role of their mother. Your dog will look to you for cues on how to behave, and it is up to you to praise good behavior and discipline bad behavior.
If you want your dog to be good around people and other animals, it is important to insert regular social activities into their lives. The more your puppy interacts with adults, children, cats, and other animals, the more receptive they will be to these social interactions as they grow older. Before taking your pup to a dog park, be sure to have them up-to-date on all of their vaccinations.
Just like children, pups thrive better on a set schedule. Try to wake your dog up, feed them, let them out, and send them to sleep around the same time every day. Dogs are creatures of habit and find security in consistency. Developing these daily routines will not only help train your pup, it will also help to create a lasting bond between the both of you.
As we are sure you are aware, puppies are much smaller than full-grown dogs! This also means that their body parts are much smaller as well, including the bladder. Though this may come as common knowledge, many people underestimate the number of times your pup will need to take a potty break. Try to take your new puppy outside every hour when you first bring them home. This will help prevent accidents in your home and will help your puppy to associate using the bathroom with being outside.
Your puppy will be going through a lot of change when you first bring them home. For the first few days, it will be important to try to maintain their previous feeding schedule and continue them on their same food. After 3-4 days have passed, you can begin to introduce a new food to their diet by first combining it with their old food. Start with about 75% of the old food and add about 25% of the new food. Over the next 7-10 days you can increase the amount of new food added until you have completely transitioned your pup over. Always be sure to feed your buddy premium, dry puppy food to maintain healthy weight gain and growth!
Your puppy will eventually begin to grow their adult teeth. This is normally the period of time in which you will catch your pup chewing on almost anything they can get ahold of. A quick solution to this is to buy your dog a toy that will keep your dog’s attention. The Tuggo Dog toy is the perfect solution as it will keep your pup entertained for hours and your dog will never outgrow it! The Tuggo will stay your dog’s favorite toy throughout the years, and you can adjust the water amount to match your pup’s weight as they continue to grow into a fully grown dog!
]]>The sit command is one of the easiest to learn and one of the most useful. First, hold a treat close to your dog’s nose so that they catch the scent of the treat. Then raise your hand above their head until they raise their head and move their bottom to the sitting position. Once your dog is in the sitting position, say “sit” and follow with a treat and plenty of praise. If your dog will not move to the sitting position, try pushing the behind down to the ground. If they move to stand up, quickly tell them “NO” and push the bottom back down to the sitting position while saying “sit.” Repeat this until they sit and present the reward and praise.
Once your dog has fully conquered the sit command, you can begin to train them on listening to the stay command. First, tell your dog to “sit.” Then, with a treat in the palm of one hand, hold your other hand up with your palm facing your dog and tell him or her to “stay.” If your dog tries to get up and move, firmly say “NO” and return your dog to the sitting position. Take a couple of steps back. If your dog listens, reward them with the treat. If not, start the process over again. Improve your dog’s response to this command by taking more and more steps back before rewarding them with a treat.
This command can be especially important if your dog escapes the leash or has run off ahead of you. With a leash and a collar on your pup, crouch down to their level at the end of the leash and gently tug the leash saying “come.” When your dog comes to you, reward them with praise and treat. Once your dog has seemed to learn this command, try it without a leash in a secure area.
This can be one of the more challenging commands, but with enough practice your dog will conquer this challenge as well. As with the “come” command, this command works best with a leash at first. Have a treat in hand and allow your dog to smell it. Then tell them to “sit.” Once they have entered the sitting position, move the treat from nose level to the ground while saying “down” and pulling gently downward on the leash. If your dog does not respond at first, try pushing down gently in between the collarbone while saying “down.” If this still does not work, grab your pup’s paws and pull them forward while saying down and holding the treat to the ground. Once your dog is down, present the award and praise. Continue to practice this until your dog is responding to the command without a leash.
For the extra eager dogs who love to get into things, this command can be especially useful. Hold a treat in your hand and show it to your dog. Close your fist around the treat in front of your pup, when they try to get to the treat, ignore the advances and simply say “leave it” until you notice a break in their attention. When they stop trying to get the treat, say “good” and present the reward. Continue this with the treat in your hand until the command has been learned. The next step to this command is to place a treat on the ground and cover it with your hand. Again, tell the dog to “leave it” until your pup stops attempting to get at the treat. Then, uncover your hand and say “okay go.” Continue this until you no longer need to cover the treat to get your dog to listen to your command.
]]>
Myrtle Beach is a great little destination spot for you and your dog to relax and enjoy the outdoors. The city has 13 pet-friendly hotels and even more pet-friendly vacation rentals. Many of the restaurants will be pleased to serve both you and your furry friend on their patios for a delicious meal. During the morning hours and late evenings, you and your dog can enjoy some time at the beach and spend the day strolling through the trails in the Myrtle Beach State Park or in the Barc Park.
When it is time to enjoy some fun in the sun, Key West is an excellent dog-friendly vacation spot. Key West, Florida has eight pet-friendly hotels and an assortment of activities for you and your four-legged companion to enjoy. Sight-see along the canal on a dog-friendly kayaking trip, adventure out on a sailing excursion together, splash around at the dog-friendly beaches, and tour the city, museums, botanical gardens, and aquarium together.
Birmingham is home to Alabama’s largest off-leash dog park in Alabama. Remy’s Dog Park at Red Mountain Park offers six acres of beautiful land that is split into three sections for large dogs, small dogs, and special needs dogs. Venture off together on hikes at one of many local parks and take a stroll through the Market at Pepper Place to get a taste of fresh, local produce and baked goods.
Savannah is known for its incredible southern charm. With spanish moss hanging from trees, perfectly maintained parks, and antebellum architecture, this is a destination spot that should not be overlooked. Many of the shops and restaurants will allow you and your dog to peruse and dine together, so you do not need to worry about leaving them behind on your adventures. There will never be a lack of activities for you and your canine to enjoy; many tours and museums allow your dog to accompany you as you discover the city. You can even explore Savannah in a “dog-centric way” on the Oliver Bentleys Historic Dog Walk Tour.
If you are looking for breathtaking scenery, Sedona should be on your destination bucket list for you and your pup. Plan your perfect tour with the always pet-friendly adventures offered by Sedona Red Rock Adventure Tours or enjoy a scenic jeep tour together with A Day in the West Jeep Tours. After an active day, wine down together at Oak Creek Vineyard and Winery or treat your dog to a special treat from Whiskers Barkery.
The eclectic city of San Francisco is sure to be a favorite vacation spot for you and your dog. San Francisco offers numerous parks and beaches for your dog to explore off-leash with you where they are guaranteed to meet a few furry friends. Have the urge to do some shopping while on vacation? Head down to Union Square where Macy’s, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Saks, Neiman Marcus and many others are all pet-friendly. You can also taste your way through the city at the many dog-friendly establishments.
Asheville, North Carolina is brimming with dog-friendly outdoor adventures, breweries, shops and restaurants. Your dog will not miss a single moment during your vacation together in this charming town. You can even plan a trip to the famous Biltmore Estate together, where your dog can roam 250 acres of landscaped gardens and enjoy a meal at one of the many dining options in Antler Village.
]]>The snow has been falling and there is no sign of it stopping. What does this mean? Tons of fun in the snow of course! We’re sure your snowpocalypse preparation purchases consist of bread, milk, mittens, shovels and sleds, but did you add the Tuggo dog toy to your shopping list?
Dogs love snow days as much as we do, and now they can enjoy them even more! Owners are raving and dogs are barking over this innovative dog toy that will have your furry friend dashing through the snow. The Tuggo is an indestructible weighted ball toy with the perfect tug-a-war rope running through the middle that will have your dog, or dogs, playing for hours. Simply add water or sand through the leak-proof plug and watch as your dog fights, tugs, and tosses their new favorite toy.
No amount of snow can keep a dog from going on an adventure with his Tuggo. Check out these adorable videos of dogs having a blast with their Tuggo toys in the snow:
Order yours now and surprise your four-legged companion on their next doggy snow day. The Tuggo comes in a 10” size that holds up to 18 pounds of water and is perfect for any dog over 40 pounds. Have a smaller dog? Order the 7” Tuggo Mini that holds up to 6 pounds of water and is ideal for dogs up to 40 pounds. It’s time to ditch the tattered stuffed toys, the slobbery tennis balls, and the shredded ropes for a toy that can take on even the biggest dog.
Have Tuggo snow day pictures to share with us? Tag us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook or e-mail them to info@tuggodoytoy.com.
]]>The most common food allergies for canines are caused by ingredients such as:
Dogs with a genetic disposition towards developing allergies are triggered by exposure to the allergen. They will often times also be allergic to more than one specific thing.
So what is the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance, and how can I tell which one your dog is suffering from? A food allergy occurs when the dog’s body incorrectly identifies a source in their food as harmful. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can vary from skin rashes, hives, itching skin, obsessive licking, gnawing on the paw, and sometimes vomiting. A food intolerance occurs when a dog’s digestive system is unable to properly digest a specific ingredient. These intolerances are normally associated with digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, and vomiting.
The good news is that both food intolerances and allergies can be treated through a diet that is free of the irritant.
If you believe that your dog may be suffering from a food intolerance or allergy, take them to your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis. As food is not the only thing your dog may be allergic to, it is important to rule out other possibilities as well.
Once it has been determined that your dog does indeed suffer from a food allergy or intolerance, your pet will typically undergo a food trial that will consist of eating types of foods that they have never had before, such as duck, buffalo, venison, oats, and rice. After a period of staying on this strict diet and symptoms have subsided, your dog’s diet will be switched back to its original food. If the previous symptoms re-occur after the switch, a food allergy is confirmed and you will begin to have an idea of ingredients that may causing issues. Unfortunately, the best treatment for allergies and intolerances is to eliminate the trouble ingredient completely from your animal’s diet. This will take a process of trial and error, but your pet will certainly thank you for finding the source of their discomfort!
Click here to view top rated hypoallergenic dog food.
]]>