How to Train a Rescue Dog

Many people say rescue dogs make the best companions because they are grateful. That may or may not be true but rescue dogs certainly deserve a wonderful home and some training. Some have issues but usually it is easier to train a rescue dog than it is to train a puppy.

Instructions

1. How to Train a Rescue Dog

2. Assess your new rescue dog. If you got your dog from a rescue where he spent time in a foster home, the foster owner will be able to tell you a lot about the dog. Usually they know how he is with other dogs, cats, children and his general level of training so you have a head start.

3. If your rescue dog came from a shelter, you will need to watch and learn what, if any, issues he has and what sort of training he needs.

4. Start teaching your dog that people are friendly. Many people think their rescue dog has been “abused” because he acts shy or barks at people. Usually these dogs have not been abused but have not been socialized well so they don’t trust people.

5. Get in the habit of carrying a small bag of yummy treats when your dog is meeting new people. Have people give him a treat and pet him gently under the chin or ears if he seems nervous. Don’t push him into situations he is not comfortable with, give him time to learn to trust.

6. Teach your rescue dog to sit on command if he doesn’t already know how. This is a very useful command for any dog to learn. He can sit while being petted by people instead of jumping up. He can sit at curbs when you’re on walks. Use a treat and lure him by moving it over his head until he sits. Once he has the idea, reinforce it by having him sit for meals, to go in and out the door and for treats. Not only will he be well-mannered but he will realize that you are in charge and he can make good things happen by sitting politely.

7. Get your rescue dog used to a crate. Not every dog needs to be crated while you are away from home of course. But until you know whether he gets anxious, destructive, or won’t potty in the house in your absence, a crate is a wonderful tool. Give him his meals in his crate. If he likes to play fetch or tug, throw the toy into the crate so he associates it with fun things.

8. Be consistent with all your commands and rewards. Use the same words for everything and before you know it your dog will have a big vocabulary. Have words for every action — going in and out, sitting, going to crate, play time, eating, going in the car, going for a walk. If you use the same word each time your dog will quickly make the association and you can then use that word as a command.

9. Take a basic obedience class. Dogs of any age can take basic obedience classes, they are not just for puppies. Group classes are fun and inexpensive and you and your new dog will both learn a lot. As a bonus your dog will learn to pay attention to you around distractions and if he has any issues with other dogs, the trainer will help you work through them.

Why Does My Dog Lose So Much Fur?

If you live with a dog, you also live with dog hair. If your dog sheds a lot or if he has begun to lose much more hair than he used to, take note of it. Increased hair loss can be a sign of a health issue, and your dog may have to taken to a vet for a diagnosis.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/about_5255798_dog-lose-much-hair.html#ixzz2bb9Eq4EL

The Facts

• All dogs shed. Just as in humans, your dog’s hair follicles have a three-part cycle: hair growth, hair loss and lying dormant. A certain number of follicles will be shedding hair at any given time. If your dog is losing more hair than normal you need to pay attention to that change. There are several possible causes for increased hair loss including include a change in seasons or a serious health problem.

Seasonal Shedding

• If you keep your dog indoors year ’round, then her rate of shedding should stay fairly constant. If your dog spends a lot of time outside, then she could lose more hair because of a change in seasons. Many dogs shed heavily in the fall and again in the spring. If your dog is from a long-haired breed, she will naturally shed much more hair than dogs of shorter haired breeds.

Disease

• A marked increase in hair loss, especially in patches, could be a sign your dog has a health problem. If your dog loses so much hair that he goes bald on his body, but he retains fur on his head and his feet, he could have Cushing’s disease. If his coat is thinning out markedly and his skin looks flaky, then he could have a thyroid disorder. Your veterinarian can tell you about treatment options for both of these conditions.

Infection

• A bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection could be the reason why your dog loses so much hair. A bacterial infection such as pyoderma will cause her fur to fall out and leave behind bald patches. Mange is caused by mites. If they infect your dog, she will lose hair on her face, neck and ears. Ringworm is a fungal infection that triggers hair loss in bald patches. If your dog is losing hair because of an infection, your veterinarian can treat it.

Other

• Some dogs shed more than normal when they are pregnant. A nutritional deficiency can cause your dog to lose so much hair that it becomes noticeable. If your dog is allergic to something in his environment, he might scratch at itchy skin so hard and so often that he pulls hair loose. He can scratch so much that he even causes bald patches.

REAGAN

Puppet kissing Reagan!

Napping under her favorite table

Her look out spot

chillin on the outside couch

Soaking up the rays

Oh what a life

Did you say treats??

This is a Reagan update, she has been with us now about six weeks and in that short time she has learned many things. When Reagan came to us she was a bit of a wild dog in the sense she had zero manners, jumping on furniture, people, tables you name it, if she could get her feet on it she would jump up on it! She was not house broken at all, in fact she peed where ever she felt like it and pooped when ever she felt like it. Reagan didn’t even know the basic like sit, stay, come, off well lets just say she knew nothing! I will admit the first two days I asked myself ” what did I get myself into? ” I am so happy we never gave up, in six long but short weeks Reagan has become a wonderful addition to our family, she has been spayed and fully vaccinated she now knows all her commands through sign language, she will sit, stay, come, back up, away and even off!! She knows them all and she even walks like a good girl, the walking still needs some improvement but for the most part pretty good! We have also been teaching puppet to take care of Reagan and to be her ears for her, we have also taught Reagan that if Puppet moves , so does she! If Reagan isn’t looking my way so I can use the sign language to come, I just ask Puppet to go get her and she does! Reagan follows Puppet or myself anywhere and everywhere, the two girls are inseparable !  I can’t say enough good things about her and I am so proud of her and so glad she is here with us! It just goes to show you even a disabled dog in this case deaf, can do anything with kindness, gentleness but mostly patients! Lots, and lots of patients!! 

OHHHH MYLOE!!!!!!

 

Okay so try to imagine this, as you all know we have a new puppy in the house that we are currently in the middle of potty training ( she is doing very well ). We also have an awesome three-year old boxer named Myloe who I have hand-picked to help me raise this new puppy. I have picked Myloe because as some of you may know he is very calm, quiet, tolerant, but mostly very particular. I have raised Myloe since he was five weeks old and I have yet to meet a more balanced boxer ever so this is why I chose him to help with the new puppy, so with that said on to my story. It’s Tuesday January 22 I was up at 7:45 am and I hit the floor running ( literally )  I run down stairs to get all my warm clothes on because I am headed outside for puppies first pee of the day, after that I let all the big boys out for a pee and while everyone is outside doing their thing I am getting all the breakfast bowls ready! So now everyone is in and eating breakfast so I think I will go have a quick shower before puppy needs to go back out for the after breakfast poop, so off I go and cross my fingers no accidents ( if my timing is right! ) So I rush and have a shower come out see there are no accidents and think okay, so put my warm clothes back on and now I bring Myloe and puppy out for a pee or poop, success puppy does both!! In we come and now I allow Myloe and puppy to go and have some free play time and Myloe can set out some ground rules! I think to myself ” puppy is busy playing, should have no accidents, yup I should be good for about 20 min ” so I will go and do some dishes, so off I go and turn my back on the play but keep my ears open in case I need to jump in! I am now at the sink and have about half my dishes done when I hear Myloe making a very weird noise so I stop what I am doing to go and check it out. As I come around the corner there is Myloe all backed into the corner by the door with a look of pure disgust!! I look into the living room to see that puppy had pooped on the floor! Well Myloe is now just beside himself and is looking at me as if to say ” you ARE going to get that right ” so I go to the kitchen to get paper towel and cleaner and poor Myloe is still in the corner looking at the puppy, looking at me, and looking at the cleaner! So I say to Myloe ” relax Myloe its just poop and it happens some times, you did it once too! ” well Myloe looked at me with amazement and I am not kidding!! dropped his head, and made a puke sound like I have never heard before!! no puke! just gagged!! we I started to laugh so hard I almost peed my pants! I continue to wipe up the poop and wash the floor while the entire time Myloe is gagging in the back ground with pure disgust!! Now the mess is all cleaned up and Myloe is out of the corner still looking at me with ” I can’t believe that happened ” and as I walk away Myloe follows me to the kitchen but not before pausing to remember where on the floor the poop was so he can walk around the spot!! Its been a couple of hours now since we washed the floors and picked up poop but Myloe is still walking around that area!!! OHHHH MYLOE!! I think I may have to evaluate my thoughts on Myloe raising this puppy he seems to be a little mellow dramatic!! Honestly Myloe will do just fine, and this is why I love him so!!!!!!

Sunday’s joke of the day!

10 Reasons Your Dog’s hair cut costs more than yours

10. Your hairdresser doesn’t wash and clean your rear end.
9. You don’t go for 8 weeks without washing or brushing your hair.
8. Your hairdresser doesn’t have to give you a sanitary trim.
7. Your hairdresser doesn’t have to clean your ears.
6. Your hairdresser doesn’t have to clean boogies from your eyes.
5. You sit still for your hairdresser.
4. Your haircut doesn’t include a manicure or pedicure.
3. Your hairdresser only washes and cuts the hair on your head.
2. You don’t bite or scratch your hairdresser. (I hope not anyway).
And the Number 1 reason your dog’s haircut costs more than yours….
1. The likelihood of you pooping or peeing while your hair is being cut is extremely slim.