What is owner compliance and why is it so important

As a professional dog trainer and dog behavior counselor, I can easily determine the best steps to take to get a desired behavior with a dog.  I quickly can visualize the best dog training program and the quickest route to longevity in a behavior.  I know how to utilize great management skills until the desired behavior is achieved and has become a reliable new habit for a dog.  I know what dog behavior is risky, unsafe or detrimental to the well-being of a dog.  I will ensure a dogs success to the best of my ability and will likely see good results quickly and continue the training and spot check throughout a dogs life to keep the behavior strong and reliable. 

In other words, I know how to successfully train dogs, change behavior problems, and have a safe dog. Why then arent all the dogs who have come through classes or private training with me as successful?

One reason is that I have many years under my belt training dogs.  Not just training owners and their dogs, but actual hands on experience working and training individual dogs.  Which means I have good timing. I can see in the future a potential behavior problem so I am pro-active in my training to prevent this problem.  I reinforce quickly and often. 

These are some of the skills that dog parents have to learn.  It takes time, patience, and consistency.  Dogs (and humans for that matter) are learning ALL the time.  There are not training times and non-training times.  Its all training time.  They are always learning.  I repeat, they are always learning.

But the biggest issue I see with the likeliness of a dogs success isnt the timing of their human, but owner compliance. I can train dogs.  But its the owner who is in the drivers seat when it comes to their dogs behavior.  There are many reasons (I can only imagine how many you can come up with) why a dog owner may not actively work with their dog.  But the bottom line is, if a behavior is going to change, the work has to get done. If an owner does not put the effort or time into training or a dog behavior modification program, there will not be change, for the better.  And in most cases, the behavior will actually get WORSE.

It can be very tough raising a puppy or adolescent dog.  It can even be tougher living with a dog with

anxiety or aggression issues.  But there is hope!  When clients are actively working with their dogs on the lessons I give them they are tickled with the results.  Positive training is effective with the right coach.......but you do have to do the work to get the results.  Believe me, if I could waive a magic wand, or show you a quicker route to long term success, I would!  I would be a very rich woman if I had those tools.  And if those tools existed, there would not be dogs in shelters.

So if you are ready to learn how to achieve success in dog training, contact me today.  I offer local services, travel to you across the US and offer phone/email dog training too.

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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Durable and Fashionable Dog Beds

If you are like me, your dogs comfort is a must.  Most dogs love to rest & sleep in dog beds.  Dog beds come in a variety of sizes from XS dog beds to XL dog beds.  The styles are endless too!  You can get anything from a basic dog crate bed or mat to an upscale dog bed, even custom dog beds are available.  You may need to consider a durable dog bed, especially if you have a dog who likes to chew.  Chew proof dog beds or dog beds that are indestructible do not exist.  Anything that is soft & made up a type of fabric can be chewed.  But some beds are more durable & tough.  

Durable Dog Beds:  There are definitely some good durable dog beds out there in the market.  Ill mention a few & their particular benefits.  

• Big Barker Premium Large Breed Dog Beds-makes a superb tough dog bed.  They are made for medium to xl dog breeds & come in a few styles and colors.  These dog beds are made with thick, American foam, easy to clean & made in America.  Comes with a 10 year wont flatten warranty.
• Buddy Rest-makes a nice durable dog bed.  They come in all shapes & sizes.  Made in the USA, real Memory Foam, support foam, Crypton smart fabric (stays clean & doesnt smell) & made with Kevlar thread for durability & comes with a 10-year warranty! 
• Orvis Deep Dish-Tough Chew Bed-another great bed from Orvis.  This fabric is made with 1,000-denier ripstop nylon & 840-denier nylon inner layer.  The outside layer is a luxuriously soft & supple microfiber with sturdy durable zippers.  If your dog chews through this bed, they will refund your money, no questions!  

Orthopedic Dog Beds:  These dog beds are specifically designed to help support your dogs joints & bones.  Typically made with true memory foam that is nice & thick.  A lot of good memory foam dog beds have a bottom foam layer that is thick & dense giving the bed extra support.

• K&H Feather Top Ortho Bed-The ultimate comfort in a pet bed.  This pet bed offers support with a 5" orthopedic medical grade foam, the top is quilted with super soft fleece & microsuede & in between is 1.5" of baffled duck feathers.  The cover is removable making washing this dog bed easy.  Available in small dog beds to large beds.  K&W Ortho Bolster Bed Review  Or buy now.
• K9 Ballisticks-offers a nice line of orthopedic dog beds.  They have a line called Orthopedic Tuff Bed that has 1.5" high-density medical grade memory foam on top with a 3.5" thick high-density layer of foam on the bottom.  Sizes range from small to XXLarge orthopedic dog beds!
• DogOnIt-is made from 100% hypoallergenic 4-inch Certi-Pur foam, with 2" of high density non-toxic supportive base foam & 2" 4lb medical grade memory foam topper.  Accident-proof lining to protect your dogs bed from absorbing any liquids.  US made foam.  Sizes from small orthopedic dog beds to XL orthopedic dog beds. 

Upscale Dog Beds, Designer Dog Beds, or Fashionable Dog Beds:  You get the point here.  Sometimes we need a little fashion to go with our home decor!  Sometimes we can hit a home run by combining fashion, style, comfort & durability.  But, Im going to focus on design right now.

• P.L.A.Y. Pet Lifestyles & You-has always been one of my favorite companies.  Not only do
  
  they create stylish, creative & playful pet beds, but they are environmentally friendly!  The created the Planet Fill which is 100% post-consumer recycled products made from cleaned & recycled plastic bottles.  They also partnered with Petfinder Foundation for a donation program; the Warm Bellies Initiative, giving dogs in shelters a Chill Pad!  Yes, that is Dexter The Dog! 
• Harry Barker Dog Beds-this company offers a wide variety of dog beds in different styles & colors.  I particularly like the Hemp Stripe Rectangle Dog Bed (greens are my favorite).  Another eco-friendly dog bed which is extremely durable & naturally mildew resistant & uses only non-chemical, earth-friendly dyes.  Sizes from small colorful striped dog beds to large dog beds.
• Bowsers Pet Products-have a large line of fashionable & designer dog beds.  The Piazza Bed by Bowsers is a sleek & modern design in your dog bed.  Overstuffed outer bolsters make this a cozy retreat for your dog.  Over 45 colors to choose from in this one design!  

Dog Bed Furniture, or Dog Bed Sofas & Couches:  Its time to go big or go home!  Weve come a long way since keeping our dogs chained up outside.  Now we bring them into our homes & even design our homes around our dogs.  I personally am thrilled about that, I dont seem so nutty. 

• pEi Pod Pet Bed -Now here is some cool dog furniture for your pampered dog!  This sleek design has offered a cavelike home environment that your dog will just love.  This dog bed is very stylish for the most modern home designs.  A few color selections for the pEi Pod Dog Bed & cushion colors.  Current size is small.  Great for a cat bed too!  
• Herzhers Wicker Dog Bed-this super cute & stylish dog bed will fit in any home decor.  This elegant dog bed is also comfortable & elevated off the ground which is something a lot of dogs (including Dexter) enjoy.  A soft polyfill cushion that can form to your dogs body.  This wicker dog bed comes in sizes small-large. 
• Crypton Dog Beds-offer a nice selection of fashionable & durable dog beds!  The Dogland Oval Bolster Spa Bed is very designer-friendly.  This offering from the William Wegman collection is fun, funky & stylish & we cant forget comfortable!  The bolster is a perfect place for your dog to rest his head, or leg, or whatever else he can drape over it.  The Super Fabric is produced in the U.S.A & is GREENGUARD certified.  Available size small through large.

       

       

   

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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Arthritis Skin and Heart Supplements For Dogs

Do you have a dog who is scratching a lot?  Or maybe your dog has dry, flaky skin.  Of course, the first thing I would suggest is to get an appointment with your veterinarian, veterinarian dermatologist or veterinary food therapist and possibly a dog behavior counselor. You will want to ensure that you are addressing the root of the problem which can be medical and/or behavioral.  Once you have a good diagnosis, your treatment plan can take place.

    

One additive to consider when trying to cure your dogs flaky skin is a fatty acid supplement or fish

oil.  Omega-3s are important in your dogs overall health & skin & coat condition.  They also help reduce inflammation, arthritis & inflammatory bowel disease & are typically recommended for heart issues.  But you need to be careful to ensure a quality product that has the right ratio of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).

With the guidance and recommendation of our veterinary food therapist, we use Vetoquinol AllerG-3 Supplement in the pump form (they also make capsules).  We use our omega-3s to keep Dexters skin & coat healthy & shiny.   AllerG-3 is made of fish oil in the triglyceride (TG), or natural form.  According to their website, "AllerG-3 products contain the only fish oil to achieve USP ingredient verification. USP uses rigorous standards to evaluate manufacturing and quality control systems and test ingredient samples for compliance with identity, strength, quality and purity claims as well as acceptable contaminant limits."

Since Vetoquinol AllerG-3 Supplement is safe for most dogs, my veterinarian & I felt it was a safe & healthy way to work on preventing dry skin, inflammation, arthritis & help keep a healthy heart.
If you have a dog breed who is prone to arthritis or heart issues, Labrador retrievers, German shepherd dogs, golden retrievers &, of course, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels come to mind, you might what to ask your veterinarian about Vetoquinol AllerG-3 Supplement.

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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Junior Road Racing and HPRW

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What a great weekend of racing.

Saturday morning was the usual roadie criterium club race. An hour of lung and leg busting fun. I then had the pleasure of riding around with the juniors as a bit of safety and assistance.



It is obvious the work HPRW are doing with their juniors program is showing results and the program is gaining momentum.



It is so good to see the already hard working volunteers sticking around for a little longer to make sure these little uns are catered for. After all, its not just fat, middle age, men that dont like golf that start cycling.

Without the juniors our sport will die.



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Safe and Non Toxic Flea Control

Been there, done that.  Having grown up with dogs, all my life, dog flea control is important!  Nobody wants to be petting their dog & have pesky fleas all over the place.  Years have gone by since the old fashioned flea collars.  Now we have new & improved flea protection for our dogs.  Dog flea treatments like Advantage Flea Control, Frontline Flea Medicine are the two that come to mind.  But are these topical flea products safe?

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, there are some dangers & risks.  Some side effects can include rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures & even death.  Personally I would rather figure a safer alternative to keeping fleas off of my dog Dexter.  Especially since we are talking about something that is non-life-threatening.  I cannot tell you what you should do, this is certainly a personal preference & one I came to with our holistic veterinarian.   

Our regimen includes regular (2-3 weeks) dog bathing.  And you guessed it, I do my best to use a safe dog shampoo that is free of additives or preservatives.  Our go to dog shampoos include Neem Protect Shampoo, Viva La Dog Spa For Sensitive Skin & Buddys Bath Bar. 

Daily dog brushing & grooming is essential to ensure there are not any fleas & ticks on Dexter The Dog.  If I find a flea or tick on Dexter, I quickly remove it.  The Centers For Disease Control has some tips on how to safely remove a tick from your dog.  Once either the flea or tick is removed from your dog, wrap securely in a tissue & flush down your toilet.  Watch to make sure it all went down, you dont want him crawling back up!

When I take Dexter for a walk at a park, the woods, or somewhere else that has the potential to have a high rate of fleas or ticks, I spray on a natural & safe flea & tick prevention called Best Yet Natural Mosquito Repellent on his legs, tail, chest & back.  The second product I use is Vetri-Science Vetri Repel.  I use one or the other, and both products have been working well for Dexter & me.   Best Yet Natural Mosquito Repellent is a dryer spray & smells like cedar.   Vetri-Science Vetri Repel is a bet wetter (not too much) and smells like lemon.  By the way, I use them on me too!  I am a magnet for mosquitoes & Ive had the most success with this product, particularly for me the Best Yet Natural Mosquito Repellent, although I dont like the smell of cedar.

Finally, but certainly not last is our monthly flea control & heartworm protection from Sentinel.  Because heartworms can be deadly to dogs, we do feel the need for monthly protection during the warmer months here in Ohio.   Sentinel protects dogs from heartworms & as a bonus Sentinel kills flea eggs before they hatch, killing the life cycle and preventing a flea infestation.        

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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Dogs and Jumping Up

Book of the Day:

Todays book is Click For Joy!



This book is amazing. If you have ANY questions about Clicker Training, this book is for you! I own this book myself and enjoyed reading through it. Click for Joy will answer all of your questions plus more about Clicker Training. Pair this up with the book I posted yesterday and youll be set! Click for Joy has a lot of great ideas, Highly recommended by me!


Advice of the day:

Does your dog Jump up on you? Maybe they jump up on people when they come to your house. If this behavior bothers you, it most certainly bothers your visitors! Not many people, if anybody, enjoys a dog jumping up on them unless theyve asked for them to do so. Especially if they are getting them dirty. Here are a few different training methods you can try to help your dog no longer jump on people. Use which ever works for you and your dog.

1. The clicker way-

If youre familiar with clicker training and use it with your dog, then get some treats handy and your clicker. Dont forget the dog! You can do this at times when your dog is full of energy and most likely going to jump up on you or even when your dog is being calm and not jumping on you. You want to click and reward your dog for having all four feet on the ground or even sitting. If your dog jumps up on you, ignore them or turn your back on them. When they return to the ground, click and reward them with a yummy treat! Always reward them when all four feet are on the ground or if youd rather they sit, then reward them when they sit. You dont have to say anything, just wait for them to offer the behavior you are looking for, click and treat! Dont be greedy with those treats! You can even divide up your dogs regular meals and use their regular food during training sessions. Be sure to practice this with other people and when others come to your door. Be ready to reward good behavior!

2. The Balanced Way -

Perhaps clicker training isnt for you. You use rewards and/or treats in training but you also correct your dog perhaps with a pop of the collar. If this is you, then youd try this method. You want to start out the same as you would with the clicker and treats. You want to reward your dog for being good weather it be with a toy, treat, or regular food every time all four feet are on the ground. You want to be sure your dog knows what you want before they are being corrected for what you dont want. Be sure youve rewarded your dog several times in different training sessions before adding in a correction. Once youre sure your dog knows what is wanted of them, then if they jump up, you can add in your correction (a pop of the collar with a leash) & tell them OFF! Once they have all four feet back on the ground give them their reward. Practice this a lot and with visitors. Before long youll have a dog who keeps all fours on the ground.

3. Praise & Discipline -

If youre against using treats during training and have the mind set of a dog should listen and want to please me, not just because I have food, then this method would be for you. When dog jumps up, you can do a correction with leash & collar, or a bump in the chest with the knee. You start off easy with your corrections, then build up from there, each time they do it you do it a little harder. When they are being good and keep all four feet on the ground be sure to praise them with lots of petting and maybe a favorite toy. Play a game with them, make it rewarding to not jump up and uncomfortable to jump up.


All three methods are effective, it just depends on what type you want to use with your dog. Go ahead, try it out today and have a dog that no longer jumps up!



Recipe of the Week:

I hope have each day be themed with a once a week kind of a thing. Tuesday is Recipe day! Recipes will either be for treats or for homemade dog food.

Todays Recipe is: Cinnabone

Needed:

• 2 tablespoons honey
  
• 2 tablespoons molasses
  
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  
• 1/2 cup milk
  
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  
• 1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
  
• 1/2 cup brewers yeast (can be found in health food stores)
  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl mix together honey, molasses, oil, milk and cinnamon. Gradually add flour, yeast, and wheat germ. Roll dough to 1/4" thickness and cut into bone shapes or another shape you might like. Bake at 350 degrees on an ungreased cookie sheet for 20 minutes or until bottoms are brown. Makes 1 1/2 dozen.

This Recipe comes from the book: The Doggy Bone Cook Book

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Safe Dog Chew Toys and Dog Bones

Most dogs love to chew!  Chewing is a very natural & normal dog behavior.  Chewing helps alleviate boredom & can even help keep your dogs teeth pearly white.  But dont forget to brush your dogs teeth too.  Puppies and adolescent dogs tend to have a high drive for chewing things.  Hopefully, you are working with a qualified dog behavior counselor to make sure that you are teaching your dog to chew on the right items & not your furniture, or even worse electrical cords, or something that can harm your dog.

So just what makes a dog chew or dog chew toy safe for your dog?  Well over the years my opinion on this has actually been evolving from hard to chew bones to now a softer variety.  You see I have been learning & seeing too many dogs with chipped teeth from tough bones & antlers & even digesting sharp pieces of bones which can be very dangerous.  I no longer use hard bones or antlers with Dexter The Dog & usually dont recommend them.  By the way, if you look closely at Dexters teeth you will see a chipped tooth....from a hard bone.  His last.

Stuffed Kong

Below are some examples of dog chew items that are much softer for your dogs teeth than traditional hard bones.  This will help protect your dog from chipped teeth.  Please be aware that not every toy, or chew bone, chew toy will be suitable for each dog.  I strongly recommend active supervising when your dog chews, particularly if its a new toy or bone or if the chew item is edible.  The right size of a dog bone or dog toy is important too.  

You want to make sure the dog toy or dog bone is not too small that your dog can place the entire item in his mouth & risk choking.  This includes when the chew gets smaller.  I tend to toss the end out before Dexter The Dog swallows it, with the exception of dehydrated fish skins.  The larger a dog toy, the tendency it is to be thicker & tougher.  Something to consider if you have a dog who is a hard chewer.  BUT be aware sometimes if the toy or bone is too big your dog can get his jaw stuck in it.  Finding the right chew for your dog is sort of like the Princess & The Pea.

Soft or tough rubber chew toys.  I am a fan of Kong & have been for many years.  Kong has been the leader in stuffable dog chew toys.  I also like The Rita & Jed stuffable dog toy.  The key to getting your dog to chew on a rubber dog toy is to stuff it!  Read our article on how to stuff a hollow dog toy.  Check out our latest stuffable dog toy reviews here.

Fish Skin

Dehydrated fish skins.  With a good dehydrated fish skin dog treat the treat will be 100% fish skin & no artificial colors, preservatives or flavors.  Its important to check out the packaging and carefully read the ingredient list & where the fish was caught & processed.  A fish skin is a great treat for your dog full of omega 3 fatty acids, typically low fat & fully edible.  Most dogs love the taste & eagerly chew away.  Read our reviews on dehydrated fish skins.

Bully Sticks.  Made from the manly part of a bull, a lot of dogs love chewing on these.  What I like is that they typically just start to get soft & disappear, I havent seen any pieces break off.  However, I have seen a stick every once in awhile peel during chewing like string cheese.  I just toss that piece in the garbage.  Again, when the stick gets too small, I through away.  Tip-get odor free, or low order.  These babies can stick like crazy!  High in protein & fiber & low in fat these make a nice chew.  Look for our upcoming reviews on bully sticks. 

Raw bones.  Raw bones are another option for your dog to chew on.  Because the bones are  not cooked, they are soft & unlikely to splinter.  Cooked bones easily splinter & are very hard on teeth.  Admittedly I will be testing raw bones for the first time in the upcoming weeks.  I spoke in length with Dexter The Dogs holistic veterinarian Dr. Judy Morgan on the safest way to go about this.  Dr. Morgans tips-"Dont clean the bones, feed them with some meat on them, as they come. Let them pull on the meat and sinew and lick out the marrow.  I just allow them to have them for an hour, then throw them away. Its when they sit around the house, get buried, or get dried out that you get bacteria and splintering. They will last in the fridge a week before feeding. Can also be frozen and thawed."  I have to admit when I try our upcoming raw bones I think Ill have Dexter chew on them on a towel & toss the towel in the wash.  Stay tuned for our upcoming raw bone reviews!

Nylon, rubber type bones & chew.  If you read my article on toxic dog toys, you might realize Im a bit leery now on what exactly I give Dexter to chew & play with.  I think this is doubly important when we are talking about a product that will be chewed & possibly pieces ingested.  That said, soft rubber or nylon bones are nice for a dogs teeth.  However, a lot of dogs are not interested in them for chewing.  But if you place a little bit of organic peanut butter on they chew bone, sometimes that will peak their interest in chewing it after they lick it off. 

So there you have it.  That is the current list of dog chew & chew bones I feel comfortable providing Dexter & recommending to my dog training clients.  I am sure this list will be updated & maybe I can try some other chews & feel confident in using them.  Keep checking back for new dog product reviews and tips. And while youre at it, check out our Toledo Dog Training /Global Dog Training Facebook page too for dog behavior & tips.

Thank you to those companies who have been allowing me to test and review products to ensure the best & safest chews for your dogs.

       

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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Viewers questions I want to buy a yorkshire terrier and i live in a small apartment Is it a good idea

YES

yorkshire terriers can live in small houses or apartments and they need 30 minutes exercise per day. They need every day grooming to keep their soft hair.

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Puppy And Dog Training

Welcome to my Puppy And Dog Training Blog. Here you will learn about Puppy and dog training secrets, tips, hints and much more.

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Dog Crates and Crate Training

Are you looking for a Great Dane or Midwest colossal crate?  Or the famous life stages dog crate.  Giant dog crates to small designer dog enclosures, we can guide you on the right choice for your dog & how to teach  your dog to love his crate.

Crate training your dog is generally a wonderful tool that can be used to help with potty training, destructive chewing, disruptive behavior & a safe place for your dog to "get away”.  It is also less stressful on your dog when he is boarded, has overnight vet care or groomed if he has a positive relationship with being confined. 

A crate will be a very important management tool for you until your dog realizes the rules of the

house.  It will also  be a safe haven for him when he needs to retreat from stressful situations such as thunderstorms or large family gatherings.  Do allow your dog the privacy he is seeking when he is in his crate.

Benefits Of Using A Crate:

ü      Aids in house training

ü      Keeps your dog safe

ü      It’s a quite place to rest

ü      Reduces destructiveness

ü      Makes traveling safe

 Ø      You will need to introduce the crate gradually.  

Go only as fast as your dog’s comfort level, typically a week to several weeks if you work diligently on crate training exercises.  You want to make a HUGE positive association with your dog being in his crate.   

1. Keeping your dog’s crate in a bedroom at night will help your puppy feel secure.
2. Your dog’s crate should be big enough for him to stand up fully & turn around and lie down comfortably.  You do not want it too small where he feels cramped or too large where he can potty in a corner.
3. Start by having some tasty treats and toss them into the crate.  When your dog goes into the crate, tell him what a good dog he is, and toss some more inside.  When he comes out of the crate, and looks at you for some more, just ignore him.  Toss a few more into the crate and repeat.  Pretty soon, he will go in on his own, then toss LOTS of treats (organic treats for dogs preferred) inside the crate & praise him for being so smart.
4. Next, session, repeat sequence before, this time, when he’s inside the crate, shut the door and feed him treats through the opening while telling him how wonderful he is.  Open the crate door to let him out, and repeat.  Each time increasing the time the door is shut.

Ø      Once your dog is eagerly going in and out of his crate, start feeding him his meals inside his crate with the door shut.

Ø      Keep the crate door open during the day, and any time you notice your dog going into it, tell him how wonderful he is, and toss him a dog treat.  You can also leave treats in the crate for him to find on his own.

Ø      One very important thing in crate training is not to let your dog out of his crate if he is crying or barking.  This only reinforces him for barking, and he will soon learn that barking will get him out.  Exactly what you don’t want to teach him!  You must wait for him to settle back down before letting him out.

5. Start to have your dog inside his crate with a great stuffed Kong™ for about 15 minutes while you are doing other things around the house.  Check back with your dog frequently so he knows you are nearby, but ignore him & go on with your business.  Repeat this process at various times throughout the day(s) varying the time he is in his crate.  15 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 5 minutes etc. don’t always go up in time.
6. When you are successful at this level for 30 minutes, do the same set-up, this time actually leaving the house. 

Ø      It is recommended that you remove your dog’s collar for safety purposes.

Ø      When leaving your dog in his crate for extended periods of time, leave a safe & appropriate chew toy.  A stuffed Kong, ™ or Nylabone™ is a good choice.  It is extremely important to make sure that the toys & bones you choose will not be destroyed when you are not supervising him.

7. Crates can be weaned off gradually after the dog is fully housetrained and trustworthy (1-3 years).  However, always leave the crate door open, you’ll be surprised to see how much your dog loves his den!

 A word of caution:  Please be thoughtful when using your dog’s crate.  Dogs left alone too long can suffer from lack of social contact, physical exercise & mental exercise.  Common sense tells us that crating a dog longer than he comfortably can "hold it” is too long.  Dogs left in their crate for more than 6 hours should have a potty break & exercise break in-between.

Types of dog crates:  Dog crates come in all shapes & sizes.  From the small Chihuahua sized dog crate or dog kennel, to a giant, XL large Great Dane crate.  Travel dog crates, airplane pet carriers, plastic Vari Dog Kennels, to open wired Petmate or Midwest Crates.  The options are great. 

My personal go-to dog crate is a small wire dog crate like from Petmate or Midwest Pet Products.  I usually follow that up with a dog crate cover & durable dog bed or pet crate pads.  Visit our favorite dog beds here. Through in some calming canine music like Through a Dogs Ear: Music to Calm Your Canine Companion, Volume 1, Comfort Zone with DAP for Dogs Diffuser and Single Refill we are ready to rock & roll. 

• If you need help potty training your dog, click here for our post.

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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Healthy Dog Chews and Bones

Most dogs love to chew!  Chewing is a very natural and  normal dog behavior.  Chewing helps alleviate boredom and  can even help keep your dogs teeth pearly white.  But dont forget to brush your dogs teeth too.  Puppies and adolescent dogs tend to have a high drive for chewing things.  Hopefully, you are working with a qualified dog behavior counselor to make sure that you are teaching your dog to chew on the right items and  not your furniture, or even worse electrical cords, or something that can harm your dog.

So just what makes a dog chew or dog chew toy safe for your dog?  Well over the years my opinion on this has actually been evolving from hard to chew bones to now a softer variety.  You see I have been learning and  seeing too many dogs with chipped teeth from tough bones and  antlers and  even digesting sharp pieces of bones which can be very dangerous.  I no longer use hard bones or antlers with Dexter The Dog  and usually dont recommend them.  By the way, if you look closely at Dexters teeth you will see a chipped tooth....from a hard bone.  His last.

Below are some examples of dog chew items that are much softer for your dogs teeth than traditional hard bones.  This will help protect your dog from chipped teeth.  Please be aware that not every toy, or chew bone, chew toy will be suitable for each dog.  I strongly recommend active supervising when your dog chews, particularly if its a new toy or bone or if the chew item is edible.  The right size of a dog bone or dog toy is important too.

You want to make sure the dog toy or dog bone is not too small that your dog can place the entire item in his mouth and  risk choking.  This includes when the chew gets smaller.  I tend to toss the end out before Dexter The Dog swallows it, with the exception of dehydrated fish skins.  The larger a dog toy, the tendency it is to be thicker and  tougher.  Something to consider if you have a dog who is a hard chewer.  BUT be aware sometimes if the toy or bone is too big your dog can get his jaw stuck in it.  Finding the right chew for your dog is sort of like the Princess and  The Pea.

Soft or tough rubber chew toys.  I am a fan of Kong and have been for many years.  Kong has been the leader in stuffable dog chew toys.  I also like The Rita and  Jed stuffable dog toy.  The key to getting your dog to chew on a rubber dog toy is to stuff it!  Read our article on how to stuff a hollow dog toy.  Check out our latest stuffable dog toy reviews here.

Dehydrated fish skins.  With a good dehydrated fish skin dog treat the treat will be 100% fish Read my reviews on dehydrated fish skins.

skin and  no artificial colors, preservatives or flavors.  Its important to check out the packaging and carefully read the ingredient list and where the fish was caught and  processed.  A fish skin is a great treat for your dog full of omega 3 fatty acids, typically low fat and  fully edible.  Most dogs love the taste and  eagerly chew away.

Bully Sticks.  Made from the manly part of a bull, a lot of dogs love chewing on these.  What I like is that they typically just start to get soft and  disappear, I havent seen any pieces break off.  However, I have seen a stick every once in awhile peel during chewing like string cheese.  I just toss that piece in the garbage.  Again, when the stick gets too small, I through away.  Tip-get odor free, or low order.  These babies can stick like crazy!  High in protein and fiber and  low in fat these make a nice chew.  Look for my reviews on bully sticks.

Raw bones.  Raw bones are another option for your dog to chew on.  Because the bones are  not cooked, they are soft and  unlikely to splinter.  Cooked bones easily splinter and  are very hard on teeth.  Admittedly I will be testing raw bones for the first time in the upcoming weeks.  I spoke in length with Dexter The Dogs holistic veterinarian Dr. Judy Morgan on the safest way to go about this.  Dr. Morgans tips-"Dont clean the bones, feed them with some meat on them, as they come. Let them pull on the meat and sinew and lick out the marrow.  I just allow them to have them for an hour, then throw them away. Its when they sit around the house, get buried, or get dried out that you get bacteria and splintering. They will last in the fridge a week before feeding. Can also be frozen and thawed."  I have to admit when I try our upcoming raw bones I think Ill have Dexter chew on them on a towel and  toss the towel in the wash.  Read my raw bone reviews.

Nylon, rubber type bones and chew.  If you have been following me, you may know Im a bit leery now on what exactly I give Dexter to chew and play with.  I think this is doubly important when we are talking about a product that will be chewed and possibly pieces ingested.  That said, soft rubber or nylon bones are nice for a dogs teeth.  However, a lot of dogs are not interested in them for chewing.  But if you place a little bit of organic almond butter on they chew bone, sometimes that will peak their interest in chewing it after they lick it off.

So there you have it.  That is the current list of dog chew and  chew bones I feel comfortable providing Dexter and  recommending to my dog training clients.  I am sure this list will be updated and  maybe I can try some other chews and  feel confident in using them.

Thank you to those companies who have been allowing me to test and review products to ensure the best and safest chews for your dogs. Check out my dog chew reviews here.

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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