Thursday, March 28, 2013

My dog is eating everything what should i do

Thank you for the questions readers have been asking me. I love helping other dog owners to rear dogs and have a good personal relationship with their pets.

Last week I got this mail from one of the readers

Question: Hi! My name is Jenny and I am 32 years old working woman. We have a yellow color Labrador and she is very well behaved with us. She is a completely trained dog from a Labrador retriever training school. She eats her meal on time and patient about her meal but when we are not around her behavior changes to a different dog. We have chained her in the backyard or have to crate her when we went out because she would go to kitchen jump up on the slabs and eat things like coffee, bread, eggs, beans and anything that is in her reach. Things become messed up when she tears apart the garbage and last night she reached to my drawer to get the candies.

We live in a small house with my parents and they declines to chain her or crate her in the house. And with practice she became an expert artist in doing these type of things (once she opened a jar of jam that was in the center of the dining table without leaving any marks of her existence. She is a healthy dog(45-50lbs) and has 1 hour run 2 times a day. She has many dog toys to play with. We feed her 3 times a day. But I don't know how to deal with it as the dog is totally out of control when we are not at home. Please help because I don't want to loose her.

Answer: According to my opinion as a Dog behavior specialist these things can become more difficult if she would eat garbage which can result in infection which leads to health complications.

Putting her into crate or chaining the dog in the backyard does not work in most cases. Most probably when your pet steals anything she sees it as reward and maybe appreciating herself which I called "self rewarding".

Ensure that your dog is busy when you are not there ensure that someone is around and preferably keep her busy. As a precaution you need to keep all the eatables far away from her. Kitchen slabs should be clean with minimum clutter. Drawers must be locked full-time, does not matter you are at home or outside.

Another thing that you can do is when the food is around your dog, just hold the leash from top of the neck and pull it gently when she gets excited. This exercise will train her brain not get excited when she sees food..

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

How to Find Labrador Retriever Breeder

You have a list of Labrador breeders in your locality but you are confused about which breeder to choose to help you find the right dog. A good Labrador breeder can help you choose the right breed depending upon requirements and where you live. A good dog breeder can help you rare your dog into a good friend and company.

To help dog owners choose the right breeder I have built a questionnaire to evaluate Labrador breeders:

  • Do not book an appointment with a breeder but pay a surprise visit so that you are able to see actually for yourself whether the parents of the pet are reared in a good environment.
  • Ensure that the puppy's mother is there in the same kennel as of the pup.
  • The good breeder will have all the details about the dog and should have answers to most of the questions.
  • A professional breeder does not allow her dog to be in breeding before 1.5 years of age and after 7 years of age.
  • Professional breeders settle with one specific breed for breeding. They do not believe in breeding many breeds at their kennel.
  • A good breeder will offer you the puppies once they are 12 weeks old or above.
  • A professional will have records, including vaccination details and a photo album of all the litter form which the pup is being adopted.
  • A good breeder will not hesitate in answering any questions you have about the breed. He will also tell you about the health of the pups and health issues that the specific breed is having in their life span.
  • Is the puppy is of show quality, if not why?
  • Is the puppy socialized or not?
  • A good breeder can describe you all the positive points of the puppy and he will also not forget to share the negative ones.

Hope all of these things will help you in finding a good Labrador breeder and best of luck for adopting a new puppy.

A letter from a Labrador Retriever puppy

I am a small, nervous and poor Labrador Puppy and I will promise you that I will love you and be with you till my last breath. I understand I have habits that need to be improved but I need your cooperation or you can put me to a Labrador training school.

A few facts about me which will help you understand me:

  • My level of understanding things and ability to learning is same as 8 months old baby. I am teething and that is why I love to chew everything that is in my reach. With your help and instructions I will understand what I cannot chew on. I love dog chews and those keep me away from chewing anything and everything.
  • I am a Labrador Retriever Puppy; so I am unable to hold on my bladder more than 1-2 hours. Just like other dogs I poop anywhere I want, but I guess you humans prefer pooping at a particular place. Help me understand that.
  • If I pee on your precious carpet or on the floor do not punish me for that. Unlike humans I need to pee and poop regularly though I need to learn that but give me time for that. It would help if you do not give me water after 8PM.
  • I am a small Labrador Pup, things will become messed up but you have to keep calm with me. My life as a pet is something new for me and only patience can teach me.
  • I like to play; I will bite you, attack you, chase imaginary strangers at our house and run behind balls, other pets, kids even after every moving thing.Please do not get angry with me or expect me to sleep whole day and stay on one corner of the house. Guide me in playing or buy me some dog toys and few to chew toys as well.
  • I need to play as every form of activity is beneficial for my growth and my mental exercise. If I pinch you with my teeth please forgive me and command me in a loud hoot, I will get your message in a flash "This is how we, dogs, talk with each other".
  • Do not hit, kick or beat me as I am a little Puppy and you will not beat a 8 month old baby as well, so do the same with me. If you treat me miserably then I will grow up with a fear of beaten up, therefore I’m likely to become an aggressive dog.
  • I am a Pup and I have feelings and it hurts me when you beat me or kick me. Although you cannot compare me with a human neither I can behave like a human, nor I am a robot who can obey your each command.
  • I truly love you, want to live with you, and want to be the part of the family. I like being in a group or pack of other animals. My aim is to please you become your best friend until my last day.
  • I am a Labrador Puppy and I have to learn many things, need to prove you that I can be the best dog you have ever seen, and I know you are also learning things. But its ok I love you. So my request is for you to learn everything about training puppies and their behaviors.
  • Take advantage of the fact that you can read and read books on dogs, meet veterinarians and make use of another marvelous invention - The Internet. Please register me for Labrador Retriever Training or Puppy obedience classes, as it helps me to be more social and will lay a strong foundation for my life.
  • I am a Puppy right now, please make some time to guide me, teach me and work with me. In few months I will become a handsome Labrador dog, hopefully that day you will be proud of me.
  • We will have a bond of trust and love with each other. But all this will be happen if you keep calm and be patient with me.

I hope this conversation about me will help us in building a better and life long relationship

Lots of Love

Your Labrador Retriever Puppy