There seems to be an overload of information out on the web right now concerning dog house training and housebreaking techniques. If you do a brief Google search on the subject, you’ll be sure to run into thousands of articles and how-to-guides full of information. However, not all of it is actually true. Amid the helpful tips on how to train your pet, you’ll also find plenty of myths that remain unverified and yet continue to be passed on as sound advice. So in order to shed some light on the matter, here is a list of some of the most popular house training myths today and whether or not they hold up to the test.

Clean up your pet’s bathroom accidents with club soda!

This is one of the most popular myths that people will call upon when discussing ways of housebreaking your dog. Inevitably, there will be some accidents in the beginning, when your pet hasn’t yet learned to go potty outside on its own. However, club soda will only help to a certain point. It may get rid of a small stain or pile, but as far as getting rid of the accompanying odor, it won’t really do much good. To make sure that your pet’s bathroom accidents don’t leave a mark (visible or otherwise), use a high-powered enzymatic cleaner that is made especially for that purpose. It’s important to get rid of the odor, not just because it’s unpleasant to humans but because your dog will recall the odor next time it needs to go, and will return to the same spot again unless you get rid of the smell. On a side note, you’ll also want to avoid using ammonia as a stain cleaner. It gives off a scent that dogs interpret as urine, or in other words, an open invitation to use that spot as a toilet.

If your dog rolls on its back and urinates, the house training isn’t working

This is a common misconception. If your dog rolls onto its back and urinates, it does NOT mean that the housebreaking isn’t working. This kind of behavior is actually a sign that your dog is intimidated or is scared of you. It’s called “submissive urination” and it happens when your dog wants to show respect or deference. How do you fix this problem? Try to be a bit more accommodating and not so intimidating. Don’t scold your dog after it performs this submissive behavior. Leave it alone for a minute and then clean up the mess. Continue with your normal housebreaking routine, but make an effort to crouch down next time you pet your dog so that you are at eye level with it. Don’t look it in the eye, as this may signal that you are trying to enforce your dominance over it. And make sure to give it plenty of love and attention.

Adult-sized crates are best, even for pups

This one is, quite simply, false. The idea of buying an adult-sized crate for your puppy stems from the belief that it’s best to get the puppy used to a bigger crate so that you don’t have to wean it out of the smaller ones gradually (something that is not just time consuming, but also expensive). However, putting a small puppy in a big, adult-sized crate will only accomplish one thing: it will encourage the pup to use one end of the crate to sleep and the other end to eliminate. Nonetheless, it is true that buying a new crate for each stage of your puppy’s development can get quite pricey. The best way to solve this crate training problem is to buy an adult sized crate with a divider that can be moved to adjust the size of the space available to your dog as it grows up.

Do NOT scold your puppy after an accident

This one, surprisingly enough, is true. For a long time people have held to the belief that scolding your puppy and rubbing its nose it its own waste was essential to teaching it not to make a mess where it’s not supposed to. When articles started coming out preaching the exact opposite, many people remained skeptical. But as any professional dog trainer will tell you, scolding your dog is an ineffective training method. Often, it will only serve to frighten and intimidate them, as they probably won’t remember what it is they did to make you so angry. The best way to housebreak your puppy is by taking it out to the yard or designated bathroom area at regular (usually 2-hour) intervals and keeping a close eye on it during its house training period so that you prevent accidents before they happen. And more importantly, reward your dog with affection and treats when it performs the desired behaviors.

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Cute, cuddly, sweet little puppies are able to steal the hearts of many in a matter of seconds. However, much like anything else that you love, a puppy is a huge responsibility. It takes lots of time and energy to train, feed, and raise a newborn puppy, and depending on the breed, it may be much more difficult than you anticipate. While parenting manuals are abundant, many could use guidelines on what to expect when you’re expecting a puppy!

Choosing a Puppy

There are thousands of breeds and mixes of canines, each with different personality quirks. If you need to be able to travel a lot with your dog, a Collie or a St. Bernard might not be the best option. Before making any final decisions on what pup to purchase or adopt, make sure you consider your lifestyle. Some dogs do not do well without constant attention, and others just love to be social with other dogs. Be sure to research the many different options before trying to get a dog that will fit in perfectly with your lifestyle. Remember, it is not easy to change dogs; you should plan on changing your lifestyle to fit your dog!

Housebreaking Your Puppy

This is one of the most difficult parts of training a puppy. It is always best to start early, though it will be difficult for a pup younger than 8 weeks to catch on to housebreaking puppy training. As soon as you have trained your puppy, both of your lives will become significantly better. Most types of dogs have to potty at least once every two hours or so. If you do not have the time and patience to devote to housebreaking a puppy, consider hiring someone or asking a neighbor to let him out throughout the day. Otherwise, it will be almost impossible for you to train your puppy appropriately.There are a few tactics to help you in the process if no one will be around to help. Many people try to use a dog litter box as well as pee pads. These can save you from cleaning up a lot of messes, and help teach dogs that there are appropriate places to urinate and defecate. Another great idea is to use a crate whenever you are not home. Not only will it keep the mess in one place, but it will also teach dogs to hold it. As they get older, they tend to avoid tainting the same area where they may eat or sleep, so they will try to hold it until you come home and let them out. Just be sure to take them outside right away so they get used to it!

Training Your Puppy

Let’s face it; puppies are like training wheels for parents. You have to teach them many things about the world, and do it all without the benefit of language. There will be ruined shoes, damaged couches, and stained rugs if you are unable to train and control your dog (and some of those things will happen regardless). The first step is to teach your dog to listen to you. Using a firm voice rather than a loud or angry voice makes a much bigger impact on the dog. If you yell at them, they will probably not associate whatever you are saying with whatever they did wrong. Affection will increase their loyalty, as well as their ability to understand your tones, and listen to your requests and demands.After you have gotten the important obedience training out of the way, you can start with the fun part! Dogs love attention, and they can tell when they have impressed people. Teaching your dog to jump, sit, and rollover is often as rewarding for them as it is for you. Not only do they get plenty of treats, but they also get much desired love and affection. You can see their enjoyment in the wagging of their tail and the energetic excitement. Using a combination of praise and treats is the best way to train your dog.Regardless of the type of dog you get, it is important to make sure that your lifestyle will support it. Many breeds of dogs are very curious and rough, and may not ever acclimate to a small apartment, or overall indoor living. Dogs are often a 15-year commitment, so make sure you have the time, money, energy, and desire to raise your canine; as well as a large dose of love and affection.

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Potty training a dog is generally a lengthy process which costs the owner valuable time, money and countless amounts of patience and it is for that reason that selecting the right product right off the bat is so significant. When deciding between purchasing a dog litter box or pee pee pads, there are many factors to consider. At first glance it may appear as though both are viable potty training and indoor toilet solutions, however there are some great financial advantages associated with the litter boxes. This guide indicates the financial upsides to training your dog to use an indoor dog litter box rather than a pee pee pad in terms of equipment costs, additional expenses, and their overall environmental impact.

The Numbers:

Speaking strictly in terms of numbers, a dog litter box is a more sound financial investment. A dog litter box requires the one time purchase of the litter box (roughly $50), and with pee pee pads the expense is cumulative. Consider the following scenario: if your dog utilizes two pads per day at $18 for a package of 30 pee pee pads, that owner is facing a $450 a year expenditure on pee pee pads alone. For five years at this same rate, this dog owner is likely to spend $2,250 on pee pee pads. The annual cost of pee pee pads measured in the cost of pads alone illustrates how indoor litter boxes are a more financially feasible option. Moreover, when owners take into account the price of correcting certain problems intrinsic to pee pee pads, the true annual cost advantage of indoor litter boxes becomes evidently clear.

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Pee pads are not a perfect invention and have inherent problems associated with their usage. How do urine stained paw prints on your clean carpet sound? Or puppy pee on your hardwood floors? Dogs stepping on a pee pee pad are essentially stepping in their own urine which they then track throughout the house. Conversely, the dog litter boxes have grates which prevent even the smallest of dogs from stepping in their own urine which is safely stowed in the space below. A dog’s tracks of urine throughout the house will have accumulative costs associated with steam cleaning carpets, furniture and odor eliminating procedures. It becomes shockingly apparent that dry paws equal happy dog owners.

Aside from tracking pee throughout the house, pee pads are also known for their leakage problems. This leakage can be as a result of the dog simply urinating more than the pee pad can handle or a defective pee pee pad. Regardless of why the pad is leaking, the result is the same: soaking your home with your dog’s urine while you are away. Continued leakage in the same place will cause undo costly damage to wood and carpet surfaces, and not to mention anything else it touches. A dog litter box is does not leak and is built for easy cleaning.

There are also certain problems with using pee pee pads that are unique to puppies. Puppies like to explore, dig and chew on things and pee pee pads are a potential target. Puppies are known for chewing pee pee pads into tiny pieces and then playing with them thereby leaving urine soaked pieces throughout the house.

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Environmental Cost:

With everyone making strides towards being more environmentally sustainable, the ecological cost of your dog’s potty training or indoor toilet should also be point of consideration. With landfills already reaching maximum capacity, pee pee pads are only further attributing to the loss of landfill space as they do not breakdown easily. On the other hand, an indoor dog litter box can be lined with old newspapers which can be discarded and recycled at the end of the each day. (It should be noted that indoor litter boxes do not require newspaper to be fully operational.)

Indoor dog litter boxes are a more economical indoor pet bathroom solution than pee pee pads. Not only is the one time purchase fee associated with a dog litter box less than the yearly expense of pee pee pads, but the additional costs associated with repairing the subsequent effects on home flooring and furniture from potential pee pad leaks and urine paw print stains, makes the decision between these two options crystal clear: dog litter boxes are more cost effective. This financial consideration coupled with the overall environmental cost of pee pee pads, in comparison to a dog litter boxes’ minimal carbon footprint, catapults indoor dog litter boxes as the best option.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Potty training your puppy can be hard if you’re a first-time owner, and even if you’ve had dogs in the past, potty training is still one of the most challenging parts of house training your pet. Every pup has its own personality, and the things you do to train it must cater to your puppy’s specific habits.However, there are a few simple tips that can make the whole process a whole lot easier. All of them have, as their underlying principle, the idea of consistency. Dog training is about getting your pet into a habit. A consistent routine is what is going to accustom your dog to relieving itself in the same place every time. Here are 10 simple tips to potty training your puppy that will keep both of you happy.

1. Dog Toilet Features. If you’re using a dog toilet, make sure that it (a) is easy to clean, (b) has a splash back, (c) has a post for your puppy to aim at, and (c) is large enough so that your pup doesn’t out-grow it so quickly.
2. Praise is the Key. Praise can go a long way in training your puppy. If it uses the dog toilet correctly, or if it does anything else that you want it to do again, for that matter, don’t forget to give it lots of praise. Doing so will ensure that your puppy will want to keep going outside when it has to, instead of just using your carpet or coffee table as a toilet.
3. Watch for Signs and Act Quickly. If you see that your pup is turning in circles or starting to crouch down like it wants to use the toilet, quickly grab your dog and lead/carry it outside. Place him where you want him to go every time. Your pup will realize soon that this is where you want it to go. Eventually it will start using that spot on its own. The key is to keep alert for signs that it wants to go.
4. Keep a Strict Feeding Schedule. Make sure that you feed your puppy at the same times every day. A consistent meal schedule will make it so that your dog has regular, predictable bowel movements. Obviously this will be immensely helpful during the potty training process.
5. Indoor Toilet: Use Newspaper. This is tip is mostly for you, the owner. It is much cheaper and just as effective to use newspaper under the grill of your indoor dog toilet, rather than a gel or litter-type products sold at pet shops.
6. Deodorize Unwanted Accident Spots. If your pup goes potty in an unwanted spot, clean it up as quickly as possible and deodorize it. This will get rid of the smell that your dog associates with going potty and will prevent your puppy form going back to that spot.
7. Play with your Pup in Accident Spots. This is related to number six. Because dogs tend not to use the toilet in spots that they associate with eating and playing, it is important to not only clean accident spots thoroughly but also to feed your puppy and play with it anywhere where there’s been an accident.
8. Frequent Attention. Give your puppy lots and lots of attention during this crucial training period. It will allow you catch accidents before they happen and will strengthen the bond between you and your pup, which will make potty training process easier and more enjoyable.
9. Restrict House Access. For the sake of keeping your house as clean as possible, restrict house access until your pup is fully potty trained. Baby gates and tile floors are recommended.
10. Keep Training Consistent. As mentioned in the introduction, consistency is key. If you’re leaving your dog with a dog-sitter or a relative for portions of the day, make sure that they use the same training methods as you. Otherwise, the pup will be confused and it will take much longer to train it properly.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Traditionally, dog training techniques worked on the basis of the reward vs. punishment dynamic, with punishment being the more prevalent teaching tool. Harsh sanctions against unwanted behavior were the norm. But in recent years, the dog training world has been experiencing a rapid shift from the old training techniques to more positive, reward-based methods.

As defined by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), dog-friendly training is “training that utilizes primarily positive reinforcement; secondarily negative punishment, and only occasionally, rarely, and/or as a last resort includes positive punishment and/or negative reinforcement.” Positive dog training seeks to use training methods that are not detrimental to the owner’s relationship with his or her dog. This means thinking in terms of rewards, not punishment, as the main tool for shaping your pet’s behavior and using learning devices that avoid physical pain, intimidation or fear.

The reason positive training methods have gained popularity is because they work. Their success lies in the fact that, like people, and nearly all other animals, dogs will keep doing things that are rewarding and stop doing things that result in no rewards or are outright ignored. No punishment is required. Just the lack of a reward is, most of the time, enough.

The trick is not to have lots of treats at hand all the time, but rather to control the outcome of your dog’s behavior. If take this bit of dog training advice and use it every day, you will quickly be able to lead your dog towards the desire behavior.

How it works

The two concepts under which positive dog training techniques function are associative learning and operant conditioning.

Associative learning says that if two things consistently happen at the same time, we eventually start expecting one as soon as we see or experience the other. This is sometimes referred to as Pavlovian conditioning, a term that derived from psychologist Ivan Pavlov’s famous experiments with dogs. In his research, Pavlov conditioned a group of canines to salivate at the sound of a metronome, because they came to associate the sound with the appearance of meat powder.

Operant conditioning, the other concept underlying the positive dog training method, involves the use of consequences as a means to modify canine behavior. Rewarding desired behavior and ignoring undesired behavior results in the near complete elimination of unwanted behavior.

One of the reasons that positive training is so effective is because it separates learning the behavior from learning the command. By associating stimulus with desired behavior, positive dog training lets the dog learn a behavior first. Then, a verbal command can be added. By breaking down the process of learning, positive training creates easy benchmarks for both dog and owner.

In traditional dog training, people tried to teach the desired behavior by saying the verbal command while physically forcing the dog to perform the desired behavior. Methods of traditional training often require the use of violence, via choke collars, prong collars and electric shocks. The idea was to use pain to coerce dogs into adopting a behavior.

This is not only painful for the dogs, but it is also a lot less effective than positive dog training techniques.

Effectiveness of Positive Dog Training

Most trainers today agree that positive dog training techniques are more effective than traditional training methods. Positive techniques tend to have better timing and focus more on specific behaviors, which helps accelerate the training process.

Corporal punishment and coercion, on the other hand, will often lead to a dog becoming aggressive and violent. Additionally, the use of pain increases a dog’s stress levels and actually impairs its ability to learn. Not to mention the fact that physical intimidation will break a dog’s spirit and make him a lot less confident around other animals and crowds.

Positive dog training eliminates the use of pain and physical coercion. This creates a stronger bond between owner and dog, as the animal will look to its owner for leadership and will look forward to performing desired behavior.

For tips on housebreaking a puppy please visit our puppy training page. 

Popularity: 13% [?]

We all love dogs, but sometimes they can really test our patience.  Here are five of the most common annoying dog behaviors, and what you can do to fix them.

The behavior:  Pooping and peeing in the house

Why it’s so annoying:  Frankly, bodily functions released in your living room goes well beyond the annoying stage and can be categorized as downright rude, animal or not. Puppy housebreaking is one of the most challenging times in a dog-human relationship.  The stress level is high and can leave first-time dog owners feel like they are in over their heads.

Puppy housebreaking tips

1. Give your dog their last food and water a couple of hours before bedtime.  Then, take them your dog potty to go to the bathroom right before you go to sleep.  Remember to praise the dog when she does her business using the dog toilet.
2. Crate your dog at night.  Dogs love their crates!  It’s part of their cave-dweller past.  The more they feel like that crate is their home, the less likely they will be to use it as a bathroom.
3. Set a timer to ring every 30 minutes.  When the timer goes off, take the dog to her dog litter box (even if she doesn’t have to go).  Praise her when she comes follows you to the dog toilet.  This will help get your dog in the “flow” of making regular trips to go to the bathroom.
4. Consider a puppy litter box.   They’re not just for cats anymore and they can significantly help curb the behavior.

The behavior:  Barking into all hours of the night

Why it’s so annoying:   Because having your neighbors mad at you all the time is like living on the border of an unfriendly nation.  Maybe nothing will ever happen, but the more that dog barks, the more tension that builds below the surface.

Tips on how to stop problem barking:

1. When the dogs bark at night, come out and tell them “bad” in a loud authoritative voice.  When the dog does NOT bark at things in the night (and provided that you are still awake) always provide praise her immediately following the behavior.
2. Crate your dog at night, placing the crate in an area of your house that will minimize the noise your neighbors will need to hear.
3. If you are unable to control the barking after 2-3 weeks of trying to discipline the dog, you should probably consider a dog training school to control the behavior.

The behavior:  Unwanted “romantic gestures”

Why it’s so annoying:  Seeing a Jack Russell Terrier hump a vacuum cleaner is funny when it’s happening to someone else on YouTube, but in your world, not so much.

Tips on how to stop your dog from humping everything that moves:

1. If your dog is a male, you should really consider having him neutered.  It helps control the pet population and does away with most of the humping behavior.Get your dog more exercise.
2. This behavior is sometimes the result of pent up energy or restlessness.  Grab your dog leash and take her out to the park for a good long run, or at the least a nice walk every day.
3. If the behavior continues, visit your vet.  There are some cases where the humping behavior is caused by a serious hormonal imbalance that needs to be treated by a professional.

The behavior:  Aggressive behavior towards people and other dogs

Why it’s so annoying:    If you got a dog to try and attract members of the opposite sex, it’s kind of hard to grab their digits when they’re running away, stricken with fear.  Nope, dogs who lunge at other dogs, small children, attractive adults or clothing store mannequins are just plain no fun to be around.

Tips on how to curb your dog’s aggressive behavior:

1. Don’t punish aggressive behavior with additional aggressive behavior.  If you strike your dog for acting in a violent manner it will only perpetuate that cycle.  You might want to consider a special dog collar instead.
2. Reward your dog for submissive behavior.   Provide lots of praise when your dog lets a situation pass with growling or lunging.
3. If the problem continues, it is absolutely vital that you get professional help for your dog.  A dog training program can help you solve the aggression problem before it puts you, your family or your dog at risk.

The behavior:  Chewing up everything in the house

Why it’s so annoying:  How a dog can bypass everything you’ve ever bought at Target to specifically destroy your Louis Vutton purse or Lacoste shirt is a mystery of behavioral science, but whatever the value of your worldly possessions may be, you don’t want them chewed to shreds my your (mostly) loveable pup.

Tips on how to stop unwanted chewing:

1. Get your dog some chew toys!    Dogs love toys like Kongs and Nylabones, and will chew on them for hours.  They’re safe, good for the dog’s dental work and give them something else to do besides laying waste to all your material possessions.
2. Praise your dog when she uses the chew toys.  Tell her “good girl” when she starts gnawing on the toys your supply.
3. Teach your dog to drop things that are not hers.  In a low, assertive voice, tell your dog to “drop it” or “leave it” when they begin to chew on your possessions.  Praise her extensively when she does what you ask her to do.

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Picture someone spending time and playing with their dog. In most cases, you might imagine the dog owner playing fetch out in the backyard with the dog, or something close to it. But sadly, not all climates offer outdoor time with your dog. In many places, there are long stretches of time where the dog simply may not be able to handle the weather, particularly colder climates. This means some adjustments may need to be made, including housing your dog indoors, training your dog to use a UGODOG indoor dog potty, and playing indoor dog games.

Indoor dog games are a great way for your dog to enjoy physical and mental stimulation. Read on for some examples of fun games that you and your dog can enjoy. Some of these games offer dog training tips for the owner, so pay attention!

One of the noisier, yet more fun games is doggy hide and seek. Have your dog sit in a different room for a second while you hide, and then call the dog. Your dog can then run into the room and run around until he or she finds you! Certain dogs can be fooled for a while, and the excitement causes the dog to run around and get good exercise while hunting you down!

If you and your dog enjoy playing fetch, then consider playing hide the toy with your dog! Show your dog the toy (usually a squeaky one), and then hide it – perhaps under a rug or something similar. Just like the hide and seek game, the dog gets excited running around looking for the toy. You can even tease the dog by squeaking it with your foot if he or she is having trouble tracking it down.

If you want to combine an indoor dog game with a little obedience training, have your dog sit, and then go across the room (or to a different room if you don’t have enough space). Then, call for your dog to come running. Once the dog approaches, immediately tell him or her to sit – the excitement may be too much for your dog, but if well-trained, your dog can hold it in long enough to obey.

Don’t let a colder climate keep you from getting the dog you want. By combining some indoor dog games for stimulation and a UGODOG dog toilet, your dog can live a full and exciting life – just as much as an outdoor dog would!

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1. Walk your Dog

This is the easiest and most efficient way of exercising your dog is taking him for walk. It is recommended that you take your dog for long walks twice daily. The length of the walk depends on the size, and fitness level of the dog. Find a local trail or park and progressively increase the length and speed of the walks on a weekly basis. Make this part of your daily routine because you owe it to your best friend.

2. Play Fetch

A fun and highly effective form of exercise is playing fetch. Grab yourself a frisby, tennis ball, stick, or any other dog toy and have yourself a blast! This provides great exercise for your dog, while not wearing you out.

3. Take a Jog

Next time you go for a run take your dog along. Keep yourself in shape, as well as your fellow canine. Hopefully you can keep up with your dog!

4. Take a Dip

With summer coming along soon take your dog for swim in your local pool, pond, river, or lake. Swimming is a great source of exercise for any canine or human. Next time you take your dog for a mid-day swim, join him!

5. Put your dog on a treadmill

If your going to be a couch potato, don’t let your dog suffer. I would have never thought of this 20 years ago, but there has been a recent trend in Dog Treadmills. You can purchase a treadmill specifically for your dog, or just put him on yours!

6. Take a stroll to the local Dog Park

Dog Parks have grown in popularity throughout the past years.

7. Cycle

Next time you ride your bike, take your dog along side of you jogging. This is not for your average canine, but for the more active and fit dogs.

8. Dog Classes

If your dog is getting bored with the exercises mentioned above, enroll your dog in a fitness class. This provides a competitive environment and can challenge your dog not only physically, but mentally.

9. Stair Climbing

This is one of the easiest exercises for your dog, and it can conveniently be done indoors or outdoors. Stair Climbing burns a high amount calories, and increases your dogs fitness level.

10. If you can’t do it, OUTSOURCE!

If you can’t dedicate enough time to your dog, hire someone to substitute for this missed exercising. Dog Walking Services have become popular in recent years and are easily accessible and convenient. Prices range for $10 to $30 dollars for a 20 minute walk.

Popularity: 14% [?]

Have you ever wished you could talk to your dog or know what they’re thinking? Well, some dog trainers believe you can through various uses of body language and other “non-aggressive” techniques. “Dog Whispering”, as the training technique is called, has been gaining notoriety among many professional dog trainers, as well as with the general public through the growing popularity of National Geographic’s The Dog Whisperer.

The technique of dog whispering is derived from the concept of horse whispering, developed in the early 19th century by Daniel Sullivan. The prevailing idea of dog whispering is that body language, tone of voice, and other “non-aggressive” techniques are much more effective than “command” techniques. Learning what types of tone and body language to use, as well as what your dog is trying to communicate to you are the first steps to becoming an effective dog whisperer.

Here are some tips and techniques that you can use to help communicate with and train your dog.

• Dogs may understand a few command words, but little more than that. If you want to communicate with your dog, you must do it through the tone of your voice.
• Understanding dog body language and what your body language communicates is a major factor in successfully communicating with your dog.
• When approaching a dog, try coming from the side. Lower yourself to around the dog’s eye level. These actions will show the dog that you aren’t being intimidating or threatening.
• Establish yourself as the “pack leader”. Don’t allow your dog to run things, so to speak. As “pack leader”, your dog will look to you for stability and will be submissive rather than aggressive.
• While communicating with you dog can bring you closer, it is always important to establish rules and boundaries with your dog. Remember that you are the owner, and must take responsibility for your dog’s actions.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Do you:

• Feed your dog brand-name dog food?
• Take your energetic puppy jogging?
• Have houseplants?
• Allow your dog to ride in your pickup bed?

If so, you may be killing your dog. Read about some of the everyday things that can be dangerous to your dog, and also some tips on how to help keep your dog safe and healthy.

Unhealthy and Dangerous Dog Foods

In this day of fad diets and health consciousness, many of us read food labels in search of the most nutritious products. The fact is, most people fail to do the same when food shopping for Fido. This can be a major mistake, especially since some of the bigger names in dog food (Iams, Purina, Eukanuba, Beneful, etc.) use corn, wheat, and rice as the main ingredients. These ingredients are difficult for dogs to digest and offer very little nutritional value. If that wasn’t bad enough, there have been several pet food recalls due to poisoning, the latest coming in March.

Solutions: Make sure to check the ingredients of your dog’s food before you buy it. Products with chicken or turkey as the first few ingredients are better quality. Try to find brands that use natural ingredients like Innova or California Natural.

Over-Exercising Your Dog

Although a nice long jog might seem like the perfect way to burn off your puppy’s energy, too much exercise can be damaging, especially for younger dogs. Exercising your puppy too much too soon can advance the onset of hip dysplasia and other joint problems in some breeds. Too much exercise can also be harmful to older dogs with arthritis.

Solutions: Start off slow with your new puppy. As they grow stronger, the length and intensity of exercise can be increased. In both puppies and older dogs with arthritis, exercise should be brief and gentle. With any pet, regular exercise is the key.

Killer Plants

Most dog owners realize that household items like insecticide, bleach, and other products can be hazardous to their dogs. Few, however, are aware of the dangers that their indoor and outdoor plants can pose to their pets. Many types of bulbs, ferns, lilies, flowers, and shrubs contain species that are poisonous to dogs. Dogs who ingest poisonous plants can experience anything from gastrointestinal problems and lethargy to seizures and death.

Solutions: Become familiar with which types of plants are poisonous to dogs. If you have any of these poisonous plants inside or outside of your home, take precautions to ensure that your dog will be safe. Dogs are naturally curious, so pay attention to what they are getting into.

Hazardous Joy Rides

Allowing your dog to roam unrestrained in the bed of your pickup as you drive around town may sound dangerous…it is. But think about how many times you’ve seen a dog in a pickup bed, ears flopping freely in the wind, as his owner barrels down the interstate. Any sudden bumps or turns could send your dog tumbling into oncoming traffic. It is estimated that nearly 100,000 dogs are killed each year by riding unrestrained in the bed of pickup trucks.

Solutions: Placing a shell over your truck bed makes it a much safer ride for your dog. A traveling crate that is securely tethered to the sides of the truck is also a safe alternative. Many cities and counties are implementing laws that prohibit dogs from being unrestrained in pickup beds.

Popularity: 9% [?]