How to Prevent & Train Your Dog Against Marking Indoors April 26th, 2012
Picture this scenario: Your grandmother just gave you the family piano. This piano has been handed down for generations and is a dear family heirloom. The piano fits perfectly in your home but one day you notice something that scares the living daylights out of you. Your dog walks over to the piano, lifts his leg, and, well… you can fill in the rest. This behavior is called “marking,” and usually applies to male dogs, though female dogs can sometimes mark as well.
Today, Paw Lux will walk you through the steps of preventing this behavior and training your dog to behave otherwise.
What is “Marking”?
Marking is when a dog urinates on something, whether outside on a walk or in the home, as a way to stake a claim on something. Just as we would write our name on an object to tell others it belongs to us, a dog will pee on a tree trunk, piano leg, or even shoes to claim ownership. Usually a dog does this when it smells another dog’s urine and “re-claims” an object or to leave a first-time marker for any other animal that the object is your dog’s and no one else’s. Your dog could also be marking because of social triggers such as highly exciting or terrifying situations. Some medical issues could also be the cause, so you’ll want to ask or visit your vet to find rule out these potential issues. It’s very important to remember that this doesn’t mean your dog isn’t housebroken.
Steps to Take
After visiting your vet to rule out any medical issues that might cause marking, you’ll want to take these steps to condition your dog not to mark and prevent future marking instances.
1. Spay or neuter you dog.
Spaying or neutering your dog as soon as possible will cut down on the probability they will mark. It could even stop the behavior from ever happening. The older the dog is, the more likely marking may already be a habit and will be harder to re-train.
The ASPCA states, “A study of urine marking in dogs revealed that 10 percent of the dogs who urine marked started the behavior at 3 months of age, 20 percent by 6 months, 40 percent by 12 months, 70 percent by 1½ years, and 90 percent before 2 years.”
2. Clean Your Home Thoroughly
If your dog marks in the same spot consistently, it’s because their or another dog’s smell is already there. You’ll want to very thoroughly clean your home and everything in it to prevent this behavior. Also, steer clear of ammonia-based cleaners. Urine contains ammonia and will just further the behavior. An enzyme cleaner works best. Read the rest of this entry »
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Flea & Tick Prevention: What You May Not Know April 20th, 2012
As the winter fades and the spring months envelope us in warmth, we look to spend more time outdoors with our family, friends and of course, our dogs. However, we must not forget there are pests lurking in the grass and weeds and they’re looking for our dogs. Yes, Paw Lux is talking about fleas and ticks. Those nasty little pests that can cause owners and pets a lot of grief.
We could go through the whole “preventative” speech, but we want to talk to you readers about something a little more in-depth. We do want to reiterate how important it is to treat your dog for fleas and ticks, but do you know what’s in that liquid your putting on your dog’s back? There may be some chemicals in that clear liquid that could be harmful to your pup.
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) keeps tabs on which preventative are good and bad for your dog. The first thing they point out is that not all over the counter flea and tick medications are bad for our dogs, but it’s important to pay attention to those ingredient lists.
Some flea and tick preventatives could have a hazardous ingredients, namely organophosphate insecticides (OPs), carbamates, pyrethroids, or synthetic pyrethrins, tetrachlorvinphos and propoxur are all toxic chemicals you must look for. All of these have been found to be potentially harmful to the nervous systems of your pets and your children. Some have even been known to be carcinogens.
The NRDC has compiled an extremely helpful list of preventatives that can help you decide which to use. Visit the list here: GreenPaws Flea and Tick Products Directory.
The Steps You Should Take to prevent Fleas & Ticks:
1. Talk to your vet about newer flea and tick preventatives. They will be able to give you a good idea about what is good for your pet specific to your region as well as free of toxins.
2. Never use dog preventatives on your cat or cat preventatives on your dog. This can have very detrimental effects.
3. Brush your pet very often. A flea comb might be useful as well.
4. Wash your bedding and your dog’s bedding in hot soapy water and often.
5. Vacuum your home—rugs, carpets, furniture, etc.
6. Use all-natural pet shampoos, essential oils and spray from Paw Lux. We carry a wide variety of all-natural products that can keep fleas and ticks off the natural way. Lemongrass, cedarwood, peppermint, rosemary and thyme have all been proven to be natural products which help ward off nasty fleas and ticks.
Top Fur Parenting Tips: Words of Wisdom for New Dog Owners December 26th, 2011
If you have lots of love to give, choosing to adopt a dog and share your love with him is a wonderful thing. Dog ownership can provide lots of fun, companionship, happiness, and good times for both you and your dog. But with pet ownership comes much responsibility, dedication and sacrifice. Unfortunately dogs do not come with owners’ manuals. If you are a new dog owner or considering adding a furry addition to your family, then this post is for you. Here are a few tips to make fur parenting a lot easier for the both you & Fido. Becoming a dog parent is so rewarding!
1. Teach your dog manners at a young age. Remember dogs crave boundaries and you desire peace in the household. So take charge and remember you are the pack leader, and your dog will follow the pack leader. Teach your dog that misbehaving, nipping & biting, barking incessantly is not good dog etiquette. You may be thinking but my pups to young, but don’t be fooled by that cute face. Even very young puppies can be taught the sit/stay, down, and come commands. You can get a good dog training book, watch the Dog Whisperer or enroll you and your pup in obedience school. If you are a proud parent of an adult dog that will need some retraining don’t fret. We will be the first to tell you that its never to late to teach an older dog new tricks & the art of good manners.
2. Find your inner pack leader voice. Use voice commands to correct your dog; never hit your dog. You don’t want your dog to become a scaredy-cat, no pun intended. Striking a dog only makes him fearful and distrustful of humans & scared of you. You don’t want your dog to immediately hide in the closet upon your home arrival, a loving & nurtured dog will be at the door waiting with wags & licks. Use a high-pitched voice to praise him when he’s being good, and a low, gruff voice to gently scold (never yell) when your dog is misbehaving.
3. Balanced Diet, Nutrition & Checkups are key. We all want our dogs to grow up big, strong & healthy. The key to many happy dog years with your co-pilot is food. Feeding your dog high-quality, human grade, well balanced, delicious dog food chalked full of vitamins & minerals will keep your dog young, active & happy. Pick a commercial dog food that fits your dog breed, size, age & lifestyle that is both good for optimum growth & a strong immune system. Have him checked out by your vet, and regularly as your vet recommends, to catch any potential health problems early.
4. Socialize your dog. Dogs are by their very nature social butterflies and love a good meet, sniff & playtime. By exposing your dog to variety of people, other animals, sights, and sounds at a young age they are less likely to be fearful of new experiences as they grow older. Every dog owner dreams of having a well rounded fur companion and socializing does just that. Take your dog on car rides to fun places at an early age, so he doesn’t learn to associate a car ride with a trip to the vet!
5. Have patience with potty training. Puppies are like children; some take right to potty-training, and sometimes it seems like it’s never going to happen! You can help your puppy become trained more quickly by confining him to a small space, or a crate, when you are not able to supervise him. Clean up all accidents immediately urine & stain removal. It’s a dog’s nature to go in a spot that has been previously soiled with urine or feces, and stained carpeting can greatly hinder your efforts to house break your dog.
6. Give your puppy his own toys. If you don’t care to have your shoes, iphone, family heirlooms or remote control chewed up, then set rules and don’t give your dog human objects to play with. Your dog should have their own dog-safe toys to chew & play with. Good news their are toys for every dogs chewing preference, from soft to hard. When you catch your dog in the act chewing something off-limits, simply say the stern words “No”. Then replace the object with one of their own toys, soon your dog will learn the difference. Don’t forget to praise your dog when you see him or her playing with their own toys instead of your belongings.
7. Fragile, Handle with care. Rough housing with your puppy could do more harm then good, and can trigger aggression. So make sure you don’t allow friends or family members to play roughly with your dog. You don’t won’t your dog nipping at the hand that feeds him or shy away when you want to cuddle with him. A dog who is shy of being touched will be difficult to handle when getting groomed or checked by a vet.
Providing Bark-tastic Customer Service!! Shop www.pawlux.com for eco-friendly, all natural & organic goodies for your new furry family member. We carry a great selection of Odor Free Bully Sticks / Dog Treats / and Dog Toys !
