What If You Dont Want to Crate Train?

What If You Dont Want to Crate Train?

You might think that crates are great for shipping cargo, but that dogs are living creatures who deserve better than that. To you, bringing a dog into your home is adding to your family.

Its not a toy to put in the crate while youre busy and take out a few hours when you have time. You believe thats not fair to the dog. Crate training may be a popular method for housetraining, but you dont have to do this to successfully train your dog.

As youre training the dog to wait between potty breaks or until you return home, you can isolate him in a smaller area. A bathroom, laundry room or tiled kitchen is a good choice. The room needs to have an easy to clean floor.

Either close the door or add a baby gate. When youre at home, use the baby gate so that you can observe the dog and so that he doesnt feel punished by being away from you. You can also watch for the physical signs that he needs a potty break.

Dogs have their own signature moves – some seem agitated, restless or shake when they need to have a break. Others sniff in a circle and begin squatting when the time comes. You still need to follow the same approach for establishing a regular feeding schedule and follow-up with potty breaks.

When you come home to take the dog out to go potty, put the leash on him and head directly outside. Dont let him run around the house celebrating his freedom. In his excitement, hell leave a puddle on the rug – not because hes mad at you, but because his enthusiasm overcame his bladder control.

Crate training advocates insist that this is the best and fastest way to housetrain a dog. Opponents totally disagree, countering that the difference of a few weeks is nothing compared to having a well-adjusted dog that feels like a member of the family rather than a prisoner of war most of the day.

If your dog is in a small room, he probably has far more space than in a crate. He also has a tall ceiling above him, so he feels free and happy. He can designate a spot in the room for an emergency potty and still have room to get away from it.

Your dog is going to be a member of your family for many years. So what if it takes a little longer to housetrain him? You may have to use the small room training location for nights until hes old enough or well trained enough to wait until morning to go potty.

This isnt the time to weaken and put him in your bed. Youll both wake up in a chilly puddle. Give him time to adjust to the training, and then you can welcome him to a soft bed in your room, or surrender the extra pillow if you choose.

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Watch Your Dogs Diet During the Housetraining Process

Watch Your Dogs Diet During the Housetraining Process

As your dog is learning to follow a potty break routine, you have to avoid doing anything that makes the lessons harder. One way you can help this process is in managing the dogs food intake.

As you monitor and log the crate time and potty breaks, youll notice a pattern in your dogs elimination. Make sure that the food you provide and the timing of feedings dont compromise training.

Feed your dog at the same time each day. If you feed him in the morning before leaving for work, put out the food as soon as you wake up. The dog can eat and begin to digest the food while youre getting dressed and having your breakfast.

Then the dog will be ready to potty before you leave. Never leave the dog food out all day. If your dog (especially a puppy) eats gradually all day long without a potty break, youre asking for an accident to happen.

For crate training a puppy, make sure theres a supply of water in a container that wont tip. Also leave a few small dog biscuits or treats in case he gets hungry during the day – but dont leave a full meal.

When you get home, take the dog out and then feed him. Dont wait until late evening to feed dinner to the puppy or youll be cleaning up feces in the crate or on the rug. Allow a reasonable time for the digestion to occur.

No matter how much the dog begs, dont give table scraps or snack foods. These are not well tolerated by most dogs and some snack foods can be harmful to the dog (and not so great for you either).

Just because a dog will eat what you give him in food scraps doesnt mean its suitable for him. Feeding him the wrong kind of foods is likely to result in doggie diarrhea. If you dont give your dog the non-nutrient snacks and junk that you eat, he wont develop a taste for it – which is definitely better for everyone in the long run.

High quality dog food is made with added nutrients and designed for the age and weight of your dog. If youre on a budget, find a place to skimp besides your dog food budget. Cheap dog foods can contain ingredients that cause stomach upset and have minimal nutritional value, so your dog may get fat but doesnt grow and thrive.

If your dog gets diarrhea (even from high quality foods), check with your vet. There may be an ingredient in the food that doesnt interact well with your dogs digestive system. Ask the vet for a recommendation. If the next high quality food gets the same results, then your dog may have an internal illness or food allergy that the vet can diagnose.

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Understanding the Different Dog Breeds

Understanding the Different Dog Breeds

Not all dogs are created equal. The differences in temperament and personality among dog breeds can be as varied as the differences in people. Finding the right match between the dog breed and the owner or family is the key to success in bringing a dog into your home.

Dogs come in many varieties that are naturally introduced to the dog world as well as those created specifically by cross-breeding, such as a Labradoodle (a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle).

The obvious question to ask yourself is, what size dog can your home handle? A home with a large yard out in the suburbs can offer enough room for a large dog to run and play.

Do you want a dog that is sturdy, yet cuddly and plays well with children? Are you hoping to get a guard dog for your home or business? Do you want to develop a show dog to enter competitions?

Or do you just want a loyal companion, small enough to be comfortable in an apartment and calm enough to sit with his head on your lap in the evening? These are practical considerations to think about as you search for the right dog breed.

How many humans live in your home? A single person who works long hours needs to choose a dog breed that can manage with lots of alone time indoors – perhaps a dog that enjoys toys and entertains himself.

A family with small children needs a medium to large-size dog that is gentle by nature and patient with children. For small children, a dog is like a toy they dont understand its a living, breathing being that can get hurt by roughhousing.

Some breeds would not tolerate the antics of small children, but would be great with older children. A dog for older adults needs to be low maintenance, calm and undemanding.

Dogs can also be divided into two important categories – those that shed and those that dont. Shedding is a huge complaint of dog owners. Dog hair clings to furniture, clothing and guests who sit anywhere in the house. Short haired dogs may look easier but they can shed, too. Shedding can be divided into barely sheds, seasonal only shedding or constant shedding.

Size of the breed is both a height and weight issue. Smaller dogs weigh under 10 pounds, medium dogs weigh 11-25 pounds, large dogs weigh 26-50 pounds and extra large dogs weight 51-80 pounds. Extremely large dogs, like Mastiffs and St. Bernards, can tip the scale at 100-180 pounds.

Can your furniture stand that much dog? In choosing a breed, dont decide on the dog as it appears a puppy – make your choice based on the size the dog will grow to as an adult. Big dogs are big eaters. If you bring home a Mastiff, you may need a second job just to pay for the dog food and care.

Care requirements are another important consideration. Some dog breeds require more grooming and care than others. Dogs that have fancy trim, like poodles or show dogs may spend more time in the spa than you do.

Even ordinary family dogs may need weekly (or even daily) grooming to keep their coats from tangles and to maintain good physical health. Take time to research the dog breed, size, temperament and grooming requirements before you make a choice. Its only fair to the dog you choose that you be prepared to care for basic needs, plus provide the love and attention that only you can give.

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