Are You Ready for a Dog?

Pet Adoption Articles

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A dog can be a wonderful addition to a home, but pet ownership is a big commitment and should be carefully considered. If you are thinking about getting a dog it is important to research, plan, and reflect before making a decision.

5 Things to Consider Beforehand

Lifestyle

Most dogs are happiest when their daily routine is predictable and includes companionship. Are you a busy, on-the-go individual who likes having the flexibility to jet off at a moment’s notice? Who will watch your dog when you’re gone? What about your home life, work, and school schedules? Long days at the office, busy evenings, and kids’ activities may leave you little time to care for your dog.

As a pet parent, you will spend considerable time training, grooming, feeding, exercising, and bonding with your dog. Puppies need extra attention and require frequent potty breaks. Certain high-energy breeds need consistent daily exercise, even late into adulthood.

Environment

Just like humans, dogs want to be comfortable in their surroundings. Certain dog breeds are impacted more by their environment than others. For example, short nose breeds, such as pugs and bulldogs, may not acclimate well in warm climates. You’ll need to add a dog coat and shovel to your shopping list if you want a chihuahua that will tolerate cold and snowy winters. Arctic breeds like huskies might fare better in colder temperatures.

Smaller pets often need less physical space than larger breeds of dogs and may adapt well to apartment living. Older dogs are generally more sedentary and may require less outdoor space for exercise. A fenced yard can provide a safe and easy-to-access space for puppy playtime or for your older dog to explore on their own.

Budget

Having a dog is an ongoing fiscal responsibility, which can span 15 years or more. Pet ownership is a significant expense and should be considered in your decision-making. Make a list of possible expenses and see if it fits with your budget to become a pet parent.

Food, veterinary care, pet insurance, pet sitting, boarding, grooming, training, toys, and supplies can add up. Also, consider that a purebred dog from a reputable breeder may cost thousands of dollars, and veterinary expenses may mount as your pet ages.

Caregivers

Adding a pet to your family will impact the entire household. Every family member should be on board to help acclimate and keep a new dog safe in the home. It will be important to discuss how pet care responsibilities will affect the family.

Ideally, everyone in the home will share in the caregiving for your pet, but at a minimum, one person should be committed to providing the ongoing attention and care your dog will need to thrive. Children grow up, can lose interest, or get busy with extracurricular activities. Spouses decide they don’t like dog kisses or develop allergies.

Support from Pet Professionals

Finding a veterinarian, trainer, and pet sitter before welcoming a dog into your home can get you off on the right foot by learning about nutrition, preventative care, and training. Additionally, these professionals may be able to recommend a breeder or rescue organization with a pet that suits your lifestyle.

Pet professionals will provide varying levels of support through the stages of your pet’s life. Certain dog breeds are prone to health risks such as cancer, diabetes, or glaucoma that require more intensive veterinarian care. Pets with health challenges and senior pets may also need more frequent visits from a pet sitter when you are away from home.

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Is your home prepped for a pup?

If after careful consideration you decide to add a pup to your family, you’ll want to make sure your home is ready to welcome your new fur-ever friend. Pup-proofing your home can include:

• Setting up a crate – a relaxing and safe space for your pup and essential for potty training.
• Placing gates across doorways.
• Ensuring all small objects and toys are out of each.
• Storing food out of reach.
• Securing electrical cords.
• Removing toxic plants.

Considering all these variables will help you decide if a new pet is right for you. Education and preparation help build a bond with your new dog.

Vet Advice from Dr. Lisa

At Pet Butler, we want you and your pet to live your best and healthiest lives, which is why we offer pet waste removal and other services year-round. We offer weekly, bi-weekly, monthly and one-time clean-up services to work with your schedule and needs.

How to Housetrain/Potty Train Your Puppy

Dog Behavior Articles

puppy potty training

One of the biggest challenges new dog owners face is overcoming a puppy’s most natural instinct: elimination, AKA peeing and pooping. As it turns out, dogs are not born with the understanding of where to relieve themselves all the time – that knowledge needs to be taught. Housetraining, also known as potty training, is a long but achievable undertaking that should be your number one priority after adopting a pup. It’s easier to teach a dog when it’s younger, and it helps your house stay that much cleaner.

Starting Early

Housetraining should be started once a puppy is around 10 weeks old – after it learns how to control its bladder and really start a schedule. The process can take anywhere from 4-6 months, although in special cases it can last up to a year or more. The more adamant you are about creating a schedule and sticking to the guidelines, the faster your dog will understand his/her expectations. Timeliness is also dependent on the size of your dog (smaller dogs need more trips outside and therefore adapt more quickly) as well as how receptive your dog is to training. Some puppies just take longer to learn where the toilet is, so stay positive and remind yourself that accidents happen all the time. You got this!

Control the Puppy’s Potty Space

The first general rule of potty training is to limit a puppy’s space. Control the environment as much as possible and always be attentive to your dog’s needs. Most of the time, your pup will show you when it needs to go. This is often indicated by behaviors like sniffing, circling, barking, and whining. If you can’t be around to supervise, make sure that you have a someone else around or put your dog in a crate. Crates discourage puppies from eliminating inside the house, and they’re helpful for extended periods away from home. That said, a puppy should never be left alone for more than 3-4 hours, especially within the first few months. If a dog is eliminating inside their crate, change some of the crating factors or stop using this method entirely. Tolerating bad habits will be very counterproductive.

Set a Potty Schedule

Another housetraining rule is to set a schedule. The more consistent the schedule, the more consistent the training. Puppies need to be taken outside hourly and always after eating or drinking. While most pups can hold their waste for a couple hours, it’s best not to test their limits. Repetition is the key to obedience, after all. For nighttime, try to be as quiet as possible if your dog needs to go; the less commotion caused, the less they’ll want to play around afterwards. Minimize these nightly trips as much as possible and take away their water bowl 2 hours before bedtime.

Reaffirming the Positive Potty Experience

When taking your dog outside, it’s important to keep a close watch. Putting them on a leash, even in a backyard, is good for positive association, familiarity, and, once again, control. Use a verbal cue like “potty” before they go and reward them afterwards with either treats or playtime. Make sure that you reward them outside, as soon as possible, but only after they have completely finished their business. This is important for avoiding accidents and speeding up their bathroom breaks later on.

As far as location goes, at first, bring them to the same spot every time. Their previous scent will prompt elimination again and reinforce the training. Once a puppy is more experienced with this idea, try and take them around to different outdoor spaces. They need to be comfortable with more than just one area.

            Other points to remember include…

  • Minimizing or Removing Potty Pads – Dogs associate these pads with carpeting, which can confuse puppies and prolong their training.
  • Using Enzymatic Cleaners – They clear odors more effectively, so dogs won’t think about repeating their surprise in the same place.
  • Consulting a Veterinarian – If your dog has repeated training issues, vets can offer extra advice and ensure that medical problems aren’t causing any complications.

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Potty Training with Adult Dogs

All these ideas also apply for older dogs who either need to learn or relearn these habits. While training an adult dog might take longer and be more difficult, it’s fundamentally the same process. Be rigid with your limitations and scheduling, and they’ll come along just fine.

Lastly, there will be setbacks. Potty training is not easy. No matter how frustrating it can be, remember to never punish your dog in difficult moments. Discipline is important, but it’s wrong to make your dog afraid of you. If you happen to catch your dog in the act, clap loudly to signal a bad behavior and try to interrupt what’s happening. As per usual, if you can bring your puppy outside and finishes there, still give them a treat. Best of luck!

What to Know When Getting a New Puppy

Pet Adoption Articles

puppy

Whether this is your first dog or one of many, it’s a thrilling time. As you know, or soon will, dogs and puppies are a lot like human children – the amount of time, expense, and emotion you will invest during the first year of ownership is astounding. They come in all shapes, sizes, temperaments, and breeds, but the same tenant holds true for all – what you put in is what you will get out of your relationship with your new companion. Remember this the next time your pup chews a favorite pair of shoes because they’re bored, or you forgot to secure the crate and come home to a disaster created by your Tasmanian devil.

Help to ease them into their new setting by providing consistency in routine and among family members with regards to house rules, discipline, and expectations. Gradually allow them to investigate each area of their new home while supervised and when the setting is quiet and controlled. Here are some other tips to get pet ownership off on the right foot:

Nutrition

How Often – Feeding times of a high-quality diet made with real protein and AAFCO tested should be scheduled every 3-8 hours, depending on your dog’s age, and ultimately transitioned to twice daily feeding.

How To – Leave the food in an accessible stainless steel or ceramic bowl for 10-15 minutes; after that time, pick up the bowl until the next scheduled feeding.  This can help regulate bowel movements and aid in house training. Feedings can be conducted in the crate to encourage crate acceptance. It’s best to start your new addition on the food to which they are accustomed, gradually transitioning to a new diet over a week’s time to prevent gastrointestinal upset.

A few good resources that will help guide your diet selections include: www.wsava.org for a nutrition toolkit and body condition scoring chart, and www.avma.org for food recall information.

Grooming

Pet grooming encompasses maintenance of hair and skin, ears, nails, and dental health. For most dogs, a mild, preferably soap-free formula works well since accident-prone pups often require frequent bathing.  Healthy dogs require no more than monthly baths. It’s best to offer a hungry puppy food and treats during the first few grooming sessions; the goal is to get your dog accustomed to the idea of handling feet, nails, exposure to water and the tools you may use during his life. Make grooming fun, short, and end on a positive note. We don’t want perfection, just progress!

Ears – Ears should be cleaned with a mild drying solution and cotton balls after the bath; moisture accumulated in the ear canals can make a perfect environment for bacteria and yeast to overgrow.

Nails – Consider trimming nails one at a time when your pet is sleepy or hungry and can be bribed with a high value treat (shredded cheese, peanut butter, small bites of chicken breast). It’s best to set the clippers out for a few days near the food bowl and to give your pet time to adjust to the tool.

Teeth – Dental care ideally involves daily tooth and gum brushing with a finger brush or child-sized toothbrush.  Choose dog-specific products that have flavors such as chicken or malt. Again, start slowly with a quick, but gentle gum massage and reward with a treat to keep all 42 adult teeth healthy, you need to brush at least twice a week to have any benefit.

Ideally, by the time your pet has his first professional grooming session, he is acclimated and even excited about a massage and spa day.

Socialization & Training

Positive reinforcement of dog-appropriate behavior and redirection are the cornerstones of most successful training programs. Most trainers and veterinarians abide by the principle that “nothing in life is free”, meaning if your dog wants something (a treat, a walk, petting), they need to ask nicely (in a sit-stay position) and without whining.

puppy training

When to Start & How – Puppies are like sponges; there is a critical window of development that closes around 13 weeks of age.  During this window of 2 weeks to 3 months, expose your puppy to multiple surfaces, people, other pets, travel, grooming aids, and sounds while reinforcing interactions with treats and praise. Go slowly and don’t overwhelm your puppy with too many “new” things at once. Introducing a leash and collar (Martingale or gentle leader collars are especially nice) early and taking short, frequent walks, offering scheduled play times, and playing mental games such as hiding kibble for hide and go seek or working on obedience commands are invaluable.

Crate Training

Most vets advocate crate training your pup to stay in the crate calmly when he can’t be supervised. By providing valuable resources (food, a Kong toy stuffed with frozen peanut butter and kibble) and allowing the puppy easy access to the crate for indeterminate, variable blocks of time, including nap and nighttime, we can establish the crate as a safe place where only good things happen. Once they have accepted the crate as a safe place, you can start leaving the puppy alone for longer stretches of time.  The crate is also useful to help potty train your pet. Crating the dog in a cozy den with just enough room to turn around and allowing immediate access to the outside “toilet” will aid in housebreaking.

Potty Training

Choose the same location to take your dog to go potty each time, reward immediately (not once inside the house), and choose a phrase to associate with elimination such as “potty-time” to achieve the best results. Pups should be able to “hold it” for their age in months +1 hour. i.e. a 2-month-old puppy can remain in the crate up to 3 hours safely.

Formal socialization and obedience classes are readily available and an important part of a puppy’s first few months.

Preventative Health Care

Vaccines – Most puppies receive an initial vaccine series every 3-4 weeks at their veterinary visit beginning at 6-8 weeks of age until 4-6 months. Thereafter, annual to triannual booster vaccines may be administered at the time of the exam.

Spay/Neuter – An individual vaccine and titer schedule as well as age to spay or neuter is determined based on the pet’s lifestyle, risk of exposure, breed, and health status. When to spay or neuter your pet is a decision that may have already been made for you if you adopted your pet through a rescue group or shelter; understandably, these groups are primarily concerned with pet overpopulation and want to eliminate the possibility of future litters.

Regular Exams – Regular examinations of your dog and possibly their blood and stool allow for evaluation of eyes, ears, nose, throat, body condition and weight, heart, lungs, abdomen, limbs, behavior, parasite status and internal organ function.  To get the most out of a veterinary visit, please share any details regarding your pet’s medical history including current diet and bring a fresh stool sample. Since our pets can’t speak for themselves, be aware of any changes in appetite, urination, defecation, energy, appetite, and behavior.

Expense, time commitment, and those sharp puppy teeth can be unexpected surprises to owning a puppy. It’s best to be prepared with a crate, leash and collar, bowls, grooming tools, treats, a resource list including a vet, realistic expectations, and some good chew toys!

Congratulations on the adoption of your new best friend!

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