Clicker Plus

We all have to take the time to train our dogs. But it doesn't have to be chore. Training should be fun.  Almost every interaction with your dog can be a training opportunity. So instead of trying to find a block of time to train your dog, “Click anywhere. Train everywhere.”

Clicker training is a method that uses a clicker which makes a mechanical noise to capture a desired behavior from your dog. Because your timing is crucial, often people find the ease and speed of a clicker favorable to use. The sound is easily recognizable and reinforces to your dog they've done the right thing and will be rewarded. This training method is considered very effective and humane.

The Clicker Ring is taking things to another level. This clicker is in a ring shape designed to fit on your index finger so you can treat with that same hand and have your other hand free to hold your leash. In today’s world we are all about conveniences.  I can’t think of a more convenient place to keep a clicker than on my finger!

If you believe in clicker training and would be interested in the Clicker Ring, join the Clicker Plus Campaign. You can read more about the product and campaign and see what else is in the works.

Follow Clicker Plus on Facebook.

Happy training!

German Shepherd Puppies

I love German Shepherds. They are beautiful, fearless and deeply loyal.

Many years ago I adopted a German Shepherd/Collie mix named Mika at age 8 from my local shelter. Within two days she was completely bonded to me and never wanted me out of her sight until the day she passed away in my arms at the age of 15. She was an amazing dog and I still miss her and think of her often.

If you are planning or have already started your adventure with a German shepherd puppy, you will probably want to know all there is to know about this wonderful breed.  “Shepherd Puppies” is a website for people who want only the best for their German shepherd puppies.

Here you can read articles or watch videos on finding, caring for and training your puppy.

When you bring a puppy into your life, you are making a commitment to give them the necessary care, exercise and stimulation so they live a happy and long life with you. In return, you will be given unconditional love, devotion and companionship.

We are so fortunate to have unlimited resources to help us along the way.

<<<<<

Love your Dog Tee Shirts

Do you love dogs?  Do you love t-shirts?

Summer is in full swing and t-shirt weather is here again. And all you dog lovers out there have more choices than ever with “Love your Dog Tee Shirts”.

There are numerous breeds, designs, colors and sizes to choose from.  So many choices that you will find it hard to pick just one!

Keep them for yourself or give as gifts, your dog loving friends will love them too.

They are categorized by breed and new designs are being added often so don’t despair if you don’t see your favorite there yet. Like the fan page on Facebook and get up to date information so you don’t miss out.

Visit the website and see more of these great designs for yourself.

Guest Article - The Ultimate Puppy Potty Training Accessory Checklist

Are you about to get a new puppy? Next to hugs and snuggles, potty training is one of the first things you'll need to consider! This quick checklist will walk you through everything you'll need to get your puppy started off on the right track.

 Scoopers and Bags

This guide starts with the simple stuff. Scoopers and bags seem straightforward but you'll probably have to experiment to see which options work best for you. There is a huge selection out there: heavy-duty or lightweight, cute colors or plain and inexpensive, biodegradable, scented, odor-blocking, etc. Make sure to figure out which type of bag you prefer before investing in the little dispenser mechanism to go with.

If you happen to purchase a jaw scoop for the backyard, make sure to put quality first. They aren't fun to repair and are expensive to replace.  Not up to the task? Ask your local lawn care services to recommend a good weekly pickup team.  You'll still have to handle waste when walking the dog though, but the squeamish can still rely on handheld scoopers to avoid getting too close.

Indoor Potty Supplies

It might seem strange to enable a pet to potty indoors, but sometimes leaving the puppy alone for more than a few hours is unavoidable – and a puppy's underdeveloped bladder cannot function on pure willpower alone. The good news is that setting up an indoor potty zone does not have to be detrimental to the training process.

Many trainers recommend using an enclosed space that contains a newspaper-lined place to potty and a separate space to sleep, stretch, and turn around.  Some puppies are quirky and might want to sleep on the newspaper instead of evacuating on it, so you may want to check the pet store for other options to see which substrate your pet likes best: shredded, granular, etc.

Complete Cleanup Kit

Puppies make mistakes. Don’t panic! Just make sure to clean the soiled spot well enough to remove every trace of the scent. Any remaining smell will trigger the puppy's need to potty there any time he smells it. A good cleanup kit should include a puppy-safe enzymatic cleaner formulated specifically to break down and remove traces and urine and feces. You can find these cleaners at any pet supply store.

Puppies are incapable of making mistakes just to spite their owners. If the problem persists, the puppy may feel scared to potty in front of a human due to negative experiences with a past owner, or because the habit of going indoors is too engrained. Strict supervision (to prevent any accidents in the first place) and lavish praise for success (to reaffirm the correct action) is the only way to prevent future accidents.

Training Books and Resources

Don't let your guard down! Even if it seems that your puppy is on the right track, there is always the possibility for bad habits to start cropping back up again. And sometimes even when you're doing everything right, the puppy might need to work on a few other skills – like avoiding distractions or feeling confident around strangers – before potty training progress can move forward.

Books and videos are great, but not as good as social training classes. A good training class goes beyond obedience and tricks, actually helping your pup get used to unpredictable experiences he might encounter daily. If you cannot work training into your schedule, take some time to contact MNDogTraining.com for potential solutions, or like their Facebook page for updates and advice.

Fun and Games

Every successful potty trip deserves a celebration. Whether you want to reward your pup with a small treat, a quick round of playtime, or just a vigorous pat on the head, success is a shared victory worth acknowledging.

Get excited about potty training! The effort you put in now will serve your puppy well for the rest of his life. If keep an upbeat attitude throughout the training period, your puppy is sure to look forward to potty breaks every time.

Potty training may seem simple, but it serves as a powerful bonding tool by opening the lines of communication between owner and pet. The learning habits established now will serve as a foundation for future skills your puppy will need. Think of potty training not as a chore, but as a worthwhile investment that will pay for itself many times over.

Written by Lisa W.

Adding to the Pack - Feeding

Dogs love food. So much that some of them will fight for it. And that is why when you have a multiple dog house, you have to manage feeding time.

Obviously this is not a challenge for everyone who has a dog or dogs. Puppies that are raised properly don’t usually develop food aggression towards humans or other dogs. These dogs have been brought up never knowing what’s it’s like to have to scrounge and do whatever it takes to survive. However when you adopt stray dogs which I have, their backgrounds can be quite different. They may have literally had to fight to eat. And while many dogs instinctively eat quickly, in my experience strays tend to inhale food, maybe to ensure no other dog or animal gets it before them. But that doesn't mean they cannot learn to slow down and relax around food. It means you have to manage things until they do.

When you bring a new dog into your pack, you should supervise feeding time carefully. This is a great opportunity to practice your leadership skills. You are the one providing the food on your terms. Have your dogs sit and wait patiently for their food (start with short times and build up). This helps them develop patience skills and to learn that they have to work for their food.  It’s also a good idea to stay with them while they are eating to make sure they stay at their own bowls, and to pick them up when they are finished. Even an empty bowl can cause a fight while relationships are new.

When I prepare my dogs food, I like to touch it with my hands to have my scent on it; I want my dogs to know the food is coming from me. I also use a technique I learned to help avoid your dog guarding her food. You hold a treat in your hand while your dog is eating and bring it near the bowl so you’re dog can smell it, and drop it in the bowl or let her take it from your hand. As time passes, you can put your hand right into the bowl with the treat and eventually without. Practicing this often will teach your dog that your hand near her bowl is no big deal.

Judique, Effie and Bear in the Kitchen

The first few days after we adopted Effie, we fed all three dogs together. It was pretty crazy. We don’t have a huge kitchen so it felt a little cramped. And the speed the dogs ate added more stress. Bear my sweet senior eats very slowly and it takes time to get him started. Our new adopted Effie couldn't sit still for one second before she wolfed her food down, like it was her last meal. And Judique who has been with us for a couple of years apparently felt as though Effie was a threat and ate about twice as fast as normal. Eventually we settled on feeding Bear by himself. It makes sense since realistically he won’t be around for years and we want him to enjoy his food at his own pace. And to this day it still works fine for us. The two girls get extra playing time outside and Bear eats in peace. And I’m happy to report that Judique is back to eating at her regular speed. And that Effie can now sit and wait for her food, although the longer I make her wait, the more drool I have to clean up. I’m hoping she will slow down a little one day too!

Stay tuned for "Adding to the Pack - Toys/Bones"

No Hot Pets Campaign is BACK!

This post is on behalf of the Ontario SPCA

As you all know, the issue of owners leaving their pets in their cars during summer is a constant problem we face. During the hot summer months, hundreds of reports are received daily, putting animals’ safety at risk of injury or even death.

Last year, we launched the “No Hot Pets” campaign nationwide to help educate the public on the dangers of leaving pets in vehicles. The campaign was met with great response!

We need your help in 2014 to make the campaign an even greater success!

How you can help:

• Visit nohotpet.ca and learn about the campaign 
• Share the decals, leaflets and posters in your community (these can be found on the 'Downloads' page under 'Resources') 
• Spread the word on your social media accounts by sharing the No Hot Pets message on Facebook and using the hashtag #nohotpets on Twitter 
• Have yourself and your friends and family take the No Hot Pets Pledge and receive a free decal for your car, while supplies last 

We would love your assistance in helping us share this important message and look forward to working together to promote the dangers of hot pets in vehicles.

For more information on how you can join the No Ho Pets campaign, visit nohotpets.ca.

Thank you for your help!

Alison Cross
Director, Marketing & Communications
Ontario SPCA

Dog Diaper Hut

Diapers aren't just for human babies anymore. We dog people have discovered they can come in handy for our fur babies too.

A couple of years ago my senior dog Bear developed an abscessed tooth. By the time we discovered it, the infection had affected his kidneys. He was peeing in our house every day. If anyone has gone through that, you know how stressful it can be. I felt bad for him and house smelled of pee, not an easy odour to get rid of. So I did what I thought I’d never do and bought diapers for him. They were very helpful and more useful than putting pee pads all over the house. Luckily once the vet took the nasty tooth out and the infection was cleared with medication, his kidney levels stabilized and he was back to normal.

Senior dogs aren't the only ones that can suffer from temporary or chronic involuntary urination. Dogs of all ages, even puppies can suffer from incontinence for all kinds of different reasons. It can be challenging to determine the cause and whether or not it’s physical or psychological. Your vet can help.

If you ever find yourself in need, the Dog Diaper Hut is your ultimate guide to comparing dog diapers. They include pictures, brand names, size, gender, quality, price and rating. That will help you find the most suitable ones for your dog. I would have liked to have a site like this back when I was in need.