Brandywine Farm Bernese Mountain Dogs

We teach our puppies the preliminaries of housebreaking so that when they go to their new homes, you need to follow through and stay consistent. The puppy should be taught to eliminate in a certain area (let him choose the exact spot - and he will put a lot of sniffing and thought into finding that particular spot). We firmly believe that crate training is the easiest and best way to housebreak a puppy or dog.

The first thing is that the puppy needs to know when he goes to a new home is where the door is that he will use to go outside. Show him one particular door at first, so he knows where to go when he needs to go out. Tap on the door and open it and say "Outside?" (a few times so he knows it), then take him out on a leash to the area you want him to use. You should always exit or enter the door first, before the dog, but that is another lesson. Do this several times a day and take him outside each time, so he learns what this is all about.

We teach all our dogs the command, "Get Busy", but you can say "Hurry Up" or something similar. Keep it short and keep it consistent. After taking him to the designated area, let the puppy sniff around and occasionally say "Get Busy" (or your chosen phrase) until he does. When he starts to go, tell him, "Good Boy (or Girl), Get Busy" in an encouraging voice, but not so as to interrupt or distract him from the business at hand. When he finishes, tell him "Good Boy (or Girl)!" in a really cheerful voice and pet him and tell him how good he is. This will reinforce the training he has had and it is best to stay consistent in this respect. If the puppy has to do something else, give him time to do that, as well, and repeat the whole process, especially the praise afterwards.

Another very helpful thing to do is to make an "intake and output" chart for the first few days. Write down the times the puppy eats, drinks and eliminates. After a day or so, it will be apparent how often and at what times the puppy needs to go outside, so you will be able to plan your outside trips.

Dental disease is the leading health issue in both dogs and cats over the age of two. Why? Because the pet owner has not been educated nor trained how to properly manage their pet's oral hygiene. If you never brushed your own teeth, how would your health be?
Many pets have lost a significant number of their adult teeth by the age of 8-10, developed kidney, heart and liver diseases because of the low grade systemic bacterial infections in the blood stream. Dental disease also challenges the immune system of pets to the point that their resistance is lowered and they are prone to more health issues.

NOW is the time to start paying attention to your pet's oral health. There are many excellent product available to help you do this - so why not start today?

SEASONAL PET SAFETY TIPS
Now that warmer weather is here, continue to use good common sense in keeping your beloved pets happy and comfortable. Here are some tips we find useful:

Always make sure that your pet has ample supply of fresh, clean water.
Change the water in your pets' bowls several times a day and clean out any dirt, algae growth or mineral deposits regularly with a stiff brush. Always rinse your pets' bowls out thoroughly to make sure no soapy residue remains to contaminate your pets' water.
Add some ice cubes to your pets' water bowl to keep things cool.
Brush out any dead hair that your pet may lose due to change of seasons and warmer weather.
Buy a plastic kiddie pool for your pet to play and cool down in if your pet likes water.
Pay attention to your pet's skin and, in addition for checking for fleas and ticks, check for and treat any insect bites that may lead to hot spots developing.
HELP US OUT HERE BY SENDING US ADDITIONAL TIPS OR COMMENTS!

SUMMER TRAVEL SAFETY FOR YOUR PET
If you take your pet on the road with you this summer, keep safety in mind. As always, use common sense. Here are some helpful tips:

- Make sure your pet has an ID tag on his collar, including your home address and phone number; also add a termporary 'travel ID tag' with your destination address and phone number; and numbers of all cell phones you have with you.

- Bring water from home for your pet to drink, as drinking strange water could upset your pet's tummy. Bring ice cubes from home to cool your pet's water while on the road.

- Never leave your pet alone in a parked vehicle - your pet could be stolen or, worse, heat buildup in a parked vehicle could be fatal.

- Bring along a copy of your pet's most recent Rabies Certificate and other health information that other municipalities might require.

- When I say to move, it means go someplace else, not switch positions with each other so there are still two of you in the way.

- The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

- The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help, because I fall faster than you can run.

- I cannot buy anything bigger than a king size bed. I am very sorry about this.

- Do not think I will continue to sleep on the couch to ensure your comfort.

- Look at videos of dogs and cats sleeping; they can actually curl up in a ball.

- It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space used is nothing but sarcasm.

- My compact discs are not miniature Frisbees.

- For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, try to turn the knob, or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. In addition, I have been using bathrooms for years, canine or feline attendance is not mandatory.