Yep! It’s winter in MN again and it’s been a doozy!

Living in this great white tundra is always a challenge and caring for our dogs in the winter is certainly no exception. Dogs can generally handle winter weather fairly well, especially if it’s a breed with a moderate to thick coat made for cooler climates. But there are still things we need to do to ensure that our dogs do not suffer in winter cold. Dogs are susceptible to hypothermia and frostbite as well as other winter dangers.

Shelter: If your dogs live outside like mine do make sure they have adequate shelter. A good quality dog house or indoor area of a building is necessary. Dogs must be able to get in out of the elements as necessary. A thick layer of bedding such as straw will give them insulation and warmth to preserve their core body temperature.

Water: Make sure your dog(s) have access to water at all times. Drinking water aids the body in keeping a constant core temp and reduces the chance of hypothermia. Heated water bowls and buckets are necessary for dogs kenneled outdoors. Eating snow as the main source of water intake is actually harmful.

Harmful chemicals: Make sure that antifreeze is kept up and out of reach of all animals. It is sweet tasting but extremely toxic! Too many dogs die each year from antifreeze poisoning. Also watch out for ice melt products. Most will cause burning sensations, expecially on paws. If you must use a melting product make sure to wash your dog’s paws off if they come in contact with it or use protective boots.

Lastly, watch for signs of frostbite and snowball build up. My dogs generally love being out in the snow, romping and playing, but every now and again I see one stop to chew at the bottoms of their paws. That means it’s time to be inside. Snow and ice build-up in their paws and between their toes, this leads to frostbite very quickly. If you see a dog limping or chewing on its paws then it’s time to get into a warmer dry place. At our place just making them go into their shelter gives the dog’s paws time to thaw and warn off frostbite.

Sign up now!!

Dog obedience classes will start soon in both Granite Falls and Montevideo, MN.

Our basic obedience classes are 7 weeks long. The first week is a lecture night only with no dogs allowed followed by 6 weeks of hands on dog training. Dogs of all ages are more than welcome to attend as long as the dog has a current rabies vaccination. Limited class size of 5 to 10 dogs allows for a more personal training session. Our classes not only work on the normal obedience commands such as sit, down, heel and stay, we also tackle common behavioral issues such as jumping on people, biting, barking and dominance.

Currently our classes are offered through the following groups. Please contact either office directly to sign up for any upcoming classes:

Schedule:

Yellow Medicine East Community Education  320-564-4084

Thursday nights 7pm-8pm
Raney Elementary Gym
February 10th – March 24th
**No dogs first class

Montevideo Community Education   320-269-5026

Monday nights 7pm-8pm
Sanford Elementary Gym
February 28th – April 11th
**No dogs first class

Just like humans, dogs need something to do or they get bored. When dogs are bored they often get into trouble digging, chewing, wandering, etc. It’s easy to get wrapped up in so many other family activities that we forget about our 4-legged friends.

It’s important to make a daily effort to take time for our dog(s). Find something the dog loves to do. Throw the ball, take a long relaxing walk, do some obedience work, or just sit in the grass under a big tree. If it’s possible take your dog places like the dog park or the local pet store if allowed. Getting out and about helps build better social skills. Dogs don’t really care what they are doing as long as they are doing it with you.

Hangin' out at work - it's a tough job

Most animal lovers have had many different animal partners over the years. Each one we’ve loved and cherished. But there’s always “the one” that stands out; one animal partner that touched your heart (and others) in a way that can’t be explained and that will live on in memory long after he’s passed over the rainbow bridge. This is mine…

“Eddie” was my special animal partner. Eddie was a yellow lab aptly named “Dannick’s Special Edition”. The name came to me the morning we were to go pick him up. Little did I know that day as my son and I drove home with our little yellow bundle that he would find so many ways to live up to his name.

I bought Eddie as a companion and show dog. He went everywhere with us right from the start. Eddie was the patient babysitter, quiet watchdog and happy companion. He loved people and people loved him. Eddie was good at “communicating” with people but there is one very special incident that still today leaves me amazed at my special boy.

Eddie was about 8yrs old when he sired a litter of pups for my breeder. The puppies were about 9 weeks old when my mom and I decided to cheer up a friend of hers by taking one puppy and Eddie to the hospital for a visit. I had the puppy and my mom had Eddie. We didn’t get 6 feet through the front doors before everyone was gathering around the puppy wanting to see her. She of course was the center of attention! Eddie and Mom stood quietly by watching the commotion over the cute little puppy.

Then from the other side of the lobby a woman sheepishly approached my mom and asked if she could pet Eddie. “Of course!” my mom said. The woman barely stroked Eddie’s back at first. Eddie just stood like a rock and looked at her as if to say “really, it’s ok”. She started petting Eddie more and more, relaxing and getting closer to him. Then she looked to my mom and claimed that she was terrified of dogs and had been all her life. She’d cross a street to stay away from dogs on a walk or in a yard. She hadn’t touched a dog in over 30 years. When she saw our dogs in the lobby of the hospital the woman had planned on walking through as fast as possible but Eddie caught her eye. She said there was something about him and the expression in his eyes that told her not to be afraid, that it was ok to come over. Somehow Eddie drew this woman to him and showed her that she didn’t have to fear him. She stayed touching and petting Eddie as she talked for several minutes with my mom. Before she left she said “can I give him a hug?” My mom replied “Yes, Eddie would love one”. The woman kneeled down on Eddie’s level and gave my dog the biggest hug. That day Eddie changed a woman’s life by quietly helping her though a life long fear.

Eddie spent many more years “talking” to others at work, nursing homes, hospitals, and at home. Sadly Eddie passed away December 23^rd, 2009. He was 13 years old. He may be gone but will never be forgotten. He was my “Special Edition”.

There are lots of dog trainers and therefore lots of training methods. Some are very harsh, while some are all about praise. All eventually get the desired results. Over the years I’ve studied under a multitude of trainers with a variety of methods. I feel I’m a better trainer for this since one specific method might not work for all dogs and it’s important to adjust training styles to the dog owner and dog’s own “dogenality”.

Overall, I consider my training methods as heavy on the positive re-enforcement (treats and praise combined) with a touch of effective correction when necessary. I teach methods that allow the dog to do what’s expected the first time, every time. This ensures better quality communication with our dog in the long run. In an emergency situation it is imperative that a dog listen and do as asked with the first command, not after repeating it 10 times.

Do I care what age the dog is? Nope. I do believe that it’s generally easier to start obedience work with a little puppy but dogs never stop learning. Puppies will learn quickly but lose interest fast, grown dogs learn quickly but often times have to be retrained or “untrained”. Each dog has his own set of challenges to work with.

For the most part I am just a person who loves dogs and loves teaching others about their dogs. I enjoy seeing dogs and their owners thrive and grow while learning basic obedience. There is nothing better than being around a well mannered dog and I enjoy helping others accomplish that.

No matter what methods you use while training your dog there are two major keys to make your training efforts work.

Consistency! Dogs are like children learning a language. They don’t understand a thing at first. We need to teach them what “sit” and “down” really mean. Consistency is needed for this. One of the biggest issues I see is different family members using different commands for the same thing. The dog simply can’t understand that “heel” and “walk” mean the same thing, or that “down” means get off me as well as lie on the floor. Figure out what your commands (one word cues) will be and then stick too them. Encourage that specific command behavior and then praise when and only when you get it. If you are consistent with cues and praise you’ll find your dog will learn it faster and you’ll both be happier.

Patience! They always say patience is a virtue and it’s never truer than when training a dog. Puppies sure are cute but when they’ve peed on the floor yet again we tend to lose our patience easily. Keep in mind that it takes time to train a dog properly and that equates to patience. Try hard to stay calm and quiet when you don’t get the response you want and ask again until you do get the correct response. If you lose patience you’re voice and body language changes in a negative way. The dog will pick up on that and tend not respond well or go into defensive mode. If this happens, walk away, calm down and start over when you’re in a better mood again.

The combination of both consistency and patience are key components of dog training at any level and for any discipline. With these you and your dog will accomplish more, faster and be happier for it.

So you’ve done the research and your puppy is coming home. What an exciting moment! Often we bring our new bundle of fluff home and then realize that we don’t have what’s needed to take care of him or her. Being prepared makes it all that much easier and more exciting. Of course there’s a ton of products on the market that cater to animals lovers. Here’s a list of items to help you get started:

Crate: If the dog is staying in the house then you will need a dog crate (wire or hard plastic) for it to sleep in and be put in when you can’t watch it.  A crate can be an essential potty training tool. Buy a crate that will fit the dog once full grown but one that also includes a puppy divider. The divider should be placed in the crate so that the puppy has only enough room to stand up and turn around. Dogs don’t generally like to sleep in their own feces so keeping a puppy confined in a smaller space will aid in potty training.

Food and water bowls: These come in many shapes, sizes, colors etc. I personally prefer to have 2 separate bowls for food and water so that the water doesn’t make a mess of the food. I also personally like the metal bowls. Most dogs don’t like to pick up metal objects so they are less likely to chew on the bowls. Plus the metal comes clean easily and is dishwasher safe. I have 8 metal bowls in my house and all are over 8 years old and still looking great!

Collar: To begin with, an adjustable nylon buckle collar is best for a growing puppy. The collar should fit snuggly enough so that it can’t be pulled off over the ears. Check the fit often and adjust as the puppy grows. In smaller breeds one collar can last the dogs lifetime. In bigger breeds you may have to start with a smaller adjustable collar and then buy a larger one later. Do not buy a chain (choke) collar for your puppy. Chain collars are great for training when used properly and should only be used for training – never leave a chain collar on a dog while unattended.

Leash: Just like other dog equipment leashes come in a variety of styles and materials. Generally speaking a 6 foot leash is best. Nylon is the most common material and less expensive but a leather leash is best. Leather is very supple and will last a lifetime if cared for. It also won’t give you rope burn easily if the dog pulls away fast.  Buying a quality leather leash will cost a little more but in the end is a better investment. Whatever you buy remember to put it up and away from the puppy so they won’t chew on it.

Puppy food: It’s a good idea to ask your breeder what brand food the puppy is currently eating. Usually the breeder will give you a small amount to take home. If you decide not to feed the same brand then it’s best to mix the new and old foods together to acclimate the puppy to the change in diet.

Grooming tools: Look for brushes and combs that suit your puppy’s coat. The pet store should be able to recommend the right ones. Also buy a quality nail clipper right away. It’s easier to get a puppy used to grooming and nail clipping at a young age. Clipping nails once a week will keep them from getting out of hand. If you’re unsure about nail clipping, ask a vet or professional groomer for a demonstration. General grooming practices are key to good health and yet the most overlooked.

Toys: Puppies love to play and toys are great but keep a few things in mind. Stuffed toys are fun but watch that the puppy doesn’t rip the toy apart and swallow small pieces. Hard bones or chew toys should be large enough not to be swallowed. Don’t leave toys with the puppy while unattended. One of the few toys I will leave with my puppy when I’m gone is a Kong. It is super durable and with an added treat inside it will keep puppy busy for hours.

Clean up spray: Don’t forget a good cleaning spray for the occasional accident in the house. There are many to choose from, my favorite – Nature’s Miracle.
photo credit: psmckiernan

In this article, I’ll be speaking mainly about buying a purebred dog (buying and adopting mixed breed dogs can be very different).

When looking for a new puppy it’s good to do a little homework and ask questions before you bring it home. Often times we get so excited and just plain caught up in how cute the puppies all are that we forget to make sure it’s going to be the right puppy for our family.

First, make sure to find a breed of dog that’s suitable to your family and lifestyle. Most all puppies are cute when little but they don’t tend to stay that way. The biggest mistake generally made is not knowing what our new puppy will be like when they grow up. Take time to research what breeds you think you like. Know how big the breed should get. Does it shed a lot or need constant grooming? What’s the average energy level? What health concerns are there for the breed? What was the dog originally bred for (ie herding, hunting, etc.)? Answering these types of questions should give you great insight to the future you will likely have with your new pet. The American Kennel Club and your local library are good sources of breed information.

Once you’ve chosen a breed of dog it’s time to find a quality breeder. There are a lot of people out there trying to make money by breeding dogs. Some care about their dogs and breed good quality and some don’t. There are a number of  things to keep in mind and questions that you should ask a breeder:

• Is there a health guarantee? If so what are the details? If a health issue arises that is covered, what actions will be taken by the breeder?
• When and what shots were last given to the puppy?
• If both parents are on the property ask to see and interact with both. Temperaments are often inherited and/or learned from the parents.
• Ask for references from previous litters’ puppy owners
• If there is more than one puppy to choose from the one that is more outgoing is generally a better fit. The shy one sitting in the corner may tend to be more fearful growing up.
• It’s a good sign if the breeder is asking you questions about your family and intentions with the puppy. This shows the breeder is more interested in the puppy’s well being than just making a buck or two.
• Many breeders have a pet only placement policy which means the dog must be fixed within the first year and registration on the dog will be for pet status only. If the dog is bred the puppies would not be register able.

Doing a little research and asking a few questions before you bring your new puppy home will hopefully better prepare you for a wonderful new adventure with a great new dog.

Coming soon…Bringing home puppy – things to have and what to expect.