Elizabeth Hebert - Author Intro Video

The Do's and Don'ts of House Training your  Puppy

     House training a pup is very important for the well-being of both the puppy as well as the caregiver/owner. The primary reason that dogs are surrendered to pet shelters is difficulty with improper elimination. Therefore, proper house 

training is a crucial factor to consider when owning a puppy. It is necessary to establish proper toileting routines when the puppy is young. These practices can last a lifetime and become very tough to challenge when they are established. It is extremely important for the caregiver to house break the young puppy correctly. No trauma should be introduced to the puppy while doing this. In most cases, true house training can not start till the pup is six months old. Pups below this generally lack the bowel and bladder control that is required for true house training.

Puppies younger than 6 months need to be restricted to a small, puppy proofed area when the caregiver cannot supervise them. The entire floor of the space should  be covered with newspapers or comparable absorbing materials, and the paper replaced every time it is dirtied.  As the young puppy grows older, the quantity of paper made use of can be decreased as the puppy begins to establish a preferred toilet area. Some trainers prefer to skip the paper stage and use the outdoors only.

The Do's and Don'ts of House Training your  Puppy

• Using a crate can be a large advantage in assisting a puppy to establish self control. The concept behind pet crate training is that the pup will not wish to potty in his bed area.

• When you are not in the house or can not supervise the puppy, you should make sure he or she can not make a mistake. This is through confining the puppy to the area that has been completely puppy proofed. Puppy proofing a space is really much like infant proofing an area. Ensure the confined are has no resemblance to any potty area. Puppies will chew on just about everything. Appropriate chew toys should always be available to him or her. This means if your pup is confined, your favorite shoe won’t get destroyed by destructive behavior.

•  When you are home, take the young puppy to the bathroom area frequently and after meals. It shouldn’t take long to figure out how long it takes after a meal for Fido to have to move his bowels. This is very helpful knowledge for the caregiver to promote easy bowel training  habits.

• Use a consistent word or phrase to signify you wand Fido to do his business.  Educating the puppy to relieve himself on concrete, blacktop, turf or dirt and not on your floors is the goal.

• Praise and reward your puppy every single time he potties in the established toilet area. The young puppy has to learn to connect toileting in the established area with happiness.

• - Keep a  schedule when feeding your puppy,and also offer continuous access to fresh  drinking water. A consistent feeding schedule equates to a consistent potty routine.

• Do not give the young puppy the run of the house till he has actually been completely house trained.

• Do not leave food out for the pup all day long. As noted before,it is best to keep  an established feeding timetable in order to make the dog's bathroom timetable as consistent as possible.

• Never reprimand or punish the pup for mishaps. Punishing the puppy will only trigger anxiety and confusion
• Never hurry your pet. A hurried, discouraged or frightened dog will not be able to learn crucial lessons of house training.

     House training must be consistent.It is much easier to house train right the first time than to re-train a canine with behavior issues. It is important to remember each animal is different and some will take longer than others. House training can take several weeks or as long as several months.  It depends on the dog breed and temperament. It is important to be patient.

As you and your puppy bond, the training becomes easier. Soon you will realize that consistency is the key to simplifying house training your puppy.

This Dog Rocks!

Too Cute! French Bulldog rocks baby.

BLOGGER'S BLOCK. How to manage grief after losing a pet

My Grief

Last year, my beloved Forbes passed away suddenly.  I was so devastated and distraught that I could not write.  I tried to keep busy.  I walked daily.  I talked to him. I wondered if he suffered.  I didn't know.  Could he forgive me if he did?  For over a month, I would think I heard him and turn to look to see what he was doing, only to remember that he is no longer here in the physical world.  I had hoped picking up his cremated remains would help my grief.  It did not.  I cried for hours and poured through pictures of him since his puppy days.  We had many adventures and travels together.  I was hoping for many more even though I knew he was aging.  Now I imagined him sitting along side my Mother who had passed away two years before, letting her repeatedly pet him.  She adored him and he was careful around her as she grew frail. I thought about how much he loved holidays.  He was allowed turkey and gravy on Thanksgiving and he could smell the bird roasting and would carefully follow me around the kitchen.  His brown eyes showing excitement over the forthcoming meal.  That was all gone now.  No Forbes to help with Thanksgiving grace.  There would be no doggy Christmas toys to wrap, no puppy treats to drop into his specially made stocking.  I worked more, wrote less and tried to imagine my life with another animal.  I went to parks to watch people and their dogs. It was beautiful to see the love and devotion some of the animals had for their humans. I like to see them run free, play ball or frisbee. It was bittersweet though.  A new dog would provide a distraction and I knew I would give him or her a wonderful home. But that didn't seem like a good enough reason to  adopt another animal.  I was very lonely but I knew I wasn't ready. Someday....

I was beginning to function better but I occasionally still became choked up mentioning him.  Still  I was unable to blog.  What's the point?  I had a hole in my heart and words would not come. This was a blog about dogs and It only reminded me of that hole in my heart.   I couldn't stand hearing, "it's just a dog."  or  "why don't you get another dog?"  One day someone mentioned a grief book  called The Grief Recovery handbook for pet loss by  Russell Friedman, Cole James, and John W. James.  It has really helped. It identifies myths regarding grief and loss that help to prolong grief. The book provides a methodical approach and exercises to assist the recovery process.  Processing feelings is not what we're trained to do and this book is meant to show you 'how' to process rather than hold on to the pain.

So I have gotten help now for setting goals and focusing on blogging again and I have been researching diets and natural remedies for dogs.  Watch for those posts.  Also, I've been in touch with breeders who have adult dogs that need homes.  I am looking forward to adopting a dog soon. So maybe soon, I'll be a puppy mummy again.

A Deaf Dog for Adoption

Forbes is doing well with his new dental routine. He seems able to eat anything. We took a visit to the animal shelter last week.  There was a stray Cavalier I wanted to meet. Forbes was a gentle soul as always, but unfortunately the stray really wasn't interested. While we were there, we decided to visit all the dogs that were for adoption.  We met one little girl that was so cute and she seemed to like me. There was no aggression between Forbes and her but no real interest either.  After a while, I began to notice, she did not respond to her name.  I feared she was deaf.  Now Forbes is hard of hearing but I wasn't sure I was ready to tackle a special needs dog right now. I was concerned about training.

How to train a deaf dog.

Although it was once believed that deaf dogs could not be trained, many people that love and care for them say deaf dog training isn't difficult. Dick Russell, a dog trainer near Baton Rouge, La., has worked with more than 100 deaf dogs in the past 20 years.
"It's as easy to train a deaf dog as a hearing dog," Russell says. "The only difference is you use hand signals instead of verbal commands."

The secret, he says, is having a clear hand signal for each action you want the dog to learn. It doesn't matter what they are, he says, as long as you're consistent.

Russell says it's also a myth that deaf dogs are more aggressive. He says any dog, if startled, could bite. He tells clients with deaf puppies to wake them up repeatedly, with a tasty treat in hand. They'll soon  associate being awakened, even if startled, with something good. And if you don't want to startle a sleeping dog, stomp your foot near them or bump the couch or bed they're sleeping on. The vibration usually awakens them, he says.

Other than that, Russell says, people really don't need to make a lot of special adjustments for their deaf pets.

How to keep a deaf dog safe.

First, you must keep the dog on a leash or in a fenced yard for it's own safety. A deaf dog can't hear a car or other danger coming.

To keep track of your dog, put a bell on her collar, Becker suggests. And put a tag on her that says "Deaf," along with your contact information.

To get your pet's attention, deaf dogs can be taught to come in with the flash of a porch light or flashlight at night.

During the day it can be harder to get their attention if the dog is focused on something else. Usually waving your arms works.  Deaf dogs usually bond with their owners  so well that they look to them constantly. However, they may need to be touched to get their attention if they are in the middle of a barking frenzy. I have found a wealth of information available on caring for deaf dogs. Many deaf dogs dropped off at public shelters are usually euthanized.

If you are considering adopting, remember deaf dogs can do almost anything a hearing dog can do. They are just dogs that can't hear.

Gum disease. Is your dog at risk?

When Forbes was a puppy, I was very diligent in brushing his teeth.  but as the years progressed, I slacked off.  Forbes has since developed  periodontal disease.  It is thought that some dogs have a genetic predisposition to periodontal disease.  Periodontal gum disease causes gum tissue damage and bone damage and can cause loose teeth.                                      

                                                                                                                                                  

The risks for periodontal disease increase 20 percent each year of a pet’s life, according to data released by Banfield Applied Research and Knowledge.

                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                       

Four Stages of Periodontal Disease.                                   

                                                                                                                                                                        

There are four stages or Grades to periodontal disease.  In Grade I only gingivitis is         present. Grades II,III and IV include loss of bone and soft tissue around the teeth.  Signs can vary from dog to dog but many dog lovers notice bad breath.  Many dogs have mouth pain and are reluctant or unable to chew their food.  A preliminary veterinary exam will reveal reddened and inflamed gums.  Periodontal disease can also  lead to other health problems in the body such as heart, kidney or liver disease as well as diabetes. These diseases shorten the lifespan of the dog.                                                                                                                                      

Gingivitis can be cured with a professional dental cleaning followed by home care.       Periodontal disease has no cure but can be slowed with treatment.  The first treatment is professional dental cleaning under anesthesia. I have seen several ads for anesthesia-free dentistry but it is controversial.  This type of cleaning is not as thorough and is illegal in some states.  Dental x-rays are extremely valuable in assisting diagnosis and treatment.  A thorough cleaning may include cleaning under the gum. 

Forbes had to have a tooth extraction and is now on a soft diet for a few days.  When I brought him home , he didn't move for three hours.  I almost had to carry him out side to potty.  His medications include antibiotics and pain pills.  I think one of the reasons his disease progress this far is because he is so stoic.  He eats well, chews his biscuits and never seems to be in any discomfort. According to his vet, he has to feel better after he heals.  Needless to say, we will be on a dental program from here on.    

 According to the American Animal Health Association(AAHA) about two-thirds of pet owners are not providing basic dental care for their pets. Roughly 80% of dogs show significant oral disease by age three.   

When brushing, start on the upper teeth because that is where plaque build up is most common. Use a brush that is intended for dogs and never use toothpaste designed for humans. Most canine toothpastes have enzymatic action and are flavored to appeal to dogs. Start slowly to introduce the products to your dog.  There are finger toothbrushes that may be easier to maneuver in your dogs mouth.  Still, I know not everyone will brush their pet's teeth.  There are alternative products available that don't require brushing. Some are sprays or additives to their food or water. Some are chews impregnated with antiseptic.  And one product contains a certain seaweed which works systemically to prevent plaque when ingested.  Whichever you choose, be consistent.  Their precious lives depend upon us to provide the best care.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

 A clean mouth will not only help save your dog's teeth and gums from decay, it will also reduce his risk for serious other health problems which can result when bacteria from diseased gums gets into the bloodstream.                                                                

 So please, if you haven't started a dental routine for you dog,get started now.  Prevent periodontal disease from starting in the first place and help your dog live a long healthy life.   

Forbes after Surgery