The Pampered Pup

Dog Training Basic Commands

2010-01-27T19:05:00.001-08:00

All positive commands should be spoken sharply and distinctly during training. Make sure you also use a positive tone. Your dog will recognize your moods and associate them to their behavior by your tone of voice.

The first word the puppy should learn is their name. They actually learn the sound of their name and associate that as a directive towards them for their attention. This will come naturally over time since the family will be calling the pup by its name the day it arrives in your home.

I suggest that before you start training verbal commands that you understand your puppy’s personality. Ask yourself if they are timid, aggressive, quiet, sensitive, playful, etc? These traits will affect the type and speed of the training with your dog. Understanding the dog that is being trained is a vitally important talent of a good trainer.

As soon as you are able to touch and feel the puppy, call them by their name. Constantly give them affection and praise with the tone of your voice. Keep repeating their name over and over and over until the pup understands that when they hear their name, it is addressing them. When you prepare meals for them, call them by name and then distinctly say the word “come.” This is probably the simplest and easiest commands to teach because it is associated with something the puppy wants or gets excited when they hear that command. This theory and type of training is used in all the generic commands. Remember to always keep praising them when they obey a command and make sure they feel rewarded.

House breaking a puppy is probably the most stressful for a new trainer. However, the good news is that most dogs are generally clean in nature and sense that the house is not the place to do their thing. Knowing that canines tend to have their bowel movements in the same place that they or some other dogs have previously defecated, you need to understand that the sent left behind from previous mistakes will signal to the pup that is where they are supposed to be defecating. So when you do catch them doing something in the house that you do not want, scold them in a simple command such as “shame.” The puppy will hear your tone of voice and feel bad. Usher them outside as fast as you can. Praise them when they defecate outside. Do not use the command “no” since that is a command to have the puppy stop the current act. “Shame” is used after you have found the evidence of the unwanted act. This is a common mistake a lot of armature dog trainers have.

If you have a pup that will not heed to the command “come,” do not chance them. This will only make your puppy runaway farther. Instead, when they look at you, call their name and immediately you run away from them. Soon they will be chasing you and will associate the command “come” as intended. They will come to you.

Remember this always, a puppy should only be scolded when they are caught in the act of doing something they should not be doing. Never scold a puppy when you have not caught them in the act. Use the command “shame” when looking at the evidence but do not look at the dog when vocalizing this. Over time, they will associate the command “shame” with your disapproval mood. They may never associate it to their act unless you catch them in it. Leave it at that. No other scolding will help, in fact it will do just the opposite. It will make the puppy loose trust in you rather than want to correct their error because they do not associate the act with your mood and commands.

Dog Toilet Training

2010-01-27T19:04:00.001-08:00

Unless you have a sixth sense you can't predict when and where your dog is going to do the toilet, that is why dog toilet training is necessary. Dogs need to learn to "hold it" and go where he is supposed to as they don't know any different. In the wild dogs can go when and where they please, but this is not the wild and they need to be taught the difference.

Dog toilet training can be something of a difficult task. Every day needs to be the same and you need to give him constant attention when you can; this will make the toilet training procedure a lot easier. Your training process will take longer if you are working out of the house quite often as your dog will need to go and the house is the only place that he can.

When you start out dog toilet training you need to give him a place of his own, maybe a corner of your back room. That should be where you put his food and his bed and his toys and cover the whole floor in newspaper. When you leave the house make sure he is in that room and can't get out.

When you are gone he will obviously need the toilet and will go where he is standing, but over time he will pick a place and start to do his business in the one place, when he starts to do that you can then start to remove the paper from the area furthest away from his chosen spot. Gradually continue this until it is only a small space available for him to go, if he misses the paper then you are moving a little bit too fast and need to go back a step or two until you get to as little papers as possible. When he gets older he will be able to control his bladder movements a lot easier.

When you are at home spend as much time with your dog as possible. Dog toilet training will be much easier if you do. Every 45 minutes or so take your dog outside and whenever he does the toilet outside make sure he is praised very happily and excitedly with lots of enthusiasm, and do this everytime that he "goes" outside. He will realise that this is where he needs to go to the toilet and when he can control his bladder a little better he will wait until you come to let him out. It does take a lot of time and patience though.

Never scold your dog for doing the toilet in the house as he does not know any better. We did the toilet in our nappies until we were potty trained because there was nothing else we could do about it, when we needed we went, well dogs are the same. No dog is properly toilet trained until he is about 6 months old so it is a lengthy procedure but a great one when the end results start to show!

Prissypups.ca-Clothing-50%+ off everything

2010-01-23T15:46:00.001-08:00

Hello
With the slow economy at the moment, we would like to invite everyone to take advantage of our latest sale!! Nearly everything is marked down 50%! No kidding! Members have the benefit of getting first dibs before we go public. Check it out!! I posted a few samples below. Not a scam...most items 50% off.

Doggie Design-pink rhinestone Shirt-was $12.99 now only $5.99
Night out Dress-was $15.99 now only $7.99
Jean Tracksuite-was $16.98 no only $5.99

*Note-due to extraordinary low prices we can not offer members the usual additional 10% off. We hope you understand. If you have questions please let us know. Also order now as stock is limited.

thanks
Michelle.

I fed my Dog Chocolate over Christmas

2010-01-03T06:46:00.000-08:00

There are always dog owners, vets and pet enthusiasts alike who claim you should not feed your dog Chocolate. I hear the stories of dogs becoming violently ill, having the runs and even dying. Well over the holidays I committed a sin, and fed both our dogs chocolate. I must tell you there were serious side effects,but first let me explain what I fed them. I gave them approximately a small human bite of pure milk chocolate.

Here is the side effects I noticed when feeding my dogs chocolate:
1. While preparing it, they barked, jumped and ran the kitchen in excitement.
2. They tried to climb the counter as it smelled so good.
3. They ate it in less than 2 seconds! Garbled it right up.
4. Once done they were very happy! Wagging their little tails and asking for more!
5. They did not get sick!
6. No runs, no sickness.

Nothing but mmmmm!! The dogs loved it and I do not understand how anyone could deprive their dog of just a little chocolate in their lifetime. How would you feel?

Now I did a little research into the topic and have learned the following;

1. Do not over do it, the chocolate won't necessary kill your dog but if given too much it can be hard on their digestive system causing unwanted side effects ie) runs and vomit.
2. If your dog has an underlying condition such as heart trouble etc, you may want to give your dog very little chocolate.
3. I spoke to a vet and they advise NOT to feed your dog dark chocolate. Apparently dogs react to coco and it is very high in it and CAN be lethal.
4. Remember when feeding your dog anything always keep an eye on then after in case they have a weird reaction.
5. Any doubts contact your vet.. I am not a vet just a dog lover.

Has anyone else ever fed their dog chocolate? what is your opinion on this matter?

Dogs are a childs best friend

2009-12-14T10:36:00.000-08:00

With so much gloom in the world have you ever wondered why a child can get along so well with a dog? Dogs are truly not only mans but a child's best friend. That is because children are similar to dogs;

1. Both will eat food off the floor.
2. Children will pee and poop in the house.
3. Children love to play and do tricks.
4. A dog can judge a person just by smelling or looking at them.
5. Children are free spirited.
6. Children are not afraid to try new things.
7. Dogs will bundle up in dog clothing items such as dog jackets.
8. Children love the water.
9. Dogs chew on toys or bones, children do the same.
10. Dogs wear dog leashes to walk, children wear "harnesses."

Dog clothes in Canada

2009-12-11T06:46:00.000-08:00

We live in Ontario Canada and currently winter has finally hit here. :( I am sad to report that the temp is below zero and the snow is falling. Although the snow looks pretty, it can sure cause havoc to our four legged doggy friends. Although many dogs have a warm coat of fur, with sub zero temperatures those walks outside can cause damage to a dogs body especially their paws.

That is why I strongly suggest that you look into buying quality dog clothing items, such as a dog winter coat, or warm dog sweater. Many suggest that dogs do not need these items but living in Canada they are truly a must, especially for small or toy dogs. In the middle of the Christmas season we are all busy, however please make sure to take care of your little puppy dogs. Keep them warm by buying or even making a high quality dog clothing item! Your pup will love you for it.

We have all kinds of items at our store here. www.prissypups.ca

Mention this blog and save 10% on your first order!!!

What kind of dog food do I recommend?

2009-12-09T18:58:00.000-08:00

With so many choices for dog food on the market I am often asked by our customers what type of food I feed our dog cloth wearing, treat eating Shiatsu and Maltese.
Well for starters lets look at the various kinds of dog food products available. For the most part your dogs diet is available in soft or hard dog food. Soft dog foods are supposed to be easier to eat for your dog, and hard dog food is supposed to help their teeth.

Even with the top brand dog foods, we all know that garbage is in these foods. Soft dog food contains the bones, livers, organs etc.. of deceased animals, while hard dog foods usually contain contaminants and preservatives. Chemical agents found in Drano and Bleach have been found in store bought dog foods.

What do I recommend? First stop buying dog food at your local dog supplier or pet store retailer. Go to your local grocery store and buy wholesome, organic foods that you would eat. Take a balance of greens such as peppers, cucumbers, or beans, add some basic carbohydrates such as oatmeal, or potatoes, and finally add some lean ground meat or even cottage cheese. Keep the portions size as follows, protein size of their paw, greens the size of 3 paws and carbs 1-2 paws. Cut it up into small chunks and boom! Wholesome, natural and healthy dog food.

Why make your own? You save money, you save money and you save money... well ok besides money, you provide your dog with proper nutrition and its quality food that will not cause cancer or some other disease that is invested in store bought dog foods.

You love your dog!! do not feed them rat posion, give them fresh fruits, veggies and proteins!

Please share any receipts!!!

Must knows of Puppy Training

2009-12-07T18:31:00.001-08:00

Whatever your pup's pedigree and whatever your goals for him, any puppy is still an emotionally immature animal. At the same time, no two pups are exactly alike and what works for one puppy is not necessarily best for another.

You must constantly be aware of your pup's personality and of how you can get him to pay attention to you. However, there are some general characteristics of puppy training that are important to working with all puppies. These are basic principles which should be adapted by you as the basis of working with your puppy.

Do not get tough: Emotionally and psychologically, the puppy is still extremely sensitive. This means that learning takes place quickly, but also that fears can easily occur and inhibit learning.

Pups cannot take pressure or harsh treatment. Repetition is the key to puppy training. Never punish him if he does not do what you want him to do. This will defeat the purpose of the training and cause him to dislike the entire procedure.

Bad behavior during training sessions is more often than not a sign of the pup's lack of confidence or understanding of what you want him to do. Therefore, many repetitions will be needed.

Keep it simple: A puppy learns to do things in a step-by-step manner. For example, in teaching him to stay, do not expect him to stay put for several minutes at a time while you are off someplace away from him.

You must first teach him to stay while you stand toe-to-toe in front of him, then to stay when you are standing a couple of feet out in front of him, then to stay while you walk around him, then to stay while you are standing several feet away and not holding on to the leash.

Many pups will take several weeks to progress through these steps, but they are necessary if you want to teach "Stay" effectively. If you tell him to do something before you have properly trained him to do it and then scold him for not doing it, you are
asking for trouble. The pup will lose his confidence and will learn not to try.

Be brief: Puppies have a very short attention span. A pup learns only while he is paying attention to you, so it does not accomplish anything to keep on training when he is mentally tired even though physically he is still very lively.

Five minutes at a time is long enough. With many puppies, two minutes is long enough to begin with, gradually moving up to five minutes.

Build confidence: Your puppy needs confidence-building as well as discipline and he will constantly be telling you by his body language which one he needs more at any particular time.

Relax while you are with him; smile; speak in a pleasant voice; play running games with him. In puppy training, building confidence means knowing what you expect from your pup.

Look out for dog Supplies!

2009-12-07T05:23:00.000-08:00

Dog, the most desired animal as a pet is entertaining for some, while some detest even the mere idea of taking care of it. Dog as a pet involves various commitments. A dog needs utmost attention right from the food he takes to the place he stays as he contracts disease very easily than any other animal. Children enjoy the very presence of a dog as it is a very lovable animal.

It is very important to institute a feeling and environment of affection, confidence and make him feel at home. This feeling can be developed by providing him all the comforts he deserves; in return he will show his gratitude by being faithful and lovable to one and all in the family. Simple things can be acquired from dog supplies stores. There are numerous dog supply stores that give you the tips of taking care to the comfort it can be provided. These stores are well equipped with dog supplies and can also give you suggestions regarding dog and dog care.

Dog supplies include bed, blanket, and a bowl for water made of stainless steel or any earthenware. Glazed pottery is not advisable for dogs as these potteries are made of lead which is hazardous to dogs. A leather strap with a brawny clip fastener as well as an identification tag is good to hold them during walks. A canine type of comb and brush is required to brush their hair. Similarly, a chewing toy or a hard rubber ball is appreciated as it is convenient for him to hold in its mouth and play. This is one of the best activities for him to keep himself active throughout the day.

Dog supplies stores are equipped with various necessities of dogs like apparels, carriers, beds, blankets, bones, chews, bowls for water or feeding, food, grooming articles, health care books , stain and odor restricting powders, toys, mats, life jackets, dog houses, and many more information regarding dog its supplies and care. Dog supplies extend to the range of dog attires making it look glamorous and the best. Dog collars suitable to the attire bring grace to the appearance of a dog and they too like to look majestic. Numerous dog coats, raincoats, and sweaters are available that are practically essential and gives a gorgeous look. These clothes and other essential things vary with respect to each breed.

Subsequently, dogs need outing at rare intervals. Carrying them is a tedious and tiring process. This can be done comfortably with dog carriers, bicycle carrier, tote bag, pet carriers, and many more. Carriers are designed to suit the traveling styles. Dog carriers provide a comfortable car ride to your country or a near by area to a vet. Pet carriers for traveling by plane are of exquisite quality, yet approval from the air lines is mandatory if your pet has to travel as it guarantees traveling in a safest possible way. Dog kennels are another expensive panorama for a dog if required. Dental are products, goggles, health care products, dog car seats, and various other essential information is supplied at the dog supplies store.

The greatest way to keep your dogs hair out of their eyes!

2009-12-03T14:56:00.000-08:00

Today is a short blog, however a very important one when dealing with a troubled dog that refuses to wear a dog elastic, dog bow etc....

We have a shitzu named Princess, and each day we fight with her in an attempte to get various dog bows into her hair. We have tried numerous dog suppliers including Puppia, Monkey Daze, Doggie Design and Fou Fou. All bows we tried failed.

Our little princess is always using her dog paw, to remove the bows. We searched high and low looking at various dog clothing stores, and dog accessory stores here in Canada.

We finally found the ultimate dog bow!! You will not believe what it is.. ready for it?

The best dog bow, a pup owner can buy is found at the dollar store or the supermarket! It is called a chip clip!! yes a chip clip! It is truly the best way to put your dogs hair into a pony tail. They are extremly durable, easy to use and your dog will never get it out! I guarantee it!

Stop fighting with dog bows, and wasting your money at dog boutique stores! Go buy your little dog a nice pink chip clip! It works great!

If you have any thoughts on this let me know!

Dog Treats vs. Dog Training Treats-whats the difference?

2009-12-02T07:12:00.000-08:00

When you are trying to train your pet you will need a ready supply of canine motivational incentives, otherwise known as treats. The use of dog treats as a training motivator is nothing new to pet trainers, and for good reason. To your dog these tasty treats can be quite an effective training tool. Unfortunately there does seem to be some confusion over the difference of what is classified as a doggy treat and a dog "training" treat. Let's take a moment to clarify the difference.

First thing to keep in mind is that anything your feed your dog outside of their normal feeding time can be considered a treat. Whether your feeding him Twinkies (not good), or beefy chews (good), extra food is looked at as a reward. What makes a dog training treat special is that you should only use those specific treats during training sessions.

If you are rewarding your dog for normal daily good behavior, or when you simply feel the need to give your pet a tasty treat, then by all means give them a treat they will enjoy, but be careful, as too many rewards given for no effort diminishes the effectiveness of each reward.

But when you are actively training your pets, you will want to use a superior quality treat. Pick something that they will absolutely go nuts for. Simple generic biscuits might just not be enough to get your dog to do stuff. Break out the dried liver treats or the chicken jerky. You want you pet's undivided attention when you're training them, and what better way then to use treats they gobble right up. Make sure that your pet is performing the required tasks before he gets this treat.

I keep a jar full of regular treats, much about the consistency of their normal food. They get these for going in their crates at night or as a simple reward. When training I will use a single piece of human quality jerked chicken. One piece can be broken into smaller pieces and will last an entire 30 minute training session. The response is often enough to cause the dog to forget about additional distractions, like the other dogs in the kennel.

We're not talking keeping an entire cupboard of separate treats, but you should separate them so your dog can learn the difference between them. When your dog is getting rewarded all the time from normal treats, you have to step up the treat for better responsiveness during training sessions. This is not rocket science; just have two sets of treats, one normal and one of a much higher quality.

Prissypups.ca would like to ask what is your favorite dog treat for your pup? Ours is Milk O bones!

Shih Tzu is the Little Lion of Small Dogs!

2009-12-02T07:10:00.000-08:00

The Shih Tzu is sometimes called the "little lion" because this is a small dog with a huge heart and even bigger personality. It's fairly well accepted that the Shih Tzu is the result of crossing the Lhasa Apso and Pekingese. The origins of the Shih Tzu can be traced back several centuries to China where this breed found favor with many of the nobles. It's said that some kept extensive kennels of this particular breed and that some worked at furthering the breed, at least to some degree.

While many dogs were freely traded, spreading various breeds throughout the world, the Shih Tzu was protected by the Chinese for many centuries. In fact, it wasn't until less than 100 years ago that the first of these little dogs was allowed outside their native land. During the early years of this breed, trading, selling and transporting of the dogs to anyone who would take them out of China was strictly forbidden.

The Shih Tzu has a double coat with the outer coat growing to several inches long. The hair just above the nose grows up and this feature has given the Shih Tzu another of its nicknames - Chrysanthemum Face. This nickname derives because the little dog's face looks almost like a flower, framed by this profusion of hair.

Anyone who loves a furry dog will likely find the Shih Tzu irresistible. Most owners tie up a topknot of hair on the top of the Shih Tzu's head. This isn't a fashion statement, but a matter of convenience for the dog. Like unruly bangs, this hair hangs down into the dog's face, obscuring his vision and sometimes irritating the eyes. For this reason, many owners create the topknot and use the opportunity for pretty bows or ribbons.

Shih Tzus come in a variety of colors, though it seems that black and white are among the more common. It's been said that show judges tend to look for a white forehead and seem to prefer that the tip of the tail is also white, though that's not an official requirement. As a rule, the color of the eyes varies with the color of the coat - darker on dark dogs and lighter on the pale colored dogs. Regardless of the color, the eyes always seem alert to anything going on around the Shih Tzu. It's almost as if these little dogs don't want to miss out on anything, so they remain extremely watchful.

The personality of the Shih Tzu varies from one dog to the next and is one of the best characteristics of this dog. Most Shih Tzus are very playful, but have a stubborn streak and can be a bit grouchy if treated roughly. As a rule, a Shih Tzu will act differently depending on his mood and the situation. He can appear completely above the goings on around him, or be right in the middle of everything. That's not to say these are standoffish dogs - quite the contrary. Most Shih Tzus want to be included, but will act aloof if it seems to suit their purposes. Perhaps they simply want to be begged into play!

How to Stop barking Dogs!

2009-12-01T09:01:00.000-08:00

Stopping dog barking seems to be a very common concern for dog owners. To stop dog barking you can apply very simple techniques. Here is a quick outline of some of the strategies you can use.

The question on everyone's lips is: What would we stop such a spontaneous behaviour? To stop a dog from barking deprives him from a very natural response. Dog barking collars are not always recommended as they use chemicals.

Instead, an advanced proven strategy to stop your dog from barking now consists in determining the reason why your dog is barking. In most cases, your dog is barking for attention and it is absolutely essential to understand that attribute: your dog is accustomed to getting attention without having to deserve it.

You need to send a clear message to your dog: barking for attention does not work, barking does not trigger any reaction from you and most importantly barking does not result in any yelling from your part.

Here is a very simple example: when you leave your place in the morning for work, do not make a big fuss out of it. If you do, your dog will see your absence as a very lonely and difficult period and will undoubtedly jump on you when you get back to start barking. Instead, if you ignore him in the morning he will think that everything is normal and will not analyze your absence as a stressful time: this is a very easy-to-apply strategy to stop dog barking!

Another essential proven method when it comes to dogs barking for attention is to stop showing your dog you are angry by screaming at it. This display of emotions will betray you: if you yell and shout at your dog to ask him to stop, you dog will interpret your shouting as a form of reaction and will think "ok, barking from me entails being yelled at so at least I trigger a reaction from my owner, regardless of what the reaction is".

If, on the contrary, you ignore his reaction you will quickly notice that the barking will stop. You need to rapidly make clear that your dog's barking does not have any effect on you and you do not respond. Do not let his barking control your reactions.

Now don't get me wrong. Dogs are absolute gems and you need to reward them and make them feel special at times. However, right from the start, you need to establish the hierarchy in place: in the long run your dog will respect you and treasure your presence.

Keep in mind that the very important point you need to assert is: barking for attention does not work!

Now, if you really run out of ideas and can't stop your dog from barking, maybe you should look into buying a Basenji dog...

Sophia Munoz is fully versed into obedience training for dogs and has recently adopted two majestic Basenji dogs. If you want to explore little known secrets on how to stop dog barking, check her website for some eccentric info, and maybe a new outlook on dogs!

QUESTION-do you think www.prissypups.ca should consider bark collars??? if so what are you interested in?

thanks

Why do dogs need clothes? Top 5 Reasons!

2009-11-15T14:32:00.000-08:00

For our first blog we thought we would tackle those questions head on! Why do dogs or pets in general need dog clothes? This is not a very hard thing to answer, but for those non believers and those who think clothes for dogs are stupid, silly or useless, let me explain why million yes millions of pet owners purchase such items.

1. Hairless dogs - yes many dogs are bald! and need the dog clothes to survive everyday life. ie) American Hairless Terriers, Chinese Crested, Hairless Khala, PIO, Xoloitzcuintle. Note-There area also cats that are hairless too!

2. Warmth-other small dog breeds such as the Maltese, Shitzu, Poodle, Yorkie and the Chihuahua need clothes for warmth.

3. Fashion-yes that is right, not only celebrities such as Paris Hilton dress their dogs but every day people do too!

4. Harsh Weather-during walks etc, dogs need speciality items such as rubber booties, rain gear and snow hats just like humans. Salt on the roads for example can destroy your pets paws!

5. Love- Dog owners love their pets like a small child. All dogs deserve to be pampered.

There are many great stores out there, however we found it difficult to get quality items at affordable prices! That is why we designed our own, www.prissypups.ca. Check us out if you have time, no pressure :)

thanks
Jim