Lucky's Blog
Holiday Safety Tips for dogs
by Evelyne Boyd on 12/13/11
Rule #1: Chocolate and Alcohol is for you, NOT for your dog.
Rule #2. Dog food is for dogs and people food is for people. If you give your dogs Turkey, stuffing, cookies or other holiday foods, it can cause and upset stomach which could result in diarrhea on your cherished family rug, allerigies or even death.
Rule #3. Use the holdiays as a training opportunity for your dog. Keep a training collar and leash on your dog whenever around family and friends. Teach your dog he needs to behave even around distractions.
Rule #4. Keep all trash containers safetly closed or behind a cabinet door. Turkey & Chicken bones are NOT save for your dogs. This simple step can prevent you from visiting your local emergency clinic, instead being with your family and friends.
Rule #5. Confine your dog to his crate or kennel when you cannot supervie him. If your dog is not old enough (or repsonsible enough) to be left unsupervised--then leave him in his crate with a chew toy. Stuffed Kongs with frozen Peanut Butter or a new Rawhide can keep him happy for hours.
Rule #6. Dog are social pack animals, and by including them in the family holiday celebration, your dog will become a cherished furry family member.
Leaving Your Dog Alone in Your Home
by Evelyne Boyd on 11/10/11
Did you know that you need to train your dog to be alone in the house?
Many dog owners don't know what age you can reasonably expect to leave your dog alone in the house, without having any problems. The answer to that question really depends on you and your dog, but generally speaking, 1 1/2 years is about the age.
You ask " How can I stop my dog from destroying my house while I am at work ? He is almost five months old. HELP !!!
What you need to understand is he is still a baby. Even though he may look like a full grown dog at this age, he is not. Just like a baby would need to be in a play pen or crib when unsupervised, so does your dog.
That is why I recommend using a crate, laundry room or kitchen.
(Of course your dog need to be let out of the crate for regular potty breaks, excercise, and play. For some dog owners confining the dog in a doggie- safe kennel or dog run may work better).
Back to the crate: The crate has an added beneifit of giving your dog a safe zone. Everybody, (even humans) needs a safe zone. That is why we live in houses or appartments with locks on our doors. Because we need a place where we can be safe. The crate does this for our domesticated dogs, by playing on the dog's natural ingrained "den instinct".
Once your dog is older and has demonstrated he is old enough to handle the responsibility of being left alone in the house (by leaving him for short periods of time, that get longer and longer, and correcting unwanted behavior when he attempts it while you are home), you'll soon have a pet that can be left in the house, unsupervised without causing any problems.
