One the first training exercises you will embark on as the proud owner of a new puppy is housebreaking. A dog crate can cut that time in half when sized correctly. The crate should be large enough for your dog to stretch out, get up, and turn around, but not so large that they can curl up in one corner while leaving three-quarters of the crate empty.

Dogs will not defecate where they sleep or eat and having the right size dog crate is essential for housebreaking. However, do not expect your new puppy to hold his business for eight hours when they first come home. Successful housebreaking still takes time as new puppies will need to relieve themselves every half hour for the first week or two so be prepared.

What a dog crate can do for housebreaking is ensure that they will ask to go outside when the time comes instead of using their dog crate or your carpet. Again, this depends on buying the right size crate. The best investment is a life style dog crate. These dog crates have a moveable panel that allows you to add more space as your new puppy grows.

The next most important factor to remember is that your dog’s crate is never to be used for punishment. A dog crate should be your dog’s sanctuary a place where they can go to get away from loud noise or a house full of guests. By allowing, your dog to use his/her crate, as a safe haven will help reinforce housebreaking.

Training in this way; investing in a dog crate that will grow with your dog and establishing a place of safety will have your dog housebroken in no time. Crate training is the fastest way to achieve success setting up a solid foundation for future training exercises.

You have just met the love of your life and decide to take your relationship to the next level; living under the same roof. There is only one catch you’re a dog owner and she is a cat owner; how will you introduce them so they too will be able to live with one another.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association 32% of households are cat owners and 37% of households are dog owners. Which represents 72 million dogs and 82 million cats in the United States; with this many pets, the two are likely to be found in the same household.

Generally speaking, when either pet is brought up with the other as a puppy or kitten the relationship can be rewarding for both. If however, the introduction takes place when both are adults the experience is often stressful. There is a method, which has proven successful with most dog breeds in meeting an adult cat for the first time. Keep in mind that this is a process and one that will take three to six months to achieve a safe environment for both pets.

The first step is to understand your dog breed. If you have properly socialized your dog and their built-in instincts do not involve chasing pry then you are off to a great start. If however, this is not the case not all is lost, it will just take longer. One thing you can take for granted is your pets sense of smell.

No one knows for sure how much more scent-sensitive dogs are than humans, a thousand times-ten thousand?  Nevertheless, what is known is that a dog’s nose has many more odor receptors, and an olfactory (smell) center that takes up much more room in the brain. Cats are no different. Remember the last time you opened a can of Tuna fish only to look down and see your cat standing next to you waiting for the juice.

Over the course of your new relationship the odors from your mates pet is on your clothes and they will recognize the smell. The pet supplies you will need are a dog crate and a cat carrier along with a pet gate. Establish the boundaries in your house that is where your cat’s area will offer a safe haven from your dog as well a place to hide. Use the pet gate to separate the two spaces.

Let us assume that your cat will be the new comer in the home. Cats are more sensitive to a change in routine then dogs, so for first introductions leave your dog in his/her dog crate allowing your cat to explore the new space. The opposite should take place if the dog is the new comer, although your dog will get use to the new space much faster. Just add the familiar dog toys and their dog bed as long as they know you’re going to be around the transition will be seamless.

The next step is most critical to success, the face-to-face introduction. Always have your dog on his/hers dog leash and sitting at your side. Bring the cat into the room and allow the cat explore the space and see your dog. Your dog will be very alert at this point wanting to sniff the cat and see what’s up. That is the next step. While holding your cat ease off the dog leash and allow the dog to smell the cat. Your cat is not going to like this first greeting and that’s okay.

At night, you dog should be in their crate and the pet gate closed. This safe separation procedure should happen while you both are away from home. If you are going to be away from home longer than eight hours make sure someone is available to let your dog outside and able to return them to their dog crate.

Over the next weeks and months gradually increase the time they spend in each other’s company remembering to give praise when the greeting is nice and firm “no” when the greeting is not. Begin leaving your dog off the leash and your cat free to roam. The goal is to reach a balance when both pets can tolerate one another without using a leash, dog crate, or the pet gate.

The keys to success are:

• Patience, this is going to take some time
• Always keeping a watchful eye when the two pets are together
• Continued praise for both pets – Cats are territorial and dogs will be dominate

Following this method will produce results and your pets will be able to live together.

by Remarkable Dogs

The much anticipated call from your breeder has come…”Your new puppy is ready to go home.” Having a dog crate is one of the most important purchases you can make as a dog owner. Aside from speeding up the process of housebreaking and a place to sleep, a dog crate offers a safe haven and the security of a den like feel.

One the first training exercises you will embark on as the proud owner of a new puppy is housebreaking. A dog crate can cut that time in half when sized correctly. The crate should be large enough for your dog to stretch out, get up and turn around, but not so large that they can curl up in one corner while leaving three-quarters of the crate empty.

Dogs will not defecate where they sleep or eat and having the right size crate is essential for housebreaking. This does not mean that a new puppy should be expected to hold his business for eight hours when they first come home. Successful housebreaking still takes time as new puppies will need to relieve themselves every half hour for the first week or two so be prepared.

What a dog crate can do for housebreaking is ensure that they will ask to go outside when the time comes instead using their crate or your carpet. Again, this depends on buying the right size crate. Unless you plan to buy a new crate when your dog is fully grown, purchasing a dog crate that can grow with your dog is a great investment.

Life Stage dog crates like the one from Midwest have a moveable panel that is included with the crate that allows pet owners the flexibility of increasing the size of the interior to accommodate your dogs growth. To provide that den like feel use a towel or small blanket placed on the divider so the crate “feels” the right size for your dog.

For all dogs and especially small dogs, a crate offers a safe haven. Anxiety felt for small dogs living in a lively household is the fear of being trampled. Vets have said many broken bones in small dogs is due to accidentally being stepped on by a family member. A safe haven for your dog means just that, a dog crate is never to be used for punishment. The last thing any pet owner should do is raise their voice, order their dog in their crate, and lock them in. A time-out area is for human children not for your dog.

Because of the crates den like feel they are great for relieving anxiety when traveling. Dog travel crates come in a variety of styles from hard plastic to pop-up camping travel crates. Visiting a busy Veterinary office can be a scary experience for a small dog and keeping them safe and secure in a dog crate can ease the tension they feel.

Lastly, a dog crate will keep your pooch out of trouble when they are left home alone. Depending on your breed dogs, mature at different rates. For some maturity arrives by the age of two while others it could be age three. While a dog should spend no more than an eight hour stretch locked in a crate, dog crates offer pet owners the peace of mind that their dog will not tear up the house or injury themselves while off to work or on an errand.

Once old enough you can leave the crate door open so that your dog can come and go as necessary offering you the opportunity to purchase a designer dog crate. These crates resemble a quality piece of furniture such as an end table or nightstand doubling as a dog crate. These are great for adding some style to your home while providing a comfortable house for your dog.

by Remarkable Dogs