Tips & Training

**Note: We are still adding information to this page**

Below is information from some of the tip sheets we distribute at the shelter.


Pets Outdoors:

We’re not recommending an outdoor shelter for your pet. But, if he can’t be part of your family and live indoors with you, the law says you must provide certain basics. Proper outdoor shelter requires a simple construction consisting of the following:

• Black tar paper (weatherproof) roof and sides
  
• For a door, burlap sack or black rubber mats with vertical slits almost to the top.
  
• Entrance must close over to keep body heat in and cold weather, rain and snow out
  
• Straw winter bedding, never cloth or rugs (they hold moisture and freeze). Use straw cedar chips or newspaper and change when damp.
  
• Wooden lip to keep bedding inside doghouse.
  Keep the house off the ground:  4 legs of grained wood 2x4, at least 2" off the ground to keep out dampness and to prevent floor rot
  
• Your dog shelter should be large enough to allow the animal to stand, turn around and lie down comfortably.
  It should also be small enough to allow the animal to warm the interior with its body heat.

Proper Shelter is NOT:

• A dog tied to a car door handle or fence
  
• A trash can or metal barrel put on its side-because metal does not retain heat
  
• Planks of wood up against the side of a building
  
• A leaky dog house

Remember: Next time you feel cold or wet outside, think about how your dog is doing. Take the time to give your dog the basics for comfort and shelter to keep him warm and healthy. If you can not or do not  provide the basics, you are violating state law!

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House-breaking:

The key to training your dog to eliminate outside (where you want him to) is to prevent accidents, and to reward success. Adult dogs have better bladder and bowel control, and can "HOLD IT" for a longer period of time than puppies. The rule of thumb with puppies is: Take their age in months, add one, and that is the number of hours the puppy can "HOLD IT" during the day. (i.e. a 4-month-old puppy can be expected to be clean for up to 5 hours during the day)

• Feed your dog on a schedule (He’ll eliminate on a schedule, too)
  
• Keep his diet simple and consistent (avoid table scraps and canned foods; A high quality dry kibble produces the least waste)
  
• Choose an area, about ten square feet, outside, where you wish your dog to potty
  
• Take your dog on leash to the area, pace back and forth (movement promotes movement) and chant an encouraging phrase ("Do your business, Do your business…")
  
• Do this for maximum 3 minutes:
  
• If he eliminates, huge praise and play
  
• If he doesn’t eliminate, keep him on leash, go back indoors, keep dog on leash with you or confined in a crate
  
• Try again in an hour. Eventually your dog will eliminate appropriately and you can give huge praise and play
  
• After each success, allow 15 minutes of freedom in house, before placing dog back on lead or back into crate
  
• After each 3 consecutive days of success, increase freedom by 15 minutes
  
• If there is an ‘accident’, decrease freedom by 15 minutes for 3 days
  

REMEMBER! DO NOT PUNISH ACCIDENTS! IGNORE THEM, AND REWARD SUCCESS!

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Name Changes:

Sometimes adopting a dog means adopting a dog with a name you don’t particularly like. (Stinky? Who's idea was that?)  Actually, It’s easy for your newly adopted dog to learn a new name. Don’t feel that a dog cannot learn a new name, and don’t feel that a dog can’t even learn a name completely dissimilar to his previous name. A dog or puppy of any age can learn a brand new name within a few days. Here’s how:

• Decide on any new name you wish for your newly adopted pet
  
• For the first few days, carry a pocketful of treats
  
• Every once in a while, and also specifically when you do want your dog’s attention, call out his new name and then immediately smile, praise heartily, and feed a treat

Even if he doesn’t turn to look at you when you call out the name, do the above anyway, and soon he will know that hearing that word means great things are coming, and he will respond as if that word is his own! Before you know it Stinky will now answer to Spot! (or Spanky, or Rufus, or Buddy, or ?)

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