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.

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.