As part of your purchase comes THIS education package that consists information you need gathered here in one place. It’s very important that you go through all info so that you are prepared and that you’ve done the educational element we were require.
We require you come for an education visit (which can be done at pick up) so we can be sure you have done the proper education and reading to be equipped to care for your puppy. At visit and pick up appts any questions can be answered. We reserve the right to refuse selling a puppy if we feel the education has not been done. It’s very important to do your research and understand the commitment and the work involved and how to raise your puppy properly and train it.
IT IS REQUIRED TO DO THE EDUCATION AND READY NECESSARY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN BEING A DOG OWNER.
Here is a video of interest: https://youtu.be/g1ZAKvaUcrU
*** PAYMENT IS DUE AT THE TIME OF COMMITMENT TO THE PUPPY**** We are accepting C A S H O N L Y - no cards. On arrival- pull into parking lot. Approach the office- ring bell to notify that you have arrived. Please be on time and respect everyone’s allotted appointment.
When visiting- please stay after and play with your puppy by the pond for as long as you like.
The information shown here are the main points…there are two main sections of the website that contain detailed articles on each topic–links are shown below. I recommend reading all articles.
PLEASE READ THIS SECTION ON THE WEBSITE https://lakewoodranchdoodles.com/caring-for-your-dog
READ THIS SECTION OF WEBSITE: https://lakewoodranchdoodles.com/training-your-puppy
You are required use a HARNESS & SEATBELT LEASH IN CAR. The seatbelt leash & harness can be purchased and fitted in our boutique when pup goes home.
DO NOT USE A CRATE IN THE CAR. There is a high crush factor in an accident with a folding crate. Dogs often get lost during a car accident by leaping out the window and can get hit by oncoming traffic if not tethered to the car.
When you get a new puppy, it’s only natural to want to simply hang out with them and play and cuddle all day. Unfortunately, there are a number of things that you need to do in those first few days and weeks — both to make sure that your new pup stays healthy and to establish good behavior patterns. A holistic approach will extend your dog’s life and build better health.
To build immunity - Avoid antibiotics. YOU NEED TO Use a probiotic and vitamin & supplement for life to help Balance the dogs GUT and prevent yeast build up in ears and feed plain yogurt daily. We offer daily vitamins and probiotic chews in our boutique - don't forget to get them when your dog goes home.
As a reputable breeder, the health of my dogs is my top priority. That’s why I highly suggest that each of my puppy parents keep their pup on NuVet Plus for total body support. This daily supplement offers key immune support for your puppy during this big transition home, but NuVet offers a lifetime of benefits for your new companion.
Here is a video on why immune support is crucial during this stage of your puppy’s development: https://vimeo.com/776380947
NuVet Plus comprehensive support helps with:
For your puppy to stay on NuVet, it will only cost you $20 a month. You can order by calling 800-474-7044 (GIVE CODE 454716) or check out their website www.nuvet.com *
Please order your NuVet Plus prior to picking up your puppy!
We offer a first year starter package containing safe holistic products, treats and doggies accessories - we can ship or you pick up
https://www.lakewoodpetboutique.comWe focus on green products-eco/environmentally friendly/all natural/recycled/North American made products.
WE SHIP ANYTHING FROM THE BOUTIQUE AFTER YOUR DOG GOES HOME – ORDER ONLINE.
As part of your purchase comes this education package that consists of information you need gathered here in one place.
It’s very important that you go through all info so that you are prepared and that you’ve done the educational element we require. We require you to come for an education visit (which can be done at pick up) so we can be sure you have done the proper education and reading to be equipped to care for your puppy. At visit and pick up appointments, any questions can be answered.
We reserve the right to refuse selling a puppy if we feel the education has not been done.
It’s very important to do your research and understand the commitment and the work involved and how to raise your puppy properly and train it. IT IS REQUIRED TO DO THE EDUCATION AND BE READY NECESSARY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN BEING A DOG OWNER.
Here is a video of interest: https://youtu.be/g1ZAKvaUcrU. YOUR APPOINTMENTS: *** PAYMENT IS DUE AT THE TIME OF COMMITMENT TO THE PUPPY**** We are accepting C A S H O N L Y - no cards.
On arrival- pull into parking lot. Approach the office- ring bell to notify that you have arrived. Please be on time and respect everyone’s allotted appointment.
When visiting- please stay after and play with your puppy by the pond for as long as you like.
The information shown here are the main points…there are two main sections of the website that contain detailed articles on each topic. I recommend reading all articles.
You are required to use a HARNESS & SEATBELT LEASH IN CAR. The seatbelt leash & harness can be purchased and fitted in our boutique when pup goes home.
DO NOT USE A CRATE IN THE CAR. There is a high crush factor in an accident with a folding crate. Dogs often get lost during a car accident by leaping out the window and can get hit by oncoming traffic if not tethered to the car.
When you get a new puppy, it’s only natural to want to simply hang out with them and play and cuddle all day. Unfortunately, there are a number of things that you need to do in those first few days and weeks — both to make sure that your new pup stays healthy and to establish good behavior patterns. A holistic approach will extend your dog’s life and build better health.
To build immunity - Avoid antibiotics. YOU NEED TO Use a probiotic and vitamin & supplement for life to help Balance the dog's GUT and prevent yeast build up in ears and feed plain yogurt daily. We offer daily vitamins and probiotic chews in our boutique - don't forget to get them when your dog goes home. NU VET Immunity vitamin & supplement.
As a reputable breeder, the health of my dogs is my top priority. That’s why I highly suggest that each of my puppy parents keep their pup on NuVet Plus for total body support. This daily supplement offers key immune support for your puppy during this big transition home, but NuVet offers a lifetime of benefits for your new companion.
Here is a video on why immune support is crucial during this stage of your puppy’s development: https://vimeo.com/776380947. NuVet Plus comprehensive support helps with: Skin and coat, Eyes and ears, Bones and teeth, Digestion, Immune defense, Cardiovascular health, and Nervous system.
For your puppy to stay on NuVet, it will only cost you $20 a month. You can order by calling 800-474-7044 (GIVE CODE 454716) or check out their website www.nuvet.com. **Please order your NuVet Plus prior to picking up your puppy!
We offer a first year starter package containing safe holistic products, treats, and doggies accessories - we can ship or you pick up https://www.lakewoodpetboutique.com.
We focus on green products - eco/environmentally friendly/all natural/recycled/North American made products. WE SHIP ANYTHING FROM THE BOUTIQUE AFTER YOUR DOG GOES HOME – ORDER ONLINE.
https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/tlc-whole-life-dog-food/
DO NOT FEED WHEAT!!! OR RAW!!! Don't forget to order dog food! We have done a ton of research on what to feed as the best nutritionally balanced food to our dogs...
Golden retriever and Labrador retriever breeds DO NOT TOLERATE WHEAT, CORN, FILLERS, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOURS OR COLOURS. Goldens can have minor to major allergic reactions to an improper diet that could cause - Poor Temperament, improper physiological development; aggression and physical growth retardation.
We have found this fantastic food that is holistic and improves health. We can feed ANY brand of food we wish - but to create healthy puppies we need healthy parents. We see very little hot spots; yeast infections; allergic reactions when feeding this food. The other bonus is that you can order online or by phone and it is delivered to your home FREE anywhere in North America. We chose the auto-delivery option so we don't have to remember when to order. The food content is awesome!.
It's essential to provide your dog with the best nutrition possible to ensure their health and well-being. By understanding the nutritional needs of your dog and providing them with a balanced and high-quality diet, you can support their overall health and longevity.
How to order?
Note: If you decide to change to a different food without discussing it with us, it voids our contract; including our health guarantee as it stresses the dog's immune system when feeding an inappropriate diet.
MAX 2 to 4 CUPS - MIN 1/2 CUP DAILY
Don’t feed food or water after 8 pm. They should be allowed to self govern their food intake by grazing. BY 8 MONTHS YOUR PUPPY WILL SLOW DOWN FOOD INTAKE.
All dogs benefit from daily VITAMIN which help the immune system and improve health. CRANBERRY CHEWS can be used for UTI – bladder irritation or infection.
Use a heaping tablespoon or two of plain UNSWEETENED yogurt daily. (SWEETENED YOGURT FEEDS YEAST GROWTH).
STRESS STOOL is when loose stools result from a new environment from stress. We send home enough for a week of probiotic. It is important you continue with a probiotic chew for life.
To soothe the bowel. Pumpkin is a superfood. It soothes the bowel in a stressed puppy or dog. Add Diatomaceous earth to pumpkin puree and flavor with raw meat, fish, or honey. Freeze in ice cube trays. Give one each day to a new puppy for the first few weeks. After that once or twice a week. The DE will help with your dog parasites.
NOT EATING MUCH IN THE FIRST 24-48 HOURS IS NORMAL.
Dogs eating habits slow down and change as they stop growing and become more mature. Your Goldendoodle should be a GRAZER - benefits include healthier digestion because they’re not consuming their food quickly; Less food aggression and no food coveting. They should be allowed to self govern their food intake.
Avoid too many high protein, carbohydrate, or sugary treats. Sweet or strongly flavored treats are like candy for your dog child. They much prefer them over a well-balanced meal they get from kibble. To avoid too much “candy”, put kibble in a bag with dehydrated liver to transfer the flavor and not use other types of treats as the dog progresses past toilet training.
Use a specific treat for toilet training. Use a different treat for behavior training. Dogs that overeat should have a slow feed bowl to prevent eating too quickly, causing many digestive issues. Dogs train much faster when using a food reward over praise only. USE TWO DIFFERENT TREATS FOR TOILETING AND OBEDIENCE TRAINING.
See article on website. Use a BELL and use your pup's paw to ding it before going outside for a toilet break. Within a week, they will ring the bell to go outside.
IF YOU LIVE IN A CONDO OR APARTMENT – USE A GRASS PATCH PAD (AVAILABLE IN OUR BOUTIQUE) ON YOUR BALCONY.
Can be easily made to save a messy yard – a wood box – like a sandbox – with no bottom. Toileting routine: Best times to take your puppy outside is:
Uncooked, frozen Cow bones from the butcher are part of the diet and teach self-entertainment as well as reducing STRESS from the chewing action. DOGS NEED raw bones to chew. Benefits of feeding raw bones include:
A full article is on the website about crate training. Getting into a routine is vital. One of the most important things you need to do for your puppy is to establish a routine. Though it might be challenging to determine a routine initially, it's crucial not to delay.
The crate is the dog’s DEN. Not a punishment. The space in the crate should be limited, so the puppy does not toilet inside. The crate should be deep enough for the dog to enter, turn around, and come back out. It's their personal space, a place to retreat. The crate should be covered with a blanket, leaving the door uncovered. Crate training leverages a dog’s natural den instincts.
A fenced yard with a doghouse is a bonus, especially for large and active dogs. However, dogs should never be left outside alone or for extended durations. They require companionship and should mostly be with their families, not isolated outside.
The dog’s collar shouldn't be tight. It should be loose enough for two fingers to slip underneath. Remember: Use a HARNESS only for leash walking a puppy until at least 4 months.
Use PAW WAX, not booties. Other contaminants, like road salt, can be avoided using NATURAL PAW WAX. This wax acts as a barrier, preventing salt absorption and ice ball formation. Booties can be a choking hazard if left on an unattended dog.
See the full article on the website for comprehensive behavior tips.
It's not always straightforward to convince a new puppy not to bite. Puppies use their mouths when playing with their peers. They may also be inclined to bite or "mouth" hands during play or when being petted. This behavior is rarely aggressive but is a habit that should be addressed. The goal is to redirect your puppy's energy onto acceptable chew toys and teach them to be gentle when a hand approaches or is near their mouth.
Thoroughly read through this section to prepare yourself. Ensure you brush your puppy 1 - 3 times weekly to prevent coat matting and trim nails regularly. For proper grooming table behavior, schedule a visit to your groomer within a month of bringing your puppy home.
Can dogs recover from Giardia without medication? If a dog has no clinical signs of giardia, you don't automatically need to treat it – they may recover by themselves if they are healthy and have a strong immune system.
Giardia is everywhere. Your back yard, on sidewalks, on trails and forests. Animals and birds carry it – they Poop and rainwater disburses the giardia cysts. Cysts can live in cold and last for months. They are microscopic so you can’t see them.
Probiotics help build a good immune system. USE THEM FOR YOUR DOGS ENTIRE LIFE. In some cases you will still treat an asymptomatic dog, such as if another dog or family member is immune compromised or ill.
If you have a dog with symptoms- then treatment can be done naturally or with vet medications. Either treatment method requires you to bathe with chlorhexidine shampoo to remove the cysts from the dogs fur so he doesn’t re-ingest the cysts and the cycle continues. The common giardia found in Ontario is not typically transferable to humans. Always wash your hands when cleaning up after your dog and grooming your dog.
Once you know your appointment date and time – SET UP PET INSURANCE – ANY COMPANY IS BETTER THAN NO INSURANCE. We have had clients tell us their puppy ate pinecones, fell off the couch, found rat poison, ingested wood, ate children’s toys, and many other scary accidents have happened - not to mention illnesses that can happen to a puppy with an un-developed immune system. PET HEALTH INSURANCE IS A MUST WHEN OWNING A PUPPY
Vet costs have skyrocketed and we need to be sure that if your puppy suddenly needs care, that money is available for that care to happen.
TRUPANION INSURANCE COMPANY offers you FREE health insurance for 30 DAYS for puppies, Because you are purchasing a puppy from Lakewood Ranch. It has to be ACTIVIATED THE DAY or two before or on the actual day the PUPPY GOES HOME you MUST use the code for the free 30 days – if you don’t use the code there is a waiting period. If you wait and do not sign up when the dog goes home – you aren’t covered!
Call 855.266.2156 | Code: BR1LR92220 Or visit TRUPANION.COM to activate coverage.
The key to helping your new dog make a successful adjustment to your home is being prepared and being patient. It can take anywhere from two days to two months for you and your pet to adjust to each other. The following tips can help ensure a smooth transition.
You'll need a collar and leash, toy, blanket which we provide. Next is a crate, food and water bowls, food, and, of course, some frozen uncooked bones. And don't forget to order an identification tag right away. Everything you need is in our boutique lakewoodpetboutique.com.
Work out your dog-care regimen in advance among the human members of your household. Who will walk the dog first thing in the morning? Who will feed him at night? Will Fido be allowed on the couch, or won't he? Where will he rest at night? Are there any rooms in the house that are off-limits?
Do not let your puppy roam the home unattended. It gives him the opportunity to get into trouble. A playpen is a great idea! When your puppy is out of the playpen- he should be on a leash at all times with a person. All members of the household need to be on the same page for training and language used with the puppy.
Try to arrange the arrival of your new dog for a weekend or when you can be home for a few days. Get to know each other and spend some quality time together. Don't forget the jealousy factor—make sure you don't neglect other pets and people in your household!
Your puppy is not housetrained, and work from there. Be consistent, and maintain a routine. A little extra effort on your part to come home straight from work each day will pay off in easier, faster housetraining.
A crate may look to you like the canine equivalent of a jail cell, but to your dog, who instinctively likes to den, it's a room of his own. It makes housetraining and obedience-training easier and saves your dog from the headache of being yelled at unnecessarily for problem behavior. Of course, you won't want to crate your dog all day or all night, or he will consider it a jail cell. Just a few, regular hours a day should be sufficient. Make sure your puppy gets to be alone for at least 2 hours per day to allow them to teach themselves self entertainment. It should be roomy enough to allow your dog to stand up, turn around, and sit comfortably in normal posture. If a crate isn't an option, consider some sort of confinement to a dog-proofed part of your home. A portion of the kitchen or family room can serve the purpose very well. (A baby gate works perfectly.)
Dogs need order. Let your pet know from the start who is the boss. When you catch him doing something he shouldn't, don't lose your cool. Stay calm, and let him know immediately, in a loud and disapproving voice, that he has misbehaved. Reward him with praise when he does well, too! Sign up for a local trainer to come teach your family how to train your dog - you'll learn what a joy it is to have a well-trained dog. Use positive reinforcement.
Dogs need an active life. That means you should plan plenty of exercise and game time for your pet. Enjoy jogging or Frisbee? You can bet your dog will, too. If running around the park is too energetic for your taste, try throwing a ball or a stick, or just going for a long walk together. When you take a drive in the country or visit family and friends, bring your dog and a leash along.
Finally, be reasonable in your expectations. Life with you is a different experience for your new companion, so give him time to adjust. You'll soon find out that you've made a friend for life. No one will ever greet you with as much enthusiasm or provide you with as much unqualified love and loyalty as your dog will. Be patient, and you will be amply rewarded.
“Don't worry, he’ll grow out of it” is something that struggling dog owners hear a lot. Especially if their dog is between six months and two years of age. Sometimes, it’s true. Most dogs do eventually grow out of chewing everything in sight, for example.
But sometimes, waiting for a dog to ‘grow out of it’ is likely to end in disappointment. And putting bad behavior down to 'adolescence' or 'hormones' is not always such a good idea.
I thought it might be interesting to look at some of the behaviors that dogs DO grow out of, and some of the behaviors that are more likely to persist or even get worse.
I say 'many dogs' rather than 'all dogs' because there are instances when such behavior can persist indefinitely. Or morph into something worse.
All puppies bite. And puppy biting tends to peak at around 3 months old, then decline. However, a different kind of biting, an ‘excitement nip’, can develop and persist in dogs during the second half of the first year.
Excitement nips can become very rough and they are usually triggered by rough, physical play. You can avoid, and cure them, by insisting that family members do not engage in physical play or ‘rough housing’ with your dog.
And by switching your dog’s focus from rough play to calm training, using short structured training games that can be played regularly throughout the day.
Toilet training can seem like a two steps forward and one step back journey at times, but with good supervision, most puppies improve rapidly as their bladder matures. Even rescue dogs with poor toilet control will respond rapidly to a structured toilet training plan. Exceptions can occur in dogs that have lost that all-important instinct for keeping their own bed clean. That’s why we place such emphasis during Puppy Parenting on never forcing a puppy to wet their own bed by crating them with a very full bladder for example, or leaving a puppy too long in a crate.
Clumsiness is very common in large friendly puppies. And it can be a problem in homes where a large breed puppy is sharing floor space with a toddler. As they mature, most puppies do learn to step around babies rather than walking straight through them, and life gets easier! In the meantime, baby gates and supervision are your friend.
The good news is that for most dogs it does end. Eventually! In the meantime, providing your dog a variety of chew toys, of different types, will help. And young dogs should not be left for long periods unsupervised until they have outgrown this phase. And I say 'most dogs' because adult dogs will sometimes chew and destroy furnishings, and even the fabric of buildings if distressed. Usually as a result of long periods of isolation.
Okay, so those are mostly good news. Be patient, manage puppies and young dogs appropriately, and with time their behavior will settle and improve. But what about those behaviors that don't simply resolve over time?
Here are some behaviors that don't spontaneously improve as dogs mature. In fact they are likely to get worse:
Running off during walks
Running off during walks, sometimes for hours at a time, is a very common problem. It starts when a young dog's growing independence is not accompanied by a growing bond with, and interest in, their owner. When training goes right, the owner becomes the centre of the dog's world. The source of so much fun, that the dog never wants to be far from them, in case they miss the next good thing. A good structured training system ensures that this happens. When training goes wrong, the dog discovers they can have much more fun on their own. And the only solution is a period of restricted freedom while the dog is retrained, and the bond with the owner is rebuilt.
Peeing or soiling the crate
Occasionally I hear from a puppy parent that has got themselves into a particularly difficult situation. They have a young puppy that pees and poops in its own bed. This can be a difficult problem to fix but it is a very easy one to avoid. All puppies have a powerful instinct to keep their bed clean and from being very small will move away from the ’nest’ area to empty themselves. Bed wetting in this situation is usually the result of the puppy being forced to stay in its bed, until it can no longer hold on.
Refusing to be caught
If you've ever spent an unhappy half hour trying to catch your dog at the end of a walk you'll know just how infuriating this can be! It happens because the dog doesn't want the walk to end. And it's usually an easy one to fix. You need to make the return to the vehicle or being leashed, a cause for celebration. TIP: Start at home with some very high value rewards. Warm roast chicken is usually a winner. Leash your dog, feed, and unleash your dog. Repeat many times. Progress to the garden or yard. Then to open country with the dog on a long line. Put the leash on as well as the line. Feed, and take the leash off again. Keep practicing and always, but always reinforce the end of a walk with some high value treats.
Barking or whining in the crate or kennel
Some dogs will give up making a noise in a crate or kennel if nobody ever responds to them. But not many. And those that do, may get worse before they get better. It's not unusual for a dog to bark throughout the working day if left alone at home. And the way to avoid this un-neighborly problem, is to train your dog how to relax on their own.
Roaming
Occasionally dog owners write to me because they are concerned that their dog is straying from their property. This is more common in rural areas where people are hoping to give their dog more freedom. Roaming tends to begin in the second half of the first year and although more common in intact male dogs, it does occur in neutered males, and in females too. It goes without saying that your dog is greatly at risk from this habit and unfortunately not only do dogs not grow out of it. It tends to get worse. And sadly, there is no foolproof solution, other than a secure fence.
Pulling on the leash
If your dog pulls on the leash you'll almost certainly be aware that this is a problem that is not going to go away on its own.
Not listening
Not listening tends to precede other problems, such as running away, and needs addressing promptly. You should be able to engage your dog in the space of just a few seconds. By engage your dog, I mean: make sure that they are fully focused on you and trying to figure out what you want them to do next. Getting your dog's attention is critical. TIP: You can make a start today, by practicing some simple short games with your dog - rewarding them for eye contact or a nose touch for example. Make sure you play those games throughout the day, so that your dog starts to realize you are not just a pretty face, you are actually worth listening to! Have fun, and keep your dog engaged!
THERE IS A GREAT ARTICLE ON THE WEBSITE
So – why in the world do puppies do this? Puppy mouthing is that it is a completely, normal behavior NOT a “behavior problem” that needs to be trained away. All puppies do this and should. They’re supposed to do this. It's a normal part of their development.
When you play with your puppy, let him mouth on your hands. Continue play until he bites especially hard. When he does, immediately give a high-pitched yelp, as if you're hurt, and let your hand go limp.
Pups nip at people's feet or ankles. The idea is to teach your dog that good things happen when bad behavior stops. Mouthing and nipping are natural behaviors for puppies.
For actual biting: Hold the puppy's mouth shut to stop the biting.
One way to stop a puppy from biting is to say “no” while holding his mouth/muzzle closed for a second, followed by ignoring the puppy.
Use pull or tug toys to show human play is different from playing with a puppy. Boredom busters are a great idea. We offer them in our boutique. lakewoodpetboutique.com
Aside from housetraining, I would say that puppy biting and mouthing is the single most common behavior issue..So be patient.
Your puppy puts her mouth on everything because this is the only way she knows how to interact and want to explore. Your puppy grabs with her mouth – she picks up objects to see what they feel like, bites down to see if they’re good for chewing, explores their texture and whether they can be ripped into pieces for fun.
This is how puppies instinctively want to play – if you’ve ever watched a group of puppies wrestling with each other, you know that teeth are part of the game. Young pups bite and chew on their littermates constantly, as part of their normal social interaction.
A puppy who bites your hands isn’t “bad” or defective in some way – she’s just displaying normal species-specific behavior for a young dog. This puts the burden on you to manage your interactions with her to help avoid problems, and to have patience and empathy while she learns.
So what can we do to help keep our hands, clothing, and possessions intact with a puppy in the house?
Our goal is not to “stop” this behavior or train it away – it will resolve on its own with age. Instead, we want to find ways to make this normal developmental period as painless and stress-free as possible.
Listed below are the most important steps you can take to keep your sanity:
Remember that puppies have a hard-wired, instinctive need to bite and chew on things – if you don’t provide an appropriate outlet for this behavior, your pup will find her own!
To give you some ideas, here are a few of my favorite options for chewing:
This is by no means an exhaustive list, so feel free to comment with your own suggestions if you have a favorite that I didn’t mention! If you’re not sure where to get things like this for your puppy.
Use these toys to Redirect, redirect, redirect.
You need to have a variety of different toys available anytime you’re playing with your pup. No teasing her with your hands or fingers, or using your shirt sleeve.
If you’re playing with your puppy and she bites your hands, grab one of her toys and use that to play with her instead. I would suggest having lots of different types on hand – long floppy rope or fleece toys for tugging, plush squeaky toys for biting and carrying, and smaller toys or balls for chasing or fetching.
What about petting?
If you’re trying to pet or snuggle your puppy and she bites you, calmly stop petting and ignore her until she calms down.
Don’t punish.
The problem with punishment in this situation is twofold. First, it does nothing to help your puppy understand what she should do with her mouth. Remember that this drive to bite and chew on things is deeply hard-wired in young puppies – she was born with an instinctive need to put her mouth on something, all the time. She cannot just “stop it”, any more than she could stop eating, or breathing.
So, when does it end?
Although it might feel like forever, most puppies are biting and mouthing much less by the time they are 8-10 months old.
So be patient and consistent, and remind yourself that things will get easier..
It’s easy to make mistakes when you are learning a new skill. And avoiding them is always simpler when you know what to look out for!
Here are 8 common dog training mistakes you need to know about:
Let's zoom in on those now!
1. Repeating Cues
We all want our dog to come when we call. We want to be able to say “Rover Come!” and have him rush to our side. Yet what many of us inadvertently do, is teach Rover to come to: “Rover, Rover, come, Rover come, ROVER, Rover COME, COME HERE”. That’s quite a long cue and Rover mostly knows that he has plenty of time to finish up what he was doing after he hears the first tentative Rover? Because that is what he has come to expect. You can neatly avoid this problem by training in the right sequence. You'll find examples of this sequence in our online courses but you can achieve this at home on your own. The trick is to add the cue after you have got the dog offering the behavior repeatedly and reliably. And not before.
2. Adding Duration too Quickly
Some of the things we ask our dogs to do have a ‘duration’ component. For example: when you train your dog to ‘sit’ you don’t usually want him to sit and get up again! The same with ‘down’ or with ‘walking at heel’ - two seconds is not going to be much use to us. You want a dog that will walk at heel for at least five minutes, often considerably longer. It's easy to forget that duration is an added factor of difficulty for the dog, and that we have to train for this duration, not just assume that because we say sit, the dog will sit indefinitely. Spoiler: He won’t :-) Adding duration too quickly is a common mistake. How fast you can go will depend to an extent on your dog, but a dog that will sit for two seconds today, is not going to be able to sit for five minutes tomorrow. It will take time to reach this level. Foundation Skills students will be familiar with the way we start to add time in very tiny increments during the Mat Game, to begin with. But this is vital. The most important stage in this process is the very beginning. You can use these principles yourself. Build up slowly, and increase the duration only when your dog has nailed it on the shorter time periods.
3. Rewarding the Wrong Thing
Dogs don’t do things in isolation. They do one thing, then another, then another, often in rapid succession. A dog waiting for his leash to be put on may bark, spin, pause quietly, bark, spin, sit, bark, and jump up, all in the space of five seconds. Trying to reward an appropriate behavior can be quite challenging. The way around this is to use an event marker to identify the behavior (for example standing or sitting quietly) that triggers the reward for your dog. Event markers are critical for success in force-free training. You can teach yourself to use a clicker, but you can also use a word such as 'Good!' or 'Yes'.
4. Pushing or Pulling your Dog
Dogs have an automatic response to being pushed. They push back. If you press down on your dog’s bottom, he’ll resist and push UP against your hand. This is not because he is being difficult. It’s a healthy response to being jostled. Pushing and pulling dogs around slows down learning. You can avoid this by using positive reinforcement training.
5. Trying to Dominate your Dog
We now know that trying to dominate your dog can be very confusing and even stressful for him. The good news is that most dogs have no interest in dominance, or being in control. They just behave in ways that gets them the stuff they enjoy. Such as a nice place to sleep. Great food, other dogs to play with, etc. Modern trainers get amazing results just by controlling access to these things. Pack leadership and dominance were consigned to the trash can by behaviorists some time ago, but there are still a few trainers that are not yet up to date on the latest thinking. So if you are going to take your dog to classes, pick your trainer carefully. And do consider training your dog yourself, at least to begin with.
6. Overfeeding Dogs Before Training
If you are using food in training, and most of you will be, at least in the early stages, don’t give your dog a big meal right before a training session. You want your dog to work hard and fast, some appetite will definitely help! You don’t need to starve him, but training before lunch rather than after will increase his enthusiasm for the job in hand!
7. Training Too Close To Distractions
Anything that was not in the room with him, the day you taught your dog to ‘sit’, is a distraction. This includes other family members, visitors, other dogs etc. It also includes everything in the world outside that room! That means your backyard, the dog park, the sidewalk, the fields, and beyond. Think hard about what might distract your dog BEFORE you give him a cue. And the first time you introduce a distraction, don’t get too close to it.
8. Choosing the Wrong Reward
You can’t figure it out. You make such a big fuss of your dog each time he comes when you call. You rumple his ears, rub his chest, pet him, stroke him, and tell him how clever he is. Yet still, he disobeys you 50% of the time. What’s up with that? The problem is, you are using the wrong reward. He may seem to like all that fuss, but the acid test is, does the reward increase the behavior? The definition of reinforcement in animal behavior is something that increases behavior. If the behavior you want is not increasing, the reward is just not cutting it. Get yourself a better reward! Food is the most motivating thing for almost every dog. It's also quick and easy to deliver and consume. And that’s why we use it so much in the early stages of training. Later on, we can introduce other rewards.
It’s important to know there’s a big difference between a food intolerance and a true food allergy for dogs. A dog food intolerance is when a dog has difficulty digesting a certain ingredient, like dairy, whereas a food allergy triggers an immune response.
Some dogs are sensitive to perfumes or other similar products like household air fresheners. Using powder based cleaning products, as opposed to spray or aerosol cleaning products, can help keep chemicals out of the air and away from your pet.
APOQUEL is a revolutionary dog allergy medicine that goes right to the source of itch and inflammation to provide relief. APOQUEL is prescribed by your veterinarian to control itch and stop inflammation associated with allergic or atopic dermatitis in dogs.
It’s important to understand puppies commonly have yeast blooms during stressful times such going to a new home and leaving their mother and siblings. Far too often, when dogs are diagnosed with allergies, they are actually suffering from an overgrowth of yeast. When your pet’s body is in balance, yeast is an excellent source of beta-glucan, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps ward off skin damage, repair skin damage and protect your skin. But, when your pet's body is out of balance, the problems begin...
It's very easy to look at a dog and assume his symptoms are a result of allergies. Allergies seem to impact all of us these days! But, the key difference between yeast and allergies is that an overgrowth of yeast is easily cured, while allergies are chronic and incurable. Would you prefer your dog be diagnosed with an easy to fix condition, or a condition they will battle their entire lives? This is just one more reason why groomers and veterinarians should spend time studying and understanding this condition. And it’s also why pet parents need to remain vigilant for signs of yeast in their four-legged friends.
Yeast is a naturally occurring, beneficial fungus that is a very normal part of the body chemistry in both pets and people. Yeast, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. The word "yeast" comes to us from Old English -gyst, which means "yeast" and from the Indo-European root yes-, meaning "boil, foam, or bubble". There are many types of yeast - some is used to make bread, others are used to brew beer or even to make kombucha. In fact, the yeast of red yeast rice is used to lower cholesterol in some cultures. Other types of yeast occur on your skin and some forms of yeast are so helpful to the body that doctors are using it to develop drugs that treat aggressive forms of cancer! As long as the balance is maintained through a healthy immune system, all is well.
Plus a multivitamin is key to balancing your dogs system.
Some species of yeast are known as “opportunistic pathogens” which is another way of saying; you’re going to have serious problems if the system becomes unbalanced. The Candida genus of yeast contains over 200 yeast species. It's the most common type of fungal infection in people and pets with compromised immune systems. It can invade any part of the body in both animals and humans. Yeast dermatitis, also known as Malassezia dermatitis, is caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Malassezia pachydermatis. This type of yeast tends to invade ear canals as well as your pet's more "personal" areas. Yeast does not require sunlight to grow, which is why we often see symptoms of the fungus in “hard to reach” areas, like under the belly, in ears, between the paw pads and nail beds, as well as other regions. The problems with yeast occur when our pets’ natural body chemistry is disrupted and is out of balance. This can occur when small things happen to your pet, including:
Symptoms are already in place by the time yeast completely unbalances the system. Pet parents, groomers, and veterinarians should be very watchful of the following symptoms of a yeast infection (or overgrowth of yeast):
Preventing yeast infections starts with understanding what disrupts the natural balance of your pet's system. Here are some measures you can take to ensure a healthy balance:
If you suspect your pet has a severe yeast infection or if the condition persists, it's always a good idea to consult with your veterinarian. They can provide diagnosis and recommend effective treatments tailored to your pet's specific needs.
Yeast infections in dogs can be a challenging issue to deal with. However, with the right knowledge and preventive measures, it's possible to maintain a healthy balance in your pet's system. Always keep an eye out for symptoms and seek professional help when necessary. Your pet's health and comfort are paramount.
Most modern pet parents lead very busy lives with jobs and children, and our dogs often end up spending a good portion of the day home alone. A lonely, bored dog will find a way to occupy her time that can be destructive to your furniture and clothes and potentially harmful to herself.
Hiring a dog walker may actually save you money in the long run when you factor in damages to your home. The dog walker can exercise your dog for as long as you think necessary, and hopefully your pooch will just snooze the rest of the day, until you get home.
Here’s suggestions to ease your dogs anxiety:
Frozen uncooked cow bones- Give in while in the crate Beef Bones – Chewing reduces stress and anxiety in dogs. Look for them at our butcher or grocery store- KEEP MEAT AND MARROW. DO NOT FEED THE SMOKED BONES – THEY ARE TOO HARD AND WILL BREAK TEETH. VERY DANGEROUS.
To find more try: 2019 Ontario Low Cost Spay Neuter Vaccination Microchip Clinics
Your dog’s needs are important, and we recognize that not all products are created equal so our holistic boutique offers all you might need for a healthy pup!
