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Before You Get Your Puppy

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Image: Pixabay

Congratulations on beginning your search for a puppy. Please take your time making your decision. Your puppy’s quality of life as an adult dog pretty much depends on his socialization and training during his first few weeks in your home.

Puppies grow up fast. One day you have a bumbling ball of fur and the next you have a raging adolescent. It is essential that you know how to raise and train a puppy before you get one. The first three months of their lives are a critical period for socialization and training, during which time they will develop the foundation of their lifelong behavior and temperament. You need to be aware of their developmental priorities as well as the basics of raising a puppy and teaching manners and obedience.

Additionally, you should put a lot of thought into which puppy to choose. When and where you get your puppy, the type or breed to choose and the specific puppy you pick, then check our shopping list and buy the necessary puppy training tools so your house is ready to welcome your pup.

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10 Tips For Current and Future Puppy Owners

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10 Tips For Current and Future Puppy Owners

Pixabay.com

General Dog Training Tips

1. Choose Wisely When Selecting Your Future Pup

Whether selecting your prospective pup from a professional breeder or from a family breeding a litter for the very first time, the criteria are the same. Look for puppies raised indoors around human companionship and influence—specifically around people who have devoted lots of time to the puppies’ education.

 

2. Future Problems Result from Early, Non-Corrected Problems

Digging, barking, and escaping are usually secondary problems of unhousetrained adolescent dogs which have been relegated to a life of solitary confinement and boredom in the yard. Housetrain your dog, and then you may leave him indoors. Magically, the digging and escaping problems will disappear.

3. Train Your Dog to Stop Barking by Teaching Him to Bark on Request

One of the best ways to reduce excessive barking is to teach your puppy to speak on cue. Training your pup to bark on request facilitates teaching him to shush on request, since you may now shush-train the pup at your convenience. Instead of trying to quieten your puppy when he is excitedly barking, you may request your pup to bark and so teach shush at times when the pup is calm and focused.

4. The Clock to Train Your Puppy Starts from Day 1

As soon as your puppy comes home, the clock is running. Within just three months, your puppy will need to meet six crucial developmental deadlines. If your puppy fails to meet any of these deadlines, he is unlikely to achieve his full potential. In terms of your dog’s behavior and temperament, you will probably be playing catch-up for the rest of your dog’s life. Most important of all, you simply cannot afford to neglect the socialization and bite inhibition deadlines.

Dog Training Development Tips

There are six crucial developmental deadlines that you have to keep in mind

1. Your Doggy Education (before searching)

Before you look for your perfect puppy, you need to know what sort of dog to look for, where to get it, and when to get it. An educated choice is generally far better than an impulsive puppy purchase. Additionally, you need to thoroughly familiarize yourself with the developmental deadlines; they become urgent and crucial the day you select your puppy.

2. Evaluating Puppy’s Progress (before selection)

Before you select your puppy (usually at eight weeks of age), you need to know how to select a good breeder and how to select a good puppy. Specifically, you need to know how to assess your puppy’s behavioral development. By eight weeks of age, your puppy must have become thoroughly accustomed to a home physical environment, especially to all sorts of potentially scary noises; your puppy should already have been handled by many people, especially men, children, and strangers; your puppy’s errorless housetraining and chewtoy-training should be underway; and your puppy should already have a rudimentary understanding of basic manners.

3. Errorless Housetraining (before homecoming)

You need to ensure that an errorless housetraining and chewtoy-training program is instituted the very first day your puppy comes home. This is so important during the first week, when puppies characteristically learn good or bad habits that set the precedent for weeks, months, and sometimes years to come.

4. Socialization with People (by 12 weeks of age)

The Critical Period of Socialization ends by three months of age! This is the crucial developmental stage during which puppies learn to accept and enjoy the company of other dogs and people. Thus your puppy needs to be socialized to people by the time he is twelve weeks old. As a rule of thumb, your puppy needs to have met at least a hundred different people before he is eight weeks old and then meet an additional hundred people during his first month at home.

5. Bite Inhibition (by 18 weeks of age)

Bite inhibition is the single most important lesson a dog must learn. Adult dogs have teeth and jaws that can hurt and harm. All animals must learn to inhibit use of their weapons against their own kind, but domestic animals must learn to be gentle with all animals, especially people. Domestic dogs must learn to inhibit their biting toward all animals, especially toward other dogs and people. The narrow time window for developing a “soft mouth” begins to close at four-and-a-half months of age, about the time when the adult canine teeth first show.

6. Preventing Adolescent Problems (by five months)

To ensure that your well-rounded and well-schooled puppy remains a mannerly, well-socialized, and friendly dog throughout adulthood, your dog needs to meet unfamiliar people and unfamiliar dogs on a regular basis. In other words, your dog needs to be walked at least once a day. Your puppy may be taken for rides in the car and to visit friends’ houses as early as you like. Start walking your puppy as soon as your veterinarian says it’s safe to do so. If you already have a puppy and feel that you are behind, do not throw in the towel. You must acknowledge, however, that you are well behind and that your puppy’s socialization and education are now a dire emergency. Immediately do your best to catch up. Call a pet dog trainer at once. To locate a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT) in your area contact the Association of Pet Dog Trainers at 1-800-PETDOGS or www.apdt.com. Take this online video course for a more in-depth look at how to properly train a puppy. https://www.udemy.com/complete-dunbar-collection/

Dr. Ian Dunbar

Source: www.dogstardaily.com

Potty Training your Puppy

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Puppy potty-training often becomes an unnecessary burden to both puppies and their new parents. It creates stress for both parties and can also instil fear in your puppy which should be avoided at all costs. Here are some toilet-training tips that will ensure an easier, more pleasant journey to a house-trained pooch.

What it Takes for the Parent

House-training your fur baby requires immense amounts of patience and consistency on your part, as the parent. Showering them with positive reinforcement for favourable behaviour will also fortify the loving and trusting relationship between the both of you.

House-training can take between 4 – 6 months and in some cases, even up to a year so try to maintain a sense of humour throughout this sensitive process.

Size Matters

Smaller dogs tend to have faster metabolisms and obviously smaller-sized bladders than their larger counterparts, so they’ll need more frequent trips to relieve themselves.

Appropriate Age to Commence

12 – 16 weeks is considered a fitting age for a puppy to start learning where to do their business.

How to Commence

  • Maintain a regular feeding schedule for your puppy and don’t allow them any treats to snack on in between meals as this will set in cause for confusion.
  • Take your puppy outside onto the lawn immediately after a meal. Feeding generally stimulates the digestive system and puppies usually need to urinate approximately 15 minutes after eating. Mother Nature generally calls after your puppy has woken from a nap, so lead them outside to the same spot in the garden to do to their business.
  • Ensure your puppy has gone to the toilet just before you retreat to bed as well as just before you leave them alone for any amount of time.
  • Lead your pup to the same place to relieve themselves every time and stay with them until they’ve completed their task.
  • The most important thing is to make a fuss of your puppy with reassuring praises and scrumptious healthy treats.

Parental Blunders to Avoid

  • By punishing your puppy, you are not only causing them to fear you, which is unacceptable and damaging to the special bond between the two of you, but you’ll jeopardise all the hard work you’ve both put into the house-training process thus far.
  • Using ammonia-based cleaning products will only encourage your puppy to urinate again in the unsolicited area as the scent of these detergents resemble that of urine.
  • Rugs and carpets that bear a resemblance in texture to grass, should be either locked up or closed off from puppy’s reach until house-training is successfully achieved.
  • Set an alarm at intervals during the night to let your puppy outside to relieve themselves. They are too small and too young to go through the entire night without urinating.
  • Laziness on the parent’s part, especially in the middle of the night, is not an option when house-training. Your diligence and hard work will pay off and will swifly speed the process along.
  • Over feeding your pup or feeding them meals at the incorrect times will only stand to confuse them and put the whole system out of sync.
  • It’s unfair to leave your puppy alone for extended periods of time, thereby forcing them to relieve themselves indoors.
  • Exude a calm, patient and supportive attitude throughout the training process. Your intuitive little bundle of fur will pick up if you’re agitated, nervous and impatient with them and this will impede all you have both worked for

Remember that house-training is not a race! It requires patience and empathy from the parent and is also a wonderful opportunity to strengthen your bond with your puppy! By ignoring unfavourable behaviour and reinforcing positive behaviour through encouragement, praise and treats, you’ll be on your merry way to having a house-trained pup in no time!

Written for inFURmation
by Taliah Williamson

Training methods based on punishment compromise dog welfare

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Training methods based on punishment compromise dog welfare

Training a dog! Credit: Ana Catarina Vieira de Castro

After aversive training, dogs had a lower behavioral state (higher stress and anxiety); if aversive methods were used in high proportions, that persisted even in other contexts

Dogs trained using aversive stimuli, which involve punishments for incorrect behavior, show evidence of higher stress levels compared to dogs trained with reward-based methods, according to a study publishing December 16 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Ana Catarina Vieira de Castro from the Universidade do Porto, Portugal, and colleagues.

The researchers observed the behavior of 92 companion dogs from 7 dog training schools in Portugal that use either aversive methods (which use mainly aversive stimuli), reward methods (which focus on rewarding desired behaviours), and mixed methods (which combine the use of both rewards and aversive stimuli). They filmed training sessions and tested saliva samples for the stress-related hormone cortisol. Dogs trained using aversive and mixed methods displayed more stress-related behaviors, such as crouching and yelping, and showed greater increases in cortisol levels after training than dogs trained with rewards.

The authors also conducted a cognitive bias test in an unfamiliar location outside of the dog’s usual training environment with 79 of the dogs, to measure their underlying emotional state. They found that dogs from schools using aversive methods responded more pessimistically to ambiguous situations compared with dogs receiving mixed- or reward-based training.

Previous survey-based studies and anecdotal evidence has suggested that punishment-based training techniques may reduce animal welfare, but the authors state that this study is the first systematic investigation of how different training methods influence welfare both during training and in other contexts. They say that these results suggest that aversive training techniques may compromise animal welfare, especially when used at high frequency.

The authors add: “This is the first large scale study of companion dogs in a real training setting, using the types of training methods typically applied in dog training schools and data collected by the research team. The results suggest that the use of aversive training methods, especially in high proportions, should be avoided because of their negative impact on dog welfare.”

Source: EurekAlert!

 

Training Tips: Dog Impulse Control

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Training Tips: Dog Impulse Control

The same uninhibited excitement that makes your dog so endearing can also be a recipe for trouble. Dogs are simply used to acting on their instincts, hence their barking at the mail carrier (or anyone who comes to the door), bothering you for scraps or jumping on you when you get home.

It’s important to give your dog impulse control training to help them be a calmer, more well-behaved companion.

Dog Impulse Control Training
Training your dog can help them overcome their impulsive habits. Use these tips to curb common unwanted behaviours.

Default Position
Teaching your dog to take a default position and wait for instructions or a cue gives them an acceptable behaviour to turn to when they’re not sure what to do, says Karen Pryor Clicker Training. You can use the default position in a wide range of contexts and to help break a number of bad habits, such as jumping on people, being a nuisance at the dinner table or bolting off after another animal. Here’s how to train your dog to take a default position:

  1. If needed, teach your dog to sit until they can do so on command.
  2. Command them to sit. Once they sit, toss a treat so they have to get up to retrieve it.
  3. After they eat the treat, say their name and wait until their attention turns to you. Once it does, repeat their name and reward them with a treat. Repeat this action any time your pup’s attention starts to wander.
  4. Repeat steps two and three five times in the same location. Then, move elsewhere in your home and practice for five more sits.
  5. Practice five sits each day in two different locations, for a total of 10 sits per day. Keep moving to a variety of locations and practicing within different contexts while providing a variety of distractions. Eventually, your pooch should get the hang of sitting still and focusing their attention on you, no matter the situation.

Door Rushing and Doorbell Barking
If your dog has a frenzied response every time there’s someone at the door, try this training adapted from Wag!:

  1. Choose a verbal cue, such as “hush” or “wait.”
  2. Approach your front door. If your dog follows excitedly, use the verbal cue, move away from the door and drop a treat.
  3. Approach the door again and touch the handle. Give your dog the cue as you step away from the door, then ask them to sit. Only give them a treat when they successfully sit down.
  4. Keep practicing, gradually increasing the distance between your dog and the door before asking them to sit.
  5. Once they sit consistently, approach the door and use the verbal cue. Wait for your dog to go to their spot and sit on their own without needing to be told. Once they do, praise them and give them a treat.
  6. Keep practicing by approaching the door from different parts of the house. If your dog barks or rushes the door, repeat steps two through five until your pup moves to their spot and sits without being told.
  7. Repeat step six, this time opening the door when you reach it. Only reward your dog if they quietly sit while you approach and open the door.
  8. Finally, enlist a friend to ring the doorbell or knock on the door. Repeat the previous steps as many times as necessary until your dog reliably responds by going to their spot and sitting quietly while you answer the door.

Food Grabbing
Follow these training tips from the American Kennel Club to teach your dog not to snatch food out of your hand:

  1. In a closed fist, hold a handful of dry dog food in front of your dog. Ignore any attempts to get the food out of your hand.
  2. When your pooch stops trying to get the food from your hand, use your other hand to reward them with a treat. Repeat these steps until your dog stops trying to get food from your closed fist.
  3. Once your dog starts ignoring your closed fist, slowly open your hand. When they try to snatch the treats, close your fist and wait for them to stop. Once they stop trying to take food from your open palm, use your other hand to reward them with a treat.
  4. Once your pup learns to leave the treats alone in your open hand, slowly remove a treat from that hand and give it to your dog. If they try to snatch it or if they go for the other treats, close your fist and don’t give them the treat. Once your pup is able to sit still and wait for you to deliver the treat, you can give it to them as a reward.

Teaching your dog impulse control takes a lot of patience and constant practice, but it’s worth it for the reward of a well-mannered, self-controlled pooch.

Source: Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Leash Training – Is it really necessary?

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Leash Training - Is it really necessary?

Image: Pixabay

What exactly is leash training? Well, it’s exactly that – training your dog to be on leash while demonstrating appropriate behavior. Which means no pulling, barking, lunging etc. Like potty training, leash training is a foundational part of training that helps dogs develop appropriate behaviors that will allow them to thrive.

It is best to start leash training at a very young age, many experts say you can start at 8 weeks of age, but only walk your puppy in public if he has had all his vaccinations so he is protected from harmful viruses.

Start by putting your puppy’s harness on (a puppy learning to walk on leash may pull and a collar can put a lot of strain on the throat and neck of a bulldog, seeing as they already have a harder time to breathe than most other breeds, its best to use a harness which leaves the neck and throat strain free ) putting the harness on for periods of time will allow your puppy to get used to the harness, which will make it a little less scary for them once they actually go on leash.

Leash Training

Image: Pixabay

Once your puppy is comfortable in the harness, clip on the leash and try walking in and around the house, praising him and giving treats when he does well. Positive encouragement will bring you far.

Once your pup is comfortable with the trips at home, start taking them for short walks outside. Always remember the encouragement.

Why is something so simple, so important to do? A leash is like a line of communication between you and your dog, like a language between the two of you which you can use to communicate to your dog what you need him to do. Walk times, dangerous situations, safe places, appropriate behavior etc. are all thing your dog will grow to understand when on leash. a Tight leash can tell your dog that their barking or running is a big no-no, while a loose leash lets them know that they’re free to explore to their heart’s delight.

There is also the matter of safety, your dog’s safety and the safety of those around your dog. No one wants to think of the possibility of injury to your pet or to someone else because of your pet, but reality is that it is something we need to keep in mind. Having a leash trained dog in an area busy with cars could mean the difference between injury and not getting injured.

When at the dog park or at the vet, where other animals are near, having a leash trained dog means your dog is less stressed and less likely to attack another animal. It also gives you control over your dog if there is another untrained or aggressive dog in the same space, moving your dog out of the situation will take far less effort. It is much easier to control a leash trained dog than a dog who is highly stressed with no means of control at all.

Leash training may sound like a lot of hassle, especially if there are other things like potty training to do as well.

Leash training

Image: Pixabay

However, it’s an invaluable tool when it comes to keeping your dog safe in the great outdoors. Not to mention the joy of easy trips with a well-trained dog and the trust between you two. Be it on vacation, to the dog park or even to the vet. A little effort goes a very long way in giving your dog a fun, comfortable experience outside of your home, and yourself a stress free one.

“A gentle tug on the leash and I would adjust myself quickly. I never questioned it. I knew that she knew where we were going and I never once looked back.” – JACK McAFGHAN: Reflections on Life with my Master.

Source: English & French Bulldog Rescue SA

Pet theft is on the rise!

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Pet theft is on the rise

Pet theft is on the rise!

Why Pet Theft occurs and how WE can better protect our beloved companions!
Pet theft is a distressing and concerning issue that has been prevalent in society for many years. It involves the unlawful taking or abduction of animals that are considered to be someone’s beloved pets or companion animals. Pet theft causes pain and suffering to both the stolen animals and their loving owners. The motivations behind pet theft are diverse and complex, but several key factors contribute to this unfortunate phenomenon. Understanding the risk of rising pet thefts and how you can minimize the risk.

Why are Pets stolen?

  • Financial Gain: One of the primary reasons for pet theft is the potential for financial profit. Thieves may steal valuable or purebred pets to sell them to unknowing buyers. Some stolen animals end up in illegal breeding operations, where they are used to produce offspring for profit. Some just sell them on the street because the public tends to buy them to “save” them. They may also be stolen and sold as bait animals.
  • Demand for Specific Breeds: Certain dog breeds, especially those considered rare or trendy, can fetch high prices on the black market. As a result, these breeds become prime targets for thieves seeking to cash in on their desirability.
  • Emotional Value: Pets hold significant emotional value for their owners, and sadly, some individuals steal pets out of malice or to cause emotional distress to the owners. These perpetrators may derive satisfaction from the suffering they cause to both the pet and their human companions.
  • Reselling or Ransom: In some cases, thieves may aim to resell the stolen pets to their rightful owners or demand a ransom from the distraught owners in exchange for their safe return.
  • Dog Fighting, Bait Animals, or Illegal Hunting: Tragically, stolen animals can be used as bait animals in dogfighting rings, where they are pitted against aggressive dogs for training or entertainment. In the context of dogfighting, thieves may steal certain “powerbreeds” dogs to use them in dog fights. Some breeds might be stolen for hunting purposes.
  • Loneliness and Companionship: Some individuals may steal pets due to feelings of loneliness or a desire for companionship. They might believe that taking someone else’s pet will alleviate their emotional emptiness. We also have issues with people finding a lost pet and then just decide to keep them and not go through an adoption process. We consider this theft too.
  • Opportunistic Theft: Pets left unattended in yards, tied outside shops, or in unlocked cars become easy targets for opportunistic thieves.
  • Inadequate Laws and Penalties: Weak laws and lenient penalties for pet theft may not deter criminals from engaging in such activities.
  • Personal Use or Experimentation: In rare cases, pets might be stolen for personal use, even as food or for experimentation purposes, which is an especially alarming prospect.
  • Witches do live among us:  In our very town, there are individuals who would steal cats for offerings. This is one of the many reasons we believe your cat should also be kept safe in your yard and there are ways to do it!

How are animals stolen?
Animals can be stolen in various ways, and pet thieves often employ cunning tactics to carry out their crimes. Some common methods of pet theft include:

  • Unattended Pets: Pets left unattended in yards, tied up outside shops, or in parked cars are vulnerable targets for thieves. Sadly, irresponsible owners let their pets roam the streets too. They may quickly snatch the animal and flee the scene before anyone notices.
  • Petnapping: Petnapping involves physically taking a pet from its owner while they are walking the animal or playing in a park. Thieves may use distraction techniques or even threaten the owner to make their escape.
  • Breaking and Entering: In some cases, thieves might break into homes or vehicles to steal pets. This method is riskier for the criminals but may be employed if they believe valuable or specific breeds are inside the property.
  • Fraudulent “Buyers”: Thieves may pose as potential buyers to gain access to pets advertised for sale. Once they have the animal in their possession, they disappear without completing the transaction.
  • Online Scams: The internet provides a platform for thieves to exploit unsuspecting pet owners. They may create fake listings for lost or found pets to lure owners into revealing personal information or arrange meetups where they steal the animals.
  • Dog Walking or Pet Sitting Services: In rare cases, unscrupulous individuals offering pet services may steal animals while in their care.
  • Staged Accidents and Snares: Thieves may stage accidents involving pets to create confusion and chaos, allowing them to take the animal while the owner is distracted. Snares and traps are used to catch cats in fields.
  • Thieves Lure Animals to Them: Pet thieves lure dogs to fences/ walls or gates with food and once they are in reach, they will grab them and pull them over the wall or throw a rope around the dog and pull them over even high walls. They may also use tranquilizers before snatching the animal. A bitch in heat is used to lure a dog out of their property.

Offering rewards for lost pets can unintentionally create an incentive for pet theft, albeit in a limited number of cases. While the primary intention behind offering a reward is to encourage people to actively search for and return the lost pet, it can also attract unscrupulous individuals who see an opportunity to make quick money. Ultimately, while rewards can be a useful tool in finding lost pets, it is essential to use them judiciously and in combination with other methods to increase the likelihood of a safe and honest reunion with your furry companion.

A POISONING RISK IS HIGH WITH HOUSE BREAK-INS – Get your poison rescue packs for around R50 at your local shelters.  This can buy a few extra minutes to get your pet to the vet.

Pet theft is on the rise

Preventing Pet Theft:
Preventing pet theft requires a combination of vigilance, responsible pet ownership, and community awareness. Here are some practical tips to help safeguard your beloved animals from potential thieves:

  • Supervise Your Pet: Always keep a close eye on your pet when outside, especially in public places. Avoid leaving them unattended in yards, tied up outside shops, or alone in parked cars.
  • Avoid Unnecessary Trips in the Car:   Do not take your dogs for unnecessary trips in the car. If your vehicle is hijacked your dog will be taken as well.
  • Secure Your Property: Ensure that your home and yard are secure. Use sturdy locks and gates to prevent unauthorized access. Consider installing security cameras to monitor your property. If possible it is even safer for your pets if you ensure that your dogs cannot be lured to the front wall or gate.
  • Microchip and ID Tags: Microchip your pet and keep the contact information associated with the chip up-to-date. Additionally, have visible identification tags on your pet’s collar with your current contact details. I do not encourage putting the pet’s name on the tag because then thieves can call them by name. Microchips and tags can help increase the chances of recovering a stolen animal if they do go missing and proving ownership.
  • Be Cautious with Strangers: Be cautious when dealing with strangers interested in your pet, purchase, or to pet them. We don’t support the selling or giving away of animals, but always meet potential buyers in public places rather than at your home.
  • Avoid Sharing Too Much Online: Be careful about sharing detailed information about your pets on social media or online platforms. Posting specific details about your pet’s location or routines may inadvertently expose them to potential thieves.
  • Spay/Neuter Your Pet: Spaying or neutering your pet can reduce its desirability for thieves looking to breed animals illegally and neutered males will be less likely to wander off. Your spayed female will not attract males and cause them to roam the streets.
  • Training: Teach your pet reliable recall commands so that they come to you when called. This skill can help in situations where your pet may be getting too far from you or is approached by a stranger. Teach them to not take food from just anyone and to be careful of strangers.
  • Be Mindful of Your Surroundings: Pay attention to your surroundings when walking your pet. Stay alert to any suspicious individuals or activities in the area. Do not let young children or older individuals walk pets alone. Don’t be on your phone when walking your pet or listen to music that you can’t hear things happening around you.
  • Join or Start a Neighbourhood Watch: Participate in or create a neighbourhood watch program that includes pet owners. This can foster a sense of community and encourage people to look out for one another’s pets.
  • Report Suspicious Activity: Get to know your neighbours and their pets, if you suspect something seems off, contact your neighbours or report it to the local community watch group.
  • Support Stronger Laws: Advocate for stronger pet theft laws and penalties in your community and country. Engage with local authorities and lawmakers to address this issue effectively.
  • Educate Others: Spread awareness about pet theft and prevention methods among fellow pet owners, friends, and family members.
  • Limit Access by Others: If someone other than your family has access to the gate like a domestic worker, builders, or garden service, then have a stern talk about not leaving the gate open or letting the pets out. I do not leave my animals in such circumstances unless I can trust those individuals.
  • Let Pets Sleep Inside: A survey done under jailed thieves showed that the top deterrents that keep most from breaking in are: CCTV cameras, Detection beams, Electric fences, and most of all, animals that sleep in the house! Not only will they be able to alert you, but you will be able to protect them as many animals get killed, hit, cut, or poisoned during or before these robberies. It is not your pet’s duty to protect you, you must protect them.

By taking these proactive measures and staying cautious, you can reduce the risk of pet theft and increase the chances of reuniting with your pet if they do go missing. Remember, prevention is key to keeping your furry friends safe and secure.

Pet Theft NOT high on Police priority list:
In our country the police for the most part struggle to catch rapists, killers, and house thieves, so there is no way for us to believe that pet theft is high on their priority list. Pet theft is often a low-risk, high-reward crime for perpetrators. The covert nature of the act makes it challenging to gather concrete evidence, leaving law enforcement with few leads to follow. Unlike other crimes that may leave behind clear trails, pet theft can be difficult to trace, especially if the animals are sold through illegal channels, allowed to roam the streets or taken to different jurisdictions.

To address these challenges, law enforcement agencies must recognize the seriousness of pet theft and allocate sufficient resources for investigations. Creating specialized units or task forces dedicated to handling pet theft cases can help streamline efforts and improve outcomes. Additionally, establishing a unified database and reporting system for stolen pets nationwide would enhance information sharing and facilitate the tracking of stolen animals and identifying patterns. Additionally, communities and law enforcement should work together to raise awareness, tighten legislation, and impose stricter penalties on those involved in pet theft to discourage such criminal activities.

If YOUR pet is stolen:

  • If you suspect your pet is stolen, please report it to the nearest SAPS, alert your community and neighbourhood watch.
  • Contact neighbours with cameras to look for possible evidence.
  • Follow our lost and found animal guide.
  • Check lost and found pages from nearby towns as animals may be taken, sold or dumped there.

If you see what appears to be a suspicious sale happening, we advise you follow from a distance and contact your local welfare organizations to advise further steps. If it is safe to do so, take photos as evidence. Don’t just buy the animal and let the thieve be as this incentivizes further theft.

Collaboration with animal welfare organizations, community watch groups, and vigilant citizens can also strengthen the fight against pet theft. Organizations that work to prevent pet theft and reunite lost pets with their owners play a vital role in mitigating the impact of this crime. By supporting these organizations, raising awareness, and advocating for stricter laws, we can collectively strive to protect our beloved pets from falling victim to theft. Engaging the public in reporting suspicious activities and providing relevant information can be instrumental in identifying and catching pet thieves.

Pet theft is on the rise

Ultimately, pet theft is not only a violation of the law but also an assault on the bond between humans and their animal companions. Responsible pet ownership includes the duty of keeping our pets safe and protected. When we bring a pet into our lives, we become their guardians, and it is our responsibility to ensure their well-being and safety. By acknowledging the gravity of this crime and implementing proactive measures, we can work towards a safer environment for our beloved animal companions and bring those responsible for these heartless acts to justice.

WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER, DO BETTER!

Source: The Bulletin

Why Is Training Your Puppy Early So Important?

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puppy

Image: Pixabay

Why Is Training Your Puppy Early So Important?

How does a puppy learn?

Happy, sociable, well-behaved puppies are every owner’s dream. However, you’ll have to put in the effort to get the best outcome, and it’s always wise to start training your furbaby when they’re still young and impressionable. They may have even had some basic toilet training and obedience training from their puppy raiser. But now that they’re home, the task is now yours to reinforce.

Puppies tend to learn very quickly, and as obvious as it might sound, they don’t learn what they’re not taught, so you’ll need to teach them how to behave right from the get-go. There’s a ton of literature and advice available on puppy training, and a quick web search should also point you to training courses that may be available in your area. Alternatively, your vet would also be the best person to advise you on the best training professionals and centres for your specific breed, or may even offer their own training resources.

What basics should you keep in mind?

Puppy training can be approached in many ways, and no two trainers will train a dog in exactly the same way. However, they will mostly agree on these few basic golden rules!

  • Positive reinforcement for good behaviour in dogs: If your puppy does a good thing, reward it. Puppies learn by associating their actions with your reactions. If they get a reward for doing something good, they’re more likely to do it again. However, you have to reward them quickly enough to make the connection — about one or two seconds. You can reward your pup with a treat or with praise, or both. You could also turn it into a game to help reinforce their positive behaviour.
  • Ignoring naughty behaviour in dogs: Sometimes your puppy will be naughty, and you’ll need to teach them what not to do. Certain behaviour, like chewing, is part of how they explore their new world. However, your pup won’t know what to chew and what not to chew. Rather than shouting at your puppy or smacking it when it chews the wrong thing, it’s best to ignore them. Just pretend they’re not there.
  • Saying “no” to protect them or others: Occasionally, your pup will do something potentially dangerous, like chewing on a live electric cord. In this case, you will have to intervene, but without shouting and corporal punishment. Interrupt the pup with the word “no” to get their attention. Then, when your pup stops and pays attention to you, reward it. Again, praise or a treat will help to reinforce what they should or shouldn’t be chewing on or playing with.
  • Keeping the training short and digestible: Puppies, like kids, have a short attention span, so it’s best to keep training sessions brief. It’s better to have five or six two-minute sessions per day than one longer session. You should also train your puppy in a variety of environments, for instance, both inside and outside the house, and on walks. Just make sure that your puppy is not distracted. Your pup will have a better chance of understanding your requests when you have its undivided attention.

Source: Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Housetraining 101

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Housetraining

Housetraining 101

Housetraining your dog or puppy requires patience, commitment and lots of consistency – this is all new for your dog and you have to teach him or her what is expected. Accidents are part of the process, but if you follow these basic housetraining guidelines, you can get the newest member of your family on the right track in no time!

Establish a routine
Like little humans, dogs and puppies do best on a regular schedule. The schedule teaches them that there are times to eat, times to play and times to do their business. Generally speaking, a puppy can control their bladder one hour for every month of age. So if your puppy is two months old, they can hold it for about two hours. Don’t go longer than this between bathroom breaks or you’re guaranteed to have an accident.

  • Take your dog or puppy outside frequently – at least every two hours for puppies – and immediately after they wake up, during and after playing, and after eating or drinking.
  • Pick a bathroom spot outside, and always take your pooch to that spot. While he or she is relieving themselves, use a specific word or phrase that you can eventually use before they go to remind them what to do. Take them out for a longer walk or some playtime only after they have eliminated.
  • Reward your puppy every time they eliminate outdoors. Praise or give treats, but remember to do so immediately after they’ve finished, not after they come back inside. This step is vital, because rewarding your dog for going outdoors is the only way to teach what’s expected of them. Before rewarding, be sure they’re finished. Puppies are easily distracted and if you praise too soon, they may forget to finish until they’re back in the house.
  • Stick to a regular feeding schedule: what goes in on a schedule comes out on a schedule! Feeding at the same times each day will make it more likely that they’ll eliminate at consistent times as well, making housetraining easier for both of you.
  • Pick up the water dish about two and a half hours before bedtime to reduce the likelihood that they’ll need to relieve themselves during the night. Most puppies can sleep for approximately seven hours without needing a bathroom break. If your dog or puppy does wake you up in the night, don’t make a big deal of it; otherwise they will think it is time to play and won’t want to go back to sleep. Turn on as few lights as possible, don’t talk to or play with your puppy, take them out and then return them to bed.

Supervision is key
Don’t give your dog or puppy an opportunity to soil in the house; keep an eye on them whenever they’re indoors.

  • For the first couple of weeks, a new dog of any age should be supervised when he has the full (or even partial) run of the house. 
  • Watch for signs that your pooch needs to go out: barking or scratching at the door, squatting, restlessness, sniffing around or circling.
  • When you see these signs, immediately take them outside to their bathroom spot. If they eliminate, praise them and reward with a treat.

Mistakes happen
Expect your puppy to have a few accidents in the house – it’s a normal part of housetraining. Here’s what to do when that happens:

  • Interrupt your puppy when you catch them in the act and immediately escort them to their bathroom spot. Praise your pup and give a treat if they finish there.
  • Don’t punish your puppy for eliminating in the house. If you find a soiled area, the mistake is all on you and it’s too late to do anything about it. Just clean it up. Rubbing your puppy’s nose in it, taking them to the spot and scolding them or any other punishment will only make them afraid of you or afraid to eliminate in your presence. Punishment will often do more harm than good!
  • It’s more effective to clean up the mess and put it in the designated elimination spot, so the smell will help your dog recognise that this is where to go. Clean the soiled area thoroughly – dogs are highly motivated to continue soiling in areas that smell like urine or faeces. 
  • It’s extremely important that you supervise to minimise the number of accidents. If you allow your dog or puppy to eliminate frequently in the house, they’ll get confused about where they’re supposed to go, which will prolong the housetraining process.

Source: TEARS Animal Rescue

Housetraining your puppy!

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puppy

Housetraining your puppy!

Housetraining a puppy can be challenging, however with consistency, proper management, and positive reinforcement, you can housetrain your puppy effectively.

Here are some guidelines for more successful housetraining:

  1. Ensure a designated toileting area ( for example, outside in the yard on the grass )
  2. Use positive reinforcement. When you reward your dog (praise, play, food, toys, etc.) when they respond to you or offer an action or a behaviour that you like, then that behaviour is likely to be repeated. Your dog learns that good things happen to them when they do the thing you like.
  3. Applying positive reinforcement methods to housetraining means rewarding our puppy every single time they toilet in the designated area.
  4. Take your puppy on leash to the designated area and wait it out ( be patient, they’re still learning). Once puppy has eliminated, reward them!  Remember not to take pup off the lead until they’ve finished, as puppies can become so easily distracted or run off to play and may not have been done relieving themselves.
  5. Set a timer for every 1-2 hours, so that you can take puppy out to their designated area regularly.
  6. Did you know that pups cannot hold their bladder for long like adult dogs? A general rule of thumb is to take puppy outside to their designated toilet area every hour, as well as after eating, before bedtime and after a nap are good times for a toilet break.
  7. Observe your puppy’s body language for signals they may need to toilet. Pawing at the ground, circling, sniffing or standing at an exit may be signs they need a toilet break.
  8. If your pup has an accident inside the home and you observe them doing it, quickly and gently interrupt them and take them to their designated area.
  9. Do not hit, smack or push the puppy’s face in it this will ONLY MAKE THINGS WORSE and cause FEAR.
  10. Punishment will only prolong the learning process and increase fear and stress. Punishment does not teach the pup where to eliminate and the use of punishment will only make them fear you and break their trust in you.

TOP TRAINING TIP: don’t be stingy with reinforcement. Puppy treats must be tasty and motivating! We recommend tiny bite sized liver biltong ( available at SPCA Vetshop ) as it is a high value food reward and your pup will learn effectively, safely and have fun!

Source: Cape of Good Hope SPCA