My Dumb Dog

May 18, 2009

Bringing a New Baby Home With a Dog

Filed under: Family Issues — admin @ 4:48 am

For a puppy your baby is a toy like thing that is hogging all the attention that belongs to him. This can sometimes create some difficult situations. For the dog his home is his territory and he feels that the new arrival is encroaching on his territory so he feels threatened by the baby. Since the baby will receive a lot of attention from you the pup also gets jealous of the baby. There are no sure fire remedies to deal with this situation. However, there are some tips which are useful such as-

The biggest challenge for your puppy is to deal with all the attention that the new baby gets. With a new baby around sometimes you inevitably ignore the puppy and he will have to learn to accept this. You can help your dog through this transition by introducing certain gradual changes

If you start ignoring your dog suddenly upon the arrival of the baby it becomes very difficult for your dog to adjust, so it is important to get him used to it slowly. You can do this by ignoring him everyday for sometime usually an hour should suffice. You don’t need to sit in one place. Go ahead with your regular chores like watching TV or doing your laundry just don’t talk to or look at your dog. You will want to view these dog apparel and dog supplies for your puppy.

Once the baby arrives it will be normal to have baby toys lying all over the place. Your dog will find it hard to resist these toys and may get into a tug of war with the baby over the toy. He may also try to rip or eat these toys. It is important to stop your dog from doing so. The best way to do this is to not keep these toys in dogs reach. But this is not always possible. So train your dog before the baby arrives to stay away from the toys and baby products. You will also want to take a look at these clothes for male dogs for your doggie.

A good practice session for your dog should involve a couple of baby toys thrown along with his toys in front of him. Since the baby toys look different and new the dog will definitely reach for them and when he tries to do so stop him with a firm “no” and divert his attention to his own toys. You can also lace the toys with mouthwash or sprays available in the market that stop furniture chewing. These sprays and the mouth wash produce an uncomfortable odor and taste for the dog. Soon the dog will start associating the command with the odor and taste and stay away from them.

Your baby and your dog will eventually become best friends but you will have to help this friendship to start. For your puppy the new baby is a strange being that makes peculiar sounds. The baby may feel that a dog is a big ball of fur to be grabbed and tugged at. The different perspectives may create a slight situation because of the baby tugs or pulls at your pup it will startle him and he may not react favorably. So to get him used to the tugging and pulling start by quickly pulling his ears when you pet him or by tugging at his coat when you are petting him. You can also add some baby sounds for effect. The whole point of this exercise is to get your dog habituated to the new sounds and actions that he may encounter with the new baby around.

April 22, 2009

Get Practical Info - What You Need to Know Before You Buy a Dog

Filed under: Family Issues — admin @ 6:17 am

After years of asking and begging, you have finally agreed to allow your children to have a pet that will complete the family unit. Before you rush out and buy the first dog that melts your heart with it’s (ahem) puppy dog eyes, there are a few things to know. Make sure that you do your research and agree on a size and breed before you look at the first puppy (if that is what you choose to get), and remind your children that you have the final say on what is and is not acceptable and that any arguments will equal no dog for that trip. It might actually be a better idea to look at several dogs and then have a family meeting to discuss everybody’s choice before the final decision is made. Be sure that everybody is on the same page before heading out to avoid tantrums. If you want Dog Teaching advice check out the Dog Teaching site.

Most experts agree that a child should be at least five years old before a new pet is introduced into their lives, before that they may not be able to understand the concept of playing nicely, or may be afraid of the dog for whatever reason. Remember, a new pet and fear never mix well. Observe your children with other people’s pets, or take them to a pet shop or shelter for a practice run. Do they pet the dogs calmly and slowly, or do they grab and lunge? Remind your child of how a dog likes to be approached, and why they need to follow this rule: this is a set in stone rule, no exceptions!

After you are confident that your child is actually ready for the next step, consider a few things about your families personality, lifestyle and availability. Are you a busy, on the go family with many, many outside interests, or are you a stay at home, nesting type family? If both adults work, and the children are gone at school, how will you handle all of that alone time with your new, furry bundle of joy? Will you crate train your puppy, or will you consider a doggy day care? Consider how needy a breed can be before you look at them, what good is a loving, little lap dog if there is never a lap for him to snuggle on? If you have found yourself packing on the pounds, get a sturdy, mid size breed that will not only be your best friend no matter what, but will joyfully exercise with you as well. Knowing that you have to walk the dog will motivate you- no one wants to do the bloated waddle around the block with their playful pooch dragging them along. If you want a great Dog Teaching site check it out now.

If this is a second pet, to serve as company for an established dog, consider an older dog, ideally from a shelter. Not only will you have the satisfaction of knowing that you have saved a life, an older dog will generally have less of the biting, hyper issues of a new puppy, making it easier for the established dog and the family. Introduce the two slowly, and let them define the parameters of their relationship. Most shelters encourage you pre-adoption meetings, so consider asking if you can bring your pet in to meet the prospective new family member and remember, not all dogs will fall into instant (dare I say it?) puppy love.

For the tips about house train dog please visit this blog.

April 20, 2009

Children and Puppies How To Socialize The New Puppy With Your Kids

Filed under: Family Issues — admin @ 3:09 am

Puppies, especially when they are new to your family can be an exciting event in your lives especially if you have children. It is quite the memorable experience when you have prepared for a new puppy and chosen that special friend whether it’s from a shelter, pet store, or breeder and you bring it into the home for the very first time! Be sure to view these raised dog bowl for your doggie right away.

As exciting as this event is, if you have children you must supervise every interaction between a puppy and your kids for at least the first few days following your puppy’s first days in their new home! To effectively provide positive socialization between your child and your new canine companion, follow these helpful tips! First, have your child sit on the floor with his or her legs crossed. Carefully and slowly bring the puppy to your child. Tell your child to lay out “their gentle hands” with palms down and knuckle side up so that puppy can sniff their hands. Be sure that you take a look at pajamas for dogs and discount dog clothes for your puppies and older doggies.

Allow pup to sniff on their own time. This will require a little patience, but you should never force the puppy to sniff. Then the puppy is done sniffing(they will let you know) your child’s scent, gently pick the puppy up and place gently in your child’s lap. Let him or her pet the puppy, while always indicating they need to use “gentle hands” while doing so. Don’t forget to be encouraging to your child, this is a new experience for them as well! There a 2 things that your puppy will do. First the puppy may stay on your child’s lap, enjoying the pampering and attention they are getting. They may also fall asleep.

Second, he will leave to walk around and explore his new environment. If he decides to explore, let him do it while you are watching to make sure that he doesn’t get himself into any kind of danger. You will also want to encourage your child to not react loudly or feel badly if pup decides to do this because it is a good thing for them to look around their new home. Any child I don’t care who they are, weill be thrilled and amazed with their puppy and like with most children, they will want to grab their pup and pull them back onto their laps to cuddle with.

You as a parent and responsible dog owner must remind them to be gentle while petting. You will want to discourgage such things as grabbing, poking, or pulling at the new puppy as this could cause injury or fearful and aggressive behaviors. If puppy suddenly bolts from your child’s lap, remember that this little guy or gal may still be going through separation anxiety from being away from its mother or wants to explore their new surroundings.

If your child feels discouraged by this behavior and feels that their puppy “dislikes” them, just reassure them that the puppy is like a baby and wants to explore their new home and may be missing its mother! Boost your child’s confidence by reassuring them that by them giving the new puppy it’s space that they are doing what is best and making their new friendship stronger! After letting your new puppy have another look around their surroundings, gently pick them up again and place them in your child’s lap.

To keep them there, give them one or two of their favorite treats that you’ve brought with you. If he starts to show signs of wanting to escape, show him the treat and have your child gently feed it to him. Your child should place the treat on their palm for the puppy to lick, not on her fingertips where the puppy can accidentally nip them while he grabs for the food. Being calm and keeping a low voice, and staying positive is a great way to create an exciting and long lasting friendship with your family!

Powered by WordPress