This lens is devoted to adoring and raising dogs, and the many reasons to love them. My husband and I adopted two pups from a local shelter about 1 1/2 years ago. They are an australian shepherd/lab mix and were just 12 weeks old when we adopted them. Their names are Maya (see photo to left) and Luna (photo below). Maya and Luna are sisters and are best of friends! Below you can learn more about them and why they're so great!! As well as info on raising pups in general.
Basics for raising a happy, healthy, friendly pup
So, you want a dog. Owning a dog can be an extremely rewarding experience. But first, you need to undestand that it is hard work. Some compare it to having a toddler in the home. And don't forget that the cute little puppy you see, might turn into a 100lb beast if not raised properly. Below are a few tips for raising a happy dog.1. Get regular vet check ups and stay current with all vacinations. Especially heartworm medication.
2. TRAIN YOUR DOG!!! Find a local AKC club, obedience club, or Petsmart. Also ask your vet, adoption center or breeder. A well trained dog will be a happy dog. I'll post more about training below.
3. Love your dog!
4. Provide safe shelter. Do NOT leave a dog tied up outside. This can aid in aggressive behavior. Not to mention, your dog needs protection from the elements.
5. EXERCISE YOUR DOG!! Your dog will love you for it. And a tired dog is a happy dog.
6. Provide proper nutrition and clean water.
7. Socialize your dog.
8. SPAY OR NEUTER your dog. Unless you will be breeding them.
9. Provide your puppy with safe chew toys.
10. Crate Train your dog. This can be a lifesaver for you and your pup. This is not cruel as long as you provide them plenty of space to stand, lay down and sit. If your pup is not a chewer, provide clean bedding. Dogs are natural den animals and appreciate having a quiet place to go to. Also it will keep your pup safe while your not home, as well as prevent them from experiencing extreme anxiety. I once had a dog who enjoyed chewing on electrical cords, so crating her kept her from getting an electrical shock. It does take time and consistency to crate train a dog, but it will be worth it in the end. Most important thing about crate training is to make it a positive experience. We give our pups a treat and praise them everytime they "go to their room". Also, NEVER EVER use a crate for punishment. The crate is their quiet place only. If you begin training them when their young, you will have an easier time then training and older dog.
12. Keep your pup on a schedule! Our pups have a very specific routine. They know when it's time to eat and when it's time to go to bed. They know what to do when we leave the house, or when they want to go outside. As long as we follow the schedule they are happy. Dogs like routine and will willingly follow one. It helps them feel more secure and confident and will help reduce anxiety and boredom.
Why Obedience Training is Important
Obedience training is one of the most important things you can do! It's amazing how many people ignore this. If approached properly, you will be able to train any dog.There are many different techniques in training dogs, and the most humane, and effective ones involve positive reinforcement. Choke chains, yelling, smacking, etc rarely works in raising a happy well behaved dog. Instead, it creates fear and mistrust.
With our pups we used clicker training and it is by far the most effective training method I have ever used. The concept is simple, and is used by many animal trainers. Including those who train dolphins at Sea World. With clicker training, you begin by clicking everytime your dog does something you like, and then you give him a treat. Soon, the dog learns that a click means good things, and they'll do anything to get that treat/click. Slowly you introduce commands, and the dog learns to obey those commands. If your dog is not food motivated, lots of love and praise or a special toy often does the trick. Clicker training became a fun way to train our dogs. They get very excited when they see a clicker in our hand and will do anything we ask of them. I think for them it's more like a game and not at all like work. Also, not only is training fun for your dog, but it helps build the lifelong bond needed when raising a pup. Through training they learn to respect you and you learn to communicate with them. It's a win win situation for both of you.
Training also can be used to give your dog a job if he desires one. Herding, sporting and working breeds generally like to have something to do at all times. You can train your dog to retreive items, find items, or just do tricks. As long as your pup is occupied he will not be able to chew on your favorite shoe, or destroy your furniture. When dogs have something to do, they will not have time to get into trouble.
Training is also used to keep a dog safe. Probably the most important commands we've taught our dogs is "leave it" and "come". Both can save them from very dangerous situations.
And finally, training allows your dog to be a wonderful member of your family. Who wants a dog that jumps on guests everytime they come to the house. Basic obedience will make everyone a lot happier. The number one key to obedience training is consistency. Don't confuse him by letting him jump on the sofa one day, and scold him the next. Be consistent and you both will be a lot happier.
Fun books about dogs!
Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
This book has been out for about a year now. But I've only just now read it. What a sweet, funny book! I totally recommend it. Especially if you can relate to owning the world's worst dog.
Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 10/07/2008)
Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 10/07/2008)
Puppies for Dummies
Amazon Price: (as of 10/07/2008)
Clicking With Your Dog: Step-By-Step in Pictures (Karen Pryor Clicker Books)
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 10/07/2008)
The Power of Positive Dog Training
Amazon Price: $12.91 (as of 10/07/2008)
Reader Feedback
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Shar
Hi I enjoyed my visit. I can see you are a dog lover--- likeme! Please check out my lenses Doggiepedia, and Consider Adopting A Shelter Dog. I have lensrolled you to both. I would love some feedback... Shar Posted October 16, 2006 |
Why Breed Specific Legislation is LAME!!!
Breed Specific Legislation or BSL, is something that is spreading to many communities. The basic principal is that certain canine breeds are too agressive and are dangerous. For example, many communties have banned Pit Bulls (or Bull Terrier aka 2006 winner at Westminster), German Shepherds, Siberian Huskies, etc. I will not disagree that certain breeds are more powerful then others, but I can not agree that some breeds are more aggressive then others. There are definitely certain traits that make each breed special. For example, Blood Hounds have an incredible ability to smell the faintest of smells. Australian Shepherds and Border Collies, naturally herd the animals (or people) around them. As a dog owner you MUST respect a dogs natural abilities and instincts. You MUST train them accordingly and learn to harness their natural abilities. German Shepherds are powerful. Train them properly and they can become the most gentle, loyal family pet, working dog or therapy dog. But if you're an irresponsible dog owner, you will have a dangerous weapon on your hands. Same goes with the smaller dogs. There is a misconception that small dogs are not dangerous. If left untrained they can be dangerous. My sister was bit as a young child in the face by a small dog weighing less then 15 lbs and required stitches in her lip. This dog was not socialized properly around children and because of that, his owners should not have put that dog in a situation where he would be provoked or afraid. Dogs bite when they are afraid and it's a natural instinct for them. As an owner we must respect that and train our dogs that this behavior is not accepted. Do NOT allow your dog to get into a position where he will feel provoked. As a dog owner, I work very hard at socializing and training my dogs. My husband and I do not have children and therefore we have had to work very hard to socialize our pups with other children. We do not allow any sort of growling, jumping, biting, raising of hair etc. And anyone who wants to approach our dogs, must lay their hands out flat for our pups to sniff before petting them. This is because we respect our dogs, not because they are unfriendly. If owners would be responsible and respect their dogs natural instincts, we would not have dogs that attack or bite. BSL is extremely unfair and uneccesary. The problem we have is not with dogs, but with owners. Instead of banning breeds, we need to focus on education and responsible ownership.
Training Centers
Here are a list of Training Centers I have used with my pups. Or, centers that I have heard great things about.
- Einstein K-9 Training and Activity Center
- This is a training facility in Wilmington, NC. They offer a variety of classes at a reasonable price.
- Azalea Dog Training Club
- A local dog training club that offers classes in obedience, agility, conformation, rally, Canine Good Citizen test and therapy work. They have certified trainers and encourage training of all breeds of dogs. Even the "All-American Heinz 57" variety.
- Catawba Valley Obedience Club
- This is where we first started training our dogs in clicker training. They offer a basic obedience classes where dogs are given the opportunity to take the Canine Good Citizens test. The instructors and volunteers are wonderful! We learned so much about how to train our dogs....and had a great time doing it! It's the only training class I've been involved in where all dogs excel, no matter what level they are at.
Training Tips and Techniques
- Clicker Training
- Learn the basics of clicker training.
- Clicker Train
- Learn what clicker training is and how to go about it.
- Crate Training
- Learn about crate training and it's benefits.
- Crate Training a Puppy
- Learn how to crate train a puppy and how a crate can be used for housebreaking.
- Housebreaking
- Tips and techniques to use for housebreaking your pup.
- Common Puppy Problems
- This link addresses common puppy problems and how to address them. Topics include chewing, biting/nipping and jumping.
- Dog Behavior Tips
- Tips on how to address numerous canine behaviors.
Pet Adoption Sites
- Pet Finder
- Search the US for your new pet.
- Burke County Friends for Animals
- The local pet adoption center where we found Maya and Luna.
Why Luna is so great!
- She is sarcastic
- She is funny
- She loves to give hugs and kisses
- She works for food
- She is obedient...when she wants to be
- She likes to play bang bang and fall down on her back
- She can jump through a hoop
- She can shake
- She loves to cuddle and be held tightly like a baby
- She was easier to housebreak and will ring a bell when she needs to go outside
- She's very fast and agile
- She is a great hunter and loves to share her "prizes"
- She's very sweet and gentle
- She loves her family
Why Maya is so great!
- She is dopey
- She is loyal
- She is very bright and learns quickly
- She loves to give hugs and kisses
- Everyone is her best friend
- She is curious
- She will work for food
- She is vocal about what she wants
- She is funny
- She loves her family
- She's happy to see me when I come home
- She's great at selling herself! When we were at the shelter and trying to decide which one(s) to adopt, Maya climbed a 3' fence to get to me. After working so hard to find me, I had to take her.
My other Lenses
- Luma Kids
- Luma Kids is a company started by my husband and I. We offer fun, modern onesies designs for today's hip baby!
- Crochet!
- Everything Crochet. Links to patterns designs, tips and how to's.
- Stephen Eyles Graphic Designer
- Learn about Stephen Eyles, graphic designer extraordinaire!
- Christian Art and Pop Culture
- Learn about some fun Christian links. Everything from magazines, web sites and artists.
