5 Easy Steps to Potty Training Your Puppy

Are you one of the many people who perceive puppy potty training difficult—or even impossible? It’s actually easier than you think.

Today we’re going to give you advice straight from a professional puppy trainer on how to potty train a puppy from as young as 6 weeks old. So whether you’re a breeder who wants to sell ready-trained puppies, or a new dog owner; these tips will help you and your puppy succeed.

Develop a Routine

Routine is by far the most important factor in getting your puppy trained fast. There are three routine steps to take into consideration:

  • A feeding routine
  • A potty routine
  • A sleeping routine

Let’s look at each one more closely.

A Feeding Routine

Ensure that you feed your puppy at the same time every day. Your puppy will start expecting to be fed at that time each day, which will automatically prompt a potty routine.

Avoid leaving food out for your puppy for it to eat whenever it feels like it. If it isn’t hungry, take the food up and feed it again at the next interval. A great way to create a feeding routine is to feed your puppy once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

Take your puppy outside about 15 – 20 minutes after its meals to do its business outside. With repetition your puppy will be potty trained within a matter of days.

A Potty Routine

Apart from its normal feeding & sleeping routine, take your puppy outside at the same time each day. You’ll soon start learning how often your puppy needs to go outside to potty, so set designated times for it to do so. three or four times in the middle of each day should be sufficient—depending on how much it eats and drinks.

A Sleeping Routine

Your puppy’s sleep routine ties into its potty routine too. It’s important to let your puppy go outside just before it’s being put to sleep. Your puppy will quickly learn that potty before bedtime is the norm, and this will reinforce the habit of doing its business outside.

Read the Signals

There will be times outside of feeding and bedtime when your puppy will need to potty. It will give you signals that it is about to go by one or more of the following:

  • Circling around
  • Sniffing the ground
  • Folding its body

Dedicate yourself to watching your puppy. If it shows these signs or any other characteristic sighs of wanting to potty, pick it up and take it outside quickly. It will quickly learn that doing its business inside is unacceptable.

Establish a Designated Potty Area

Throughout your puppy potty training, always direct your puppy to generally the same outside area every time. The smells of previous potty sessions will trigger its memory, and with repetition it will learn where it needs to go for a comfortable wee or pool.

Deal with Accidents Effectively

When accidents happen, see this as a training opportunity rather than a failure. Punishing your puppy won’t do much good in the long run. A stern “No!” is all your puppy needs to know that what it has done is not acceptable.

If it’s a poo take it outside to its designated area and show your puppy that next time this is where you want it to do its business. If it’s a wee, pick your puppy up and put it outside for a few minutes.

Also be sure to clean up the mess with something that takes away the smell completely.

Use Positive Reinforcement

Be patient and calm while training your puppy and you’ll be amazed at how quickly it responds to your training efforts. Before you know it your puppy will be potty trained and automatically go outside when it needs to.

Holiday Gift Guide for Pets

The Holidays are here and there is a family member that we don’t want to ignore. Your pet shouldn’t feel left out of the celebration! Here are a few functional luxuries that you can add to your ‘To Buy’ list this Holiday Season.

The High 5 Dogs Clic Leash – This item is a great addition for anyone that goes out and about with their dog. We reviewed it here on Have Sippy and were impressed with the quality and innovation of this leash and their over the shoulder option for hands free walking. After writing the review I was in a restaurant and saw no less than three dogs tethered to tables and realized just how great a product this is. Read out review here.

 

Green Goo – Fur & Feathers Homeopathic Care – by Sierra Sage – If your pet has any issues like dry, cracked paws, cuts, scrapes, or skin irritations here is a natural option to treat them. Avoid chemicals and consider this herbal remedy. We tested it on a dog with a scrape and were really happy with the results. It does have a nice but strong scent and works like a balm so firmer than a cream you just spread on. I like the fact that it can even be used on humans, because that is the standard I want for anything going on my pet.

Elf Pet Pajamas – At Target – These aren’t just cute for your pet. They have matching pajamas for the whole family! Kids, parents, and pet can walk around this Holiday as elves. They have more than just this design in pet night wear so take a look here or elsewhere on line but imagine the fun family pictures this can make.

Convertible Igloo Pet Bed – This 2 in 1 pet bed is a great option for anyone interested in the Igloo bed but might not want to use it year round. My dog loves it in the winter when my room tends to get cold. In the summer I can use it just as a regular bed. The only thing is it seems to only come in a small size so good for small dogs and cats. You can check it out on Amazon.
Convertible 2 in 1 Dog or Cat Pet Bed, Chocolate

Sick Pup? Here Are 4 Common Canine Health Conditions

As a dog owner, there’s nothing more concerning than a sickly pup. Typical symptoms are made even scarier because your pet can’t tell you what’s wrong or how they’re feeling. If you’re wondering whether all is well for man’s best friend, here are some common canine health conditions and ways to spot them.

1. Ear Infection

An ear infection is one of the most common health problems for dogs, and it can easily be caused by several different factors. Ear mites, allergies, viral infections, bacterial infections, ingrown hairs and yeast can all cause an ear infection to pop up unexpectedly.

The symptoms of an ear infection may be subtle or severe. Here’s what to look for:

  • Redness or odor coming from the ear canal 
  • Head shaking or tilting to one side 
  • Excessive scratching 
  • Balance or coordination problems 
  • Ear swelling 
  • Ear discharge 

If you notice any of these symptoms, please see a veterinarian immediately. Ear infections are usually relatively easy to treat, but you’ll need a vet’s diagnosis and a prescription medication.

2. Worms

Puppies are especially susceptible to worms, but dogs can have worms at any age. Common worms include tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms. While most worms are simply uncomfortable, some can actually be fatal, so it’s important that you treat these parasites quickly. Signs include:

  • Actually seeing worms (usually in feces) 
  • Diarrhea (especially bloody diarrhea) 
  • Weight loss 
  • Lack of appetite or excessive appetite 
  • Vomiting 
  • Lethargy 
  • A lackluster coat of fur 
  • A dog who scoots across the floor on his bottom 

You should also see your vet for this condition because it’s difficult to tell which worms your dog has. Each worm requires a different type of treatment, so your vet will need to make the call and issue the appropriate medication.

3. Vomiting

Vomiting may be more of a symptom than an actual health condition, but it’s worth noting here because dogs tend to vomit more than other animals. A dog may vomit for any number of reasons, including:

  • Parasites (like worms) 
  • Heatstroke 
  • Food poisoning 
  • Dehydration 
  • Kidney failure 
  • Pancreatitis 
  • Bacterial or viral infection (stomach “bug”) 

In most cases, one vomiting incidence likely isn’t anything serious, but you should always have your pet checked by a veterinarian, just in case. If your dog is dehydrated they can give fluids and let you know if something more severe is going on.

4. Fleas

Every responsible pet owner knows that flea prevention is extremely important for dogs and cats. (If you haven’t found a good treatment yet, Bravecto offers a chewable tablet that’s super convenient and easy.) Still, dogs sometimes catch fleas anyway. While pet owners are often first alerted when they actually see fleas in the home, sometimes the signs are more subtle. Dogs may:

  • Scratch, lick, or bite themselves excessively 
  • Cause hair loss by excessively scratching flea-infested areas 
  • Develop allergic dermatitis, a skin condition caused by a flea allergy 
  • Catch tapeworms, which are transported by fleas 
  • Have tiny black dots on the skin (that look similar to pepper), also known as flea dirt 

Once your vet diagnoses your pup with fleas, you’ll need to do all you can to remove and prevent the infestation. This may include home treatments, topical treatments, pills or any other flea medication your veterinarian recommends.

For most pet owners, sickness will be temporary and short-lived. If you stay on top of your dog’s medications and vaccines, seek proper medical treatment when necessary and maintain a healthy diet, your pup will likely lead a long, healthy life.

 

High5Dogs Leash and Harness Review

Innovation from High5Dogs

There are a ton of options out there for pet owners these days when it comes to leashes and harnesses, but most of these are pretty standard. I mean a leash is a leash right? I confess that has been my belief for some time, but not any longer. High5Dogs has opened my eyes to features I never knew I was missing out on. Their leashes and harnesses have a variety of options for you and your furbaby.

High5Dogs has a two great products for dog owners on the go, their CLIC Leash and CLIC Shoulder Leash. On the most basic level these two leashes are made up of two ropes connected by a clip. If you find yourself needing both hands or at a cafe and want to hook your dog up this is unbelievably convenient and can be done one handed. It is also safer than unhooking your dog to loop the leash or tying one end up. This is a great option for anyone that frequents dog friendly eateries or has their pet with them running errands.

The CLIC shoulder leash has a segment long enough to lope around you and allow for hands free dog walking. This same easy to clip system makes it convenient to switch from hands on to hands free. I can not tell you the number of times I wish I had this option or just that the leash loop was not on my wrist and my dog pulling while I tried to carry something two handed. For anyone that has arthritis or other issues when walking their dog this is a great choice and easy to loop on and off with the center clip.

High5Dogs also offers harnesses to match their leashes. These are high quality and durable rope topped harnesses that are easy to put on and quick to take off. If you use a harness you know that those two things are not often true. The dual adjustable clips are speedy to undo but there are adjustable straps that have their plastic adjusters under your dogs chest so this is not something you want to leave on as that might be uncomfortable while your dog is resting.

There are two lines to pick from at High5Dogs, the Metropolitan Collection and their new Leisure Collection. The products are basically the same but the Metropolitan has leather details. With both you can pick three different sizes of rope to decide how heavy a leash you are looking for. They are offered with suggestions based on size of dog and then your preference. Some of the details they have added like a metal hook by the leashes handle is great for attaching a dog bag holder. These products are a high end option for pet owners.

Find out more at High5dogs.com or on Social Media – TwitterFacebookInstagram – Pinterest

Canine ideas: discovering the great outdoors with your dog

travel with your dog

There’s a reason why the dog is called man’s best friend; that’s because they’ll want to go with you everywhere, given half a chance. And that includes on adventures out into the great outdoors. In fact, a canine can be the perfect companion for discovering, exploring and trekking the countryside – within reason. In order to do it properly and safely, though, there are a number of things you ought to think about first…

Let off the leash?

Ideally, of course, with all that open country yawning ahead of you, any dog owner would love to let their pal run free, but it’s not always feasible – and not always legal to do so. In which case, you’re going to need a decent, durable leash, one that preferably gives 4-6 feet of slack. You might even go the whole hog and get one that’s manufactured from climbing rope. Alternatively, you could just make your own from climbing rope – the advantage being it’ll absorb a lot of tugs and pulls, ensuring it’s both easier for the dog and your otherwise aching shoulder.

Food and hydration

Water. It’s all-important for humans when they’re on the move (it’s estimated we need as much as between nine and 13 cups of fluids a day!), so remember to bring your own bottled water, but it’s just as important for the canine species. What you’ll need then is a portable bowl that’ll pack easily into a rucksack. And, if you’re unlikely to pass water fountains or natural water (streams, rivers or ponds), then bear in mind you’ll need to share your water with your pooch. Sustenance is important too – so be on the look-out for specially-made energy treats for dogs to ensure they don’t tire when you’re out together.

First aid kit – dog and human

No dog lover relishes considering this, but when you’re out with your pooch pal there’s sadly always the (very slight) possibility something will go wrong and you’ll run into an emergency. If the poor mutt’s health – or even life – is suddenly in danger then, you’ll have needed to prepare for all eventualities. That means packing a doggy first aid kit. What to include? Well, some items will crossover with what you’ll need for human-focused first aid, such as antiseptic wipes, tweezers (for removing dirt and small stones from wounds), bandages and gauzes and tape to secure these in place. However, it’s also advisable to pack a big plastic syringe and a dose of hydrogen peroxide, which should aid in inducing vomiting should the dog have ingested poison of any kind.

And this is a good juncture to point out that while you’re out with your pal, you should look after yourself too. Making sure the first aid kit has enough to help you out of a sticky situation’s a must, as well as having food for yourself (maybe granola bars for energy) or perhaps you fancy giving supplements a go to keep up your vitamin and nutrition levels? Both Biocare probiotics (to maintain gut bacteria balance and healthy bowel function) and Megahydrate (for full-body hydration thanks to its silica hydride ingredient) are good examples.

Pick up the poop!

This should be a no-brainer; hopefully it is. If you’re putting so much effort into ensuring you enjoy the great outdoors with your pooch you should also take the time to be a good dog owner by cleaning up after your canine chum. To that end, bring with you a roll of bags or recycle a plastic shopping bag – it’s good for the environment; in a way!

And finally…

If you love the idea of roaming the countryside with your dog enough, you might be prepared to fork out for a doggy life jacket. For the pooch that has everything then? Well, yes; but this bit of kit will enable them to paddle away to their heart’s content and ensure you have total peace of mind as they do so. Be sure to opt for a version that sports a handle on the back, though, so you can pull them up and out of the water when it’s time to be getting on – or even time to be going home!

Join the Movement and #ShopWithYourHeart With the ASPCA

The ASPCA has launched an exciting new initiative to improve the lives of farm animals called Shop With Your Heart.

aspca

As you may already know, most of the nearly 9 billion animals raised for meat, milk and eggs in the US are suffering in inhumane factory farms. And animals are not the only affected, as factory farms impact human health—they can be breeding grounds for dangerous pathogens and the antibiotics used to prevent disease create the potential for dangerous, drug-resistant bacteria to develop. To fully harness the power of our collective purchases and demand better lives for farm animals, the Shop With Your Heart initiative gives consumers the resources to recognize, locate and demand meaningfully welfare-certified meat, eggs and dairy products as well as plant-based alternatives.

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Here are a few ways you can get involved:

  •  Use the Shop With Your Heart Grocery List, including welfare-certified and widely available plant-based brands.
  • Post a photo of yourself on your social media channels making the “heart hands” to show solidarity with the movement with sample language like:  “Join the movement with me and pledge to #ShopWithYourHeart! aspca.org/ShopWithYourHeart @ASPCA.”

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Have You Met Our New Puppy?

Well, we got lost on a roadtrip recently, and accidentally got a puppy.

Mostly it happened like that, LOL.  My son has been begging for a puppy for the longest, and when we say this face, I just broke down.

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Meet Theodore Jamison Roosevelt, part president, part chipmunk.  The name seems to work, but he’s usually just Teddy.  Cooper and he get along well, with Cooper usually letting the new baby walk all over him, poor Coop.  LOL.  Such a pushover.

Puppy Kindergarten starts this week, hopefully he will be a good pupil.  He has gotten “sit” and “cookie” and “outside” down- now, to master the leash and doing his business outdoors ALL the time, ha.

I’m sure you will see plenty of Teddy in upcoming posts.  Cooper likes “mothering” him, and my son is thrilled.  And no more dogs, says mommy!  LOL.

Win a #TheSecretLifeofPets Prize Package for Your Pets!

Do you ever wonder what your pets do all day while you are at work or school (or out of the house in general)?  Have you and your family seen the cute new movie “The Secret Life of Pets” yet?  It’s out in theaters as of Friday, and it is just adorable.  My son has been obsessed with it for a while now, but we all know how he is with animals.

One of you can win this adorable prize package for your own pets.  Check it out, and good luck!

One of you can win the following;

Treat your favorite pets!

One (1) winner receives:

  • The SecretLife of Pets key chains, buttons, and tennis balls
  • Assortment of 3 products from Milk-Bone® and Pup-Peroni®

Open to US mailing addresses only

Prizing and samples courtesy of Universal Pictures and Big Heart Pet Brands

Don’t forget to adhere to FTC guidelines (disclosure within your post).

About the Products

Since 1908, Milk-Bone® brand has helped bring dogs and people together.  Milk-Bone® believes dogs give us so much love that they deserve more than ordinary treats, they deserve treats with benefits. Today, Milk-Bone® gives you more than 20 different varieties of treats so you can show your best friend how much you care.

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Pup-Peroni® brand celebrates the special one-of-a-kind connection we share with our four-legged best friends. We love Pups, and we want to give them tender treats in tasty flavors they’ll love. That’s why we make Pup-Peroni® dog snacks with more real beef* and a mouthwatering aroma that dogs simply can’t resist. Dogs Just Know®.

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THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS – In Theaters Now!

Official Website | Facebook | TwitterYouTube | Instagram | Tumblr | #TheSecretLifeOfPets

For their fifth fully-animated feature-film collaboration, Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures present The Secret Life of Pets, a comedy about the lives our pets lead after we leave for work or school each day.

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Comedy superstars Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet and Kevin Hart make their animated feature-film debuts in The Secret Life of Pets, which co-stars Ellie Kemper, Lake Bell, Jenny Slate, Bobby Moynihan, Hannibal Buress and Albert Brooks.  Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and his longtime collaborator Janet Healy produce the film directed by Chris Renaud (Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2), co-directed by Yarrow Cheney and written by Brian Lynch and Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio.

Ends July 31, 2016. Good luck!
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