|
Is there such a thing as too many toys?
The bigger question is how often do you swap them out? Like anything else, dogs get bored with the same ‘ole same ‘ole. Keep it interesting by swapping out on the week you wash them. Variety is nice but do not get crazy with too many choices, so we recommend less than 7 toys out at a time. What are the safest toys for small dogs? Crinkle toys, soft toys, the Kong Plush Duck, squeaky toys, Goughnuts Tug Dog Pull Toy, Hide and Seek toys to name a few. Kong has some of the best rubber toys. A squeaker bulb should be in good working order and very audible. Are there toys that break/damage the teeth? Thumbnail test: if you cannot make a thumbnail imprint on the material it may be one to avoid. Bones, hooves, antlers, tennis balls (fuzz ruins enamel), ice cubes by themselves not in the water, very hard nylon toys, sticks, hard cheese such as Yak chews because it fails the test for softness. Pig ears are high in fat and can cause stomach problems. Bully sticks pose choking hazards and while high in protein, dogs with kidney issues should not be given these. There is a bully stick holder (The Bully Holder/ Bully Grip) available. Knotted rawhide chews should be avoided because the knot presents a choking hazard. Older Toy dogs have notorious problems with their teeth and tarter. Damaged teeth because of chewing bones and so forth, is one hazard that can be skipped. Teeth need cleaning once every 3-4 years. Check with your veterinarian. Is the toy’s size important? The size does matter whether you are talking about ring toys or others especially balls. Balls need to be large enough they cannot be swallowed. How often should you clean toys? Clean toys about every 2 weeks in the dishwasher or other antibacterial wash. What if your dog's mission is to destroy the toys? There are toys made for these aggressive chewers such as Outward Bound FireBiterz., GoDog, Chewy offers a monthly box of ‘Tough Dog Chews’, West Paw toys, Feeko dog toys and others. As always it should be size appropriate. What about toys for teething? ‘Durability” seems to be the go-to word for these products, but it does not preclude safety. Teething is a long period for puppies (34 weeks/almost 8 mos./238 days +/-). Variety, patience, and recognizing it will slow down one day (except paper products). My Havanese are older but still need their chew toys. I really like teething toys with a texture like bumps. Vary texture and all you can with chew toys for the long haul. Remember trading out the toys helps prevent boredom. What about Bully Sticks? Bully sticks and rawhide products (aside from check origin issues) are a difficult subject for me. Both products can cause digestive problems but have long been go-to products for chewing. One of the bigger concerns is when the product is chewed almost into oblivion and becomes a choking hazard. There are bully stick holders. Be sure to look for the odor-free variety. It requires monitoring. I used to offer rawhide sticks but no longer buy them because of processing concerns, etc. Things to watch out for:
Can tug-of-war be dangerous? This is one of our family’s most fun games. Kiwi is all business with a sock and tug-of-war but it is important not to launch the dog or have the feet leave the ground. Why? Well, launching your dog into space speaks for itself as a no-no but your dog’s teeth, shoulders, back, and neck can also be permanently damaged if the game gets out of hand. Be sure all the players understand the rules. What about rope toys? Cotton ropes are naturally safer products than other materials because of swallowing bits and pieces. ¨ What are some Safety Tips? Watch your dog for a little while with a new toy. Chemicals. Other safety issues should include if the toy is treated such as some rawhide products. Flavorings can encourage bacteria growth. BPA. Well Chewed chews need to be thrown out. Well chewed products disintegrate into smaller pieces than can be swallowing hazards. Construction. Some dogs need to be watched if they are determined to destroy a chew, but some chews come apart at the seams easily, break, or tear up too early. Size matters with any toy. Be careful of rings or circles since they can present a danger if they are not the right size. Toys exposed to vastly varying temperatures outdoors deteriorate faster than indoor toys. Wash the toys about every 2 weeks If your fingernail cannot leave an imprint on a toy, it is too hard for your puppy’s teeth. Is there any mention of BPA with your choice of toy? See Jolly Pets, West Paw Design or Planet Dog. REFERENCES: “7 Chew Toys That Can Damage Your Dog's Teeth - Cherry Hill.” Cherry Hill Animal Hospital, 28 Jan. 2020, https://cherryhillanimalhospital.com/chew-toys-can-damage-dogs-teeth/. Arnold, Brandy. “Are Your Dog's Toys Poisoning Him?” The Dogington Post, 30 Mar. 2022, https://www.dogingtonpost.com/are-your-dogs-toys-poisoning-him/. Ashley, Sarah. “The Best Chew Toys for Dogs That Are Safe and Vet-Approved.” PureWow, PureWow, 12 July 2019, https://www.purewow.com/family/dog-chew-toys-safe-vet-approved. Cathy Madson, MA. “The Best Dog Chews and Toys.” Preventive Vet, 18 Aug. 2021, https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/best-dog-chews-and-toys. Turner, Dr. Beth. “Potential Dangers of Popular Dog Chews.” Preventive Vet, 18 Aug. 2021, https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/potential-dangers-of-popular-dog-chews.
0 Comments
Constructive playtime promotes a healthy mind and body for puppies. Of course, it cannot be an all-day event, but it has to be a part of their life. It battles boredom helps to minimize bad behavior or destructive behaviors. It promotes thinking, problem solving, and in your puppy. So which in turn makes training easier! Your puppy is looking for fun activities to appeal to his sense of smell, cognitive functions and to physically challenge him. Puppies are driven to explore, chew or some other mouth activity and play. Consequently, something will fulfill these needs and trust me, you want to direct or control those parameters. Minimize destructive behavior: Whining, barking, digging, inappropriate chewing, depression, frustration, obesity, anxiety, biting, by exercising 30-60 minutes a day. Try to incorporate mental stimulation challenges. Repeating challenging physical exercises can lead to damaging growth plates and soft tissue injuries in puppies younger than 18 months. Be careful to limit full on exercise incorporating jumping, climbing, and intense physical activity to an older dog. At one time luxating patella was considered solely hereditary but now it is considered more of a result when puppies under a year old jump off/on furniture too much as it can also be a result of traumatic injury. We do not let our Havanese on the couch unless they are in our laps, at which we put them down on the ground when they are ready. Until they can get on the couch themselves because on average, they are unable to do so themselves until 6-8 months of age. At that point we generally recommend the stairs, Pet Gear Easy Step, particularly with toy breeds. Training: Positive training is all about rewarding the ‘Dos’ vs. Aversion Training starting at 8 weeks. Havanese generally want to please so by encourage that through positive experiences when you are training. The best training advise is “Start as you mean to continue: consistency, reward, praise, repeat.” There are many cute puppy behaviors that become unacceptable behaviors in a few short months. If it is not allowed from the beginning then retraining is a non-issue. Retraining is to be avoided. Build It Up: The point is to build up your puppy's experience and confidence up through repetition, consistency, and positive experiences. Successful training is starts slow. When training repeat command 3-5 times. Ten seconds in a puppy’s life is an eternity, especially with when they under 12 weeks old. So, sitting or staying for even a count of 3 is worth rewarding and praising like the accomplishment it is. Example: Command, sit, praise & treat- wait until consistent Command, sit, praise & treat- Consistently 3 days in a row Command, sit, Command Wait (wait 10 seconds), praise & treat Command, sit, Command Wait (wait 10 seconds), praise & treat- Consistently 3 days in a row Command sit, Command Wait 20 seconds etc. A fatal mistake is to push too hard too early to accomplish too much. Groundwork. You are laying the groundwork for a lifetime. Keep it short, upbeat, and fun. The reward here is that instead of dealing with a stubborn puppy, they are proactive in their training. You puppy wants to train, they want the treats, and are willing to work for it. Another thought to consider is that you are teaching a foreign language. A puppy’s first language is ‘dog’. From you they are actually learning tone, words and the connectivity involved with certain actions such as with potty training. Always use the puppy’s name, make eye contact, and then say the command. Keep it short. If you need to tell your puppy, “No”, do not limit it to the word only. If your puppy gets in the trash, identify the ‘no’ – trash. Connect an action to the subject that connects to “No”. Example: “Fido, no, get out of the trash.” Walks: Wait a week after your puppy has received their 16 week shots before taking them out in public, i.e. your front yard or park. Defer with your vet. Puppies are not made yet for long walks. Early walks with puppies are about their pace, exploration, and socialization. When training our Havanese to walk we use:
Why do we do it this way?
Start slow: The first time you take take your puppy out, expect it to be ten to twenty minutes. The goal is to have your puppy within one foot of your right ankle. A little faster walking pace will help keep the pup’s attention focused more on you once they have the idea of being on a leash. Otherwise you may end up carrying your puppy if your walk exceeds what they are physically cable of at the time. Avoid the retractable leash: Why? Allowing a pup to reel out to 16 feet or more negates the possibility of rescuing him from an attack. You cannot get to him or him to you quickly enough. It allows him to wander into a dangerous situation. The ‘return’ can injure a small dog’s trachea, or yourself. There are other hazards, but it teaches the puppy nothing about walking correctly with you. Pulling, running about, being behind you and more are not behaviors associated with walking by your side. Spend the time you have fruitfully. Beware: Remember to bring a cup and water for hot weather and always consider the temperature of the pavement. Asphalt holds the heat greater than concrete or sand. Asphalt can run more than 40 degrees hotter than the given temperature. Concrete usually runs about 10 degrees warmer than a given temperature except in the middle of the day when the temp is still climbing on hot days. 120 degrees on the concrete is uncomfortably warm for a dog. At 140 degrees burns and blistering on his pads can begin. It is easy to forget a dog's temperature is higher than our own and this can complicate things in hot temperatures. Closing: Will playtime with your pup solve or derail all bad behavior? No, not totally. It is an age appropriate, very valuable tool to secure your puppy’s best temperament and behavior compared to not recognizing its value. As your puppy grows, they will find good and bad behaviors to explore. It's normal. The Bristol study went so far as to suggest that the owner is the “far better predictor of how aggressive a dog will be” which highlights the monumental impact an owner has on a puppy. There are other factors that contribute to good and bad behavior but playtime with your puppy has tremendous benefits and does not require a trainer, a special spot or expensive books or programs to accomplish.
Programs
Enroll after ALL vaccinations received (4- 6 months of age.) AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program Followed by AKC Canine Good Citizen Recommendations: Dogs: Their Secret Lives, (Oct. 14, 2013): This documentary illustrates why it's critical to offer bored dogs and puppies alternative choices to stimulate and to comfort them while apart. 'Puppy Socialization,' Free AKC ebook 'Puppy Culture Exercise Booklet: Puppy Fitness That Fits The Puppy Second Edition', By: Jane Killion Chart for Exercise Guidelines for Puppies - PuppyCulture Exercise Poster by Madcap Productions Remote Camera References: “50 Puppy Training Tips to Help You Stay Sane.” The Dog People by Rover.com, 14 Mar. 2019, https://www.rover.com/blog/50-puppy-tips-for-easier-training/. “Appropriate Exercise.” PUPPY CULTURE, https://shoppuppyculture.com/pages/age-appropriate-exercise-1. Arellano, Anastasia. “Hidden Cameras Show Owners What Their Dogs Do When They're Home Alone.” The Animal Rescue Site News, 20 Aug. 2020, https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/dogs-their-secret-lives-documentary/. Bender, Amy. “What to Do If Your Dog Has Separation Anxiety.” The Spruce Pets, The Spruce Pets, 14 Mar. 2022, https://www.thesprucepets.com/treating-separation-anxiety-in-dogs-1117889. Greenwood, Arin. “New Study on Canine Aggression Says Don't Blame the Breed.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 7 Mar. 2014, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dog-aggression-study-applied-animal-behaviour-science_n_4911861. How Hot Is That Sidewalk? A Temperature Study ... - Lhaps.com. https://www.lhaps.com/images/DogTemperatureArticle_09jun2010.pdf. Hunter, DVM, Tammy, and Earnest Ward, DVM. “Luxating Patella in Dogs.” Luxating Patella In Dogs | VCA Animal Hospitals, https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/luxating-patella-in-dogs. Magazine, Smithsonian. “Owners, Not Breeds, Predict Whether Dogs Will Be Aggressive.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 4 Mar. 2014, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/owners-not-breeds-predict-whether-dog-will-be-aggressive-180949962/. “Puppy Training: How to Train a Puppy - Tips & Tricks.” American Kennel Club, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/puppy-training/. “Spot the Difference: Front Clip versus Back Clip Harnesses.” Andrea Arden Dog Training, 18 Oct. 2016, https://andreaarden.com/dog-training/spot-the-difference-front-clip-versus-back-clip-harnesses/. Stephanie Gibeault, MSc. “Puppy Exercise & Activities for Training Your Puppy.” American Kennel Club, American Kennel Club, 20 Apr. 2021, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/keep-your-puppy-active-and-out-of-trouble-with-stimulation-and-exercise/. Team, Petfeed. “22 Ways to Play with and Exercise Your Dog Indoors.” Petfeed - Pet Care Tips, How-to Guides, Funny Stories, Comics, and Videos, Petfeed - Pet Care Tips, How-to Guides, Funny Stories, Comics, and Videos, 28 Mar. 2022, https://blog.petcube.com/indoor-dog-exercise/. Team, Pets4Homes Editorial. “How to Motivate a Dog to Play and Exercise.” Pets4Homes, Pets4Homes, 21 Mar. 2022, https://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pet-advice/how-to-motivate-a-dog-to-play-and-exercise.html.  Dog Food/Treats:
Medicine/Preventatives/Vitamins:
Toys
Necessities, i.e. Collar/Harness/Leash/Beds/Feeders/Crates/Pee Patches/Playpens
|
PreviousArchives
May 2023
Categories
All
|
||||||||
RSS Feed
