 |
The Point
Community News
 North & South Point Douglas ♦ Explore Life in The Point! |
|
| Getting to Know Us |
|
|
Last updated: Feb 5, 2012
|
Dog Hairs in My Coffee Dog Hairs in My Coffee - By David Delorme The Basics House-training your Dog
I hope to cover many of these issues with this series of articles. It’s best said now: Dogs are not people, they are dogs. It’s unfair and unproductive to associate human emotions and traits with dogs. Doing this can cause a lot of confusion and frustration in a dog’s mind. Before getting a new dog, some research must be done. Getting a large, active dog is probably the wrong choice if you’re not an active person. An active person who wants to jog with their dog probably wouldn’t get a Pug or other toy breed. Dog personalities and traits vary greatly from breed to breed. Dogs have been selectively bred for the last 12,000 years and have very little in common with wolves. Certain traits have been encouraged, others have not. Many common problems such as dog or people aggression and fear aggression can be solved with early socialization. The best time to socialize a dog with other dogs is between 4 to 6 weeks. Socializing with people is from 4 to 12 weeks. Dogs at older ages can be socialized, too, but it is harder and more time consuming. The best way to socialize a dog is to find neighbours with friendly dogs so they can play. Walking your puppy is another good way to introduce them to the sites and sounds of the city. Let people pet them calmly. When you encounter something that it’s afraid of, be patient, don’t force it. Dogs are very observant of your body language. If something frightens him and you tighten the leash or act upset, it will reinforce that the object should be feared or not trusted. It’s best to have someone with you that can approach the object, touch it and offer a treat to the dog if he comes to it. Allow the dog to sniff it. Don’t force the dog; this is negative reinforcement and the dog will associate the object with a bad experience. We’re off to a good start. One of the topics my next article will cover is house training a dog.
Dog Hairs in My Coffee - House Training your Dog House training or house proofing a dog is very easy using a method called crating. A crate is a portable kennel made out of wire or plastic. It should be large enough for the dog to turn and lay down comfortably but not big enough to allow pooping and sleeping at the other end. With puppies you might want to get a bigger one that can accommodate a divider. I personal have used this method for several years on lots of dogs with great success. Dogs have a natural desire to den and like a cool, dark place to sleep. This is not punishment. It should be a nice safe place for your dog to relax. I have a blanket over mine to create a darker, more peaceful environment. You should crate your dog whenever it is in the house and is not being actively watched. If you don’t allow your dog to roam about the house, it can’t get into trouble and learn that when it is not being watched it is OK to get into the garbage or eat your aunt’s $200 shoes or have a big fit when someone comes to the door. As your dog settles into a routine you can leave the door open for longer periods. You can use a command such as “crate” or “bed” whenever it enters. Later you can tell the dog to go to his crate when it is necessary. Take your dog to its spot so it can relieve itself as soon as you take it out of the crate. Rules for crating:
Next issue I will be dealing with exercise and the happy, healthy dog. Dog Hairs in My Coffee - a Smorgasbord of Dog Issues By Dave DelormeWinter is here and it’s a good time to remind owners that dogs in the City of Winnipeg that are outside require a heated dog house or a dog house with bedding. I just got back from Skijoring with three of my dogs. No, it is not a new fondue restaurant, although I am sure my dogs would love that too. Skijoring is cross country skiing with a dog or dogs pulling you. It’s great exercise for you and your dog. It does require some equipment: skis, a harness for the dog, (no, not the walking harness you get from a pet store), a wide belt, and a gang line to connect you to your dog. The dog harness, gang line, and belt can be purchased locally for under $50. If you don't think skis are your thing, it can also be done with a small, light sled called a Kick-sled designed to be pushed with your feet, or in our case a dog. You will also require a dog 40lbs and up or a couple of smaller dogs. For more information contact: http://www.snowmotion.ca/
I am currently looking for donations of bedding and doghouses in good condition. Also needed are people willing to walk a dog or to help me re-socialize the dogs so they can enjoy a balanced life without stress or fear. In the past year I have noticed a number of backyard breeders in our community. This upsets me a lot, as half of the dogs are dead before their first year and many of the others end up in shelters or abandoned. This is irresponsible, with shelters overflowing with excellent dogs. I’d like to hear from any residents interested in low cost or free spay/neuter programs or in the short term learning how to recognize and manage your dog’s heat cycle. If you are interested in adopting a dog, please contact me or a local shelter and give a dog a new lease on life. Dave Delorme can be reached at dmdelorme100@yahoo.ca or 688-6263.
Explore Life in The Point!
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I
don't know if residents of the community realize I run an ad-hoc shelter for
local dogs and do consulting with owners on dogs with behavioural problems. This
consumes a lot of my time and money. I take on mostly large dogs with aggression
or fear issues but will take on others on a case by case basis.