Tips to help...
Tip: It is important to prepare your dog(s) for the arrival of a new baby as soon as possible. Even a well-trained and mannered dog may show signs of jealousy if the change is made abruptly. Call Desert Dogs to start preparation exercises no less than two months prior to the expected arrival of the baby. The resulting relationship will be well worth the effort you put in before the arrival of the baby.
Tip: Rawhides pose potential health risks. Rawhides can cause either vomiting or diarrhea from the many pieces still sitting undigested in the GI tract. Swallowing large pieces can lodge in the throat and cause choking. Large pieces can also scrape and irritate the throat and esophagus. Once in the stomach or intestinal tract, rawhides may create a physical obstruction. Some rawhides may create a risk of Salmonella or have an arsenic-based preservative.
Tip: Puppy training begins the moment you bring your new puppy home. Contact Desert Dogs about a puppy development program that can assist you in raising a well mannered family pet. Puppy development programs are designed to teach owners to better understand their puppy's needs, establish effective communication, curb behavior problems, and to show owners how to properly socialize their new puppy. Training can start as early as 7 weeks old.
Tip: Your dog's training should be based on its individual personality, past and present behavior, aptitude for learning, breed characteristics, social development, and most importantly your family's goals. Not every dog can fit into a singular "method" of training and therefore it is important to find a trainer that has the ability to modify your dog?s training based on your dog and your goals. Your dog's training should be designed to teach your dog useful obedience commands, good manners, and acceptable behavior patterns. Your dog's training would not be complete without you, the owner, learning how to properly handle and effectively communicate with your dog as well.
Tip: It is important to have your puppy become accustom to being handled by people from the day he comes home. This will greatly influence his grooming routine and help with grooming & veterinarian visits. He must accept being handled on all parts of the body. A massage is a good way to train your puppy to be touched. Be sure to praise your puppy when cooperating. Keep initial massage sessions short, but don't end sessions when the puppy squirms or protests. Unfortunately, many owners stop at the first protest. You should continue handling otherwise your puppy will learn that struggling will get him his way. It's important that you, the owner, decide when to end the handling.
Tip: We all hope that your dog is never confronted with a serious injury or emergency health problem. Unfortunately the unexpected can occur at any time. The most important thing in any emergency situation is to stay calm. Our dogs get their cues from us. If we are calm in an emergency our dogs may react in a better manner. You should also post your veterinarian's phone number with all of your other emergency numbers. List your veterinarian's number in your cellular phone as well. Be familiar with your veterinarian's procedures in the event of an emergency and if an emergency were to happen after business hours. Determine if there are emergency animal care facilities in your area and keep those numbers close by too.