need some dog tips

**Missy** · 01-01-2006, 07:29 PM

Can you tell I am a bit excited? Nowhere near as excited as the kids are!

I need some good tips, words of advise. Training techniques, treat ideas, good places to go for supplies...

**kettel6** · 01-01-2006, 07:39 PM

Training crate.

**forestdale** · 01-01-2006, 08:40 PM

Dogs are pack animals so for the dog to take any notice of you he must think of you as the pack leader. That means you always eat before the dog does, you always walk through the door before the dog does and you make sure it goes only where you want it to go. For example, we let our two dogs inside all the time, but they are never allowed to go into the kitchen.

We take our dogs for a walk most days and pay them a lot of attention, but when they are naughty, we never hit them or tie them up, we ignore them. They soon get the message.

I make my own dog food. It's much healthier and cheaper, but it does take time to do it. He will need water available at all times and you'll need a nice place for him to sleep where he feels secure and warm.

Getting a new dog is like getting a new family member. It's very exciting.

**Sari** · 01-01-2006, 09:30 PM

www.veterinarypartner.com and www.petsforlife.org are both very good places for information and you can trust what they say, unlike a lot of websites.

Good luck!

PS I've worked at a vet office for almost 6 years so I'm happy to answer any questions you might have.

**PrairieRose** · 01-01-2006, 09:35 PM

Missy we use a crate for training and when the dog is grown they even enjoy going there to sleep at night. It prevents any morning surprises and we actually enjoy our dog more due to her crate. She stays in there when we are going to be out of the house for a while and she never has an accident in it. I always give her a small treat as I put her in it and she happily complies.

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 01-02-2006, 01:39 AM

Crate training is the ONLY way to go! It saves your furniture, shoes, remotes, etc. Also, it is a great way to take your dog places and in cars. Dogs should never, EVER be loose in cars. If you stop suddenly, the dog becomes a projectile in the car. Also, dogs are often welcome in places where they wouldn't be if they weren't crated!

Forestdale is right--a homemade diet is great! BARF (Bones And Raw Foods) is a common homemade diet. Check out a book on this. If you decide NOT to feed this way, make sure to avoid most grocery store brands as well as Iams and Science Diet. These are marketed as good foods when they actually are NOT. Also, dogs don't care what color/shape their food is. Don't be taken in by pretty colors and bone shapes!

Beagles are VERY food motivated. I have seen Beagles who could eat their own weight, so watch them carefully. OTOH, this is great when you are training. They will do anything for a treat!

At six months old, your girl will need to be spayed ASAP. If not, she will be coming into heat very soon. Trust me, you do NOT want to deal with a bitch in season (bitch is the PROPER name for a female dog--NOT a bad word). Every male in the neighborhood as well as many from miles away will be on your door step. Also, a bitch in season bleeds. That's righ, just like we do! It's a mess and a pain. Believe me, I know about all of this because my bitch is intact since she has been a show dog. It is a royal pain to try to keep males away from your girl. Also, you can't EVER leave her alone. Even if she IS in a fenced yard, males can get in--they are very, very determined.

DO NOT BREED YOUR GIRL. I can not stress this enough. The only dogs that shoudl be bred are the most exemplary specimens. They should be dogs that have finished their championships or be titled in conformation, agility, or obedience. You generally will not make money from a litter because of all of the costs involved. Most breeders (the right kind of breeders) actually LOSE money on their puppies.

Make sure to get your girl on heartworm preventative. If you live in an area with heartworm, it can be horrible if she were to come down with it. It is very, very expensive to treat heartworms and it is very hard on the dog. Many dogs die from the cure. Heartgard (a brand of preventative) costs about $7.00 a month and is just a chewable that most dogs love.

If your girl isn't microchipped, get it done. You vet can do it for you and you then pay a one-time fee to register your name and address with a national register. If your dog were to get out and be picked up by animal control, they could trace her back to you.

Make sure you take your girl to obedience class. It is not hard to train a dog, but it takes patience and determination. Also, puppies have short attention spans, so if you are going to do this yourself, only spend about fifteen minutes at a time. This will keep training fun and her interest on you!

Also, buy flea preventative and use it! Do NOT buy Hartz or other grocery store brands of spot ons. Go to your vet and get Advantage or Frontline. It doesn't cost a lot and keeps everyone healthier and itch free.

Feel free to PM me if there's any other things you think of that you might want to know. If I have the answer, I will be glad to help!

**Englishlady** · 01-02-2006, 04:59 AM

Missy get a copy of Jan Fennells Book The dog Listener or whisperer or what ever they call it in the USA, this woman is a genius and I think ALL dog owners should read it, you owe it to your dog.

Crates are fine for travelling ( for safety reasons) but I am one who would object VERY strongly to using it as a mini jail! if you don't want evidence of a dog in your home, then a dog is not for you!

If a dog is toilet trained and not a chewer and you are a good housekeeper then you will not have any thing to worry about.
My dog has her own padded basket which she loves and uses all the time.

I think crates to "suit the owner" are cruel, a dog is not a nuisance to be locked up when it suits"you", if you worry about your furnishings getting an odd dog hair on them or whatever, DON'T GET A DOG

If you shut your dog in a crate and there was ( God forbid) a Fire or flood your dog would BURN TO DEATH, even before any kind neighbour thought to try and rescue it!!!!!!!!
It is something that would worry me as a lot of houses in the US are wooden! ( ours are brick and I STILL would not do that!)

You wouldn't lock up your children to "keep them out of the way" why should you with a dog? YOU chose to get one( I know a little different in your circumstances Missy!)

I have a lovely home AND a dog and she only travels in a crate in the car, she is part of the family and any other scenario is pointless and I often wonder why people get dogs if they feel like that

it's not like they are an alien species

I suspect you are a true animal lover though Missy

but that book is worth it's weight in gold! trust me, my little rescue dog had a lot of problems after what some so called humans did to her

now she is is the most adorable loving little dog you could wish to have and the light in our lives

Good luck Missy and enjoy your new furbaby

**Missy** · 01-02-2006, 11:58 AM

Ladies, what do you know, have you heard about "Clicker training"

Good, bad, indifferent?

Thanks for both sides of the crate training!! Dh hates the idea of crates (cept in the car), I was unsure either way. Thanks for the advise!

**Englishlady** · 01-02-2006, 12:08 PM

Clicker training with the click & reward training seems OK I still think Jan Fennel is a good read though! I wish I still had my copy I would have been happy to give it to you.

We had a Beagle when I was a teenager and they are lovely dogs, a bit stubborn but biddable and very loving

I am sure with love in your heart and a bit of patience you will do just great

I think our dog is a bit like a toddler in how she behaves ( you know they try and push the boundries but there is no malice in it

& Missy you have plenty of experience with toddlers right? LOL! so I am sure you will be just fine

**Missy** · 01-02-2006, 12:11 PM

ROFL, seems like toddler behaviour is right up my alley! I will definitely look for the book. I bet I can find it at amazon.

**Englishlady** · 01-02-2006, 12:23 PM

Missy,
I have just dug out the only dog book I have left it is called "How to speak Dog"

"Mastering the art of Dog-human communication"

Well worth a read (and I have got Suzy all sorted now

)

So I am going to put it in the post for you tomorrow

(Our Postal service should be back to normal then, to-day being classed as a holiday).

**Missy** · 01-02-2006, 01:01 PM

Wow! Thanks, I can't wait to read it!

**favesis37** · 01-03-2006, 08:29 AM

i have had dogs my whole life, i believe in the crate training. i also think the owner must be the " alpha dog" no rough housing, do not allow nipping. IMHO no dog should ever be allowed to ride inthe back of a truck or travel not in a crate. if you are in an accident teh crate stops your dog from getting thrown or running away. at 60 miles an hour things can fly up and hit your dog in the face or eyes in the back of a truck

good luck

**JaneP** · 01-13-2006, 11:51 AM

I've had dogs all my life and I definitely do the crate training. My 12 yr. old still sleeps in his at night. It's also where he goes if we have company with small children and things get to loud for him. It's his safe haven and we put it where he's out of the way and don't let small children anywhere near that area of the house.
He's also self disciplining. We would send him to his crate to be away from us if he misbehaved. Now if he even sniffs the garbage can on his way past he'll drop his head and head for his crate. He'll usually only lay in it for a few minutes. Then when he comes out we fuss over him. He's to funny.