MURPHDOG® & COMPANY

Little Dogs, Big Issues: Dealing with Behavior Issues

2011-02-23T04:54:00.000-08:00

When people think of "little," especially as it pertains to dogs, they think of cute, baby, sweet, innocent and less work.

Not so! Little dogs can have big issues so it's time to undo the fallacy that "little dogs are easier."

First, the Pros:
1.You can scoop them up and carry them anywhere.
2. Their "output" is smaller.
3. They can use wee-wee pads.
4. They eat less.
5. They're less destructive.
6. They're easier to walk.
Now, the Cons:
1. They need more care nutritionally - especially as puppies.
2. They are more susceptible to illness and complications like hypoglycemia and dehydration.
3. They tend to bark more than large breeds.
4. They don't like to go out in rain nor bad weather, nor do they like to walk on wet grass.
5. They are easily injured.
6. The smaller the dog the more difficult to train!

Now you're thinking, why did she say that? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE little dogs and have my own. But as a trainer, I get more calls from people with small breeds than large ones. I actually get calls about Toy Poodles, Chihuahuas, Yorkies and other teeny beasts that rule the roost to the extent that their human families fear their snapping, biting and terrorizing of other members of the household. When I visit such a home, the owners may actually have the dog locked in a kennel because they're afraid it will bite me! This is not a joke, and getting bitten is certainly not funny. So if you have a situation like that, here's some advice.
Because of all the adjectives I mentioned, like cute and baby, people tend to carry little dogs around and pick them up when they're doing something wrong or annoying instead of trying to correct or teach them. You know the expression, "You can't be a little bit pregnant"? It means you either are or you aren't. When it comes to a dog's behavior for a dog, it's the same: he either can or he can't. If he does something wrong and is picked up, you just validated for him that he CAN continue that behavior. By holding him, you gave him affection for eating your Jimmy Choo shoes. You told him that barking and biting your leg was the way for him to get attention. So he will, without a doubt, keep doing it. The next thing to remember is, the higher the dog's head, the more he is in control. So 90% of the time when I go to a house with a small dog that is terrorizing everyone, his first instinct is to jump up on the highest part of a couch or chair so that he is now bigger than life. As soon as you get him off the couch, his attitude will change. If you're down on the floor with him in a puppy play position, he will take charge.
So what do you do? First, put a leash on him inside the house and keep him on the ground. Use a strong voice if he does something wrong, and tell him "NO." As soon as he stops, tell him "Good boy" and pet him. He'll get the idea. Little dogs also tend to get less exercise. Get out there and take that little guy for a walk, play ball with him, and stop letting him make his own decisions. He's a teenager testing his limits. Well it's time to take away the car keys!
It's a hard concept for most people to understand but dogs prefer structure and having a "place" in the family unit. Dogs are very smart and, big or little, they will do what ever they can get away with doing ... just like us.

Puppy Proof Your Home

2011-01-09T14:05:00.000-08:00

If you have any experience with baby-proofing your home, it's not a far reach to puppy-proof it. If there are rooms where you absolutely DO NOT want your dog to enter, gates are the answer. They're available in every height and width; can be free standing, pressure mounted or wall mounted; and made of wood, metal or plastic. They range from inexpensive to high-end designer types. Once upon a time, when I was a kid, my father used two shutters placed about an inch off the floor. They swung back and forth like saloon doors and hooked in the middle to keep them closed. Actually, it wasn't a half bad idea. Just think how creative you could be with a little help from a home improvement center.
But as a dog trainer and dog lover, I must tell you that puppy-proofing starts with training. A dog, like any member of a household (and I throw that in for those of you who feel guilty restricting your dog's activities) must follow rules and adhere to boundaries from the beginning. If your dog is allowed to jump on the furniture, scratch the doors, run in and out of the house tracking dirt everywhere...well, you get the picture. Instead, by investing time in good old-fashioned training, you'll keep your home décor investments solid.
Get your dog used to the fact that you will clean his paws when he comes in the house. I really like the new Dremel devices that file your dog's nails. It helps to keep the wood floors from being scratched up, the carpeting from pulling and the couch from ripping.
If a puppy is destructive when you leave him alone, then confine him until you return. Do I think it's cruel to confine a dog? I will say that I do not condone kenneling all day - I think that is cruel. But using short periods of confinement while you teach your dog to have freedom without destructive behavior, is acceptable. Think about the alternative. You come home to find your house in shambles and then punish the dog or worse, send him to a shelter.
In addition to the perils of puppyhood, the major causes of destructive behavior in dogs are boredom and loneliness. Think of your dog as a restless kid with too much time on his hands. Play dates with friends (and their dogs) work wonders. The dogs get the added attention they crave while learning social skills. A dog park is another option for increasing your dog's activities - and it's fun for the rest of your family too.
Exercise is a great way for releasing pent up energy, which would otherwise be aimed at your favorite chair or pair of shoes. This does not mean the dog plays in the yard by himself. This means "together time" - long walks or playing ball so that Kahuna is neither bored nor lonely.
With commitment comes sacrifice, but the sacrifice doesn't have to be your furniture, just your time and love.

UGODOG for the Modern Dog

2010-01-24T16:51:00.000-08:00

Once referred to as the family dog, man's best friend has become an important and integral member of the family. Along with this rise in status, comes: nurturing, understanding, attention, better housing, better food, and even medical benefits. We groom, dress, carry and sleep with them. We buy them beds and car seats. We hire pet sitters, walkers and trainers for them, and we send them to camp and doggie hotels. They have their nails filed and their teeth cleaned. So, I ask you: why not buy them an indoor bathrooming system? It's inexpensive, under $50, clean, easy to use, it saves money and totally eliminates the problems associated with not being home when your canine family member needs to go out. We've come so far in our quest to protect our furry friends and give them the best quality of life possible in every direction, so why put unnecessary and unhealthy demands and expectations on them? By that, I mean, forcing them to hold it in during the many hours that no one is home to walk them. Please think about it: holding it in is a demand that we would never force upon or expect of ourselves.

UGODOG is an innovative and environmentally-friendly indoor dog-potty and house-training system. UGODOG indoor dog toilet will not only keep your dogs' paws dry, but it will keep your house dry; just the way you and your pet prefer it. UGODOG dog litter box is designed to make clean up simple, easy, and certainly mess free without burdening the environment.

Think back on all the times when you were too tired, it was too cold, too wet, or too late to go out, you couldn't get home in time, too many other things were going on in the house; or, you just plain weren't in the mood to walk your dog. Now, I know there are many families with smaller dogs that have chosen to use wee-wee pads, newspapers on the floor or in a litter pan. I'm glad about that. It makes life easier for you and for your dog. But THIS IS BETTER. Take a look:

UGODOG Benefits:

More economical than wee-wee pads and expensive, patio potty systems.

Convenient, clean, and easy to use. Keeps dogs' paws dry.

Durable and weather-resistant for outdoor use, and stylish for indoor purposes.

Environmentally conscious alternative.

UGODOG Product Features:

Solid base capable of supporting all dog breeds.

Two smaller, removable, fitted grates make clean-up easier and more convenient.

Convex beams designed to cushion delicate paws.

UGODOG Product Uses:

Paws remain dry as urine passes through cubed openings on to base.

Grates allow poo to settle on top, making clean up easy and mess free.

Discard and replace soiled newspaper, or wee-wee pad, from base once a day.

Simply wipe down with a wet paper towel, or wipe once daily.

I'm happy to tell you that I was a customer and now I represent UGODOG Products and proudly display them on Murphdog Magazine. You can find everything you want to know about the UGODOG Indoor Potty System at www.murphdogmagazine.net or e-mail me iff you need any training tips on using the UGODOG. Please try it. I know you will be surprised at how quickly your dog, big or small, will start using the UGODOG products. And I know that you'll be pleased with the results.
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