What to Know About Getting a Small Breed Dog
If mastiffs, German shepherds and other big dogs aren’t your style, and you’re thinking about getting a small dog, there are some things to prepare yourself and your home for to make the transition a smooth one. Just Because They’re Small, Doesn’t Mean You Don’t Have to Train Small dogs have a reputation for being cute, docile beings, but sometimes, they’re more energized than dogs three times their size, and many times they have aggressive tendencies. Due to their size, they can’t do nearly as much damage to a person as a much larger, stronger dog, and for that reason, many owners of small dogs don’t train their pets properly. If you get a small dog, remember that the training commitment you make should be the same as if you were getting a much bigger dog. You’ll Need to Watch Their Calorie Intake With bigger dogs, a few extra treats here and there won’t make a huge difference in their weight, but if you have, say, a 6-lb. dog, a few extra treats can add up pretty quickly. Because these dogs have smaller bones, it’s important to keep them at the proper weight so avoid injury or bodily stress. If you want to give them treats as praise, think of giving them little bites of carrot or other vegetables, as these are low-calorie ways to help them learn. They Need Just as Much Exercise as Bigger Dogs It’s true that some large dogs are perfectly content basking in a sunbeam in their owner’s apartment or house, but small dogs sometimes need more room than some big dogs, and even more exercise. Their energy can get pent up if they’re not entertained and exercised, which can lead to unnecessary bouts of aggression. If you can’t walk them enough to keep up with their seemingly endless amounts of energy, you may want to consider hiring a dog walker. Be Careful When You Walk Whether just inside your home or on a walk outside, it’s important to keep a close eye on where the dog is and be careful where you walk. Little dogs can get under your feet and get stepped on or kicked by accident, which—depending on how small they are—can cause serious injury. Always Supervise Their Interactions With Other Dogs Small dogs can have a tendency to scare easily and become aggressive, and can often feel threatened when interacting with dogs much larger than they are. Always be sure to keep an eye on your little guy or gal when they’re playing to make sure things don’t get out of hand. This is especially important at dog parks, where multiple dogs can start playing together and quickly escalate—your dog is a bit less “sturdy” than a larger dog and can get injured more easily.
How to Retrain a Dog That Has Bad Habits
If your dog seems to be regressing with his or her learned tricks or behavior, or you’ve just gotten a new pet and their demeanor isn’t where you want it to be, you’re not alone—plenty of people find that over time, their dogs seem to “unlearn” things they’ve been taught, and getting a new pet is generally rife with trials and tribulations. The good news, however, is that you don’t have to put up with this—an old dog (or even a not-so-old dog) can indeed learn new tricks. Check out our tips on how to do so. Chewing If your dog has taken a liking to chewing on things they shouldn’t be, the most important thing to do is to scold them as soon as you see them doing it, then redirect their chewing by giving them something they can chew on—a toy, a bone, etc. Once they start engaging with the toy or other distraction, praise them for no longer chewing on what they were before. Barking If your dog sits in front of the window and barks at passersby, barks at the doorbell, or just barks too much in general, the best way to stop this is to, again, divert their behavior. When your dog starts barking, get their attention pointed to something else: a treat, a toy, etc. Then, reward them for an alternative behavior, such as when the doorbell rings, they sit on a certain spot on the floor or rug, and they get a treat for doing so. Staying quiet until the door is answered should be rewarded, also. Going to the Bathroom Indoors This can be a complex issue. Perhaps they are acting out, perhaps there’s an underlying health issue, or they simply may not be able to hold it. In this instance, you should bring your dog for longer walks more frequently (hiring a dog walker can help with this if you can’t be at home more), as well as ask your vet and bring the dog in for a visit just to make sure nothing is wrong. Digging If your pup is tearing up the yard, it can be beneficial to rope off a clearly marked space that they’re allowed to do so in, but if you don’t want them digging at all, it’s important to know they may be doing it out of boredom. Be sure to play with your dog more so that they’re more mentally stimulated, and again, taking them on more frequent walks can help with boredom and restless behavior. Begging If you have a family member that just can’t resist those puppy dog eyes at the dinner table, this one is more about training your family member than the dog. If the dog’s begging works even once every 100 times he does it, that behavior gets reinforced and the dog will keep trying until that hundredth time. Be vigilant with this one, and provide your dog a space to go to when it’s dinnertime for his humans. What are your tips for keeping your dog on his or her best behavior? Let us know in the comments.
Keeping Your Dog’s Teeth Clean and Healthy
Like most everyone, you probably start and end your day by brushing your teeth. But you probably don’t do that for your dog—right? Thankfully, dog teeth aren’t as prone to cavities as human teeth are, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to keep them clean. Many dogs aren’t too keen on the idea of getting their teeth brushed, but until they grow opposable thumbs, it’s on us to do it for them. Canine dental problems can lead to life-threatening issues, including infection, heart disease, liver disease and kidney disease. What Type of Brushes and Toothpaste are Best? It’s important to use brushes and toothpaste that are meant for dogs—human toothpastes contain fluoride, which is poisonous to dogs. Dog toothpaste is sold at most pet stores, as are dog toothbrushes. Dog toothbrushes can be as straightforward as regular, human toothbrushes, but if your dog is fidgety, ones that slip over your fingers and allow you to brush that way are helpful, as well. Make sure the bristles are soft and not sharp, whichever brush you choose. What to Do if You Aren’t Starting With a Puppy It’s best and easiest to start this habit when your dog is a puppy, but a lot of us either adopt a dog when its not a puppy or simply didn’t know that we were supposed to be brushing all this time. Whatever the reasoning is, starting to brush a dog’s teeth later in life may be met with resistance—similar to how some dogs refuse to let their owners trim their nails. In order to combat this, it’s important to start slow. Try it out when your dog is tired—after a long walk or at the end of the day. Do it just for a short time at first, but keep it consistent, doing it a few times a week. Give your dog a treat after they’ve cooperated, pet them, and verbally praise them—the same way you’d treat them if they were learning a new trick. After a while of this routine, they’ll get used to the teeth brushing, and may even look forward to it (since it means they get treats!). Other Tips for Tooth and Gum Health Other ways to keep your pet’s teeth and gums clean and healthy include things like letting them eat dry food more frequently—crunchy kibble is less likely to stick to their teeth than canned food is, and thus is less likely to cause decay. Note, however, that crunchy kibble is not good for cleaning the teeth, as is sometimes falsely claimed. You can also offer your pet chew toys or bones that can help get rid of build up on teeth and gums, helping encourage tooth and gum health. One thing to be aware of, though, is that using these methods alone would be like you only using mint-flavored gum and mouthwash—it’s better than nothing, but it’s nowhere near ideal. If you’re having trouble with tooth cleaning for your dog, feel free to ask your vet about for tips and tricks on how you can help your pet stay healthier.
Finding Durable Toys for Your Aggressive-Chewer Dog
If you’re one of the lucky ones out there, you can buy just about any dog toy and expect it to last around your house for more than a few hours. Some dog owners, however, know the all-too-real feeling of feeling like buying some dog toys is lighting money on fire—paying for it, bringing it home, and watching the dog tear it to shreds in 20 minutes. For these more aggressive dogs, finding dog toys is a little bit more complicated. Thankfully, there are some manufacturers out there that understand that some dogs need a bit tougher of a toy to play with—and not just big dogs! Some small breed dogs are tough cookies when it comes to playtime, and we’ve compiled a few brands of toys that can stand up to your pup’s chompers. Elk Antler or Bully Stick Chews If your pooch is a fan of pig ears or rawhide, you know all too well that they disappear far too quickly. For strong chewers, elk antler chews or bully sticks are a good option for dogs that like chewing. Unlike rawhide, elk antlers are not a choking hazard, have no odor, and are less messy. However, be careful to still supervise your dog, as they do have the potential for hurting your dog’s teeth—make sure they’re not chewing too hard or for too long. If you prefer a more natural chew “toy,” marrow bones (beef bones) are a great choice, and your dogs will probably go nuts for them. West Paw Design’s Zogoflex Toys Branded and reviewed as some of the most durable dog toys on the market, these toys are made of a super-strong material called Zogoflex. They’re non-toxic and dishwasher safe, and if you need something even tougher, they offer a line of toys called Black Zogoflex, toys made from recycled remnants of old toys. Kong Toys Kong is a well-known brand for offering toys and chews that are built tough. Their famous rubber chew toys are made in a way that allows for putting treats inside, and the toys bounce and have a soft mouth feel, perfect for chew-happy pups. This brand also offers plush toys that are made with an additional layer to prevent tears, as well as plush toys that have ropes as “skeletons” for additional toughness. Tuffy Dog Toys Though not indestructible, these dogs are made to be very durable. They’re made with multiple layers of material and seven layers of stitching, making them some of the toughest choices around for your dog’s playtime. Their line of Mega Toys are constructed with seven layers of fabric. One thing to be aware of: products like some flavored-rubber bones can entice your dog to actually eat the toy, which can be extremely harmful for them—try to avoid products like that, that encourage the dog to ingest the toy completely. Do you have any favorite toys that your dog plays with and doesn’t destroy immediately? Let us know!
JUNE Dogs of the Month Are
Avril and Wally! Breeds: Avril is a Shitzu/Lhasa; Wally is a Shitzu Age: Avril ~ 9 years old, Wally ~ 3 years old Where we Live: Lincoln Park Joys in Life: Avril loves hanging with her parents and getting treats, Wally loves running!
Spring and Summer Grooming Tips for Dogs
As you start to consider dragging up your window unit and putting it back in place, you probably start noticing that your dog has been shedding more than usual, too. If the constant shedding is starting to drive you crazy, you’ll love these helpful tips for managing spring and summertime grooming. Keeping a dog comfortable during shedding season is relatively easy, provided you know how to keep up with the excess hair. One of the best tools for lessening the burden of excess shedding is the Furminator—particularly if you’ve got a dog with a double coat. This brush and ones like it help remove vast amounts of hair and fur, and can greatly reduce the amount of overall shedding. It’s important to start up a grooming routine to keep your dog as healthy and clean as possible. First Step: Wash Part of any successful grooming routine is bathing. Give your dog a bath at the start of shedding season, using a dog-safe shampoo to ensure it won’t irritate the dog’s skin. If your dog has naturally dry skin, you can use oatmeal shampoo for dogs, and you can also use dog conditioner as well for extra moisture. During the bath, check your dog’s paws for dryness or cracks, and use paw ointment if necessary. Second Step: Brush After your dog is clean and dry, it’s time to brush them. There are a variety of brushes on the market, and each is geared toward a different type of dog or different purpose. For instance, a boar bristle brush is good for all fur types; these brushes help circulate the hair or fur’s natural oils throughout the coat. A shedding blade can work well for the undercoat, as can the aforementioned Furminator. The shedding blade can be too pointy/sharp for some dogs, so it’s important to exercise caution. Slicker brushes are best for getting rid of mats and tangles, but again, exercise caution and don’t pull too hard. Rubber curry brushes are good for shorthaired dogs and are good for undercoats as well as stimulating circulation in the dog’s skin. Finally, wire pin brushes are best for dogs with longer coats or dogs with thick, several layer coats (Golden Retrievers and Sheepdogs or Collies, respectively). Brushing not only helps remove dead skin and loose hair while stimulating circulation, but it is also a good way to check for fleas and ticks. When you brush your dog, you can check to see if there are any fleas hopping around on the dog’s coat or buried underneath layers of fur/hair. Third Step: Teeth and Nails Finally, to finish the grooming routine, brush the dog’s teeth and clip or file its nails. Both of these are tasks that sometimes can’t be done at home, but groomers or vet offices typically offer these services for dogs that are a bit more fidgety. What are some of your favorite grooming tips? Let us know in the comments!