Feed Your Yorkie-Chon Mixed Terrier Puppy Right!

As far as I’m concerned, you can’t beat a terrier for a companion. Their sweet faces and perky movements remind me of puppyhood no matter how old they are, and everybody knows how cute puppies are!

Lately we’ve seen an immense increase in “designer dogs”-dogs that are a mix of purebread types. Breeders and buyers hope that the best characteristics of a breed will blend in a mix that results in a really good pet.

I, myself have a Yorkie-Chon-half Yorkshire Terrier and half Bichon Frise. She is energetic, extremely friendly, smart and sassy. I’m sure some friends would say she is way too hyperactive, but that is the Terrier in her.

A new owner wants to give their puppy the very best start in life. What you feed your puppy is extremely important. A Bichon puppy can have problems digesting food, so you’ll want to have a good quality food, and that means meat. Check the label on the package. If it doesn’t list meat as the first ingredient, pass it up. Many foods will list corn as the first ingredient. Dogs need meat. Stay away from foods that list a lot of “meal”, such as “chicken meal”. “Meal” includes parts of the chicken that you definitely don’t want your dog to eat.

Yorkies are a toy breed that can be susceptible to low blood sugar. Because they are so active, particularly as puppies, they can burn up calories really fast, resulting in a rapid drop of blood sugar that could even lead to a seizure. For that reason, always have food available to your puppy, so he can eat as he needs to. After about 3 months these blood sugar drops are usually not such a problem, and you can start to take food away except for mealtime which will make housebreaking much easier. Your puppy always needs fresh water available at all times.

I once had a Yorkie who was very finicky about what she would eat. She would only eat soft foods which resulted in dental problems. This new Yorkie-Chon of ours gets only dry foods that help keep her teeth clean. When she first tried begging at the table she was ignored, so she gets no table scraps.

We love our little girl and we want her to have the best of health and a long life. Her nutrition is vitally important to us. The best thing we can do for her nutrition is to treat her like a dog, and give her only dog food. All of our puppy’s nutrition comes from dog food and hard dog treats.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/feed-your-yorkiechon-mixed-terrier-puppy-right-137705.html

About the Author
Pat is a staff writer for All About Terrier Dogs and Information About Cruise Travel and Web 2.0 Information On Pregnancy And Pregnancy Symptoms

House Training Your English Bulldog by Nightingale Bullies

House training is one of the first tasks that every new dog owner will undertake in the introduction of their puppy to its new home. There are three categories of house training types :

a) Basic house training ; the establishment of an allowable toilet area for your pet.

b) Submissive wetting ; urination occurring when greeting, disciplining or high excitement.

c) Marking ; upon reaching puberty – some dogs (male or female) will mark their territory.

House Training :

House training should only take approximately two weeks to establish as a routine provided;

a) you must be consistent and committed

b) you are prepared to train your pet from the moment you take possession. Have a leash, collar, a designated area and are prepared to maintain a schedule.

Retraining a dog that has already established bad habits can take six weeks or more.

As soon as possible get your new puppy to the vet for a complete check-up. This will assure you that you have obtained a healthy pup and alert you to any medical complications that can make house training more difficult. Situations such as intestinal upset, intestinal parasites and urinary tract infections can make house training difficult to impossible.

The designated toilet area can be as general as outside of the house or as specific as a particular corner of the backyard. You must have a specific plan as to what the designated area is going to be. You can not teach the dog what is acceptable if you are uncertain.

Your attitude is one of the most important ingredients in house training your dog. Your puppy does not know what is wrong. If there is a mistake tell him “no” but do not discipline too severely. You only want him to know that you are displeased, you do not want the pup to feel that you are the source of pain. When the pup has done well, pat him, praise him, let the dog know that you are very pleased. The pup will want to do things that please you. House training can be a foundation for all future training. Affection and praise as a reward for proper response – “no” signaling displeasure and guidance to show the dog what you do want.

Scheduling:

1. Create a schedule that is practical for you to maintain. If you can not stick to your schedule – you can’t expect the dog to adhere to it.

2. Do not allow your dog to free feed until house training is well established. Be very careful of your dogs diet – avoid foods and/or snacks that can be upsetting to his digestive tract.

3. Schedule your dog’s bed time and waking-up time. Adhere to these times as closely as possible.

4. Young pups will require frequent nap times, be sure that your schedule can accommodate the pup’s naps. Remember that the pup will need to be taken outside after each nap.

5. Emotional intensity – after intense emotional stimulation (badly scared, frightened, or a particularly rowdy play session) the pup may need to relieve himself.

6. Within two to three days, most dogs will be able to “control themselves” for eight hours during the night. You must keep in mind that your daytime schedule will need to be somewhat flexible. By paying attention to your dog, you will learn his nap requirements. Your dog will learn “the routine” and you will both have a schedule that you can live with.

Supervise in the House :

1. By knowing where your dog is at all times, and what he is doing, you can avoid mistakes. When a pup stops playing and starts to look around for a “good spot”, he needs to go out. By observing your dog you will quickly learn to tell the difference between the pup’s exploring his new universe and his searching for a “good location”.

2. If the pup starts to make a mistake, firmly but quietly say “No” and take the dog straight to his toilet area. Do not yell at the dog. Do not chase the dog. At this point it is up to you to be observant of your dog. Any mistakes that are made are due to your not paying attention.

3. If you can not supervise the dog for a period of time, put the dog in a confinement area (prepared with papers) or confine him to the room where you are.

4. When you are relaxing (watching TV, reading or on computer), have the dog with you. Give the pup some of his toys to play with. Have the dog on his leash or confine him to the room where you are, so that he doesn’t wander of and have an accident. Teach him that it can be enjoyable just being with you.

When you can’t be with your dog:

1. Provide a small area confinement area (bathroom with all “chewable” items removed, fenced off area of the garage, or a crate).

2. Do not leave food and water with the dog, or fill him with cookies or snacks before you leave. You should schedule the pup’s breakfast to be at least 2 hours before your planned departure time. That way the pup can eat, digest his food and relieve himself prior to your departure.

3. Ideally, if you are going to be gone for more than eight hours, someone should give the dog a drink and an opportunity to relieve himself.

Taking the dog out (to the latrine) :

1. Take your dog on leash to the designated toilet area. Stand quietly, so that the dog can find the right spot. Do not distract the dog. Do not praise the dog during his search. If after about 5 minutes your dog hasn’t gone to the bathroom, return him to the house (keeping a close eye on him) for about 1/2 hour, then try again.

2. As the dog starts to relieve himself; calmly praise him. Use a chosen word or phrase (good potty or wonderful potty). This phrase will only be used for praise in going potty.

3. When the dog has finished relieving himself praise him more enthusiastically. Let him know that you are very proud of him.

4. Remember your dog’s routine. Some dogs will “potty” two or three times per outing in the morning, but only twice per outing in the evening. Urination is often followed by defecation, while other dogs will do the reverse.

5. Even. if the weather is foul, do not let your dog know that you don’t want to be going outside with him. By teaching your dog that even in bad weather going outside is “the thing to do”, to please you, then he will be more willing to convey his needs to you.

6. While you are learning your dog’s “time table”, take him out immediately after he wakes up, after he has eaten and after all play sessions.

Catching the dog “in the act” :

1. Without yelling, firmly say “No”. If you still don’t have the dog’s attention, clap your hands.

2. Get the dog outside, to the designated latrine area. If the dog relieves himself outside praise him. Proceed with the potty routine.

3. Clean the mess with a deodorizing or odor killing cleanser. If the dog smells his own scent as having been used as a bathroom area, the dog will continue to use the area.

If the cleanser is not able to eliminate enough of the scent so that the dog can not detect it, you can help mask the scent over with vanilla extract. Just one or two drops will make it impossible for the dog to smell any lingering odor.

If you find a mess after the fact :

1. Do not punish the dog.

2. Accept the fact that you were not paying attention to the dog.

3. Do not show the dog that you are upset. Calmly put the dog on his leash and bring him to the location of the accident. With the dog at your side, firmly scold the potty. Do not scold the dog.

4. Blot up some urine, or pick up some stool with a piece of paper. Take the evidence and the dog to the latrine area. Place the paper on the ground and with the dog watching praise the potty for being in the “right” place. Temporarily leave the paper there. (Remove it when the dog isn’t watching)

5. Clean up the remaining mess in the house as outlined above.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/house-training-your-english-bulldog-by-nightingale-bullies-354654.html

About the Author

English Bulldog Breeder www.nightingalebullies.com

The Fast Easy Way to Housebreak a Pomeranian Dog

Housebreak a Pomeranian puppy the easy way. Expert Pomeranian breeders have devised a fast, easy, and foolproof method to have your Pomeranian dog or puppy housebroken in record time.

Simply stated, consistency is the key to housebreaking. More important than any other factor, one must be methodical in their methods by reinforcing the same routine each and every time.

To begin, it’s imperative that you bring your puppy directly from its crate to the outdoors consistently using the same path and door. Once outside, place your puppy in the same spot, every time. Next, you must use the same words each time. “Potty,’ “Go,’ “Go Potty.” It doesn’t matter which phrase you use, provided it’s the same one each time. Remain outside until your Pomeranian has fully completed its business. Don’t pick the dog up after three minutes because you’re tired and want to go indoors. Wait patiently outside, using consistent words of positive reinforcement, until your dog is ready.

Once inside again, you’re halfway completed with the routine of housebreaking your Pomeranian puppy. Next, set the buzzer on your kitchen stove for twenty minutes. When the buzzer goes off, take your puppy outside again using the same doorway as before. Again, patiently wait and encourage your dog using the same words as before. Your positive tone of voice and body language will work wonders in the housebreaking process. Before you know, your Pomeranian will be accustomed to the routine and will be willing to let you know when it needs to go.

Ideally, you should not even consider getting a puppy unless you have the time to devote to its training. If you must resort, however, to leaving it in a crate for ten to twelve hours a day, make sure the crate is large enough to accommodate a bed, food and water, and a potty-pee pad all spread out with ample space. When the dog uses the potty-pee pad, do not encourage it but do not punish, either. Simply ignore the fact that he’s gone on the potty-pee pad while you were at work. It’s acceptable, but it’s certainly not praiseworthy.

When you do return home after a long day at work immediately take your Pomeranian from its crate and carry it outside. Make certain you carry your puppy outdoors, because his small bladder will likely be so full that he’ll be unable walk for long. Then, complete the housebreaking process described above ensuring you set the kitchen stove buzzer and take go outside again twenty minutes later.

Do not become discouraged with the amount of time it can take to housebreak your Pomeranian. The breed is notoriously difficulty to housebreak, and each dog will require a different amount of time to train.

While such advice works well for puppies, it can also be applied to second-home or rescue Pomeranians. Such older dogs are likely already housebroken, but they still need to be shown the proper area and pathway to use. By consistently carrying them outdoors and using the stove timer method, your older dog can be housebroken in its new environment in a matter of days.

Simply stated, housebreaking your Pomeranian doesn’t need to be a tedious practice. By consistently applying the method mentioned above, you will find that housebreaking can be a fast and easy process.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/the-fast-easy-way-to-housebreak-a-pomeranian-dog-263501.html

About the Author

Katia Lorenzen discovered how to housebreak a pomeranian while taking care of a friend’s dog. And now she is pleased to tell you about the ultimate source of pomeranian training information: http://www.My-Pomeranian.com.

American Bulldog Puppy Tips And Info

American Bulldog puppies are beloved by many owners of American Pit Bull Terriers. The breeds are close cousins and share similarities in size and overall appearance. Because American Pit Bulls have been banned in many places, American Bulldogs have become a popular replacement breed. Though Bulldogs were once bred to be aggressive, the breed does not have the bad reputation of the Pit Bull.

American Bulldogs are also related to, but completely different than, French and English Bulldogs. The Bulldog almost became extinct after Britain passed the Cruelty to Animals Act. Bulldogs were no longer allowed to bait bulls or fight other dogs and their usefulness was diminished. Fortunately, European fans of the breed mixed Bulldogs with Pugs to breed dogs down to lap dog size. French and English Bulldogs are popular family pets and often used as characters in film and television due to their expressive eyes, comical mugs and large personalities.

European immigrants brought Bulldogs to America. An American, John D. Johnson, bred these Bulldogs to retain the size and strength of original Old English Bulldogs-an extinct breed. American Bulldogs puppies are bred in many countries today.

Buyers of American Bulldog puppies have John D. Johnson to thank for the very existence of the breed, and his protege, Alan Scott, also helped maintain the existence of the American Bulldog. These two men split and bred two separate types of American Bulldogs, Scott, or Standard, American Bulldogs and Johnson American Bulldogs. Scott/Johnson hybrids are also popular among American Bulldog breeders. Buyers should be experienced dog owners before purchasing a breed such as the American Bulldog. This breed requires attention and discipline from the beginning and an inexperienced owner will not have the skills needed to raise successful Bulldogs.

For experienced buyers, American Bulldogs can be found by asking local breeders or visiting websites that advertise National Kennel Club or United Kennel Club certified breeders. Because of the volatile nature in the breed’s past, buyers should never buy American Bulldog puppies with questionable ancestry or pedigree. Only well-documented, certified puppies should be purchased and puppies should immediately receive discipline and training.

Before purchasing American Bulldog puppies, buyers should stock up on necessary Bulldog puppy supplies. Buyers can also inquire of breeders what necessary items should be bought. American Bulldogs are medium-sized dogs and will require more food, grooming supplies, and training than toy or small dogs. Good American Bulldog breeders can provide buyers with a list of items needed to care for American Bulldog puppies. Some of these items include: proper brand and amount of puppy food, chew toys, housebreaking supplies such as pee pads, leashes, kennels or crates, training schedules, developmental timetables, grooming supplies, and medicine.

Besides getting puppy supply tips from breeders, buyers should also make sure that their breeder is well informed about the breed. Breeders should be able to answer all questions buyers have about caring for and raising American Bulldog puppies. Breeders should be able to provide puppy medical records including immunization history and screening results for common genetic disorders, pedigree and certification, and a warranty or guarantee against illness.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/american-bulldog-puppy-tips-and-info-443335.html

About the Author

For more information on the American Bulldog or a full list of dog breeds take a look at this Dog Training website.

Frequently Asked Dog Training Questions and Their Solutions

Dog training frequently asked questions and solutions

I frequently get asked the same questions by different clients all the time. Here are the questions and the solutions.

Why won’t my dog come to me when I call them? First of dogs with out a fenced in yard are the harder to teach come to, because they do not have enough time off leash and will not give that up when they are loose. If you give your dog ample exercise off leash in an enclosed park or some other area on a regular basis then it is no big deal for them to come to you when they are loose because they are not giving anything up. Also you MUST be exciting no one wants a boring dog and no dog wants a boring owner. I can teach you 3 tools that will get your dog to come to you first their name means come to me, then “come” as an emergencies command and then I have a secret weapon that is fool proof.

Why does my dog tear up paper, eat Kleenex and sticks?

When dogs tear things apart or eat strange things it usually an instinctual behavior passed down from the wolves. Most of the time it comes from when wolves would hunt for food and tearing the meat off the bone is satiating to them. Kleenex eating is a mystery to my vet and myself. I think it just tastes good. A lot of dogs will sit down and eat a whole toilet paper roll or Kleenex box. If your dog does this the best advice I can give is to keep these things out of reach. If they can’t reach it they can’t chew/eat it!

How to get rid of urine smells in carpet?

There are many different products out there; personally I have not found one that is 100% effective. Natures Miracle seems to have a good reputation. There are many home remedies like a dilution of vinegar and water to get the smell out but this solution can also stain many surfaces and carpets so do a small test site first and wait 3-4 days to see if the color changes. The professional carpet cleaners sometimes guarantee to get the urine smell out of surfaces, make sure so you’re not wasting your money on another useless method.

Why should I get my dog spayed or neutered?

The number one reason is that there are more than 5000 homeless dogs in the metro Atlanta area alone not to mention the surrounding counties. There are some dogs prone to testicular and other forms of cancer by neutering/spaying them you could be saving there life in the future. Dogs that are spayed/ neutered seem to have less behavior problems then dogs that are in tact. The health of the dogs is also better and you will have fewer visits to the veterinarian.

Where should I get a dog from? A breeder, a pet store, or rescue group?

If you get your dog from a rescue group {Golden Retriever rescue /Lab etc.] you can get the breed you are looking for and save a life. The humane societies and shelters always have a lot to choose from. If you must go to a breeder or pet store do some back ground checking and make sure you are not buying from a puppy mill.

What are some poisonous things I should be aware of around my house and yard?

Some command foods that are poison to dogs are chocolate, grapes and almonds. Just a few teaspoons of anti freeze can kill a dog in the matter of hours. Pesticides can be very harmful to animals as well rat poisons, bug repellents and moth ball. Some house plants such as poinsettias & mistle toe, azaleas and tulip bulbs are also poisonous.

A Trained Dog Makes a Happy Owner

A Trained Owner Makes a Happier Dog!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/bath-showers-articles/frequently-asked-dog-training-questions-and-their-solutions-268730.html

About the Author

Susie Aga
Atlanta Dog Trainer
www.atlantadogtrainer.com
770-754-9178

About the trainer:
Susie Aga is a Certified Canine Behavior & Training Specialist. She has 20 years experience and is recommended by over 45 Veterinarians in the Metro Atlanta Area. Susie was chosen by Turner Broadcasting to be their featured Pet Expert. She is the host of her own talk radio show called The Animal Hour on AM 1620 on line at www.radiosandysprings.com .

Susie has four rescue dogs of her own and donates much of her time to rescue organizations. You can truly say her life has gone to the dogs and that’s just the way she wants it!