There is nothing worse than hearing a dog bark all the time,
day and night, for no apparent reason.
There are products on the market that will save your sanity
and your friendship with your neighbor. These collars will eliminate excessive barking.
They will not hurt your pet, but will give them a mild electrical stimulation. It is just
enough to get their attention and make them understand that all their barking is not going
to work. There is another collar that sprays citronella in front of your dog's nose. Dogs
hate the smell. It is activated by the dog barking. My personal experience with this
collar is that it sometimes sprays on their face or nose and the smell stays on them so
that you have a constant "punishment." Now, I am not saying it is not a good
product and I am sure that people have used it and loved it. I am just saying that this
author prefers the electronic collars for quick and precise correction. There are also
some ultra-sonic bark trainers that you point at the dog and it emits a piercing tone that
dogs hate because it hurts their ears. Not only can you use this for barking, but also for
car chasing, digging, jumping up on visitors, chewing, and whatever else ails ya. The only
problem with these devices is that if you are more than a 1 dog home, you are going to
punish everyone else that is in range of the unit.
If you like your back yard… buy a pooper-scooper and
use it once a day. I think that is enough said about that. Other than this… the
cheaper the dog food, the more poop there is to scoop. We will discuss nutrition in
another article, but this is a quick tidbit for you.
Do you have flower beds that your dogs love as
much as you do? Does your pooch pick a certain spot to dig in to make a dirt bed? Does he
think your favorite shrub is a fire hydrant? Does he think your plants are chew toys you
grew just for him? Do not give up hope yet. Try some products that are made for these
problems. I have personally tried and swear by "Get Off My Garden" and "
No- Dig." I have heard people say they like "Keep Off." I have never tried
it.
Containment of your pet is one of the most important things
you can do to ensure your pet's safety. You must have a fenced yard if you let your dog
out unattended. It is unfair to a dog to be tied out. Not only is it cruel to tie up a dog
it can cause a variety of problems including aggression and depression. A lot of attacks
are by dogs that were tied up, became aggressive, and got loose. If you do not want to put
up a fence for your pet, there are underground containment systems that are great for
boundary training and containment of your precious pet.
Dog houses? People ask me what my favorite is and I have to
say the Dogloo. Especially the x-tra large. They have a small tunnel like opening and are
very den like. It is especially nice for moms and their puppies for privacy and it is easy
to clean. It has a lip that the babies cannot get over until they are old enough to start
exploring safely. It has drains at the back of the house on the floor. It is insulated so
that it stays cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
| Obedience training is
indispensable. There are numerous situations that are going to
arise which will require your dog to listen to you,
consistently. "Come" is most important, followed by "sit/stay."
Take your pup to obedience school. If you have adopted an older
pet, take him too. |
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You know the
old saying about old dogs can't learn new tricks. Not true, they can, and rescue dogs are
always anxious to please. When you have company it is important for your dog to be trained
so he does not become a nuisance. Some of you know what I am talking about. You cannot go
into your own back yard for fear of being trampled by Fido. Shame on you, you should be
enrolling him in a good citizen doggie class so he can learn manners. Then he can truly be
a part of the family.
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Written by Dawn Littlefield
Littlefield Kennels |
