Should You Crate Train Your Dog?
When you bring a dog home for the first time–whether a puppy or adult dog—you’ll probably spend some time dog-proofing the space, setting up food and sleep areas for the dog, and getting everything lined up for an easy transition. One way that many people work toward a smooth transition for a new dog is by crate training. Crate training is not only helpful toward the house-training process, but it has other benefits as well. Learning more about crate training will help you decide whether it’s a good choice for your pup. Housebreaking Help Crate training is predominantly used, at least at first, to help a dog become housebroken. Dogs don’t like making a mess of their living space, so keeping them in a crate for reasonable time periods can help them learn to hold it until they get to go outside. There should be enough room for the dog to stand up, turn around in a small circle, and lay back down comfortably. The crate should be big enough to be safe and comfortable, but small enough so that the dog can’t use the bathroom in it and then find clean respite away from the mess—this is paramount to the crate’s effectiveness with housebreaking. Creating a Safe Space Another reason crate training is considered beneficial is because dogs feel safe in these enclosed spaces. The crate serves as a place akin to a bedroom, where the dog can lay comfortably and play with some toys. These spaces are ideal during times when the dog may feel scared (during thunderstorms or when fireworks are loud), because the dog can go to its crate and feel safer. How Long Should You Crate Your Dog? Generally speaking, the rule of thumb when crate training is to leave the dog no longer than one hour for every month of age—topping out at around nine or 10 hours, which amounts to how long the standard workday plus commuting would be. Of course, the dog should be exercised before and after—and if the dog can’t make it that long without soiling the crate, owners should hire a dog walker to visit midday to avoid accidents and to help keep the dog optimally healthy. Crate training is usually recommended until the dog grows out of adolescence—when they are about a year and a half old. After that, the dog can be left out of the crate, but you should do so little by little, since young dogs sometimes may still chew on things or be otherwise destructive. Using a crate can create peace of mind for both you and your dog—if you’re unsure of where to get started, talk to your vet or a local trainer for some pointers.
What to Know About Dog Blood Donation and Canine Blood Banks
Want to Know More About Canine Blood Donation? As pet owners, we’ll often pull out all the stops to ensure the health and well-being of our furry friends. Yearly vet visits to keep updated on vaccinations, a balanced diet and regular walks and exercise are a given, but one thing we may not spend much time thinking of is the need for dog blood donations. As people, we all know how important donating blood is to ensure there is enough available for people who need it during medical procedures, and though it seems obvious that other species would need blood for surgery and transfusions, dog blood donation probably isn’t something that crosses most people’s minds too often. There’s still a need for it, though—here’s what you should know about canine blood banks and how you can donate with your dog. What Are Donations Used For? Canine blood donations are necessary for a variety of different procedures, but according to some vets, the busier times of year when blood donations are most needed are the holiday season and summertime—times when parvovirus epidemics occur. Before blood banks for dogs existed, when there was a need, vets would call up someone who had a big dog and transfuse the blood whole. Now, like the Red Cross does, dog blood can be split into blood products like plasma for more efficient use. Nowadays, it can be used for treating infectious diseases, during surgical procedures, and more. Why There’s More Blood Needed While donating blood as a human is pretty common–so much so that you can pop out on your lunch hour, donate blood, and get back to work without any averse effects—dog blood donations are a bit more involved. For instance, having a blood drive for dogs would have the potential to simply be a bark-filled mess. Instead, pet owners who are interested in having their dog become a donor should talk to their vet about whether they are eligible, and if so, how the process will work. Dogs can donate blood every 5-7 weeks, and since some vet clinics don’t need blood that often, they don’t keep it on hand, which results in drawing from regional or national banks when they do need it. In other words, it’s important to maintain a backup supply of donated blood. How You Can Get Involved If dog blood donation sounds like something you’d be interested in doing, talk with your vet care provider to get more information about the process. It’s not for everyone (or every dog!), but the process can be very rewarding–just be sure to give your pooch a few extra treats and some extra playtime or a walk to their favorite park in exchange!
Our JANUARY Dog of the Month is
Barry! Breed: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Age: 8 Where I Live: Lakeview neighborhood in Chicago Joys in Life: My #1 joy in life is eating…..food, treats, sticks and anything else I can find on the ground. My love of eating has landed me in the vet’s office twice for surgery….apparently socks and Kong toys are not edible, whoops!! When I’m not looking for something to eat, I enjoy cuddling with my mom on the couch and chasing my brother Oscar the cat around the house – I like to race him up and down the long hallway but he usually wins. Cruisin’ Dog Walker: Nate Dog Walking Buddies: I’m an introvert so I keep a pretty tight circle of friends but Nate has introduced me to lots of new pups. Lately I’ve been spending lots of time with Stan and Koko.