Tag: puppy

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Studying in School while Caring for my New Dog!

Are you a pet owner who is still in school?

How do you find yourself juggling schoolwork and pet ownership?

For Reese’s owner, adopting Reese was the best decision ever made. However, adopting her prior to the lockdown proved to be a challenge, as she had to continually adjust her lifestyle to fit the changes caused to her schooling and Reese’s needs.

We reached out to hear more about her pet ownership journey.

1. Hi there! Tell us more about your relationship with Reese.

I got Reese just before CB, on the 5th of April 2020. Before that, I had always wanted a dog after our previous dog, Rusty, passed away in 2018. My parents said that we were not allowed to get another dog as it would be too big of a responsibility. 

After taking my PSLE in 2019, I was determined to get a dog and started to save my allowance. I researched how much I would need to save up in order to be able to provide for the dog and convinced my parents to let me get one. 

In March 2020, a dog farm had shut down with around 200 dogs left homeless. It was publicised in the newspaper with many people attempting to rehome the dogs. Stars Veterinary Clinic was in charge of caring for the dogs in the meantime. We were very lucky as one of my mother’s friends shared the vet’s contact with her. 

Our connection with the vets provided us with the opportunity to inquire about the dogs. We were looking for a hypoallergenic dog. On the 5th of April, the vet gave us a call about an available poodle. My father agreed to adopt her. We collected Reese that very day!

2. Why did you choose to bring Reese into your home, and how has it impacted your daily life?

In the beginning, I chose to bring Reese home because I really wanted a dog. However, since then, Reese has had a huge impact on my life. 

As a student, I make sure to save my allowance so I can afford to pay Reese’s bills. I feel like this has helped me to be more responsible and money conscious. I’ve also met many other people on Reese’s Instagram who are all so friendly and helpful. 

The thing that has changed the most in my daily life has to be the fact that every time I reach home, Reese is always there to welcome me. She follows me almost everywhere I go when I’m at home and her things are all over my room now!

3. Was it difficult to manage both your studies and taking care of a new pet?

Although there were a few difficulties, it was quite easy to look after her especially since I was having HBL (Home-based Learning). 

One of the major problems encountered occurred in the early days. Upon her arrival home, we discovered that Reese was full of ticks. Although she was on medication that prevented ticks, it was not successful. The ticks had spread all over the house. We had to vacuum areas such as the sofa and created some sprays to kill the ticks. 

We did some research and finally decided to get a Seresto collar for her. After that, the ticks slowly disappeared and she’s now free of them.

4. Bring us through a day with Reese.

When we first brought Reese home, she did not dare to step out of her playpen and would sit there without moving. We placed newspapers on the floor and finally, she began to explore her playpen. However, she did not dare to step out of it. 

When I was not having lessons, I would play with Reese and brought her out of her playpen. 

Luckily for us, my June holidays were pushed forward to May, allowing me to spend more time with Reese. She loves to play fetch and is very picky with her food. We spent a lot of time trying to get her to eat her kibbles by throwing them so she can “fetch” them. 

At night, we brought her out on walks. She was not fully vaccinated so we made sure she did not eat/lick anything. I also tried to teach her tricks hence r to sit which was quite hard as the methods we tried from YouTube did not work. We soon figured out another way though.

5. It’s great to hear about the time spent with Reese during HBL. Now that restrictions are slowly easing, do you have any advice for pet owners who are struggling to adapt to this change?

I think that as we have to leave our homes to be in the office or school full time, we will definitely miss our furry best friends most! But nothing makes the heart fonder and as a full-time student, I’ve had the experience of being away from home for 8-10 hours daily. 

In the beginning, it was hard as I was often worried about how she was coping. Is she eating, is she sleeping, is she missing me as much as I miss her? It helps to have her photos in my phone. Clearing my mind is also important so I can spend free time thinking of new ways to incentivise her for training/dog obedience etc. I’ve also seen some owners on Instagram installing cameras to check on their pets. That is a great way to make sure they’re doing fine too. 

For pet owners who may be busier, it’ll help to arrange for an alternate caregiver to play with and accompany their pets. For example, my brother returns home from school at lunchtime and plays with Reese. It helps to have a schedule, ensure there is adequate clean water and food/treats for your dog whilst you’re away. Leaving some toys behind will also help ease their boredom.

For all our schooling pawrents, we hope your pet ownership journey continues to be a smooth sailing one.

Follow Reese on Instagram.

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Community Stories

5 Puppy Behaviors to Nip in the Bud (And Other Pertinent Puppy Tips!)

This content was originally found on lombardvet.com, and the original article can be found here.

From puppy breath and snuggle seshes to silly selfies and watching them fall asleep right in their food bowls, puppies are, quite frankly, perfection. As veterinarians, however, we always want to make sure that anyone considering taking the puppy plunge understands that, along with all of the good stuff, taking care of puppies can be a lot of work. Not only that, but they are itty bitty balls of energy that require a lot of time and dedication.

It’s not that we don’t want you to enjoy your PuppyPalooza, but we hate when we see them get rehomed for being, well, puppies. But if you’re new to the game, you might not know what’s normal puppy behavior and what’s not. Along with a discussion on that below, we’ll share five puppy behaviors you want to nip in the bud…for your sake and your bitty ball of fur, too!

How can I tell if my puppy has behavior issues?

Your expectations and lifestyle define behavior issues. A behavior that is a problem in one household – such as getting on the furniture – may be welcomed in another. If your pup is practicing behavior that is not ideal in your circumstance, find a way to redirect that energy or reinforce an alternative behavior. Reach out to your veterinarian for help with this.

How much puppy biting is considered normal?

Mouthing and nipping behavior is normal in all puppies….so is peeing wherever they want, unfortunately! The critical question is, what do you want to consider normal in your household? In most situations, we want essentially no mouthing or nipping behavior long-term. The management of the mouthing habit in puppies is vital to a healthy relationship long-term and may be a matter of life and death in some dogs’ lives. Teaching a puppy bite inhibition (or having a soft mouth) is relatively straightforward in most situations. Many veterinarians have helpful handouts on this with guidelines on this process, so be sure to ask.

Why is teaching your puppy how to have a soft mouth so important?

Any dog has the potential to bite in certain situations; for example, if their tail gets closed in the door, if they have an injury out in the woods, or they get startled by a toddler. If a dog has learned bite inhibition as a puppy, they instinctively know how to “pull their punches.” Dogs with good bite inhibition will cause less damage in situations where they reflexively bite.

This bite inhibition is important from a human safety standpoint, but it can become a crucial factor if the dog needs to be rehomed at some point in life. The idea of rehoming your precious pup may be unthinkable right now, but sometimes life changes. A very happy dog with a quiet couple may not adjust well if a baby comes along. We need to set our dogs up for success as much as possible. Dogs that have poor bite inhibition will cause much more severe bites when scared or injured. A serious bite history can be a death sentence for a dog in rescue. It may seem silly to worry about those puppy nibbles, but having a soft mouth is a lesson every puppy needs!

Do all puppies have what’s considered to be a rebellious phase?

The adolescent phase can be a trial in just about any species. This is true for dogs as well. The adolescent phase starts around six months and can last until 2-3 years of age in some dogs. Dog adolescence is a time of testing boundaries, lots of hormonal changes, and often a bit of fear. This mix can lead to many challenges with training and behavior. Surviving the adolescent phase without too much stress can be done with a good training routine, a lot of enrichment, and patience.

How should I discipline my puppy for behaviors that I don’t want to continue?

Discipline or punishment is NEVER the answer. We need to cue and reinforce the behaviors we WANT to see in our pups. Dogs only continue behaviors that work. If we stop (inadvertently, in most cases) reinforcing unwanted behaviors, they will cease eventually. By redirecting to and reinforcing behaviors we want, this extinction of unwanted behaviors will often go away more quickly.

5 Puppy Behaviors to Nip in the Bud

“Good” versus “bad” dog behaviors are a bit of a gray area because, as we mentioned earlier, some behaviors are acceptable in certain families while others are not. There are some puppy behaviors that can be downright dangerous, however, and those are the ones that we want to nip in the bud. Perspectives on this may vary depending on the size and the breed of your puppy.

1. Jumping

Why do puppies and dogs jump on us? In most cases, they want attention and interaction. When we push them away or tell them “No” or “Off”, we’re fulfilling those desires, whether we like it or not. If we want to stop the jumping, we need to give them an alternative. Teach a default sit. This is a foundational behavior that has a million uses – this is just one of them.

When your pup jumps – ignore them. Turn your face or even your whole body away and stay silent until they have all four feet on the floor or even sit. In many cases, a dog with a default sit cue will eventually sit in an attempt to get attention. The MOMENT those feet or the bum hit the ground and stay there for more than a second or so, reinforce!!! (This is why we always need cookies in our pockets.) It’s not going to be pretty or perfect, but in many cases, this is all it takes. Don’t allow your dog to jump up on others, even if they say it is OK. Ask them to turn to the side and ignore the dog. For dogs with a longstanding jumping problem or those that are a bit more stubborn, additional steps may be helpful. Just check in with us or your trainer for some other techniques to build the habit you want. And remember: Punishment never works long-term and will damage your relationship with your pup!

2. Poor Leash Manners

Poor leash manners isn’t a life or death situation, per se, but it can actually be dangerous if your puppy grows into a huge dog and you’re just a tiny human! In general, having an impolite walker is more of a nuisance but, as you can imagine, as dogs get big, bigger, and possibly biggest, this could make for a perilous circumstance if your dog pulls you or, worse, gets off-leash to pursue another dog or a squirrel. Having good leash manners will also help if you are out to keep your dog from jumping up on others. Have your dog sit, you can even step on the leash to keep your dog from jumping up, this will keep them in place for you to either get in front of them to get their attention or to free up your hand so you can have treats ready.

3. Nipping/Mouthing

We’ve covered a bit of this in other topics, but the most dangerous behaviors in puppies are those that can or will affect your relationship long-term, if left unmanaged. The biggest of those would be nipping/mouthing behavior. Early management and intervention is the best thing we can do with any behavior concern. You absolutely cannot check-in enough. Please let us help with anything that comes up!

4. Guarding Behavior

It’s important to understand the difference between guarding and aggression. Guarding is when your dog feels the need to hide or protect what they have, the most common of which are toys and food. They may growl when a person or another pet is near. If left unchecked your dog could develop aggression (lunging and biting) and that is a lot harder to overcome, as it will take professional guidance and a lot of patience.

Avoid tug-o-war with dogs that have guarding behaviors. Have a lot of toys and treats when you are first working with them on guarding. They need to feel comfortable that you won’t take away their toys, and if you do, they need to know that they will get them back. Start off by having the toys close to you, try to stay in the same place, and move slowly. When they drop the toy, give them another toy or a treat, and then give them the toy back. Keep repeating with different toys until your dog becomes comfortable.

If you have another dog in the home, keep the other dog away as you are working with them one on one. Reward your dog when they are allowing the other dog to chew on a toy by either giving them rubs or yummy treats. The message is that they receive good things when their furry sibling is enjoying time with a toy. This is a similar technique to food guarding as well. You can feed them straight from your hand or place handfuls of food in the bowl once they finish and back away, have them wait, and add more food. Having them wait for your OK or release to eat teaches them good manners. If you ever suspect your dog has aggressive behavior, speak to your veterinarian about ways that they can help.

5. Barking

Dogs communicate with you by barking, and letting your puppy know that you are listening is an important part of training and behavior. Letting them know when to be quiet is also part of being a well-behaved dog. This doesn’t mean that you should never let your dog bark, but they should know when it is OK to bark and when it isn’t. Just like with kids, if you let them get away with it, they will continue to do it. You may become immune to the barking but this could be an issue down the road with family, friends, or neighbors.

How soon should I get my puppy into behavior training?

Behavior training such as basic obedience (sit, down, stay) is vital to developing a good line of communication for your puppy, as well as setting clear expectations. Behavior training should start as soon as your pup settles in at home. The much more important aspect of most early training programs is socialization. Any good puppy class will focus most of their time on environmental socialization. Training will also help you and your puppy bond.

The socialization period in puppies lasts from about 3 weeks to 3 months of age. This period is vital for creating a well-rounded and resilient dog. This means that early environmental socialization should be starting while the pup is still with their breeder or foster parent. Early socialization can take place in the form of noises, smells, and textures as well as gentle handling intended to produce very low levels of stress to the pup to help them develop healthy coping mechanisms. As puppies grow and begin entering their adoptive homes, it’s still important to continue this socialization. 70-80% of socialization should be environmental. That means that you should not spend most of your time introducing your pup to other dogs and people. Focus on the world and all the noise, texture, and movement that takes place there. Your payback will be a less fearful, more resilient pup!

The only things most veterinarians would consider truly abnormal behaviors are extreme fear and/or anxiety, signs of aggression (not just playing), or anything that may indicate a medical issue in your puppy such as lethargy, inappetence, circling behavior, pressing their head against a wall, or any sort of vomiting or diarrhea. There’s no way we could list every possible sign of a problem, so never hesitate to call your vet if you have concerns. We’d rather hear from you frequently than have you wait too long when something’s wrong!

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Brand Highlights Community Stories

#Puppyhood Training Treats

Hands up if your puppy works for the food, because mine definitely does ??‍♀️ Training is essential because it sets the foundation for puppies on how to act when they become an adult — especially if you have a husky like me (who is going to grow up to 35kg in the future), it’s definitely important to teach commends like sit – down – stay.

& what more to encourage these little pups than some treats and rewards for their good behavior? We’ve tried different treats and these are some of our favorites. A note that Oolong is extremely food-motivated and not fussy when it comes to food; so definitely check out Pawjourr’s sampling program to redeem free samples before committing to the full-sized products!

01. Instinct Pet Raw Boost

  • An old pencil drawing of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza sitting on their horses, by Wilhelm Marstrand.
Product packaging vs. Product size

Why I’m in love with this product ?

  • I’m super impressed with the entire process of manufacturing Instinct Pet! This brand is from the USA and uses High-Pressure Processing (aka HPP) to create extreme cold pressure for extreme food safety with pure, cold water—no heat, no chemicals, and no preservatives needed.
  • I’ve heard of horror stories of other freeze-dried brands containing worms and it just scares me; with Instinct, I’m really confident about the quality — also because it’s premium and pricey lah.
  • During walks, you are going to be really busy (all the distractions — smells, noises, pulling etc). The last thing you want is your hand being all sticky and gross (did it with his kibbles and urgh) — I like that the raw boosters are of a just-nice size and most importantly, DRY. So i will just pop into Oolong’s mouth when he is behaving well!

Some consideration points ?

  • With puppies, you will need LOTS of treats. Instinct can get a little pricey — selling at $25.90 for 156g on their Shopee’s store. If you are looking to try, you can opt for the smaller packs first to try out different variants and deciding which is your pup’s favourite.

?? Buy Instinct Raw Boost @ https://shopee.sg/pawjourr. Check out our coupon page for discount codes!

02. ZiwiPeak Good Dog Trainings

Ziwi Good Dog Rewards (85g)

Why I’m in love with this product ?

  • Definitely on the calories. It’s advertised to be a nutritious training reward under 6 calories each. I think this is really the main reason why I decided to get this product .. (perhaps also for the free snuggle mat they packaged together previously — please do not buy that dumb bundle set it’s bullshit for $48).
  • The size of the treat — i can’t really show you because i didn’t take a photo, but it’s shaped as a rectangle. Usually when your pup gets very excited, they might “bite” the treat and accidentally chomp on your hand – but because of the way the treat is shaped (in a long way), it helps that you get some “safe space” LOL especially if the teeth super sharp ah.

Some consideration points ?

  • To be honest, there are no consideration points but I guess because Ziwipeak has always been just … that brand that is not bad, I also don’t really see any unique factors that make me stick to them (?) Granted their price is not expensive — selling $15.90 for the lamb on their Shopee here but yeah like it’s just another brand lor.
  • I don’t really know what’s the “unique selling point” of Ziwipeak … so I bought it once and didn’t buy it again cause I felt super cheated by the dumb bundle set LOL.

?? Buy Ziwi Good Dog Treats @ https://shopee.sg/yappypets. Check out our coupon page for discount codes!

03. Wagg Puppy & Junior Treats

https://waggfoods.com/dogs/treats/

Why I’m in love with this product/brand ?

  • I know this is BS but OMG — can someone please give this design agency a pay raise?! I’m in LOVE with Wagg’s new packaging, website and everything just says YES to me when i walk into Pet lovers centre! Long story short, i was shopping for some training treats for Oolong because obviously I wasn’t as prepared as I thought I was — walked into PLC and the packaging just caught my eyes.
  • It’s definitely wallet-friendly (going at $4.00 for 1 packet over at PLC Shopee’s page here) but also that the products are categorized nicely into puppies – sensitive – low fat for me already, which I find very thoughtful and convenient for first-timer like me.
  • The biscuits are also a nice mix-up from the meat and freeze-dried food; though i must say that Oolong focus is much lesser when i use these as training treats.

Some consideration points ?

  • Yes, the treats are made in the USA but if you take a closer look at the ingredients, it might not be something you want to feed daily / a lot on a long-term basis. To be honest, I’m not against carbs or must die die only feed “single-ingredient treat”. I believe that my dog can eat everything, albeit in moderation — you everyday eat veggie also not enough nutrition right????
  • I’ve since stopped buying these though because Oolong has “upgraded” his palate to eat meat only (he started saying NO to these after 3 – 4 packets — woah free things still wanna be choosy ah). But all in all, I think it’s a great treat to mix up with the other food!

?? Buy Wagg Treats @ https://shopee.sg/petloverscentresg. Check out our coupon page for discount codes!

04. Dehydrated Treats

I have so many brands which I want to recommend, but here are just some of my favourites — maybe also because I know the owner personally! ☺️

Why I’m in love with dehydrated treats ?

  • Depending on what you buy — e.g. Chicken is really easy to break into smaller pieces during walks.
  • As I feed Oolong lots of treats during training, knowing that I’m feeding him non-commercialized treats does assure me to a certain extent that he is not just eating “junk food”.
  • Single-ingredient treats so I know that nothing goes in — it’s just 100% protein. Balance is key.

Some consideration points ?

  • Short shelf life. Since dehydrated treats are all-natural, it is important to note that their shelf life might not be as long as your commercial treats.
  • Takes time to deliver. If you are looking for something fast, you can pop into any of the pet shop to pick up your pack of treats. But if you are looking at dehydrated treats, you will need to wait for delivery which can take 3 – 5 working days.
  • Potential scammers. Yes, there are people who are out there to take advantage and I’ve heard of businesses who “MIA” after collecting payment. Make sure you do you research to avoid being cheated!
  • Eventually, all dehydrated treats are more or less the same. This is why it can be difficult to differentiate between brand A vs. brand B.

IN SUMMARY,

This is why we created a new category under pawjourr to help brands stand out from the crowd with reviews and coupons for customers to try. Often, pet owners will just buy from a “bigger” brand because #safe, #everyonebuysfromthem and #ionlyknowthem. I understand that, but maybe we need to give the new brands a chance too!

?? Head over to Pawjourr and leave a review for the brands whom you have tried before. Customer testimonials matter and your feedback (be it positive or negative) will also help other pet owners make an informed choice!

I hope this article gives you a brief idea on where to start looking for training treats for your puppies. Remember —

✅ Dry and doesn’t make your fingers dirty when it touches saliva.

✅ Low calorie — also check ingredients if you know you are going to be a treat dispenser.

✅ Switch up protein; I like to do Chicken, Pork, Lamb, Beef, Kangaroo, etc because I’ve heard of dogs developing certain health issues when they just stick to eating 1 protein (may/may not be true).

✅ Keep within your budget, no need to go broke buying expensive treats just for the Instagram game. It’s your pet — it’s not your followers’ pet.

Do check out our new categories — home-based biz and the coupon page and comment below what do you think! ??‍♀️

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Community Stories

Raising Your Puppy: 6 Tips To Help With Housetraining

This content was found on dogtime.com, and the original article can be found here.

Few things can put a damper on the joy of bringing a new puppy into your home than unwanted accidents. If you are looking for ways to housetrain your puppy, you are not alone.

There are lots of ways to potty train your new puppy, and the good news is your puppy definitely wants to learn! Before you let your pooch get full run of the house, make sure to teach them the house rules and avoid accidents.https://27e34e16f580062fadce6db47bb2a679.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

Training a puppy to do tricks, to not chew up your things, and not to have accidents isn’t as difficult as it may feel. Yes, it can be a daunting task, but you can do it!

Here are all the things you need to think about as you start housetraining your new puppy.

1. Confinement May Seem Like A Punishment, But It Will Help

Healthy Bernese Mountain Dog Puppies for sale in outdoor playpen

(Picture Credit: Laura Fay/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

For many, the thought of restricting a brand new puppy to a certain area of the house or a crate may feel awful. Hearing your pup cry out can definitely put your willpower to the test, but keeping your dog in a small enough area will quickly teach them not to relieve themselves inside.

Confinement training is effective for a multitude of reasons. Your puppy will not want to relieve themselves in a small space they can’t leave.

Crate or confinement training also helps keep your puppy safe. For example, if you are not home and let your puppy get free reign of the house, they could get into something toxic or get stuck somewhere.

Eventually, with proper training, your pup will come to consider that space as their own, personal territory. It will be a safe place for them to retreat to when they feel overwhelmed or just want some peace and quiet.

You may find them taking a nap there by choice before long, and they may even prefer it to your human furniture when looking for a resting spot.

2. As Soon As You Let Your Pup Out Of Confinement, Take Them Outside

Lovely smart puppy Border Collie nature, training, agility.

(Picture Credit: Levente Bodo/Moment/Getty Images)

When you first start crate or confinement training your puppy, you may want to play with them as soon as you let them out. Before introducing your puppy to their new favorite toy, take them outside and have them relieve themselves.

Use a command word, like “potty,” “outside,” or whatever works for you to signal to your puppy that it’s time to go out and relieve themselves. Even if you have a gated backyard, you should start with your puppy on a leash so they know it is time to eliminate and not to play.

If you’re home with your puppy throughout the day, you should still keep them in either a doggy playpen or a crate unless you are able to keep all of your attention on them. Let your puppy out every one to two hours to make sure they aren’t sitting in their confined space with a full bladder or bowels.

3. Reward Them Generously

A woman is training her puppy on a field at sunset.

(Picture Credit: Paula Danielse/Moment/Getty Images)

Keep some small treats on you whenever you let your puppy outside to go to the bathroom.

Once they successfully eliminate, be sure to heavily praise and reward them. Your puppy will quickly associate the positive reinforcement they get with relieving themselves outside, and they’ll get the idea that they’re supposed to go potty there.

4. Avoid Yelling At Them If You Find An Accident

Golden retriever puppy looking guilty from his punishment

(Picture Credit: Alex Sokolov/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

If you leave your puppy in their crate and you return home to a soiled situation, resist the urge to shove your pup’s nose in it or yell at them.

Your puppy will not associate the punishment with the act of soiling, as you did not catch them in the act. Yelling at your puppy could actually lead to the opposite effect of housetraining–they could start submissive urination to prove to you that they aren’t a threat.

They could also develop neurotic behavior, like hiding or even eating their poop to avoid punishment.

5. You Can Use Turf To Train Your Puppy Indoors

Puppy makes for the first time in the garden

(Picture Credit: Dieter Meyrl/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

If you live in a five-story walk-up or you get a puppy when it is freezing cold outside, it may be difficult to let your puppy out every couple hours. This doesn’t mean you can’t still successfully train your puppy how to relieve themselves outside.

Set up a space–be it in a mudroom, in the corner of their playpen, or near the back door–that you can designate for your puppy to use the restroom. There are pee pads made of turf that can help your puppy transition from relieving themselves inside to doing so outside.

6. Putting Your Puppy On A Sleep Schedule Can Help, Too

Dalmatian puppy is peeing on the tiled floor of its owners home.

(Picture Credit:SolStock/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Now, you won’t be able to magically dictate when your puppy falls asleep and wakes up, but in order to make sure your puppy is able to grow into a dog who can relieve themselves on your schedule, you’re going to want to set up a routine for your pup.

For example, puppies usually need to urinate within half a minute or so of waking up. If you want to get some things done in the morning before walking your pup, perhaps they should sleep in their confined space–not in your room–so they don’t wake up as soon as you do.

Conversely, many people find that walking their puppies first thing in the morning helps keep them from hitting the snooze button half a dozen times, so you may want your pup to sleep in the same room as you.

It may take some trial and error, but you and your pup will find a groove in terms of relieving themselves in the proper manner. By taking your puppy out at the same times throughout the day–moreso at first, and then slowly weening them to every four to six hours instead of every hour–they will know when they can expect to go outside and relieve themselves.

Dogs thrive on structure, and this will help stabilize your relationship with your puppy as well.

Do you have any tips or tricks on how to housetrain a puppy? Any frustrations you encountered? Let us know in the comments below!

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Community Stories

How to Train Your Puppy to Go on Potty Pads

dog
Cute Jack Russell Terrier dog puppy doing his toilet, pooping

Article originally published on TheSprucePets. Written by Adrienne Kruzer. Refer to the original article here.

For more information, feel free to check out this comprehensive guide on indoor potty training here.

Potty training a new puppy can be difficult if you don’t know what to do, but there are several aids you can use to help your puppy go potty where you want it to go. Using potty pads (also called puppy pads, or pee pads) is one way to help teach your puppy where it is appropriate to use the bathroom. Consistency is key to this training technique, which you can then use to also teach your puppy to eventually potty outside.

Choosing a Potty Pad

The idea behind using a potty pad is to provide a visible, consistent area for your puppy to go potty. You’ll want to choose something that is absorbent, easy to clean up, and large enough for the messes that your specific puppy makes. Large breed dogs may need heavy duty options compared to toy breeds. Newspapers, paper towels, cloth towels, and store-bought pee pads or indoor/outdoor carpet potty stations are all options.

Newspaper and paper towels can be messy and difficult to clean up after your puppy potties on them, but they are inexpensive. Cloth towels are absorbent but will need to be washed regularly, and your puppy is more likely to try to chew on it like a blanket or toy. Store bought pee pads are the most popular option due to their absorbency, size options, and ease-of-disposal. If you plan to train your small dog to use the potty indoors, then indoor/outdoor carpet potty stations specifically designed for dogs are good options.

Introduce Your Puppy to the Potty Pads

Allow your puppy to see and sniff the potty pads you chose. This will help it get used to the new item so it isn’t scared of it at potty time. Let your puppy walk on the pad while you repeat a consistent command that you plan to say at potty time, such as “go potty.”

Anticipate When Your Puppy Will Potty

While potty training your puppy, you’ll need to keep them close by so that you can anticipate when they are about to go potty. There are a few key times and behaviors to watch for that will help you anticipate your puppy having to urinate or defecate:

  • Puppies usually potty after sleeping, eating, drinking, and after playing. After your puppy does one of these things, you’ll want to pick it up about 15 minutes later and place it onto the potty pad in anticipation of it having to urinate or defecate.
  • If your puppy starts sniffing around on the ground instead of playing or chewing on a toy, this is a good indication that it needs to go potty. You’ll want to pick it up and place it on the potty pad if it starts doing this.
  • Your puppy may have to go potty every two to three hours. Get in the habit of taking your puppy to the potty pad every few hours.

Reward Your Puppy

Praise and treats work wonders with puppies. If your puppy goes potty on its potty pad, make sure you immediately praise it. This can be verbal in an excited tone of voice, by petting your puppy, or by giving it a special, soft treat reserved only for potty time.

Be Consistent

Keep your puppy on a regular schedule. This will make it easier for you to anticipate when your puppy may need to potty.

Say the same command phrase each time.

Keep the potty pad in the same place until your puppy starts going to the potty pad by itself. Once your puppy knows what to do on the potty pad, you can slowly move it closer to the door or outside where you want your puppy to eventually use the bathroom without the use of the potty pad.

Training Mistakes to Avoid

Do not encourage your puppy to pull or chew on the potty pad, eat food on it, or play on it. This may confuse your puppy as to what the purpose of the potty pad is.

Do not move the potty pad around until your puppy knows what it is for and is going potty on it consistently.

Be sure to find and use a treat that your puppy is really excited about getting. This will help with the training process.

Problems and Proofing Behavior

If your puppy isn’t making it to the potty pad on time, try putting it closer to where it usually plays or eats, and then slowly move it closer to the door if you aim to eventually teach it to potty outside.

If you are having issues keeping an eye on your puppy and it has accidents when you aren’t looking, try the following strategies:

  • Add a bell to its collar to help you hear where it is.
  • Leave the leash on for the puppy to drag behind it, which will leave somewhat of a trail for you to follow.
  • Consider putting your puppy in a crate or exercise pen to nap, which may encourage it to whine if it has to potty since dogs don’t like to mess where they also sleep.

If your puppy seems to be constantly urinating, talk to your veterinarian about potential problems that some puppies are known for having.

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The first night with your new puppy

puppy

Article originally published on Yummypets. Written by Clarie Aert. Refer to the original article here.

The first night with your new puppy can be challenging, not least because you want to snuggle them and protect them from their fears. However, managing the first night is crucial and can define the base of their education and life with you.

The first night with your new puppy is both exciting and challenging. From feelings of enormous love and delight with the newest addition to your family, to managing their fears in their new environment, it’s important to remember some longer-term objectives about how you want them to assimilate. And what kind of relationship you want with them in the future!

The first night with your new puppy

Come night time, both you and your new puppy will probably want to snuggle together and sleep in the same bed. In fact, they’re likely to cry and moan if they’re not cuddled up with you. It’s probably the first night they’ve spent in a new environment, away from their mother and siblings. And it’s likely to make you feel immense guilt not responding to their cries.

However, it’s important to respect two fundamental rules in ensuring your puppy adapts well to its new life and home, by 1. Not giving in when it counts, and 2. Providing your puppy with a safe, quiet and cosy environment for them to spend the night.

Learning to say no

You are in charge of your new puppy and the relationship you build together. Therefore, it is your job to guide and educate them just as much as you provide them with love, food and shelter.

While giving treats and spoiling your puppy from time time is okay (after all, there’s nothing more wonderful than giving back to our fur friends), it’s also very common for owners to spoil their new puppy and give in to their every need.

A loving, safe and comfortable environment is most certainly the primary objective when adopting a new puppy. However, if you don’t set some boundaries when they are little, they won’t understand why they are unable to do certain things that they once could – even if only from time to time.

This can be very confusing for the animal as they grow up and can lead to various behavioural problems. So it’s important to be firm but kind from the start.

A cozy corner

The place you settle your puppy’s bed for the first night must be comfortable, secure and quiet. Make sure they are able to bury themselves under blankets and pillows to feel warm and protected.

If available to you, you can leave them with a blanket with the smell of their mother or the place they used to live. Even an item of your clothing with your smell on it will be familiar to them.

You may also like to provide them with a stuffed animal on which they can chew if they’re feeling stressed. A ticking clock placed nearby may even help to remind them of their mother’s and sibling’s heartbeat.

So, find the perfect place for your new puppy, shower them with unconditional love at all times, and be the parent they need and want you to be so you can build the most rewarding, wonderful relationship possible.

Now go snuggle that pup of yours!

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Community Stories

Did I make the right choice?

3 months ago, we made the decision to get Oolong thinking that we are prepared mentally and financially to be pet owners (whilst running a start-up). ☺

Rather than being informative, this is more of a #thoughtcatalogue kind of article.

?: “Can we get a dog, please?”
?: “No dogs! I’m busy enough taking care of you and cleaning the house. A dog is going to make it worst. You want your mother to die is it”

Does this sound familiar to you? #AsianMums

Just gotta add this in

I’ve always wanted a dog since young. I could never understand why my mum refused to let me own a dog even though she say that she is a “dog lover”. Now that I’m a dog owner, i kinda understand where she is coming from. Owning a pet is a huge commitment — and at that point she was right that we weren’t ready for that sorta commitment.

There are lots of sacrifices you have to made — mainly changing your lifestyle depending on the breed you got. This is why it is so important to get a dog that aligns with your lifestyle vs. getting something that is “popular” or “cute”.

Getting Oolong, the Siberian Husky

When we got Oolong, we thought we were ready (mentally & financially). We had all the boxes ticked — we are 28 years old and our house is arriving soon. We run a start-up so we can bring Oolong to the office every day; we are not exactly rich but yes, we can definitely afford a dog with our combined income.

Yes, granted that we were still staying at our parent’s house but we are moving out soon. We also had “the chat” to make sure they are okay with a new dog around the house (at least for the next 6 months max).

What could possibly go wrong?

We overestimated our financials. Theoretically, we are already spending $1,000 on taxi fare since we often work till 3-4am in the office (so cannot wake up in the morning, and no more train/buses after midnight).

We use telegram hitch a lot to get private hires, but we aren’t always that lucky. Grabpet would mean $50/day (to & fro) and that’s on top of his medical bills, food expenses and grooming.

Oolong was proving to be expensive. Eventually, we decided to keep him at home and only bring him to the office 2-3x a week — it would make a lot more sense financially and my husband’s parents were okay.

All good, till last month.

Oolong started getting jumpy and pushing boundaries with my PIL when we are not at home — jumping on guests, chewing on shoes/decor items, mouthing, etc. My PIL doesn’t know how to discipline a growing puppy — on top of that, having a dog around the house can also mean a “messier” house.

They had to make a few shifts around – meeting their friends outside of the home, cleaning up after him (he loves to stick his tongue out on the floor) and eventually, the pressure got to them. I understand — having a pet around (especially a puppy) wears you down. They were also scared of Oolong as he is growing exceptionally fast / big for a 5 months old puppy.

They started having 2nd thoughts and decided that they aren’t comfortable having him in the house whilst we were at the office.

Oolong is larger than a full-sized Singapore Special now.

Everything started to derail

Our initial plan was to do alternate weeks at my house and my husband’s house — but my mum backed out when she saw the “mess” and how dirty the house was after the first 2 weeks.

It’s not my house. It’s not their dog. I started getting really stressed because i needed to make sure Oolong wasn’t being naughty.

I cannot stress enough how important it is that when you welcome a dog into your family, your entire household needs to be EXCITED and AGREES to the plan.

Key takeaway

Lucky for us, we have our own office and we can bring him here everyday. That solves bulk of the problem — and we also got a long-term hitch driver to drive the cost down on transportation.

Oolong’s “work”

We were (kinda) lucky.

But what if you are working a 9-5 job and your office is not pet-friendly? What are you going to do?

Are you going to give up your dog?

Are you going to return home to angry parents?

Key takeaway

I’m slightly embarrassed that this seems to be a useless article HAHA but i think the point here is that with COVID, i’m seeing a huge trend of people owning a pet (adopt/buy). I’m happy to see more pet owners around because i believe that this helps to push the country in a progressive way (more pet owners, more demand, increase supply for pet-friendly related F&Bs, malls etc)

BUT

  1. If you are still living with your parents and works/study, MAKE SURE that you have 100% buy-in from the other household members. If they are hesitant, DON’T. It’s going to be painful.
  2. No, owning a pet is not just “it’s going to pass”. It’s a daily thing. It’s a 365 thing. It gets easier after puppyhood but they won’t magically be independent like your 12 years old sister. Throw them a phone and they will be fine. They going to get sick, bored, naughty and you are responsible for that. You CONTROL their life. It’s on you.
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Community Stories

How to Puppy Proof Your Home

puppy

Article originally published on The Spruce Pets. Written by Adrienne Kruzer. Refer to the original article here.

Just like a new kitten, puppies love to explore, but they also need to be protected while they learn about their new environments, especially for the vital first 30 days in their new homes. Puppy-proofing your home is a necessary and simple step you can take to help keep your puppy safe.

Why You Should Puppy Proof Your Home

Puppies do not know what is safe or what is dangerous, so it is up to you to teach them the difference and prevent them from being exposed to harmful things. While a puppy is still learning, it will test different items, reactions, and ways of doing things to see what happens, and sometimes these tests put the puppy in danger.

By proofing your home before your puppy arrives, you can help prevent these awful things from ever occurring and instead focus on other things with your new furry friend.

Steps to Puppy Proof Your Home

There are some key things you should do when puppy-proofing your home. Start by making a list of any obvious dangers you spy in your home. Don’t be afraid to get down on all fours and crawl around to see your home from a puppy’s point of view.

  • Coffee tables, low shelves, and items on the ground in your home are all within reach of a puppy. Check these areas for decorative things that can be knocked down by a wagging tail or that are able to be chewed on. You will want to remove any items you don’t want to be chewed or that could be swallowed or broken by a puppy. This may include plants, sculptures or vases, food on pantry shelves, television remotes, tchotchkes, and more.
  • Wires on the ground are at risk for being chewed on and could cause serious harm to a puppy. Oral burns and electrocution are potential risks of chewing on electrical cords. If possible, elevate these wires so that they are out of reach of your puppy, hide them behind items, such as furniture that your puppy is unable to get behind, or cover them with wire protectors from the home improvement store if the wires aren’t able to be moved.
  • Make sure any trash cans that are out in the open are heavy enough so that they can’t be knocked over and have a secure lid on them. You don’t want your puppy getting into any garbage because items can cause gastrointestinal obstructions, vomiting, diarrhea, and can even be toxic to a dog.
  • If you have a fence outside for your puppy, check it closely for any holes or openings that need to be fixed. Puppies are very curious and if they see an opening, they will try to wiggle through it. If you don’t have a fence, make sure your tie-out stake is secure and you have a secure collar and leash to attach to your puppy so it doesn’t run off and get hurt.
  • Remove any rodent traps or insect bait stations that are on the ground and accessible to a puppy both indoors and outdoors. These items often contain toxins that can be deadly to any pet.
  • If you have long window blind cords, you should tie them up so they are out of reach of your puppy. Damage to the blinds and cord may occur if your puppy decides to play with the strings but worse yet, getting tangled in the string or eating the strings can be life-threatening.
  • Close doors to rooms that do not need to be open. This will make it easier for your puppy to stay out of trouble and for you to keep an eye on your puppy.
  • Keep your toilet lid closed if your puppy is tall enough to get into the bowl. No one wants to get kisses from someone who has been drinking from the toilet.
  • Have a variety of chew toys ready to be chewed on by your puppy. These will deter your puppy from wanting to chew on other items, such as furniture legs, while it is teething.
  • Regularly sweep your floor to make sure there aren’t any random items on the ground that your puppy will try to eat. 

Once your home has been puppy-proofed, you’ll be able to enjoy your time with your new puppy and be able to worry less about its safety.

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Community Stories

How to Stop Chewing in Puppies

Article originally published on The Spruce Pets. Written by Amy Bender. Refer to the original article here.

For puppies, the entire world is a chew toy. Puppies, like babies, explore the world with their mouths. Unfortunately, their explorations are not limited to their own toys. Your shoes, furniture, children’s toys, and anything else lying around your house are fair game for a teething puppy.

Unfortunately, your puppy may chew things that can harm it. You can put a stop to your puppy’s destructive behavior, but It takes time and consistent training.https://959980d490ba4ceaa2688c409992c87e.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

Why Do Puppies Chew?

Most of the time, chewing is normal behavior for puppies and dogs, and it serves many purposes, such as strengthening their jaws and relieving anxiety.

Like babies, puppies experience discomfort while teething, and gnawing or chewing on things provides some relief. Boredom is another reason that puppies chew. Dogs are social animals and need stimulation for their mental health. If you’re not exercising your pup enough or giving it sufficient one-on-one time, it may seek attention by chewing inappropriate objects.

puppy teething
  NatalieShuttleworth / Getty Images

How to Stop Destructive Chewing

There aren’t many medical conditions other than teething that cause a puppy to chew on things, but it’s worth a trip to the vet just to be sure. If the vet gives your puppy a clean bill of health, there are several ways to prevent your puppy from wrecking your abode.

Puppy-Proof Your Home

Puppies should not have the full run of your home until they are completely trained. Many people choose to use the kitchen since it’s easier to clean up accidents on an uncarpeted floor.

Once you’ve decided on the areas where your puppy will be allowed to play, take a good look around and begin puppy-proofing. Pick up or move any objects that your puppy might decide to chew. Get down at the dog’s level to see what might appeal to it. Remove or cover any electrical wires, houseplants, garbage pails, children’s toys, and anything else you don’t want your puppy to chew or knock over.

Crate Train Your Puppy

While crate training is usually talked about in terms of house training, it is also a good tool for curbing destructive puppies. When you’re not able to supervise your puppy, crating can keep it and your home safe. If you don’t have a crate, you can confine the dog to a small, puppy-proof room such as a bathroom or kitchen.

Provide Your Puppy with Toys

Chewing allows puppies to ease teething pain, and it alleviates boredom. To prevent your puppy from getting in the habit of inappropriate chewing, make sure you provide it with lots of appropriate things to chew on.

Toys that work well for puppies are rubber toys with a hollow center, stuffed animals with squeakers inside, and nylon bones. Avoid animal bones, hooves, and antlers.

Don’t give your puppy old shoes or socks as playthings; you’re likely to cause confusion between which shoes are OK for chewing and which ones are off-limits.

There is some controversy over the safety of items like rawhides, pig’s ears, and other edible chews. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian before giving any of these items to your puppy.

Puppy chewing a toy
 Mint Images – Norah Levine / Getty Images

Rotate Your Puppy’s Toys

Since puppies chew to alleviate boredom, it’s a good idea to rotate your puppy’s toys every few days. A puppy will be looking for something new and interesting to sink its teeth into. By changing its toys around periodically, you’ll be keeping it interested in the things you want it to chew, and it will be less likely to start gnawing on the kitchen cabinets.

Offer a Swap

Try giving your puppy a treat in exchange for whatever inappropriate object it has in its mouth. This is a good way to train your dog to learn the command “give” if you repeat it before giving the treat. Over time, your puppy should learn that “give” means “give me that thing in your mouth!”

Just take care not to lavish your puppy with praise when it swaps the inappropriate object for a treat. You don’t want to turn it into a game where your puppy expects a reward for chewing on the wrong things.

Redirect Your Puppy

When you see your puppy begin to chew on something inappropriate, don’t scold it. Instead, move the puppy away from the object and redirect it to something you want it to chew. Make your puppy’s toy more interesting by squeezing a squeaky toy or shaking a bone while talking to it in a happy tone of voice. Give the pup lots of praise for chewing its toys.

If you think your puppy is teething, you can give it a doggy version of a teething ring: Dampen a washcloth; then place it in the freezer for about an hour. Give it to your puppy to tug and chew on, allowing the cold to soothe its sore gums.

Give Your Puppy Plenty of Exercise

A tired puppy is a happy puppy. Be sure to give your puppy enough playtime and cuddle time. If it’s had all of its ​puppy vaccinations, make walks part of your dog’s daily routine. If left to its own devices, your puppy is going to start looking for ways to burn off energy. This leads to destructive behavior. A puppy who gets regular exercise is much more likely to be well behaved.

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Why Does My Dog Get The Zoomies?

puppy running

Article originally published on Dodowell. Written by Danielle Esposito. Refer to the original article here.

The first time you see a case of the zoomies, you might watch in shock as your dog bolts back and forth at lightning speed before collapsing on the floor.

While your panting dog might look like he just ran around like crazy for no reason, you can breathe easy knowing that these outbursts are completely normal.

“There is no reason to be alarmed by the zoomies,” Shelby Semel, head trainer at Animal Haven rescue in New York City, told The Dodo. “They are just bursts of energy being released, often stored up over a period of time.”

What are the zoomies? 

Formally known as frenetic random activity periods (FRAPs), zoomies are high-energy bursts of activity that tend to hit puppies or young dogs more often than older dogs, although older dogs can still get a jolt of that zippy energy from time to time.

You can tell your dog is having a case of the zoomies when they jet back and forth across your yard or living room. Some zoomies will manifest in a dog spinning frantically to try to catch their tail until they either succeed or fall. 

Why do dogs get the zoomies? 

Dogs get the zoomies for all kinds of reasons — like when they’re super excited that you just got home from work, or even from seeing another dog get their own zoomies. 

Zoomies can also come when your dog has some built-up nervous energy that needs to be released, like after a long training session or a bath. 

Keeping your zooming dog safe

Zoomies are usually harmless — but dog parents are sometimes worried about how clumsy their dogs get while zooming around. In order to keep your dog, other humans and your belongings safe, make sure you get out of the way when they’re happening — and if you can, make sure they happen in a relatively open environment. 

“When you have a large pittie or any large breed, you have to worry about them accidentally knocking into things,” Semel said. “So I suggest clearing off your coffee table before and staying out of their way for the couple of minutes it lasts!” 

You’ll be able to tell they’re about to start if you keep an eye out for your dog’s rising energy levels — and after a few spurts of the zoomies, you’ll probably be able to know when they’re going to strike. 

For example, if you know your dog zooms after a bath (sooooo many do!), it would be a good idea to take your dog to a safe zoom zone immediately after, like the backyard or away from young kids.

Other dogs like to kick things off with a play-bow, which can be your hint to clear out. 

According to Semel, some dogs zoom if they’re under-exercised or toward evening hours. “Many do it after something stressful, new or exciting, like after getting a bath or when they’re excited to go on a walk.” 

It’s important to remember that you shouldn’t discourage or stop your dog from zooming, but instead control the environment that he zooms in to make sure that everyone’s safe.

And don’t forget to pull out your phone camera — zoomies are the best to watch and will leave you with some great videos to look back on.