Category Pets

Easy. adopt an adult pet dog who’s already potty trained! That’s what I did the first time around anyway!

OK, but seriously. It’s absolutely affordable to adopt a puppy if you live in an apartment. It’s not about where you live. It’s about how much time you can commit to that pet.

Potty training a puppy in an apartment or condo does have a few challenges though.

Mainly, it’s often a long ways to the potty area, so it’s harder to get your puppy outside quickly.

It takes a lot a lot more time to regularly let the puppy outside when you live on, say, the 20th floor. It’s not like you can just open the door and plop the puppy down on the grass. That being said, you can still make it work.

Tips for potty training a puppy in an apartment

1. Potty train the puppy in an apartment or condo the same way you would potty train a puppy in a house.

You can read the details about that here, but the basics are:

– let the puppy out often (like, every 45 minutes when he’s not in a kennel).

– Supervise in any way times when he’s not in a kennel by keeping him on a leash. a lot more on that here.

– use a kennel or gated area when you can’t supervise.

2. carry the puppy to the potty area.

If you live in an apartment, it makes sense to carry your puppy down the hall and down the stairs for the first couple of weeks to stop the puppy from going potty on the way outside.

I asked professional pet dog trainer Jill Morstad about this, and she said:

“Yes, the very young puppy will do best if the owner snaps the leash on and then carries the pup from the apartment or condo to the outside door.

“Even though I live in a ranch house—no stairs except to the basement—I’ll open the crate door and snap the leash on ideal there, then scoop up the young pup and carry them through the kitchen to the back door.”

She said a puppy won’t be able to “hold it” while you go from indoors to outdoors until they’re a few weeks “older and wiser.”

3. skip the indoor potty pads or newspapers.

I’m really against indoor puppy potty pads, fake lawn and those types of products. You can read a lot more about my opinion on that here.

Sure, there are always exceptions, but ultimately if you do not want your future adult pet dog going potty in the apartment or condo then it’s best to avoid training your puppy to go potty in your apartment.

Morstad is not in favor of puppy pads or “paper breaking” either.

“A pet dog learns by association, and if you allow him to do his tasks in the house—even on pads or on newspaper—you are in effect teaching the pet dog to potty in the house.”

She said any healthy pup eight weeks of age or older can go outside, even in cold weather.

“You take him out just long enough to do his duties.”

A few additional ideas:

Ignore all accidents. Just get him out quicker next time.
Use highly valued food rewards every single time your puppy goes potty outside. Like, real chicken or bits of hamburger or steak.
Don’t be lazy. Laziness is probably the main issue with potty training problems.

That’s about all there is to it! For a lot more info, you may want to read my post on potty training an adult pet dog here.

Now I want to hear from you.

Have you ever potty trained a puppy in an apartment? What did you do?

Related posts:

Should I get a puppy in an apartment?

Living with a hyper pet dog in an apartment

pet dog walking or pet dog running is as much a chore for me as it is any individual else. I’m often worn out or it’s cold or snowing or whatever. and walking is often boring.

But guess what? If I’m bored, my pet dog just might find me a bit boring.

Here’s an example of the walk Ace and I took Sunday night that was far from boring. We incorporated exercise, training and play:

1. started out through the front door as usual.

2. Went left instead of ideal (We always go right).

3. walked down a busier street, through a different parking lot and approached the park from a new angle.

4. put Ace in a sit, unclipped his leash and sent him to pick up a plastic bottle using the command “Get it!”

5. serviced heeling off leash around the park while Ace carried his prize.

6. serviced teaching Ace “hold” and “give,” possibly for use during future pheasant hunting.

7. Doggie shower room break.

8. put Ace in a sit and walked 20 yards or so to the Dumpster and back.

9. released Ace, sent him to get the bottle again.

10. serviced sit-stays with a lot of distance (20 to 30 yards), dropping the bottle between us, doing a combined “Get it!” with a recall.

11. walked to playground.

12. practiced some calm “agility” by sending Ace over the swings, up the ladders and down the slides.

13. put Ace in a heel-sit and then sent him after the bottle 20 yards out or so.

14. examined “hold” and “give.”

15. practiced a lot more off-leash heeling all the way home while Ace carried his bottle.

16. had Ace “drop” the bottle into our recycling bin. What a good citizen!

17. put Ace in a sit at the door and then released him. good boy!

Total walk time was about 30 minutes. Ace came home tired, and I felt like the coolest owner/trainer ever with the best pet dog in the world. Beats the normal walk. He even got to do some retrieving, and I didn’t throw a single object. He did not slip into an obsessive state of mind once.

Post an example of a fun walk with your pet dog below. Ace and I will give it a try!

I’m impressed that my high-energy, quickly distracted weimaraner is truly great at the “stay” command. Well, at least by my “Remy” standards. He has an intense drive for work, so when he’s been provided the right type of difficulty he becomes incredibly focused.

Today I want to focus a bit more on the “place” command. It’s essentially the exact same as “stay” however it’s a method to tell your dog to “stay on this exact, specific thing.” With advanced training, you can even send your dog to that “place” from a distance.

That “thing” might be a dog bed, a rug, a blanket or whatever. most people like to select something that’s quickly transportable like a towel or a mat. In our case, a great example is our portable dog cot from Carlson Pet Products, the sponsor of this post.

Carlson portable dog Cot for mentor your dog “place”

Why should you teach the “place” command?

The “place” command is handy for when you requirement your dog to stay in one spot. For example, when you have guests at the door, you might tell your dog “place” as well as he would understand to go to his bed or mat. Or perhaps you’re just focused on something as well as you requirement your dog to leave you alone for 5 minutes.

One of the benefits of mentor “place” in addition to the more general “stay” command is you can take your dog’s bed or mat with you when you’re traveling. having that physical product assists your dog stay calm in different areas since that “place” is already part of his training routine/habit. Of course, it takes great deals of method as well as reinforcement over time.

The finest example I have that is similar is when I state “kennel” my dog instantaneously drops what he’s doing as well as makes a beeline for his kennel without thinking! He’s like a looney tunes character “spinning his tires” so quick he’s virtually running in location on our difficult floors.

He understands he’ll get fed in his kennel or he’ll get a bully stick or at the extremely least a treat. So he goes there when asked. Every. Single. Time. No concerns asked. It’s by far his most trustworthy command, as well as as I compose this I’m realizing exactly how helpful it would be to get to this level with his “place” command as well.

In this post, I wished to show you a couple examples of exactly how the “place” command can are available in handy during your outside adventures with your dog. For more info, see my publish on exactly how to teach your dog the location command.

And right here is a short (1 min) video we made on mentor this command:

Using the “place” command during household picnics

When everybody is enjoying their food as well as you don’t want your dog right there prepared to snatch potato salad off Grandma’s plate, you can tell your dog “place.”

We brought our dogs to a household reunion last summer, which included a great deal of household meals outdoors. I had to tether Remy to a fence so he wouldn’t bother anyone as well as he ended up barking as well as making a scene.

Teaching your dog “place” is much easier since when you reach that level of training the “place” is almost like a reward on its own. When your dog is trained to go to his “place” he understands to expect a treat.

Even if you still have to put a leash on your dog or tether him, having that “place” will assist him comprehend he is expected to wait in one spot. If you’ve worked on “place” lots as well as lots of times, it should ultimately ended up being a positive experience for your dog where he anticipates a reward.

Using the “place” command during camping

Although camping is really a ton of work, I always keep in mind the relaxing moments the most. sitting around the campfire, sticking my feet in the creek, reading in a hammock.

Therefore, having a “place” for my hyped-up weimaraner to just chill assists ME relax. I get more pleasure out of camping with my bit gray maniac.

More importantly, sometimes you just requirement to keep your dog out of the method while you’re setting up your tent, making food or building a fire.

The Carlson pet cot is remarkable when you don’t have to hike far to your campsite. It’s a excellent choice for providing your dog a “place” while you do what you requirement to do.

Last summertime we camped in an area understood to have rattlesnakes. When we very first shown up at the site, we didn’t want Remy running around like a free-for-all right startling any type of snakes. as well as yes, we did see a rattler immediately!

We needed to keep Remy still as well as in one area while we got our site situated. We didn’t have our Carlson cot along for that trip, however this would’ve been a perfect situation where we could’ve utilized it to show Remy where we needed him to be.

Plus, the Carlson portable dog Cot is nice for camping in general since it keeps your dog off the chilly ground for sleeping. You might location your dog’s bed or sleeping bag on top of the cot if you wanted.

The “place” command assists me get photos!

I like having a “place” for my dog to assist him stay still for photos.

Teaching a trustworthy “stay” command in general is important, however mentor your dog “place” as in “stay on this specific thing” is likewise helpful. like I showed my “kennel” example, the “place” itself can almost ended up being like a reward for your dog if you strengthen it enough.

So, utilizing a portable cot for your “place” command can be practical for getting outside pictures of your dog. For my hyper dog, having a “place” truly assists him stay still as well as focused while I obsessively take Instagram photos… since he understands the treats will be coming!

More about the Carlson Pet products portable dog Cots

We have a big portable dog cot from Carlson Pet products that is 48” L x 26” W x 9” H. It is sturdy however lightweight as well as folds up into a fraction of its size. The cot reminds me of a portable camping chair, only shorter. It takes 1 second to set up as well as includes its own bring bag for travel.

ORDER A portable dog COT HERE

The cots are available in green, red, gray or tan as well as they are available in 2 sizes. The little size is 26”L x 26” W x 9” H.

Please share this publish if it will assist somebody you know!

-Lindsay

The story of how I embraced my very first pet dog subjects a common flaw in the U.S. shelter/rescue system – a lack of communication.

To get a lot more dogs adopted, one of the most crucial aspects is to swiftly as well as politely respond to adopters’ questions. as well often, those concerns are ignored.

So here’s my story:

I embraced my pet dog Ace in 2007.

I was available to the breed of pet dog I would get, however I understood I wished to embrace a pet dog vs. go to a breeder. It was crucial to me to assist a pet dog in need.

At that time, I had no concept that some shelters will turn down adopters who don’t have a fenced yard. I likewise didn’t understand working full time is sometimes a red flag.

Still, the process of trying to embrace a pet dog was not a unfavorable experience for me. I keep in mind believing the whole process seemed odd, however I provided the adoption organizations the benefit of the doubt.

I was your typical 20-something who worked full time, rented an apartment, had grown up with dogs as well as was lastly prepared to adopt.

I didn’t have an “in” with any type of of the adoption groups like I do today. I was not a volunteer, as well as I was not included in the regional pet dog neighborhood yet since I didn’t have a dog.

Looking for the ideal dog

I was extremely accountable about selecting the ideal dog. I understood precisely what I might as well as might not handle.

I didn’t care about breed, size or gender, however my future pet dog had to be feline friendly, potty trained, kennel trained, quiet, low to medium energy as well as still able to go running.

In buy to discover the ideal pet dog for my lifestyle, I started out by checking out the dogs at my regional humane society (after I had stalked them on the internet for months). This was a little shelter that might hold as much as about 15 dogs.

The worker there enabled me to take a couple of the dogs out of their cages as well as into an outside play area. This was nice, nevertheless she seemed hectic as well as irritated that I was asking questions, as well as she did not understand if the dogs were potty trained or feline friendly.

I was particularly thinking about two six-month-old black lab mixes as well as was told they were most likely not potty trained.

I then asked about a peaceful husky mix however was told huskies can’t go to houses with cats.

OK, no huge deal.

I made a decision none of the dogs at that shelter were a great match. This didn’t bother me, since I understood there were actually countless others out there.

Waiting to hear back

So the next thing I did was phone call a regional rescue group, which seemed to be the only rescue in my area at that time.

Since the rescue did not have an actual shelter (the dogs were in foster homes), I couldn’t go to a facility to satisfy them. I called the number on the web site since there was no email address listed.

I never got a phone call back.

OK. moving on.

Next, I emailed a couple of humane societies from close-by towns. By “nearby,” I indicate one was 100 miles away as well as the other was 200 miles away, however it wouldn’t be a huge offer to drive out to them for the ideal dog. I resided in North Dakota.

The very first shelter never responded.

Thanks to gmail’s archives, I am able to look up the message I sent back in 2007.

In it, I innocently describe that I online 200 miles away as well as would like to get some info about the dogs before making the drive. I told them I resided in an apartment or condo as well as had a cat. I likewise stated I organized to take the pet dog running for an hour every day.

No response.

OK. Onto the next.

This humane society did email me back, as well as when I asked about a specific husky mix, they really provided me the phone number to the dog’s previous owner as well as told me to speak to her if I desired information.

I was uneasy calling this person, however considering that the shelter motivated me to do so, I did. I wished to get as much information about the pet dog before driving 100 miles to the shelter.

I will never fail to remember that heartbreaking experience of this dog’s former owner – a total complete stranger to me – crying on the phone about exactly how her landlord only enabled two dogs as well as she had been required to select which of her three to provide up.

“If you might please discover it in your heart to embrace Hallie …” she said, crying.

The next day, I got a nasty email from the shelter director asking exactly how attempt I phone call the dog’s previous owner?

This shocked me, obviously, however I still didn’t hold it against anyone. I just figured it was a miscommunication, as well as I really even apologized.

Since “Hallie” did not noise like a great in shape for me, I asked the shelter if they might please email me if they occurred to find across a pet dog that may be a much better fit.

Again, I never heard anything back.

And I still did not location judgment on any type of of these groups! This goes to show that adopters are normally quite forgiving as well as understanding, however come on!

How I lastly discovered my dog

The last thing I did was go back to the regional rescue group’s site (the one that never called me back). I browsed with its dogs again. This time, they had what was called a “curtesy” listing.

A black lab mix named Junior was provided as a “curtesy” which indicated his present owner still had him however was trying to re-home him. The rescue was enabling her to promote the pet dog on its site, as well as her personal phone number was provided as a contact.

“Junior’s” description stated he was feline friendly, pet dog friendly, extremely mellow, potty trained, kennel trained, 1 year old as well as neutered.

Perfect!

I really was not as well thinking about a “boring” black lab mix, however whatever. He sounded like a great match.

Thank God I made that phone call since I ended up with the world’s finest dog.

“Junior’s” owner at the time responded to all of my concerns patiently as well as in excellent detail. She was the very first person to truly do so.

I keep in mind I asked if “Junior” would like to go running, as well as she said, “He would like that!”

I asked about everything, whether he was peaceful in his kennel, exactly how he was with other dogs, exactly how much energy he had.

When I jokingly stated all Labs are high energy (just to test her response), she told me, “No, he’s not like that at all.”

So, about two weeks later I made the 60-mile drive to the little farming town of Ada, Minn., as well as satisfied my future dog, now understood as Ace.

A failure to communicate

Looking back, I now recognize all those adoption groups missed the mark.

I did discover the best dog, however my “perfect” pet dog occurred to be from the only person who took the time to response my questions.

Had any type of of the adoption organizations taken the exact same amount of time to assist me, I assurance you I would’ve found my “perfect” pet dog from them as I was plenty excited to get a dog.

I don’t understand what the issue was. perhaps they didn’t like that I resided in an apartment. perhaps all the volunteers were as well hectic to get back to me. perhaps I needed to be a lot more patient, to phone call five or six times instead of one or two.

In my case, it worked out fine as well as I was still able to assist a pet dog in need. however exactly how lots of others would end up going to a breeder, a classified ad or the regional pet shop?

I believe a lot of people genuinely want to embrace a dog, however it needs to be much easier for them to do so.

What do you people think?

If you embraced your dog, did you have a positive experience getting with the adoption process?

When fostering a dog isn’t so great

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When fostering a dog isn’t so great

Fostering a dog does not always work out

Things to consider before you foster a dog

6 reasons to return a foster dog

1. The foster dog might damage your property.

2. The foster dog has severe separation anxiety.

3. The foster dog is aggressive to you or your dog.

4. You, your family members or your pets are constantly stressed.

5. You have no free time.

6. Your own pets are not adjusting well to the foster dog.

5 things to keep in mind if you return a foster dog

1. There are dozens of other ways to help rescue dogs.

2. You can always foster a different dog.

3. You can foster a dog in the future if now is not the right time.

4. You are not a failure for returning a foster dog.

5. The rescue group may not show much appreciation for your efforts.

You may have noticed I haven’t mentioned Morgan recently. That’s because after fostering him for two weeks, I made the difficult decision to stop fostering him.

This was no fault of Morgan’s. He had a difficult time adjusting to my lifestyle, and I had a difficult time adjusting to his.

One of the most rewarding things a dog lover can do is foster. To foster a dog means to provide that dog with a loving home temporarily until he gets adopted. This could take days, weeks, months or even years.

Dog rescues and shelters depend on foster homes because there is not enough shelter space to house so many homeless dogs. Plus, in a home setting it is easier to learn more about the dog and to begin teaching him how to live properly with a family.

Fostering a dog does not always work out

Those of us who foster dogs don’t like to talk about the dogs we have “failed” on. but if you ask most foster owners if they’ve ever returned a dog for any reason, most will say yes, especially if they foster dog after dog, year after year. They can’t all work out.

To return a foster dog means he will live at a shelter or boarding facility or hopefully another foster home until he gets adopted. It does not mean he will be euthanized, at least that’s not the case with the rescue I work with.

I have fostered seven dogs. I returned three of them within two weeks because of separation anxiety issues, meaning the dogs would panic when left alone.

My first foster dog broke out of her crate and started tearing apart my door before I got home from work. welcome to fostering! ?

Morgan was my most recent foster dog, and he also had problems being left alone. because I rent a townhome and have close neighbors, this was not a good situation.

Morgan is a very intelligent dog and will do just fine once he finds the right person to help him through his anxiety. I am not that person.

I have written past posts on should I foster a dog? and what to consider before fostering a dog. I hope you will check these out if you are interested in fostering.

Now that I have more experience with fostering, I want to touch on a more difficult subject – returning a foster dog that doesn’t work out.

Things to consider before you foster a dog

First of all, to make the fostering process run smoothly so you hopefully do not have to return the dog, take the time to find the right dog to foster. I can’t stress this enough.

Ask a lot of questions about each potential dog so you can find the right fit.

I always seem to get stuck with dogs that have separation problems. This will be avoided in the future when I make sure to ask the right people the right questions possibly several times. Some important questions to ask include:

Is the dog housebroken? Is the dog kennel trained? Does the dog have anxiety when left alone? Does the dog have any kind of aggression? how much exercise will this particular dog need? Is the dog spayed/neutered?

There is no perfect dog, and most rescue dogs are going to have an “issue” of some sort. What dog doesn’t? but if you know ahead of time what you need to work on with the dog, you can start planning a routine and adjusting your schedule.

Also keep in mind that sometimes the rescue simply will not know a lot about the dog, especially if he was recently pulled from the pound.

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6 reasons to return a foster dog

The most important thing to remember is that it’s ok to return a foster dog if it is not working out. You do not have to put up with the dog no matter what, and there are always other dogs you can foster. 

If you have to ask yourself whether or not you should return your foster dog, you probably should return him.

Below are some reasons why someone might return a foster dog. all of these issues can be worked through over time, but it takes the right person. You know if you are the right person or not.

1. The foster dog might damage your property.

Most dog rescues are not going to compensate you for damaged property. They just don’t have the money. This is something to be aware of before you bring home a foster dog.

If the rescue is organized enough, it will probably have some sort of liability agreement form for you to sign saying you are responsible for all injuries and damage the dog causes.

The rescue I work with pays for the veterinary care and food for all the foster dogs, although I’m sure many foster owners volunteer to cover these costs on their own. 4 Luv of dog even paid for Morgan to go to training classes and dog daycare.

Still, after seven foster dogs, I’ve had my fair share of home damage.

My first foster dog damaged both my large crates. determined dogs can now bust out of them. She also ripped apart my bedroom doorway. A more recent foster dog chewed up a door knob.

I’ve thrown away several toys, blankets and towels that were completely shredded. There are stains on my carpets that may never come out. My automobile has taken a lot of abuse. I’ve spent a nice amount on carpet cleaners and paper towels.

Is it worth it? That’s up to you to decide. ?

2. The foster dog has severe separation anxiety.

A dog with true separation anxiety panics when left alone. He does more than bark and cry. A dog with severe separation anxiety damages property, breaks out of crates and even injures himself.

If your foster dog has separation anxiety, there are ways you can help him. It will take a lot of time and patience.

If you’re not sure if your foster dog has true anxiety or not, check out my post on dog separation anxiety for a list of symptoms and what to do about it.

3. The foster dog is aggressive to you or your dog.

You do not want to put yourself, your family or others in danger unless you are experienced with rehabilitating aggressive dogs or willing to learn – no easy task.

4. You, your family members or your pets are constantly stressed.

If you are constantly stressed, it will effect everyone in your house, including the foster dog.

A little stress is unavoidable when you foster, and of course there will be an adjustment period. but if you are worried day and night about what the foster dog is getting into, the dog may be more stress than he’s worth.

Are you getting enough sleep? Are you angry at the dog all the time? Too forceful with him? If so, the dog might be better off somewhere else.

5. You have no free time.

I’ve had foster dogs with such extreme anxiety that I literally could not even go to the grocery store for 10 minutes without coming back to a broken kennel and damaged doors. I was literally trapped in my own apartment. Not a good situation to be in.

6. Your own pets are not adjusting well to the foster dog.

I won’t put my own animals in danger. If I can’t trust the foster dog around my cats or around my dog, he has to go. fortunately this has never happened to me. all of my foster dogs have been good around other animals when supervised.

I have however had a foster dog that was so mentally unstable that just being around the dog made Ace uncomfortable.

If I raised my voice around the dog, Ace would crawl away and cower. If the dog got excited, Ace would growl, which is way out of character for my friendly, gentle dog. I’m learning to really trust Ace’s judgement because he will always be able to read other animals better than I can.

5 things to keep in mind if you return a foster dog

1. There are dozens of other ways to help rescue dogs.

Although I am not fostering Morgan, I check out him once a week at the boarding facility he currently lives at. I take him out to go running at a nearby park, and we work on obedience training.

I also take other rescue dogs running, and I take them to adoption events. I am constantly writing about the rescue dogs on this dog blog and also on my dog running site. There are hundreds of ways you can help homeless dogs without fostering.

2. You can always foster a different dog.

There are thousands of dogs that need foster homes. Not all of them have issues. find one that you can live with.

3. You can foster a dog in the future if now is not the right time.

Right now I have to be more selective about the dogs I foster, but I look forward to the time in my life where I’m able to take on more challenging dogs. perhaps this is the case for you as well.

4. You are not a failure for returning a foster dog.

Anyone who attempts to foster a dog has a big heart and deserves a substantial thank you. It means a lot to the dog. even if it didn’t work out, you tried. You made a difference.

5. The rescue group may notshow much appreciation for your efforts.

Remember that rescues are run by volunteers who are just as busy as you. If no one thanks you for your hard work, don’t take it personally.

I would like to see 4 Luv of dog Rescue get a better system in place for thanking its volunteers, especially new foster owners. maybe that’s a task I will tackle, as someone has to volunteer to do this as well!

Like I said, there is always something you can do to help a dog rescue. The possibilities are endless, just as the need for more help is endless.

Have you ever fostered a dog?

Have you ever returned that dog before it got adopted?

What are some ways you help homeless dogs?

*Enjoying this article? get realistic dog training tips emailed once a week. Click Here

Related posts:

When you regret getting a puppy
Returning a dog due to separation anxiety
Returning a rescue or shelter dog

The reason the Toronto Humane Society’s “Puppy Swap” campaign worked so well is because it’s not that hard to believe such a service could be real.

I mean, you can just about imagine it, can’t you?

I try to be sensitive about people re-homing pets, and I think the whole “pets are for life” saying can be hurtful to people who really need to re-home their animals.

Re-homing is often done responsibly, and with the best interest of the pet in mind.

Still, I thought the campaign was well played.

What did you think?

Note: I’ve partnered with Pauly Presley Realty to bring you this post.

I live in one of the most pet dog friendly cities in the United States—San Diego!

People are DOG CRAZY around here. There are dogs in the grocery stores (pretty sure that’s illegal?), dogs in CVS, dogs in bars, breweries, coffee shops as well as outside restaurants.

Plus, we have lots of pet dog friendly beaches, parks as well as trails. Not to mention pet dog walkers, groomers as well as daycares galore.

But the one city I always hear about as being even a lot more pet dog friendly than San Diego is Austin.

What do you people think? Is it true? Do any type of of you online in Austin?

Austin as well as San Diego are on quite much every listing for the top 10 pet dog friendly cities in the U.S. Others on the listings commonly include Seattle, Portland, San Francisco as well as Chicago. In my opinion, San Diego beats most of those cities—hands down.

But … I’ve never been to Austin, so I can’t say.

The people at Pauly Presley Realty put together a pet dog friendly guide to Austin, as well as it’s rather impressive.

I’d like to see Austin as well as see exactly how it stacks as much as San Diego as a pet dog friendly city.

Get the full guide to Austin’s pet dog friendly services – Click here
The guide is damaged up into classifications – pet dog friendly restaurants, bars, retail stores, parks & tracks as well as of program adoption organizations.

And listen to this!

Austin has a lot more than 35 pet dog friendly restaurants, according to the guide.

For example, Banger’s Sausage home & Beer garden states on its web site that it has its extremely own off-leash pet dog park as well as even has a specialty sausage made just for dogs on the menu. Wow!

Austin likewise has at least 22 pet dog friendly bars such as the pet dog home Drinkery, a bar with an off-leash pet dog park!

The city likewise has at least 27 pet dog friendly retail stores as well as a lot more than 12 pet dog friendly parks & trails, according to the guide.

Check out the full guide here.

Have any type of of you traveled to Austin? What did you think?

What’s the most pet dog friendly function in your own city?

Let me understand in the comments below.

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If your canine goes totally nuts out of enjoyment before a walk, you’re not alone.

It’s a typical problem!

And what if you have two dogs? as well as they’re both excited, essentially getting each other much more as well as much more worked up?

Heck, what if you have 3 dogs?

By “excited” I imply the dogs may be racing in circles, jumping on you, whining, barking, howling, wrestling each other, grabbing leashes, nipping at you, wiggling as you try to put on their harnesses, wetting themselves or perhaps even humping each other out of excitement.

Phew!

I believe this circumstance is hilarious as long as I’m not the one doing the walking! OK, it’s still quite funny if I’m doing the walking since I like dogs.

But certainly some people would like to break these practices since not only can it get truly old as well as frustrating, however it’s likewise harmful if the dogs are pulling as well as nipping. Plus, neighbors may not appreciate the barking, particularly if you’re in an house like I am.

How do I get my dogs to calm down before a walk?

I’m going to share a few of my suggestions as usual, however it would be best if you might evaluate in with your own ideas.

First I’ll summarize an email I got discussing a particular issue getting two dogs to calm down before as well as during a walk.

In this example, the dogs get out for walks every day, however when their owner starts to get prepared to take them out, the “mayhem” begins, as she explains it. ?

Some clips from her email:

It starts off with the dogs complying with me upstairs. They both stand outside my bedroom while I’m getting changed. when I emerge from my room, they both dart down the stairs as well as wait at the front door. then the fun part … the harnesses!! It takes me a great 2 to 3 mins to “saddle up” the two dogs. Both have harnesses as well as if it’s dark out I utilize LED collars which I likewise have to put on. This is typically when the whining as well as moaning begins. Phoebe fights me. Not since she doesn’t want the harness on however since she is as well excited to go outside. …

Once I have them all set up as well as prepared to go … the havoc truly kicks in then! Chip at this stage is typically ok. She may be thrilled however she doesn’t jump or bark. Phoebe at this stage won’t sit still. She’s barking (LOUDLY!), whining, moving as well as just being typically rather uncontrollable. …

If I am walking to my destination, it takes about 45 seconds to walk from my front door to the entrance of my housing estate. Phoebe is whining as well as barking as well as pulling etc the entire time. It’s only when we get into the walk that Phoebe will calm down – typically after 2 mins. 

She likewise explains exactly how the dogs both bark in the cars and truck if they understand they’re going to one of their typical “fun” destinations, as well as she is almost deafened by the whining as well as barking as well as howling.

My tips for getting dogs to calm down before a walk

Oh where to even begin?

Here are a few of my general tips for the person above however for anybody else in general, however I certainly do not have a easy solution.

1. If possible, work with the dogs individually.

Usually it’s one canine who is truly the problem, as well as she ends up getting the other/s riled up too. So whenever possible, I would state walk them individually, presuming the other canine does okay when left behind. put one canine in one more space or in a crate as well as work with the other. then switch.

Of course, I recognize in the genuine world this is not always possible, so do what you can.

2. begin with truly small goals.

The very first goal may be ridiculously fundamental as well as simple like getting them to sit as well as stay quietly for 2 seconds before you even pick up the leashes. That’s progress.

And if that’s as well hard, make it even easier. Like, get them to sit for a piece of hot canine while you stand next to the area where the leashes are kept. See what I mean? If something is as well hard, you can always make it even easier. then go from there.

Some other little goals to work on ultimately would be to get them to:

[check_list]

sit quietly while you hold the leashes

sit quietly while you put on the leashes/collars/harnesses

sit quietly before you put your hand on the door/gate

sit quietly when your hand is on the door/gate

sit quietly before heading out the door

[/check_list]

Basically if the dogs aren’t calm before heading out the door, they’re not going to be calm when they’re outside either.

3. Desensitize the dogs to choosing up the leash.

Besides reinforcing calm habits before your walks, you might likewise desensitize the dogs to you choosing up the leashes.

To do this, you would just pick up the leashes randomly throughout the day during times when you are not about to head out for a walk. You would just pick up the leashes, hold them for a few seconds while totally ignoring the dogs as well as then set the leashes down again.

And some dogs may have other “triggers” other than the leashes. For example, the dogs in the email example above were triggered by their owner altering clothes. She might try putting on her “walking clothes” or “walking shoes” randomly throughout the day while completely ignoring the dogs.

I feel like I might go on as well as on with bit suggestions like:

[check_list]

use extremely valued treats (real chicken, pieces of ham, etc.)

stopping as well as refusing to relocation if the dogs are going crazy

taking a deep breath as well as not getting upset and

using the very best training collar for the circumstance (prong collars? gentle Leaders? you pick)

[/check_list]

I know I’m making all of this noise easy. It’s not. It’s stressful as well as frustrating, as well as we have to pick as well as select as well as do what we can.

And now I want to hear your ideas!

What other concepts do the rest of you have?

Related posts:

How to get a hyper canine to chill out

Should I instruct my canine to heel?

How to stop a canine from crying for attention

Sign up for That Mutt’s email newsletter here. You’ll get an email about twice a month with training tips, stories, etc.

My journey into dogs with jobs continues. Today, we’re tagging along with Susan read and her pet dog Zori to learn about search and rescue dogs.

Do you know a pet dog with an interesting job? Leave a comment or contact me at homeon129acres@hotmail.com, and they may be featured in an upcoming post.

Here in Ontario, search and rescue is handled by civilian teams. Susan and Zori are volunteers who are called upon by police agencies to find missing people.

What is the best breed for search and rescue?

Zori is a Belgian Malinois, a breed commonly used for search and rescue.

Most search and rescue dogs are herding breeds, like Malinois and German Shepherds. Although, other breeds such as Labrador Retrievers and bloodhounds also excel at search and rescue.

Beyond the breed, there are certain qualities that make a pet dog a good candidate for search and rescue.

Susan describes search and rescue dogs as:

confident
friendly
and outgoing

“These dogs need to be able to cover all kinds of terrain and have the stamina to manage distance and the time needed to complete a task,” she says. “Work ethic is essential in rescue work as is a pet dog who is focused and able to work through distractions. Prey and hunt drive and play drive are essential.”

Training a pet dog for search and rescue

Play is at the root of search and rescue training.

“Usually, training starts as a game played with puppies, starting with basic reward-based training, and expanding outward to “games” with a lot more certain job skills,” says Susan.

In Ontario, search and rescue dogs are owned and trained by civilian handlers. Preparing a pet dog for search and rescue certification can take between a year and a half to two years.

“In the beginning stages of the dog’s training, we work at getting the pet dog to understand that finding human odour and committing to this odour will bring a reward. Ideally, working with a pet dog with tremendous toy drive helps to accomplish this much quicker and a lot more easily,” says Susan.

The odour that the dogs track comes from skin cells. These cells, called rafts, are shed regularly from our bodies. The bacteria on our skin produce gases that can be detected—and followed—by dogs.

Dogs are trained to alert their handler that they have located human odour. As training progresses, the dogs are presented with different challenges. For example, the bacteria on our skin can be affected by factors such as temperature, humidity, light.

Therefore, handlers will gradually increase the level of difficulty, introduce challenges in terrain or include a lot more distractions in their training programs.

Socialization for search dogs

Along with specialized training, socializing is crucial in helping a pet dog to become a successful search and rescue dog.

Susan explains, “These dogs need to be socialized early on in age, but keeping in mind concern periods. emphasis with socializing needs to be placed on quality and not quantity. Pup classes leading into obedience classes, fungility leading to agility, and exciting check outs to stores, parks, etc. are a must. The crucial thing is to solidify manners, crucial skills and self control.”

Zori vaulting off of Susan’s back to get over a fence

Susan prefers to work Zori off-lead so that her movements are not restricted. “I will slow her down and can, unintentionally, stop her from exploring or investigating something,” she explains. “If the area is safe for her to work loose, Zori is able to be much a lot more efficient.”

Search and rescue dogs are usually trained to find living people, although some dogs are cross trained for both live and cadaver. Human remains detection dogs, or search and recovery dogs, are imprinted with human cadaver odour, rather than skin cells from live humans.

Becoming a search and rescue dog

Once a pet dog has completed its training, it can be certified. search and rescue teams are certified annually by the Ontario Provincial police (OPP).

Certification evaluates dogs in four areas: obedience, agility, search and tracking. For in-depth criteria in each of these elements, check out the Ontario search and Rescue Volunteer association (OSARVA) web site.

Susan explains, “The test involves tracking where the pet dog locates the freshest human odour on the ground. The pet dog need to also air scent where they pick up scent carried in air currents and seek out its origin.”

Requirements for people to do search and rescue

Beyond the dogs, the handlers need to meet certain standards as well. They need to be a member of an OSARVA team and need to be a certified ground searcher.

Certification in search—which has to be renewed annually—involves map and compass navigation skills, clue detection, search patterns, personal equipment, environmental conditions and understanding the chain of command and  communications systems used by emergency responders. In addition, most teams require members to have first aid and CPR.

Search and rescue is a way of life for Susan and Zori, as well as the other volunteers in Ontario. The dogs and handlers are equally committed to their work.

Do you have SAR volunteers where you live?

What impresses you most about these dogs?

Julia Preston is a blogger at Home on 129 Acres where she writes about her adventures of country living and diy renovating. She and her family live on a 129-acre farm in Ontario, Canada. follow Julia on Instagram here.

Related posts on dogs with jobs:

Sled dogs – training and care

Guide pet dog information

Livestock guardian dogs

What does a therapy pet dog do?

Note: Julia Thomson is a regular contributor to That Mutt. check out her blog Home on 129 Acres where she writes about country living and diy renovating.

Who’s been enjoying reading about Remy joining the ThatMutt family?

I have to give Lindsay a ton of credit report for being so open and real about the ups and downs of puppydom.

When we were searching for a canine to add to our family, I knew 100% that I did not want a puppy. all of my searches on Petfinder were for young or adult dogs.

Why I didn’t want a puppy

1. energy level.

My first reason for choosing an adult canine was energy level. We were committed to giving our canine lots of exercise (and living on a farm we have lots of opportunities for exercise), but we are a low key, adult household.

We wanted a canine who could be with us around the farm while we were working without needing our undivided attention every minute (breaks for scratches or zoomies or fetch were expected). and at the end of the day when the work is done, we wanted a canine who was content to doze while we viewed TV.

I wasn’t sure that we’d get that with a puppy—at least not at first.

2. Training.

My second reason for choosing an adult canine was training. This is my first dog. I wasn’t confident in my ability to train a puppy competently. I hoped that with an adult dog, he’d already have some basic obedience and be pretty much house broken.

Again, we were committed to working with our canine and had training classes lined up, but I wasn’t sure I’d be able to deal with a blank slate, like Remy.

When Baxter concerned us, he was completely housebroken and had the basic obedience skills we were looking for. There were still things to work on, whether much more obedience or mastering some tricks, so we got the opportunity to do some training—and as Lindsay says, training is ongoing.

Probably Baxter’s many essential quality is that he’s a ideal match for us in terms of energy level.

Dude is low energy. and I imply low.

He loves his walks and can run like a greyhound when we’re doing zoomies in the yard, but his default position is horizontal. In Baxter, we ended up finding the ideal canine for us.

See the post: Deep thoughts on diy from the dog

I haven’t ruled out puppies entirely. Someday, it might be the best fit for our family. However, reading about Lindsay’s adventures with Remy (I had absolutely no idea evening craziness what a thing. Yikes!) I know a puppy is certainly not best for us best now.

Lindsay is very good about emphasizing that people ought to do what is best for themselves and their dogs, whether it’s training or feeding or adopting or buying.

And I think that’s good guidance to apply to choice of what kind of canine to get too. know yourself. Be reasonable about what you can commit to. Be truthful about what type of life you lead and make the effort to try to find the best canine for you.

You, and your dog, will be happier for it.

What qualities are many essential to you in a dog?

Does anybody else share my hesitancy about raising a puppy?

Read much more of Julia’s posts:

How to train a canine to be off leash

Silent squeaky toys for dogs

Tips for home renovating if you have a dog

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