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Association of Pet Professionals

Tag: professional dog care

  • Mastering Crate Training: Fundamentals for a Happy, Well-Behaved Dog

    Mastering Crate Training: Fundamentals for a Happy, Well-Behaved Dog

    Crate training is a common practice and can be very helpful for dog owners and their pets when used in the right circumstances.

    Crates are often used when potty training a puppy or when owners are away from the home for extended periods. The crate is strictly a management tool to minimize accidents, destructive chewing, post-surgery safeguards or when flying or driving long distances with your dog. No dog should be crated for long periods of time. A generally accepted rule of thumb is for puppies no more than 2 hours and for mature dogs, no more than 4.

    While some dogs will view their crate as a “safe spot” to rest or retreat, it is not always their “den of zen” as we might like to believe. You are fundamentally caging your dogs, regardless of their age or disposition.

    WHEN IT’S TIME TO “GRADUATE” TO MORE SPACE

    While crate training is helpful in puppyhood, as your dog learns to “signal” bathroom needs and stops inappropriately chewing things, designing a larger and entertaining play space in the home should be incorporated. Using X-pens or baby gates, section off an area of your home for your dog to comfortably move about along with a few entertainment toys, water, a cuddle bed, slip-proof mats (for hardwood or tiled floors), and preferably near a TV or radio so they can listen to soft, calming music. You can include his crate, with the door left open, in a corner of his play space.

    Adding a Furbo or Petcube Camera to both view and communicate with your dog while you’re away may give both of you added peace of mind. Consider a Bark Potty or Doggie Lawn indoor “potty box” in case you can’t get home in time for proper outdoor relief.

    We love the indoor play pen spaces designed by Clearly Loved Pets for their translucent designs and comfort for both dogs and other small animals @ https://clearlylovedpets.com/

    Clearly Loved Pet Play Pen

    Helpful advice from the Humane Society of the United States:

    “A crate is not a magical solution to common canine behavior. If not used correctly, a dog can feel trapped and frustrated. Never use the crate as a punishment. Your dog will come to fear it and refuse to enter.

    Don’t leave your dog in the crate too long. A dog who’s crated all day and night doesn’t get enough exercise or human interaction and can become depressed or anxious. You may have to change your schedule, hire a pet sitter or take your dog to a daycare facility to reduce the amount of time they spend in their crate each day.

    Crate your dog until they are able to be alone in the house without accidents or destructive habits. You can graduate your dog from a crate to an enclosed area of your home, like your kitchen, before giving them access to the full house when you’re away. The crate should always have a comfortable bed and the door left open when you’re home so your dog can enter it when they need a safe space.

    A crate may be your dog’s den, but just as you would not spend your entire life in one room of your home, your dog should not spend most of their time in their crate.” Tips for successful crate training are found in their article: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/crate-training-101

    OTHER SITUATIONS FOR CRATE SUCCESS
    • Crates can perform useful functions, including their use as feeding spaces for multi-dog families. Some dogs are aggressively protective of their food (referred to as “resource guarding”). To keep the peace at mealtime, it may be necessary to use crates for this specific purpose.
    • Dogs returning home from surgery require 24/7 supervision to prevent re injury during the healing process. Temporarily crating them may help keep them safe during a short period of recuperation.
    • Some dogs enjoy sleeping in their crates or used as a haven when household activity gets to be too much for them.

    With specific and sparse use, a crate can be a helpful tool for dog owners. As described in this article however, it is not a band aid for owners who are gone all day, aren’t prepared for puppy training, or haven’t explored doggie day care or hiring a pet sitter or dog walker to assist with the care and management of their beloved companions.

    This is where pet sitters can gain clients, by actively marketing to local dog breeders, rescue groups, high rise living communities and veterinarians. Share this article on your websites and social pages to show your professionalism!  Join us for more pet sitter resources @ http://app.comeback2.host/join-us/

     

    Featured photo attribution: from all-about-bichon-frises.com

  • Unleashing Joy: The Vital Importance of Socializing Dogs

    Unleashing Joy: The Vital Importance of Socializing Dogs

    Socialization and Mental Enrichment is important for every dog of every breed at every age. Breed characteristics also play a role in our engagement with them as owners and pet sitters. Understanding the need of the breed, coupled with positive environmental and social experiences promotes a deeper bond with our companion animals.

    Puppies need early socialization

    Youngsters (puppies up to 3 years of age) have high energy levels and require a little owner ingenuity to keep them entertained, in addition to daily walks and public outings. Younglings left home alone might “act up”, not out of spite yet potentially out of boredom, frustration, loneliness or anxiety.

    We have a few entertainment ideas to share with you and your clients. You can employ these exercises with your furry clients during a home visit or overnight stay. Our Cheap & Easy “Boredom Buster” ideas are employable either indoors or outside.

    Hint: You might also want to share these ideas with your clients to show them how much you care about their pet’s daily enjoyment. As a professional pet sitter, we hope you employ these and other creative techniques to set you apart from the pack and have fun in the process.

     

    10 Cheap & Easy “Boredom Busters” for Dogs and Cats of all ages!

    (1). Box Puzzles: Just a few empty cardboard boxes stacked on each other or scattered on the floor to satisfy canine (or cat) curiosity. Hide a few treats in the corners and point the way to get their noses started on “scent” work.

    (2). Cereal Box Puzzle: For this one, fill an empty cereal box with treats and tape it shut so your dog has to get creatively destructive to get the prize.

    (3). Treasure Hunt Game: Hide a few Kong-stuffed toys throughout the house for more scent work and mental enrichment. Start with obvious, easy-to-find places then increase the challenge by hiding them behind couches and chairs. Show your dog the treat toy first, put it on the floor and say, “find it!” Once he eats it up, say “good boy”. After the first few times of reinforcing this cue word, hide them (when they’re not looking) and tell them to “find it!” Always reward with “good dog” after a successful hunt.

    (4). Plastic Bowl Hunt Game: Don’t have a Kong? Place a treat under a plastic bowl. See how long it takes for your dog to turn the bowl over to get the treat beneath. Any small plastic bowl will work, such as an empty cottage cheese or medium-sized yogurt container. Show your dog what you are hiding under the bowl, so they know what they’re hunting for.

    (5). Muffin Tin Game: Using a muffin tin tray, hide treats at the bottom of each “hole” then place tennis balls on top of each. Your dog has to move the balls out of the way to find the treat. To vary the game once mastered, only put treats in some of the holes, yet cover all of them with the balls. See how long it takes to figure out that not every hole has a treasure inside.


    (6). Bubble Chase: Using the same bottle of bubble solution and plastic “blower” we had as kids, the same can be done for both dog and cat entertainment. Make sure they only chase the bubbles and don’t try to eat them! Aim high!

     

     

     

    7). T-Shirt or Sock-Wrapped Water Bottle: This is the easiest to make! Tie an old t-shirt or sock over an empty water bottle (remove the lid). The crinkly sound of the bottle sounds just like a squeaker toy yet a lot less expensive.

    (8). Pupsicles: Using an ice-cube tray, fill with chicken broth, freeze and serve outside for a tasty treat. If you have high value treats on hand, drop them into each cube before freezing.

    (9). Easter Egg Hunt: This can be done year-round. Fill colorful (plastic) Easter eggs with high value treats and hide them in the backyard for a special hunt.

    (10). Hula Hoop Jumps: Just a simple Hula Hoop that you hold while you encourage your dog to jump through the hoop. Raise it a notch as he masters this skill. For grins, wrap it around your own waist and see how long you can keep it spinning!

    Have fun and let us know how these techniques worked for you and your furry charges. Join us for more tips and tools of the trade @ http://app.comeback2.host/join-us/

    Have other ideas to share? Like us on FB and IG so we can chitty chat further! Or call our toll-free #: 866-411-AOPP