You’d never know it by looking at him, but little Chupey’s DNA is made up mostly of Pit Bull and Rottweiler! Born hairless with inside-out ears, beady eyes, and a toothy grin, he resembles the mythical Chupacabra of Mexican folklore.

Rescuer, Kaley Carlyle dubbed him “Chupey” for short.

Carlyle had already rescued one litter of puppies with a seizure disorder when the same breeder came to her with Chupey. She cut a deal with the woman: if she would spay Chupey’s mother, Carlyle would take in the special needs puppy.

In addition to his unique appearance, Chupey had liver problems. He was underweight and always exhausted, sleeping up to 23 hours a day. Luckily, a special diet is helping to improve his health. Now his adorable personality is shining through!

“My favorite thing about Chupey is his attitude – he always wants to be part of what you’re doing and does a little shimmy dance when he’s excited,” Carlyle tells Metro UK.

He is also incredibly cuddly, rushing over whenever a blanket appears, and barking until he is let underneath. Don’t worry, Chupey has a collection of warm clothing to protect his hairless body when the weather turns chilly.

Chupey is now nearly 2-years-old and thriving. He has close to 9,000 followers on Instagram who log in to see his heartwarming smile.

While Carlyle has grown to love Chupey’s one-of-a-kind appearance, she says his personality is what makes him truly special.

“I think people need to give special needs dogs a chance and look at the dogs that aren’t as beautiful and striking as the rest. I hope I can encourage people to look at dogs differently and understand that personality is more important than looks.”

Let Chupey’s goofy grin brighten up your life by following him on Instagram and Facebook!

The post This Special Pup Was Born With A Permanent Smile appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

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A California dog dad got a shocking surprise when a motion alert from his home security camera appeared on his phone. He watched in horror as the pet sitter he hired through the Rover app violently threw his puppy, Lucy to the ground.

Lucy was seen by a veterinarian, and is expected to be fine, but it certainly raises questions as to the safety of using pet care apps such as Rover and Wag.

Warning: The video footage is very disturbing. Proceed with caution.

Wag and Rover are often compared to “Uber for dogs” due to their ease of use. But fast and convenient may not be good things when it comes to the care of your beloved pup.

In April, CBS News reported the death of a blind senior pooch named Mooshu who fell from a two story porch while in the care of a Rover pet sitter. The owner was offered $2,600 towards the cost of Mooshu’s vet bills and cremation as well as the cost of a new dog, if she signed a non-disclosure agreement.

She declined and became one of 14 families to speak with CBS about the deaths of their dogs while in the care of Rover or Wag sitters. One dog parent discovered her Rover sitter had a criminal record, another caught her Wag walker on surveillance video kicking and intimidating her dog.

Users of both apps were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements after their dogs were injured or killed while in the care of Wag or Rover employees. 

Rover told CBS that the well-being of pets is their “top priority” and they are “continually working to improve safety.” Similarly, Wag reported that they are “committed to constantly improving their service” and “care deeply about the safety” of dogs.

Pet care industry expert, Carmen Rustenbeck says these companies are adopting more regulations, but for now, she recommends dog parents seek out licensed professionals.

“Just pasting a badge on the website is not going to work anymore, they’re going to have to back that up with some kind of training,” Rustenback said. “If you had a child, would you just accept a person on an app to take care of your child? Or would you do more investigation? And that’s what I encourage all pet owners to do.”

The post Latest Incident Highlights The Dangers Of Entrusting Your Pup To Dog Care Apps appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

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For one Colorado family, a fun-filled drive in the mountains quickly turned tragic. While driving in the Rocky Mountains, Tara Orr was with her mother, Jennifer, and Tara’s pup Bentley, a one-year-old Goldendoodle. It was supposed to be a fun adventure, but while navigating steep mountain roads, they lost control, and their car plummeted down a 600-foot cliff. Tara survived the crash. However, her mom sadly died at the scene. Unfortunately for Bentley, the struggle to survive was just beginning.

A Community Comes Together to Help

Bentley was thrown from the vehicle during the accident and was nowhere to be found. He was last seen running down the hill that the car had tumbled down. Unfortunately, Bentley’s mom was unable to search for him because she was airlifted to a local hospital to receive emergency care.

Locals came together to search for Bentley. They printed flyers and canvassed the area. They even started a Facebook page where people could share tips, words of encouragement and any sightings of sweet Bentley. Their efforts weren’t in vain. After 19 days of living alone in the hills of Colorado, Bentley was miraculously found!

Someone finally spotted him on the hillside and contacted Bentley’s heartbroken mom. She had since returned home in Kansas, but she hadn’t given up hope. Tara flew back to Colorado and managed to find Bentley still roaming the hills.

Two Survivors Reunited

His mom posted a heart-warming video to the Bring Bentley Home Facebook page. Tears fell from her eyes as she clutched Bentley. Her eyes were still black and blue from the accident- a shocking reminder of the reality of the situation.

“I’m just so grateful for everybody who helped… He’s literally laying in my lap,” Bentley’s mom said through tears.

VIDEO: Tara Calls Out to Bentley

Bentley made his way back home to Kansas, dehydrated and malnourished. He was welcomed home with signs in his yard and clusters of balloons. His family was so thankful to have their baby back!

“Bentley is settling back in as if he never left! He’s as goofy, fun, and as sweet as ever. The resilience of dogs will never fail to impress me. His eating, drinking, and digestion quickly returned to normal. Health-wise, he seemed to have no injuries whatsoever–a true miracle.”

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The Richmond Animal League gave one sweet pup a day to remember recently. The staff and volunteers took Bebe for “Bebe’s Big Day Out” where he got to pick out anything he wanted. He went for a car ride and got to feel the breeze on his face with all of the windows down before indulging in a shopping spree at Petco.

A stray dog who lives in Bangkok is showing off his carefully crafted street smarts, and it’s getting him some viral attention worldwide. The locals call him Gae. He’s a reddish brown, large mixed breed whose ability to trick passersby gets him awarded by those whose heart goes out to him.

As you’ll see in the video, Gae perfectly positions and drags his hindquarters along the street as if he has injured legs. When someone pays him some attention, he quickly ‘recovers’ and walks around looking mighty proud of himself for his performance.

“This old dog has lived [at] my workplace for a few years,” local resident Thaweeporn Chongplapolkul told Viral Press. “He always does this trick to deceive people.”

Image Screenshot World News You Tube

Gae is taken care of by Chongplapolkul and other locals. They feed him rice and other things and she assures us, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Gae’s legs. 

“We’ve checked both of his legs — they are both fine,” says Chongplapolkul. “If Gae had any kind of injury, I would take him to the vet immediately.”

What’s not so clear is if Gae came up with this gag on his own or if he was trained by another hungry belly that needed a little help. Perhaps, he was hanging around with a dog, with actual injuries, who received more hand outs than he did. That may have tipped him off to the trick. It’s also not too far fetched to think that a human taught him this to help both of them receive more kindness and contributions from strangers.

Image Screenshot World News You Tube

You’ll notice in the video that Gae receives much praise and giggles for his act, which surely only encourages him to keep up the habit. He even gets a guy on a motorbike to stop completely, with obvious concern on his face. Then Gae just jumps up, tail wagging, and all the onlooking humans laugh and tell him how tricky the little Thespian is.

No matter how he learned to perform, his scheme absolutely works! I mean, who would keep going when a poor helpless creature was dragging himself down the road? Hats off to Gae and his cunning. We all gotta eat, and this smart little cookie figured out a way to go right for the pity jugular to get his needs met. He’s simply irresistible.

What’s the most clever thing your dog does to get some attention? Did he come up with it on his own or was it a taught trick? Share your stories with us!

Featured Image Screenshot World News You Tube

 

The post Sneaky Pup Has the Most Surprising Way To Get Treats & Attention appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

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Are you searching for the perfect gift for the young dog lover in your life? Look no further than Operation ResCUTE‘s adorable stuffed dog and book sets!

Each toy is modeled after a real life rescue dog, and comes with a book detailing their remarkable story. Best of all, 100% of the profits go towards helping shelter dogs get adopted!

Operation ResCUTE was inspired by a pooch named Jingles. Her story began when she was just a tiny pup, curled in a New York City trashcan for warmth.

Laurie Brown-Nagin, Jingles’ adoptive mom and the creator of Operation ResCUTE, spotted an Animal Control Officer carrying the puppy to a vet’s office and fell in love. Soon, Jingles was the newest member of her family.

As a marketing researcher, Brown-Nagin was shocked to learn that only 30% of pets in homes come from shelters and rescue organizations. Even worse, an estimated 2.7 million healthy pets remain in shelters each year.

As a mom, she knew the only way to improve the plight of rescue dogs was through future generations. It was out of this desire to educate and encourage young readers that Operation ResCUTE was born!

The first set of ResCUTE toys and books feature Jingles, Brown-Nagin’s other dog Tanner, and a very special pooch known as Hudson the Railroad Puppy.

Back in 2012, Hudson and his two littermates were discovered with their paws nailed to a railroad track. The pups were treated for malnutrition, dehydration, and infected wounds. Sadly, one of Hudson’s sisters passed away, the other lost two toes, and sweet Hudson lost his entire left rear paw.

Despite his early circumstances, Hudson went on to find a wonderful home, become a therapy dog, and inspire millions with his story of survival and hope.

If your child or grandchild has a heart for dogs, there’s no better way to help nurture their passion. Each story and mini replica dog will help teach them the importance of rescue, and why they should always adopt not shop!

 

Featured Images via Facebook/Operation ResCUTE

The post These Stuffed Toys Help Save Shelter Dogs & Teach Kids The Importance Of Rescue appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

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“Jax is doing great! He is a very loving dog, and we took to him right away. We couldn’t have asked for a better dog.”

Nothing brings us more joy than sharing success stories with you. After all, it is YOU who make these happy endings possible. When you shop on iHeartDogs, dogs get fed, housed, relocated, and ultimately, adopted! We’ve got a sweet story to share today that is a perfect example of the great things that come from the iHeartDogs community and our partnership with Greater Good.

Doom and Gloom

Jaxon came to a California shelter as a stray. Despite his warm personality and cool cattle dog coloring, he languished at the shelter. Potential adopter after potential adopter passed him by. Things were looking pretty gloomy for Jaxon.

4th of July Booms

Ask a shelter staffer which holiday they like the least and you are very likely to hear the 4th of July. Fireworks light up the sky and firecrackers blow up in cities, towns, and yards across our great nation. Humans love all the noise and spectacle. For many dogs, though. It’s a terrifying experience. Tons of dogs get loose, running away from the safety of their homes trying to escape the perceived threat. As a result, shelters get filled to the brim in the aftermath of the 4th year after year. Many of these wayward pups are reunited with their families, but sadly, many others are not. This puts a big strain on the shelter system.

Placed on the Kill List

Easy going Jaxon didn’t do anything wrong. He was a victim of circumstance and bad timing. The shelter in California became overcrowded following the 4th of July. There was seemingly no choice but to make room  for those incoming dogs. Jaxon was one of the unlucky ones placed on the kill list. His life would be taken to make room for another. It’s a cycle that saddens and frustrates shelter staffers and volunteers.

Thanks to funding through Greater Good and iHeartDogs, Jaxon was taken out of the kill shelter in California by Shelter Transport Animal Rescue Team and put on transport to Safehaven Humane Society in Oregon. Within two short weeks of residing at Safehaven Humane Society, Jaxon found his forever home!

Word from His Mama

Jaxon’s mama is super proud and happy to have her little love nugget. She told Greater Good,

“Jax is doing great! He is a very loving dog, and we took to him right away. We couldn’t have asked for a better dog.”

Instead of being put to sleep, Jaxon is being put to the neighborhood streets. He gets walked and loved and hugged every single day. How’s that for a happy ending?

 

The post Spared from Certain Death Thanks to You appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

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Every purchase you make on the iHeartDogs store helps feed and house shelter dogs in need. Thanks to you, the Nashville Humane Association received some serious improvements to their facility.

Image Courtesy Rescue Rebuild

How Your Purchases Helped

Here’s a little breakdown of how your purchases get translated into upgrades for this animal shelters. iHeartDogs is partnered with Greater Good. A portion of your purchases goes to Greater Good to, well, do more good! Greater Good has an organization within it called Rescue Rebuild.

Rescue Rebuild is a volunteer program of GreaterGood.org that recruits volunteers from all over the country to help animal shelters in need. They travel to selected shelters and spend one to two weeks working to complete general repairs and renovations.

Nashville Humane Association was a selected shelter to receive repairs and renovations. Rescue Rebuild recruited about 60 volunteers to come work at the shelter for the week. The number of people on hand allowed Rescue Rebuild to tackle quite a few projects for the Nashville Humane Association.

Image Courtesy Rescue Rebuild

Make the Interior Pop

The Nashville Humane Association needed a paint job on the interior. Rescue Rebuild and their team of volunteers put many a paint brush and roller to work! Nashville Humane Association has different adoption rooms for different types of dogs based on size and temperament. Large breed active dogs can congregate in one room while sleepy seniors can chill out in another.

One of these areas is called the Real Life Rooms. They are set up like more typical household rooms for dogs that don’t do well in kennels. These rooms are highly visible to the incoming adopters so they are also used for dogs that have been at the shelter for a while who could use some added exposure.

Volunteers prepped and painted all of the trim and doors to these rooms and wow, what a difference! The colors really pop! Now the moment potential adopters walk in the door, their eyes will be drawn to that space and all the pups looking through the window at them, ready to go to their forever home. 

Image Courtesy Rescue Rebuild

Improving the Outdoor Space

The shelter already had one outdoor kennel space so that dogs can get some fresh air during the day. There was plenty of space for another one, though. The Rescue Rebuild team poured a large concrete pad and once it was dry, put in a large kennel.

Image Courtesy Rescue Rebuild

An already established play yard was spacious and fun but there was a problem. The existing fence was low to the ground so larger dogs were easily leaping right over it and running around on the property. Due to this safety concern, the yard was only being used for smaller dogs off leash and larger dogs on leash. This had to change! The team torn down the picket fence and replaced it with a chain link fence. Now all the dogs get to have their outdoor time doing what they love to do best-run free!

Image Courtesy Rescue Rebuild

 

Image Courtesy Rescue Rebuild

Thank YOU for your continued contributions to Greater Good and Rescue Rebuild through your purchases at iHeartDogs. With your help, more ‘good’ is going to shelters in need.

Featured Image Courtesy Rescue Rebuild

 

 

 

 

 

The post Thanks to YOU Nashville Humane Association Gets a Huge Face Lift appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

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An injured dog named Dani was brought into the Twin Maples Veterinary Hospital in Ohio because she needed emergency medical attention. The individual that brought her in claimed that they found the dog with a slit throat and a duct-taped mouth. Horrified by this story, officers went out to search for the person behind this animal abuse, but they later found out that the entire story was a fabrication. The real person to blame was the person who brought her in, which sadly was actually her family.

Even though the stories about Dani were false, she still appeared to be in pretty bad shape. She was incredibly skinny with sores around her nose and neck. Because of this, it was easy to believe the lies being told about how she got in this condition. However, upon further examination, the vets were able to confirm that these injuries were not from a slit throat or duct tape.

As it turns out, no one had purposely harmed Dani. The scratch on her neck was from an accidental run-in with a barbed wire fence. Once this incident occurred, her family wanted to seek medical attention for her injury. Sadly, they couldn’t afford to pay the vet bills. That’s when they decided to come up with a story to get her scratch fixed for free.

The sores around her nose were because her family kept a tight muzzle around her for long periods of time. They used the muzzle to control Dani’s behavior, such as excessive chewing and aggressive behaviors toward other dogs. However, the muzzle would sometimes be kept on Dani’s mouth for hours at a time. This is why it left such a horrible mark.

With the scratch from a barbed wire fence and the sores from a muzzle, Dani’s family was able to make up the perfect story. They thought they could claim to have found Dani, so that the vet would provide free medical care, but their plan backfired.

Dani is now being fostered at Hart of Cincinnati Animal Rescue, which is where she was originally adopted. Her foster parent says that she is a sweetheart, and her tail never stops wagging. It will take her some time for her to heal, but in the meantime, she’s in good hands.

The rescue states they would like to push for charges against the original family, but this hasn’t been done just yet. After the investigation, it was discovered that the incident happened in a different county than the officers originally thought.

“After the investigation was completed it was determined that this incident did not occur in Butler County, but we will make a joint effort to work with the adjacent jurisdiction to ensure this case is dealt with appropriately,” states Sheriff Jones.

This dog’s original family is actually in Warren County, so if the rescue does press charges, then they would have to be filed in that jurisdiction. However, what is most important is that Dani’s okay. She is with a loving foster home and is excited to find a caring and responsible forever home in the future.

All Images: Screenshot, wpxi.com
H/T: wpxi.com

The post Viral Story About Abused Pup Takes An Upsetting Turn When Truth Comes Out appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

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A dog in Virginia didn’t quite know love until she was adopted by a senior living facility.

A six-year-old pup by the name of Journey was found by Amy Creel with Knine Rescue in Montgomery County, Maryland. Journey had been kept in a cage her entire life and she ended up in an overcrowded shelter after her owner died.

Puppies are some of my favorite beings on earth!  I’ve said it before and I will say it again, I just love puppies!  All puppies, the small breeds, the large breeds and the medium sized breeds.  Young puppies just have a vest for life that I can appreciate!

But, puppies need a puppy training schedule.  They need a potty training schedule, they need a daily training schedule, and a weekly and monthly basic obedience training schedule.

If you do not devote time to your young puppy, before you know it your pup will be grown up into a poorly trained and under socialized adult dog.  And, as a trainer, let me be the first to tell you that it is a lot more difficult to train and socialize an adult dog than it is a puppy.

Puppies are Easy

Puppies are typically easy to train and socialize because they are blank slates.  That is not to say that it is not going to take time and effort; it is!  But raising a puppy teaching basic obedience and socialization in a positive manner can often be easier than trying to break the bad habits an adult dog has developed.

Again, puppies aren’t EASY in the concept of work and time your dog’s behaviors are going to take work.  But starting now is much better than starting later.

Honestly it is easier to take an adult dog from a shelter and put it in a totally new environment and break bad behaviors than it is for most original dog owners to break bad behaviors that they have created.  That is because habits will form with both dog and owner, and if those are bad habits, then it takes 2 of them to change it!  This can be difficult for both, whereas as a dog trainer and new adopter, it is easier for me to break those habits because many of them are not dependent on me.

So do me, and yourself a favor and begin training your puppy as soon as he crosses your threshold or on the way home!  Start strong and get excited.

This is a great potential relationship and bond that you will have for over the next decade.  And, I have said it before, but I will say it again… any quality relationship takes time and effort!

I see too many puppy owners who brought their puppies home, never found time for them raising them or potty training them or socializing them who are horrified when the puppy’s behavior grows out of control.  I meet a lot of overwhelmed dog owners and untrained, out of control adult dogs!  If you are bringing or have brought that puppy home make sure that you are willing to devote the time and effort it takes.

Potty Training Schedule

First be sure to avoid corrections and intimidation!  It doesn’t work.  So don’t rub his nose in any potty training accident you find.

Be sure to avoid pain, even if your puppy has an accident or makes what seems like a bad decision.  Remember how long it takes to potty train a child?  Bad habits are sometimes misconceptions on our part as the human in the equation.

I remember being at work (at a clinic as a veterinary technician) with a fairly new co-worker who had gotten a puppy a few months earlier.  She mentioned that the puppy and some bad habits and was having potty training accidents in the house.

Let me tell you everyone thinks they can give pet health advice, potty training advice and basic obedience advice (just like everyone thinks they can sing).

A former co-worker chimed in and told my friend to shoot the puppy with a BB gun.  I will admit, I am fairly quiet about being a dog trainer when I am at work or out in public.  I think that my work and knowledge speaks for itself and stands alone.  But I couldn’t let this particular piece of horrible advice go unnoticed!

“Don’t shoot your puppy with a BB gun!”  This will only teach your puppy that you are unfair, unkind, and untrustworthy.  She will simply learn to never go potty in front of you.”  “It won’t even necessarily fix your problem.”

The bad advice giver swore that her young pups quickly learned her training routine and didn’t have accidents again.  She swore with a little work it was full proof.

I promised her with some monitoring, a loose leash and some actual work, (and a health check) she would see a difference.

Ironically her puppy was diagnosed with a recessed vulva which was causing horrific bacterial infections in her bladder.  She literally couldn’t help it.  Can you imagine how sad it would have been to shoot this young pup?

After some antibiotics, she learned that teaching your dog and training is always better than corrections.

Now lets talk about how to set your puppy up and avoid bad habits, so that you can have trustworthy potty trained adult dog. Jump on the potty train!  Potty training can feel daunting but it doesn’t have to!  There are some basics to follow when it comes to your puppy’s potty training schedule for your new training program.

First Thing in the Morning

He is going to need to go potty first thing in the morning.  He isn’t going to be able to hold it long, so I suggest keeping him somewhere close to you so that you have quick access.  I recommend a crate at night.  I personally prefer keeping my puppy in a crate next to my bed.

Crates are essential for good potty training, and keeping your puppy safe for more on that click here.

I like keeping the puppy next to my side of the bed so that I can hear him if he becomes restless in the night and I can get him outside before he soils his crate.  I sleep fairly lightly, so I hear when my puppies becoming restless or when he has woken and I know I have limited time to get him outside.  If he wasn’t next to my bed, I would have a much more difficult time hearing him and being able to prevent a crate accident.  And, no one likes to clean up a dirty crate which leads to a dirty puppy night after night.

Crates also keep puppies safe from eating, shredding, or ingesting things that are dangerous and might kill them.  They also keep your special things from being ruined or shredded.

And, if you have a dog that gets dropped off at the groomer or the veterinary clinic; he will adjust better and panic less.  Crates are also great when you travel!

Need help acclimating your dog to the crate or teaching crate games click on the highlighted links

Having trouble with your crate training?  Click here

After Meals

He is going to need to go outside and go potty after he eats or drinks.  Many puppies process their meals and their drinking fairly quickly; anywhere from immediately to up to 20 minutes after eating and drinking.  Make sure that you are going outside with him to ensure that he is going potty outside and not just playing (which many puppies prefer).

Remember how tiny your puppy is at this age.  His bladder and his body are small.  Processing what he takes in or filling that bladder doesn’t take long.

Every Two Hours

Most puppies need to go outside and pee or poop about every 2 hours.  Remember his tiny bladder?  He is going to need the ability to express it about every 2 hours or so.

The rule:  the general rule is an hour for each month he is old, plus one.  So, the longest you should leave an 8 week old puppy (2 months) is for 3 hours; tops.  For more information on how long your puppy can wait both day and night, click here.

Also watch his water intake.  The more water he drinks the more that bladder fills and will need to go outside.

Puppies develop schedules and it is critical that you learn your puppy’s potty schedule in order to successfully ride the potty train.  Most puppies poop 3 times a day.  I knew if and when my puppies didn’t poop that they would need to come and wait in their crate for 10 minutes or so before going back outside.  Otherwise I open my house up for accidents.

And, I will mention again.  It doesn’t matter if it is 20 below zero outside, 2 a.m., or raining cats and dogs… in order to be successful and know your puppy’s potty schedule you MUST go outside with him and watch him.  When you know his schedule and what is normal for him, you are setting him up for success in your home.  No one likes accidents in the house!

I do not suggest giving him treats for going potty, I do recommend quietly praising them.  If you reward him for going potty in front of you, by giving him treats; he is more likely to come back in the house and have accidents in order to get his reward.  He doesn’t understand he is getting rewarded for going potty OUTSIDE.  So just keep it to quiet praise as he goes outside.

Last Thing At Night

I like to have a good play session about 10 to 20 minutes before I want my puppy to go to bed.  Physical activity helps to move things through their system and will also aid them in being tired when you are ready to get to sleep!

Most puppies can go longer at night (due to the lack of exercise and lack of access to water).

*Hint:  Keep your puppy on a leash with you in the house or in a small area to help you potty train.  The more restricted his area, the less likely he is to have an accident.  And, if he is with you, you will notice if he gets restless or tries to sneak off to another room.  I understand that this takes a whole new level of time and maintenance… but it is worth it.  Read this 

Your Puppy’s Daily Schedule

Almost everything in life goes better when it is on a normal schedule.

Do your best to wake up in the morning at the same time each day.  This will help your puppy to acclimate to your specific schedule.  Likewise do your best to go to bed at about the same time each night.  This is good for your circadian clock and rhythm and it is best for your puppy’s success.

I would also like you to set up a basic obedience with positive reinforcement schedule for your puppy!  Remember you are going to be playing the game of rewarding, clicking and treating good behavior.

It is crucial that you teach your puppy about clicker and/or marker training.  When he does something right you should be marking that behavior and rewarding good behavior.  If you are only communicating with your dog when he does something wrong you are missing 90% of the equation.  How can you communicate what you like and what you want when you don’t have a marker or a way to effectively communicate with another species?

Trainers at Sea World, and those working with large and exotic species from around the world use clicker, whistle or marker training.  Try using coercion or corrections on a chicken!  However, you can train a chicken with a well timed marker!

To find out more about marker or clicker training click here.

Trust me you are going to LOVE marker training once you get started!  It is the most fun and rewarding way to train you dog!  Science has proven that it is the best for learning and retention of information.

I recommend setting aside time for at least 5, 5 minute training sessions per day with your new dog for your training program.

Think about setting time aside:

First thing in the morning

During your dog’s breakfast

When you get home

During your dog’s dinner

Before bed

Or if your schedule is more flexible, you can come up with your own obedience training and positive reinforcement schedule.

Start by rewarding your puppy for showing basic behaviors like “sit”, “down”, and waiting patiently which will lead to “stay”.  Begin by having your puppy on leash inside to control his behaviors.  This will also help you as you add distractions, like bouncing a ball or squeaking a toy, while inside the home.

The most important command you can teach a puppy is coming when called.  And the nice thing about puppies, especially a young pup, is that they are like Velcro and will follow you around the house and even outside.  Reward this good behavior; teach your puppy as he grows that you desire this behavior and that this behavior is rewarding as your puppy grows and he will continue coming to you when he is an adult dog!  Teaching your puppy as your puppy grows and rewarding good behaviors is crucial to him maintaining good behaviors and becoming a good pet as an adult.

Click here to see how teaching your puppy or adult dog to come, goes wrong and why so many people have a problem with this simple command.

As a dog trainer, I recommend also getting eye contact and focus on command or cue this will come in handy when you want him to leave distractions and focus on you and your training.

I also start leash training and loose leash walking while in the house to limit distractions before taking my puppy outside to train.  Loose leash walking is one of the most important things you will teach your puppy, especially if you expect to walk him on leash.

Once your puppy is doing well and listening to your commands and doing well with basic obedience training  maintaining his commands and listening 90 % of the time you can begin to move outside and add distractions.   But remember, depending on time and weather you can still train inside!

*Important Note:  if you have had a bad day at work, are angry, or exhausted; it is okay to skip a session or two of your dog’s training.  It is worse to train when you are in a bad mood, than it is to skip a session!  Training should be fun!  If you are easily frustrated or angered it won’t be fun, it will actually be distasteful and confusing for your dog; just skip it!

Your Puppy’s Weekly Schedule

Weekly you should set both obedience training goals and socialization goals for you and your new dog or puppy for your training program.

Socialization

In the beginning, pick at least 3 days a week for socialization when you can take your puppy out and safely let him meet new people and possibly safe new dogs.

Be very careful during his puppy fear stages that you do not overwhelm him or force him to socialize in situations or with people  or other dogs that you do not know or can’t control.  His puppy fear stages are from weeks 7-9, 4-6 months, 8-9 months, 12 months, and 14 to 18 months.  These times can be critical to raising a social puppy and ultimately a good dog.   Read more about puppy fear periods here   Take them seriously and set your puppy training schedule around them to be safe.  It is a lot more difficult to try and fix a horrifyingly bad experience than it is to avoid them all together.

You wouldn’t expect your toddler to get over his fears or face his fears.  Instead, we work on educating our children and teaching them confidence.

Use Safe People and Safe Dogs

When I say “safe” I mean people that you know and trust and dogs that you know and trust.  During these fear periods, especially, is not the time to be trusting people and dogs that you don’t know.  People do dumb things and can scare puppies or dogs without even meaning to or by inadvertent accident!

And, some dogs are just aggressive or have short tempers.  Let us face the fact that puppies can be irritating and lack impulse control and dog to dog social skills.  Some adult dogs, just hate puppies.  But some adult dogs love young pups.  So be careful, always!  And, remember to praise and reward good behavior while socializing.

As you are setting up your puppy training schedule keep these things in mind when it comes to puppy socialization.

Some dog trainers, doggy day cares, and/or boarding facilities can help you find safe adult dogs that love puppies or puppies with similar play styles.  Introductions are crucial, so these facilities can help facilitate safe introductions and interactions.

Avoid dog parks.  Dog parks simply aren’t safe places anymore to socialize.  Too many dog owners are preoccupied with distractions like social media and games.  They take their dogs to dog parks to socialize and never look back up at their dog.  These periods of time and ignorance among dog owners can be dangerous.

But also be careful.  Not all doggy day cares, dog trainers, or boarding facilities are created equal.  I like being around for my puppy’s first few social experiences (during or not during their fear periods of time).  Beyond that I often recommend finding facilities that have cameras that you can log into and watch; that way you can witness your pet playing appropriately and see how long of periods of time the dogs are playing together.  Also be sure that there are some breaks for nap time.  Dogs are like some humans, when they are over tired, they often get cranky.

As your puppy becomes more socially confident and over all social; you can begin adding new things to your weekly schedule.  I often used to sit on benches at local grocery stores so that my puppy would get used to a bustling environment and lots of noises; this way he could learn to more easily ignore distractions during training.

Basic Obedience Training Weekly Goals

As your young pup develops, set weekly training goals.  His first week at home may simply be to teach him sit or down and reward these good behaviors as they happen.

As he ages make your training goals more advanced and add more distractions.

Don’t move too quickly, as obedience training takes time, but make sure you don’t get stuck in one place or aren’t advancing in your training goals.

Sitting at home for his dinner is not good enough when he is 5 months old.  He should be able to sit and listen in multiple environments.

His loose leash walking should also get better and more advanced with practice.

If you are struggling, look for the help of a good trainer or a good training program.

Monthly Goals

As you move through your first few weeks of training, be prepared to set monthly goals for your puppy during training.

Make sure that they are realistic for your puppy.  Again, don’t push your puppy too fast or too hard when he is not ready; but don’t get stale with your training.  There are sooooo many things you can do with your dog:  Agility, Dock Diving, Lure Coursing, Barn Hunt, Obedience Competitions, Rally Obedience.  The list is pretty endless and if your puppy training social and obedience schedule is done correctly; the sky is the limit for the relationship you will build with your puppy!

Remember to still utilize his crate on occasion, even if he is fully crate trained.  You will both thank me later.

The post Hot to Build a Simple Puppy Training Schedule appeared first on TheDogTrainingSecret.com.

via Whisker Therapy

The sad predicament of a pitbull abandoned in Connecticut is shedding light on the costs of raising a fur baby.

The poor girl was found tied to a tree in a park on July 26th with a note attached to her collar. The note, addressed to “Whomever love[s] dogs” explained that the pitbull’s name is Annabell and she would turn 3 years old on August 12th.

“Couldn’t afford her. Please help,” the note concluded.

She had no tags or microchip when she was picked up by animal control.

Norwalk Animal Shelter in Connecticut shared Annabell’s story on their page where it got a lot of attention. The post received hundreds of shares and several comments from people interested in adopting her.

Soon after, she was transferred to PAWS (Pet Animal Welfare Society) nearby where staff reported that she “can be a tad timid at first, but warms quickly and is sweet and social.” They also learned that she “enjoys outdoor time, long walks and playtime.”

After spay surgery Annabell was adopted by a couple on August 24th! Whether it was the social media attention or one look at her adorable mug that did it, she is now in a loving home.

Annabell’s story has sparked some conversation about the costs of raising a dog.

Many Facebook commenters expressed outrage that someone would abandon a dog like Annabell. In a post, PAWS requested that people not use her story to place judgment on the person who couldn’t take care of her.

“We also hope that rather than taking this as an opportunity to judge, people use this as a springboard for conversation about obstacles to successful pet ownership. These things include vet care that is not affordable, lack of pet friendly housing, breed discrimination in housing, overbreeding, lack of access to training, limited rehoming options and the limitation of adoptability due to breed prejudice and stigma,” the post read.

We’ll do anything for our dogs, but those costs can really add up.

Veterinary students at the University Of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Kelly Giffear and Brittany Scott projected the yearly costs of raising dogs of different breeds and sizes. According to Giffear and Scott, the average cost for the first year of raising small dogs was $2674; for medium dogs $2889; for large dogs $3239 and giant breeds like Great Danes have an annual cost of $3536. Across all dog sizes the average first year cost was $3085.

The estimates included the costs of supplies, food, and medical care but not training or boarding. If you’re planning to become a dog parent, make sure you know the costs involved. You can budget for food and replacement toys, but there will also be unexpected costs of boarding or vet visits to cover.

Of course, as most dog parents can tell you, the cost of having a dog in your life is worth it.

If you live near Norwalk but missed your chance to adopt Annabell, check out the other adorable dogs available through PAWS!

HT: Fox 5 NY

The post A Sweet Pitbull Was Found Tied To A Tree. Then They Saw The Note. appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

via Whisker Therapy