Housetraining your Adult Dog

Ok, you've done a great thing: you have rescued a dog. You have brought the adult dog home and realized that your dog needs help in the potty department. Good news: you CAN teach your old dog this new trick, sometimes in as little as three days.                                                                                                       

(1) Take time off work (or hire a pet sitter) to train your dog. Someone has to be there to take your dog out for bathroom breaks several times a day.                          

(2) Use a crate from the first time you bring the dog into your home. Dogs don't like to mess up their sleeping areas. The crate should be just big enough for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down.
                                                                                                                                                         

(3) Take your dog out to potty at least six times a day. Never keep your dog in the crate longer than they can hold it. Take your dog out to the same spot in your yard each time. Use a phrase such as "Go potty" or "Do your business." Before long the command will become associated with the activity and your dog will eliminate on cue.                                                                                                                    

(4) Give abundant praise when he gets it right. Give a treat immediately for successes. Positive reinforcement is the key!                                                                                                        

(5) Clean up accidents with an enzyme cleaning product that gets rid of the odor. Don't punish your pet for an accident that you did not see occur. If you see your dog eliminating in your house, shout or clap your hands and quickly take him outside. Punishment for mistakes actually makes house training harder.

Emergency Preparedness for Pet Owners

With all of the natural disasters that are occurring in our country and around the globe, it's only natural that you want to be prepared to take care of the animal members of your family. When disaster strikes, be prepared!

Emergency checklist for your pets:

1. Store enough pet food and bottled water to last 72 hours, preferably one week.
2. Prepare a shelter or evacuation kit for your pet to include: unbreakable feeding dish, vet records and contact information, leash or restraint, medications with instructions, pet carriers.
3. Keep your pet's ID tags up to date with your pet's name, address, and phone number, and immunization tags.
4. If you are traveling without your animals, make sure your pet sitter is notified if you are delayed out of town by an unforeseen disaster.
5. If you must evacuate your home, take your pets with you! Or make arrangements with someone to be responsible to care for them. Your pets are depending on you to care for their needs.

Dog Days of Summer

It is HOT here in the Jackson, MS, area. Makes us wish for a little more of that snow we saw last winter. Come August, it's gonna get HOTTER. And you could use a little R&R out of town in a cooler locale, right? That's where I come in: let me take care of your critters in your home while you are away. I love dogs, cats, birds, fish, and rabbits. I don't do snakes.

Benefits to you: your animals are happier and healthier in their own home environment while you are away. You have peace of mind about your home and pets, knowing that a competent, caring individual will be looking after them while you are away.

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