Zukes Hard Working Treats: A Giveaway

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Celebrating Hard Working Dogs!

 Many of you have written about the need for tips on training and I've been happy to finally deliver. In sharing the beginning of our training series--house training tips--Zukes is partnering with Event Barkers to bring you an upcoming Twitter Party with tons of great prizes, along with this extra giveaway to prime your enthusiasm. 

When training a puppy or recent rescue that needs bolstering of her household potty manners, a key component of your arsenal is training treats. These need to be good smelling, tiny and offered each time your pup attempts to present the correct behavior.

Check out our training tips at the following articles:

• Training Tips for New Pups, Part I
• Puppy Training Part II: Start with Motivation
• Puppy Training Tips: Part III

Is your pup drooling for a giveaway? We thought so! This terrific hand off will offer 4 winners a box of 4 bags each, to include all 4 flavors of the Zukes Mini Naturals. This will go a long way to getting your

© Paris Permenter
Tiki Smiles for Her Reward

pup to success in his house training. Other places you can learn more about Zukes include their Facebook page and on Twitter. Ask your questions and see what other folks are chatting about. 

Entries will run through Thursday, May 16 at midnight. The winners will be announced on Friday evening, May 17. Soon the Event Barkers team will finally clue you in on the details for the upcoming Twitter Party. I know you're excited to hear the theme, our plan for the party activities, and of course you're dying to learn what the prizes will be. Right? Of course!

To enter, you'll be using the Rafflecopter below. If it's napping out of site, please wake it gently by clicking on the post title above. It won't even whimper! Keep in mind that while many possibilities for entry are offered, you need only enter using those methods you enjoy. Best of luck to you all, and we'll see you soon for the Twitter Party :)
All Things Dog Blog has worked hard to prepare for our upcoming Twitter Party. We've shared some tips for crate training your dog. Watch for much more to come at the party, to be announced soon. Event Barkers is working with Zukes to help them build their online presence.

Puppy Training Part II: Start with Motivation

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Oliver Continues to Love His Crate Today

It should come as no big surprise that most dogs are food motivated.  Hold out a particularly yummy smelling treat and you've got Fido's attention until you give it to him. That makes training treats an incredibly powerful training tool--quite possibly the most important one you'll find for most dogs. 

You can harness that motivation and use it to train a dog to run an agility course, perform freestyle dance, and yes, even love his crate and potty outside. You simply need to get a treat with a strong aroma and make certain your timing is spot on. When you associate receiving that delicious morsel with the exact moment that your dog runs into his crate or tinkles on the grass, you've got a winning combination that will soon have your pup building the good habits you seek.

In the agility world, many of the trainers refer to a strong-scented treat as a 'high value' treat. These are the ones your dog will overcome fears to earn. So if a crate is new to your rescue dog, try burying a few treats inside his crate, under the bedding and give him a chance to bond with that crate over the yummy goodies it delivers. Build on short visits inside the crate, assuring a very comfortable bed and a location that allows him to see you and your family wherever you spend most of your time at home.

With each visit that gets a little longer and increasingly easier, offer a reward to build that comfort level even more. Make sure you use small bits, so as not to upset your dog's tummy, going especially tiny for your puppy while training her. 

One popular choice for your toughest training jobs is Zukes Mini Naturals. These moist miniature dog treats are easily broken up for the tiniest of puppies, but suitable for frequent rewards during daily training with your older dog as well. Available in 4 flavors (peanut butter, chicken, salmon and rabbit), test them all to learn which appeals to your pup's senses the most. You'll want to determine his greatest motivator. This will be the treat of choice for the more challenging training to come.

courtesy Zukes

With no wheat, corn or soy, you'll be giving your pet a low calorie reward (less than 3 1/2 calories per treat) that isn't likely to aggravate any allergies and is filled with whole food antioxidants for good health. To learn more about their extensive line of products, join Event Barkers for our upcoming Twitter Party. Healthy nutrition is at the root. Stay tuned for more details coming soon...

Event Barkers is helping Zukes get some promotional exposure on Twitter with a Twitter Party to be officially announced soon.Watch for details to come here and on our other team blogs.

Training Tips for New Pups: Part I

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Oliver at about 4 Months

While I'm a staunch believer that you really can teach an old dog new tricks (Xena proved it!), this series is intended for puppies and focused on house training. Whether you have a new puppy or a rescue that needs to bolster his indoor potty manners, this series of articles is meant for you.

Let's start with a few basic assumptions. Most puppies and dogs prefer not to soil their own bedding, and to that end will go as far away from their sleeping spot as possible to leave their deposits, when the time comes. If you're doing your part staying on top of teaching, this will happen. Your part is what we'll be covering in the remaining parts of this series. For now, try to be sure to take your pup out to the same spot frequently, allowing him to spend unsupervised time in his crate.

Crate training has been proven to provide the best results toward this goal and we now know that most dogs can and do learn to enjoy this private space where they can have quiet time and no worries of being stepped on while snoozing in an active household. We'll cover some tips for helping your dog learn to love his crate as much as Oliver does. All I have to do is say "Oliver Go Nite-Nite" and off he runs:

When training a young puppy, realize that you are helping this little one learn to hold it until the appropriate opportunity presents itself. The key word here is appropriate. It's up to you to reinforce what is appropriate, so that your pup gains an understanding of what you deem acceptable. 

Keep in mind that if you're house training a rescued dog that has had a prior home or no house training, he'll need the same patience and more to understand the new rules, having run by a different set of rules previously. Don't hold this against him; patience will get you there faster than agitation.

courtesy Amazon

Until Part II, please get prepared. You'll need a collar and leash, treat pouch for your waist, very small training treats with a strong scent, and a crate. Armed with these tools, you'll also need to make a decision where you would like your pup to go each and every time he needs to potty. See ya soon for Part II when I'll begin covering each of the above topics in greater detail.

Happy tails,

Watch Event Barkers, DogTipper and 5 Minutes for Fido for news of an upcoming Twitter Party featuring a key product from this series.

Mutt Monday Late for Work!

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Oh dear! Oh my! I was so busy this weekend--making my list and checking it twice--that I completely forgot about Mutt Monday. How dare I? I'll make it up to you; I'll leave it open through Thursday, okay? Here goes:

This week's Mutt Monday theme is House and Crate Training. Feel free to link up your posts on these topics, whether instructional or just downright comical. We'll take whatever you've got. 

For next week, let's try something a little seasonal. How about tips for the holidays. You can submit anything relative, such as safe foods for Fido, behavior issues with company, selecting a method of care when you're away....whatever fits for our holiday theme. So be thinking about next week's theme:

Next Week: Tips for the Holidays

My plan is to get our Mutt Monday post up at 5 PM on Sunday. With this new program has come a few hiccups, mostly my memory and being so very busy with holiday preparations. Bear with me and know that it will happen! I hope all of you are enjoying preparing your homes for friends and family while including your pup in the daily drill of getting ready. 

One last thing:  Help me get the word out by giving this Tweet a quick hit:

#MuttMonday is digging up Archives 2 share themed articles from our best material of the past. Join in the#BlogHop 2 Link+Learn.
— Carrie Boyko (@AllThingsDog) November 17, 2012

Happy tails!

Renting with Your Dog: 10 Tips for Success

© by Carrie Boyko

Canine Mischief

Landlords! That word definitely can have a bad connotation. This post is written for the benefit of all of you out there that have to deal with pets and landlords. 


It's a pretty simple concept. Landlords want their apartment/house/condo back in relatively the same condition it was given to you in. This doesn't include chewed cabinets or curtains that were used for tug toys. A little wear on the carpet is to be expected, but your Mastiff's accidents may not fall into that category, unless they are completely cleaned up. 


I'll address clean up in a later post, but for now, let's talk about what you need to do to keep that landlord happy.

1. Protect the carpeted areas with throw rugs, dog beds, crates and furniture, to the extent possible. If Spot favors a particular area of carpet for napping, come up with an ingenious plan for covering it (a rug!) or redirect him to another area with a bed, toys, chewies, etc. If you praise and treat him when he goes there, you'll soon find you won't have to ask him.
2. Give your dog's water bowl a vinyl placemat, to keep the floor clean and dry. This will help you avoid mold and mildew in the tile grout or discoloration of the vinyl flooring. You can pick these up at most pet stores. Choose one with a lip that will collect overflow for easier clean up.
3. If you have a drooling dog (all you Mastiff owners know who I'm talking to!), you'll find there is a line of his 'sling' at the level of his head. A rag and some vegetable soap (I like Dr. Bronner's) in warm water will help you clean up the walls once a week, and will only take a few minutes per room.
4. Bath time in your tub will work fine if you have a  small or short-haired breed. Chow Chows need not apply; go see your neighborhood groomer. The down side of an indoor bath is the to-be-expected SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE that is a natural reflex. All dogs will shake to remove trickly, tickly water after a bath or swim. Considering the clean up of mirrors, walls, floors, towels, etc., you may want to think about an outdoor bath with the hose, or at the groomer's will make it a whole lot easier on you. However, you choose to do it, just do it. A clean dog will not leave a dirty dog smell in the carpet, something that could end with you not getting your security deposit returned when you move. That might put it in perspective.
5. Stay on top of flea treatments to assure you are not growing a population of these bouncy pests that will attack the next family to move in. This could punch you in the wallet also.
6. Ditto for ticks. As you do your regular dog grooming routine of brushing, ear cleaning, etc., include a good massage that will allow you to feel his skin for any freeloaders that have moved into his fur. Remove by grasping with two finger nails and pulling out perpendicularly. If you find more than a couple, I suggest you read No More Ticks for Tanner, and take action accordingly. Better safe than sorry, as these parasites can carry diseases that you and your Rover don't want to deal with.
7. Crate train your puppies and maintain a crate-lover throughout his life. You won't regret the space a crate will take up when your senior dog needs a safe place to retreat during a thunderstorm or party, or just a quiet napping spot on a lazy afternoon. I've even had repairmen ask me to crate my dogs just because they are large.
8. Provide your dog with plenty of busy bones, chew toys, filled Kongs, and boredom busters of all kinds to assure he won't take out any frustrations on your shoes or your landlord's cabinets.
9. A daily walk for 30-60 minutes will go a long way toward tiring out Rover. A napping pup is 100% less likely to get into trouble than one with pent up energy who is looking to let it all out. Will it be your couch, a table leg, your Coach handbag, or maybe the window-treatments?
10. If at all possible, arrange for a mid-day potty break for your pup, while you are away at work. Perhaps a neighborhood teenager or friend can help out. You can repay them in kind by helping them with their dog, when they go away. Fostering these kinds of reciprocal dog-sitting arrangements can be a money-saver for both of you, while keeping Fido comfortable and giving him a chance to stretch his legs.

Besides saving your security deposit, these tips will assure you get a good recommendation from this landlord, when it's time to move. That simple act on the part of your landlord will give your more options to choose from, and hopefully that will be a Win-Win for you and your dog. Maybe your next home will have a big, fenced in back yard for lots of fun playtime. Happy tails!

© Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved

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Managing Your Puppy's Endless Energy

by Carrie Boyko

(c)Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved
Get the Ball Out? 
Are You Kidding Me?

Let's face it, your first couple of months with a new puppy is going to be challenging, no matter how perfect your puppy may turn out to be. This post is designed to help you with just one of the many challenges a puppy will present: his seemingly endless energy. Here's some tips:

1. Physical exercise is key: Long walks, runs, and vigorous playtime will all result in a tired pup who needs to rest. This will be your chance to get something else done.
2. Mental energy needs to be drained also. This can be done with training exercises, practicing discipline like 'stay', and challenging toys that encourage your puppy to develop problem solving skills. In the photo above, Oliver tries to remove the ball from he tube; this is a wonderful problem solving toy that doubles as a chew toy--totally indestructible for Oliver's small teeth, yet soft and satisfying to chew on.
3. Treat balls are another form of problem solving that also will keep your pup following the ball around the floor, as he tries to figure out where the yummies are coming from, and how to get them flowing faster. And what a hoot to watch a pup with a treat ball. They never bore of this toy.
4. Leash training should begin as soon as your pup comes home. Walks will begin as short laps around the block, encouraging your little one to follow you with sweet talk and an occasional treat to keep him moving. Gradually add to the length as he begins to follow you eagerly.
5. Safe chewing toys such as Kongs, some ropes, Nylabones, and filled ceramic bones all serve the same purpose; I call these busy bones. Anything safe to chew that will occupy your puppy for 15 minutes or more is a good way to tire him out while he's in his crate or you need time away from him.
6. Always remember to reward and praise your puppy when he behaves appropriately. If you leave, and then return to find him quietly resting in his crate, make a big deal out of it. Lots of affection at these times will help to get the point across: this is what you want from him.
   

Related Reading:

Busy Bones and other Boredom Busters

More Ideas for Filling Busy Bones

Also, Check out my latest guest post at:

Dog Care Journey

Socializing Your Puppy or Dog: It's Never too Late

Visit Adopt a Dog Park

Help protect our precious dog parks

© Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved

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ASK THE TRAINER: Why Crate Train Your Dog?

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ASK THE TRAINER at All Things Dog Blog

(c) photo copyright Judith Joseph

Isn't Nap Time Grande?

Dear Judy:

My husband and I are planning to adopt a dog soon, partly for our son, and also for me to run with. We have decided to get a puppy, so we can bond with it from a young age, and raise it with proper house manners. He is worried about house training.

I have read about crate training and understand why it is good for the dog and the family. What I need is help for my husband to understand the reasoning, the long term benefits of using a crate, and the how tos in the beginning. Can you give us a crash course to supplement what I have read?

Thanks, Amy

-----------------------------------------

Dear Amy:

Though crate training is not as controversial today, there is still a stigma attached.  Some owners aren’t sure whether crating is good, or if it’s “inhumane”.   It is inhumane to leave a dog crated for long hours every day. However, proper crate training and usage provides dogs a safe, warm, and comfortable space.

At first I was opposed to crating, but my observations when working with dogs routinely crated was that they loved their crate, their “space”, and they felt safe from the unknown within it.  My experiences with crate training dogs of all types revealed a recipe for success.  The key ingredient of that recipe is The Introduction.  Your dog should form a positive association with the crate from the very beginning. Developing a negative association with it could result in a barking, scratching, yelping nightmare.

Good Reasons to Crate Train Now:

• If used properly, crates are a quick and effective way to potty train pups and older dogs, as they prefer not to toilet in their bed.
• Young pups need training before having run of the house. As hard as you and I try, we can't keep our eyes on them 60 seconds of every minute.
• A crate is a safe play area for an hour or so when he needs to be out of the way so you can see about a baby, or your children, work your home business, do household chores or gardening, prepare dinner, shower--you get the idea.
• You won't have to "unteach" bad behaviors learned while you were not looking, like eating household plants.
• When you must leave him, crating protects your home from doggie damage. No coming home to torn pillows and chewed table legs. He will learn house manners easier with no bad chewing habits to break.
• Dogs develop a "den" lifestyle, choosing to retreat to their crate when they are tired or want to relax.
• Crates provide a secure spot in the car when traveling, preventing your dog from jumping around while you drive.
• Crating him while entertaining at home allows your dog to be present, but not in the way. No wagging tail knocking over drinks or wet nose sniffing chips and dip.
• Crate trained dogs are especially appreciated by pet professionals. They don't usually bark, scratch, or yelp when crated at the veterinarian's office, doggie daycare center, or dog salon.
  
  
  

  

  
  

  (C) photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2009

  Oliver Enjoys the Safety of His Crate

  In short, crate trained dogs learn to appreciate down time in their own private space, out of mischief and the activity of the household.

  
  

  For tips on crate training and answers to common questions such as “what type and size crate to purchase”; “how to use crate for potty training”, “when not to crate”; “how to cure a crate barker”; and “where to put the crate”, visit Total Control Dog Owner Assistance .

  
  

  Good luck,

  
  

  Judy

  ASK THE TRAINER Columnist

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  Judith Joseph, D.O.I.

  
  

  
  

  ASK THE TRAINER at All Things Dog Blog

  Send your questions to:

  LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com

  For more information on Judith Joseph and her training, you may find her at TCDOA Dog Training. A personal appointment will likely provide more specific information on your dog's issues and your questions.

  
  

  Alternatives to Crate Training Your Puppy

  by Judith W. Joseph, DOI, Professional Dog Trainer

  
  

  

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