HOUSEBREAKING TIPS
Establish a routine. Keep
the pup's meals regularly scheduled to encourage more predictable elimination
patterns. Take your pup out every two hours during the day and as needed
at night. Select ONE toilet area. Take your pup to the toilet area five
minutes after feeding, awakening, riding in a car, greeting new people,
or chewing on toys, as well as when you see him circling or sniffing around.
You must never "just put him out". Instead, you must take him to his spot
and urge him to go. When your pup relieves himself in the appropriate spot
immediately reward him with a food treat and verbal praise.
A dog can only understand scolding and praise if it occurs within a half second of the event you are trying to control. Catching a puppy "in the act" is the best time to scold or praise. After the even has occurred, it is too late to scold, or praise, because the puppy will associate your feedback with whatever he is doing at the time, not ten minutes before. Rubbing his nose in his mistakes is a worthless technique and only confuses the dog.
If a mistake happens, clean it up well and spray an odor neutralizer on the wet spot and rub it in well.
PREVENTING BAD HABITS
Puppies love to chew! Provide
appropriate objects for chewing such as Nyla-Bones or Booda bones. Praise
the puppy for chewing on his toys. It is best to rotate toys to prevent
boredom. Gently punish inappropriate chewing (clap hands or shout) while
directing the puppy to appropriate objects.
Mouthing hands, tug-of-war, jumping up, growling, guarding food, and nipping should not be allowed. Competition between dog and owner should never be developed, even when it is playful. To handle aggressive play, stand perfectly still, cross your arms, and close your eyes to tell your puppy you are not interested in playing "rough". When the puppy gives up, go and get an appropriate toy and praise your puppy for playing with it.
Don't allow jumping up. Never pet or talk sweet to a dog that has only two feet on the ground. Turn around and ignore him. Kneeing, hitting the dog under the chin, and squeezing the dog's paws may actually lead to increased jumping.
Make definite decisions about
manners. Will the new dog be allowed on the furniture? Are any rooms "off-limits"?
When you tell your dog "no", you must be prepared to enforce your decision
immediately. Cats and Kittens $10.00
Kentucky State Tag $1.50 annually
The adoption fees include a
free veterinarian check-up, worming
and first set of shots.
ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER
Lisa Jackson, Director
200 Poplar Ridge Road
Melbourne, Kentucky 41059
(859) 635-2819