Puppy Defecates In Crate

Dear Adam:

We recently purchased a 9 week-old puppy and are having some difficulty keeping her crate clean due to her defecating inside of it. According to your input and so many others, they are not supposed to have accidents inside their dwelling place. What am I doing wrong?

I have been diligent about training her by taking her outside as much as possible and also using your command, "Get busy."

She does a great job outdoors, but this crate problem has got me stumped. Is she stupid? Please help.

Thank you,
Tina Nunes

Dear Tina:

No, it has to do with the way your breeder kept the puppies confined.

It's likely that they were kept on cement or some other solid surface where they were allowed to play and sleep alongside there feces for hours at a time.

More experienced breeders construct kennel enclosures that allow the waste to drop through slats in the floor. Or the pups are at least kept within enclosures where the waste drains outside of the kennel set-up, so that the little guys don't get trained to feel comfortable laying and walking through their feces.

This makes all the difference in the world, when it comes to housebreaking. Pups who've come from experienced breeders can be pretty much housebroken in three days. Pups that come from less experienced breeders can take longer. (And usually do.)

The best way to fix this is to set up an enclosure in your yard, on the grass. Let the dog spend a lot of time in the enclosure (use common sense regarding water, shade, heat exposure, etc...) and the dog will become conditioned to WANT TO ELIMINATE on the grass rather than in the crate.

Also, make sure that you get the dog out of the crate ASAP after she messes in it.

Hang on. You're going through the toughest part of the game right now.

How Smart Are Pit Bull Terrier Dogs?

People say a lot of things about Pit Bulls, but you never hear them talk much about the intelligence of this particular breed. Fact is you’ll never hear anything about the intelligence of this animal, unless you are in the company of Pit bull owners. Anyone who has owned one of these fascinating dogs will tell you straight up that the Pit bull is a very smart dog indeed.

Pit Bulls are fairly quick to learn, but they also have a certain stubborn streak which is a direct result of their intelligence. These dogs have a definite will of their own, and they like to get their way, but then again most humans do as well!

This stubborn behavior which shows from time to time tends to make the Pit Bull breed slightly harder to train than other breeds. Some people mistake the dog’s independent will as the dog not being trainable, but nothing could be further from the truth! These highly intelligent dogs can be trained.

The problems in training arise from owners who have no knowledge about the Pit Bull breed. As with any breed, prospective owners should always invest a little of their time into getting to know the particular quirks that all dog breeds have. Owners who get a Pit Bull then whine about the training of them simply did not do their homework. That’s not the dog’s fault, now is it?

As the owner of a Pit Bull, you should understand that his stubbornness comes from his intelligence, and that you shouldn’t take it personally. Just because he doesn’t want to do what you want him to do at a specific time doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you. If you can simply treat it for what it truly is, stubbornness, then you’ll both make out just fine.

Always meet their hard headed ways with patience and understanding. Certainly don’t give up on their training, just be a little more stubborn than they are!

You may want to consider using a type of training called play training. This type of training appeals to Pit Bulls because they absolutely love to play. When a training task is presented as a fun game, the task will appeal to the dog’s inner desire for play. With this technique, you can outwit the stubbornness you may have encountered with any other type of training.

When purchasing toys for your Pit Bull, keep in mind those strong jaws this breed is famous for. You’ll want to purchase toys that are geared to survive for the long haul. Be sure to get toys which will not break apart easily and injure your Pit Bull. Above all, enjoy your new found friend!

Fun Facts about Hedgehogs

Did you know the hedgehog makes an interesting pet? Actually, the hedgehog is quite a fascinating little creature that makes an interesting pet. There are some areas where they are illegal so before you decide to make this your next pet you might want to check your local laws.

Originally from Africa, hedgehogs can live up to about 4 years in the wild and nearly 10 in captivity. Their diet consists of insects so if you have lots of those little critters around a hedgehog might be a much appreciated addition to your family.

Their backs are covered with rows and rows of short, prickly spines and yet their bellies are soft and covered with fur. I can’t say that I actually want the experience of touching one to find out how true this is so I will just believe it to be so.

One of the best parts of the hedgehog is their compact size. They are about 5 – 8 inches in length and weigh practically nothing. No wonder they weigh so little; with a natural diet which includes insects, slugs, snails, worms and, occasionally, small vertebrates and fruit wouldn’t you weigh practically nothing?
In captivity their diet often consists of commercial cat food, hard boiled eggs, and chopped up fruit and vegetables with mealworms or crickets as a treat. Again, is it any wonder they are so light?
Similar to a teenager, they don’t especially crave being touched and seem to enjoy their independence. Yet, underneath that prickly exterior and under the right circumstances some good loving can work wonders for their disposition.

Unlike the teenager, they are fairly low maintenance. Although they can’t see very well, they have really good hearing and an incredible sense of smell.

If you don’t mind being kept awake at night, then the hedgehog will be a fun addition to your menagerie of pets. However, don’t do anything to frighten them because chances are they will make a very high-pitched hissing sound and spit.

A female hedgehog can go full term on delivery of her “pups” in 34 – 37 days. Wow! Imagine going through your pregnancy that fast. A standard size litter is 1 – 7 pups. If their pups disturb them, the mother has been known to leave them or even eat them. Kids, watch out! Don’t disturb mom!

With all this wonderful information, you may think, “Hmmmm, I sure think hedgehogs are cute, but don’t want to have all the insects around for their feeding, listen to them at night or have them leave their pups.”

Never fear, because you can still enjoy hedgehogs and not have to worry about feeding or watering them. Many gift shops carry a great selection of ceramic, clay, stuffed and wood hedgehogs.

The Easiest Way of Raising Chickens

Whether you have chosen to raise chickens as pets, food, or for game there are certain factors you need to keep in mind when beginning your project. Because they are relatively easy to maintain, chickens have long been the first choice for most people attempting to raise their own food. A decision must be made early on, preferably before acquiring your flock, whether you are going to use them for eggs, food, or both.

The first step in preparing for your new animals is making sure there is ample room for the number you plan on acquiring. The chicken house does not require anything fancy or specialized, only safe, dry, and clean.

You will need to include perches for night time roosting as well as nesting boxes for them if you plan on collecting eggs. Including a cover on your pen from chicken wire, or whatever you choose will protect them from flying predators and also keep them safely inside of the enclosure.

When choosing the location for the chicken, try to allow for ample grass areas as well. If the coop is roughly eight feet by twelve feet, you will need to have approximately double the amount of grassy area to suit. The chickens will probably eat the grass, and they need this area to catch bugs and scratch in the soil.

Offering easy access to clean food and water is imperative to their general health and you can find and water dispensers at most feed stores. These are designed with cleanliness and sanitation in mind. Depending on the type of hens you are going to have, there are different style feeders to suit any special needs. The food used to feed them can be obtained at feed stores as well, and can be chosen to also suit the brood you acquire.

Whether you have smaller hens or larger ones, they will need supplements as well as the addition of certain vitamins to aid in producing healthier eggs for human consumption. Grit aids in digestion, and crushed oyster shell helps their eggs develop strong shells as well. These items are all available at feed stores also.

Choosing your hens is strictly up to you, and since there are such an extremely large amount of different varieties, the choices are nearly endless. A little research will go a long way in aiding you in your choices, and educating yourself on the best brooding hens, or best producers, etc. will also benefit you when the time comes to choose your breeds.

Before deciding on whether or not you will have a rooster, it is imperative that you consider all aspects of having one. A rooster is not necessary for the hens to lay their eggs, the eggs will simply not be fertilized, however they will continue to lay regardless of whether or not there is a rooster present. Keep in mind that roosters are strutting loud creatures, and can cause problems for you if you live in a relatively busy or crowded area.

Close neighbors may not enjoy the early morning noise or the annoyance of hearing a rooster so frequently, so remember to think it completely through before purchasing one. Finding some excellent information before proceeding with your plans is wise and can give you some of the best results.

Your Pets Health Depends On These Key Points

The most popular name for both dogs and cats is Max, but with the boom in the purchase of discount pet supplies, you'd think the popular names would be "King" and "Princess.
Could this be the time to start a pet supplies and accessories business? You can start a business entirely from your own resources, making the treats yourself, with a custom-designed package, and spreading word locally through free samples, and appearances at pet-related events such as dog and cat shows, or pet expos.
Professionals in this field have solved thousands and thousands of pet health problems and have tried to bring down the prices of these medicines.
The drugs that these discount suppliers offer are natural remedies, thousands of years of folklore, and the wonders of modern scientific technology applied to solving pet health issues.
Then if you are like millions of other pet owners, your precious pet needs toys and accessories just for them, to keep them happy and content. Ok, giving a dog a bath is not something you want the owners to do very often, because you want them to come back to you to do it.
It gets even better if you take the time to select a high quality product line, you can be sure many clients will buy again and again, so with a single client, you could be making more money each and every month.
Many pet owners worry about the rights and wrongs when it comes to pet health, where to go when a pet is writhing in agony, and what to do to keep a pet healthy and happy.
As with human health care insurance, pet insurance pays the health care provider, in this case the veterinarian, according to a schedule worked out by the insurance company.
Just like human health care insurance, pet health care insurance pays for veterinary care and often for prescription medication as well.
And just like with humans, some health insurance companies will only accept your pet on their plan if they are healthy; others will accept them only if they have had a stable condition for more than six months in a row.
Not all pet health questions have answers but in today's world, there are a lot of options for you to choose from. Ideally, a pet food should contain wholesome ingredients that are easy for your pet to digest; the main ingredient should be meat, quality meat that is fit for human consumption.
One of the most distressing situations to arise is when a pet's problem is curable but the cost is too high for the owner to be able to afford, and consequently the animal has to be put to sleep. It's vital that you feed your pet something as close to its natural diet as possible, and in most cases that's still not enough. We may not be aware of many other pet health decease like Spring Allergies, Intestinal Parasites, Ear infections, Skin Problems in Pet, Dry Skin, Fleas, Allergies, Bloat, External and Internal Parasites, Arthritis, Cataracts, Canine Hip Dysplasia, Fat Cats and Pudgy Pooches and many more. In that moment, I realized that the $15 per month I spent on pet insurance for each of my cats was not option. But before you go and buy pet insurance (of any kind), you should know some vital things about it.
First and foremost, a pet needs a lot of tender loving care.
The recommendation for choice of vaccines and the schedule for their administration is now made on an individual basis that depends upon the lifestyle of the animal, possible exposure to disease, and the amount of immunity measured by a test called a “titer.
Given that pet owners need to ensure that their pets remain healthy, pet owners need to arm themselves with the right information that can help them properly take care of their dog's health.

My Dog Has Fleas!

Fleas are a problem for dogs and their owners alike. These tiny insects will live on the body of your dog, sucking the animal’s blood and laying eggs. The bites and presence of fleas will cause the dog to itch and if the dog happens to be allergic to fleas (the allergy is technically to the insects’ saliva) it can experience extreme itching, loss of fur in some places, inflammation, and infections. Regardless of whether the dog has an allergy to flea saliva, infestations must be dealt with or they will go on and on and the fleas will also infest your home, other pets, and can even live on humans. In short; you can be directly and adversely affected by an uncontrolled flea infestation.

Detecting Fleas:

If you suspect that your dog has fleas because it’s been scratching more than usual, there are ways to check for their presence. Fleas are very small (about an eighth of an inch long), but visible to the naked eye, and brownish in color. Because they prefer dark places they will try to hide beneath the dog’s fur, under the collar, or on the underbelly. Their fecal material can also be seen on the dog’s coat and looks like multiple black flecks or specks – almost like pepper. If fleas or their droppings are found it is time to treat your dog to get rid of them.

Treating Your Dog for Fleas:

While flea collars, powders, and sprays may help to prevent infestations to some extent, they will not help if the dog is already infested. When fleas are infesting a dog the female lays eggs at a rate of about thirty per day. These eggs fall off the dog and into the carpet, soil, or wherever the dog may be. In these areas they hatch and pupate, eventually growing into adult fleas which can then re-infest the dog. In order to halt the cycle all the fleas on the dog and in the environment must be killed or the life cycle must be interrupted.

There are several flea treatments available for dogs, but one of the best is an oral medication that will not kill adult fleas, but does kill the eggs and larva. This interrupts the flea life cycle and prevents them from coming back, as long as the dog is not continually exposed to new fleas. If that is happening, the source must be cleaned of fleas whether it is the carpet, the environment, or other dogs with which your pet associates.

Fleas can be a real nuisance for dogs and their owners, but catching them and treating the dog quickly is the key to eliminating the infestation and preventing the insects’ return.

Is Your Dog Safe In A Kennel?

Sometimes it's not possible to travel with a dog. Also, bringing the dog on vacation can hamper the activity of the rest of the family. Incidentally, it might be much smarter on your part to board your beloved pet at a reliable kennel than to leave him with a friend or relative or with some sitter. If you decide to leave your dog in a kennel, here are some points to consider:

First of all, check around the neighborhood to see if other dog owners can recommend a particular boarding kennel. Ask if they thought the kennel was clean, well organized and respected any special requests made regarding their dog's food or housing. Or if they didn't like a kennel, find out why. Did the dog contract an illness at the kennel, did it come home filthy, or did it suddenly support a small nation of fleas? When it comes to choosing a kennel for your dog, the best advice is to take the recommendation of someone you know who has had a satisfactory experience.

Then make an unannounced stop at the boarding kennel and ask to see the facility. The staff should not find your arrival disturbing and should honor, within reason, your request to view the premises. Expecting total spotlessness is unrealistic, but personnel should be actively cleaning runs, and every dog should have clean water. Foul odors of any kind should not pervade the air. Make a mental note of how the animals, in general, look to you.

Well-run kennels take a minute to check for fleas when dogs arrive and just before they go home; flea problems are immediately treated. They require that all dogs have up-to-date vaccinations, for their own protection and the protection of other dogs. Many kennels require proof of a current kennel cough vaccination before they will admit a dog. The proprietors may insist that you submit a certificate from your veterinarian stating all of these requirements are met, so be prepared well ahead of time. These rules may seem inconvenient to you, but they are in the best interest of your dog.

Kennels should also allow you to bring food or toys from home, and provide canned food instead of dry when asked, for instance. Administering regular medication to dogs may or may not present a problem at a boarding kennel. If it does, it might be better to board your dog at a veterinary hospital, where qualified personnel will see to this job.

It's imperative to leave an emergency number where you can be reached, as well as the name and number of your veterinarian. If telephones and mail service are not part of your vacation plans, provide the name and number of someone whose judgment you trust, and leave written instructions empowering this person to authorize necessary medical treatment. It's also a good idea to compose a brief medical history of your animal and leave it with the kennel staff just in case.