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.
2008年9月17日星期三
2008年9月5日星期五
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!
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!
2008年9月2日星期二
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.
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.
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