Tag-Archive for » Puppy Preschool «

How to Feed Your Puppy-Part #2

By Jeffery Andrew - K9 Korral
25
Aug 2010

In yesterday’s blog, we talked about the dos and don’ts of how to feed a puppy.  Today we shall continue that discussion and give you further tips to provide your puppy with a strong foundation to grow up and be a healthy adult dog.

When puppies reach three or four weeks old, they start to eat puppy food.  And the first time they see it, do not be surprised if they solely play around with it.  Puppies are not used to getting their food in such a manner.  Do not fret.  It does not take long for a puppy to understand the food is there to eat not to play around with.  Just allow your puppy time to figure it out.  Keep in mind, by the time a puppy reaches around eight weeks old, then dry puppy food should be eaten on a regular basis.

For medium, large and giant breed puppies, the food should be administered in a portion control technique.  It helps keep a puppy’s weight at a healthy number.  For if puppies develop too quickly then there are issues with growth spurts.  Too many calories taken cause a puppy to grow too quickly and develop bone growth issues.  However, if you notice any issues with your puppy be sure to consult with a veterinarian.

To find out more about how, when and what to feed your puppy and other puppy care tips, enroll in a puppy kindergarten or puppy preschool class today.  Florida dog training experts are here to help.

Category: Florida Puppy Training, Puppy Classes, Puppy Kindergarten, Puppy Preschool  Tags: , ,  Leave a Comment

How to Feed Your Puppy

By Jeffery Andrew - K9 Korral
23
Aug 2010

Puppies born into a new home is an exciting time for everyone involved.  The entire household gets to watch the puppies develop and grow.  But to make sure you start your puppy off on the right paw, there are a few rules experts agree upon across the board in regards to feeding your new puppy.  Here is a basic outline providing you with a guideline on puppy feeding rules.

When puppy newborns arrive, it is important to keep the puppy with the mom.  The puppy, for the first four weeks, receives complete nutrition from a mother’s milk.  Thus, you want to keep the two together until the puppy has passed this stage.  And do not make any food substitutions for the mother’s milk.  It is a necessity for the puppy to grow up strong and healthy.  It is the foundation of the puppy’s entire life.

Next thing to pay attention to is that puppies expand much energy.  It takes a lot for the little one to move around.  So you need to feed your puppy lots of protein for this is what allows your puppy to have the energy to move about in a fit manner.  You need to check with a Florida dog obedience professional regarding the requirement for specific breeds, but for the most part, you need to feed your puppy food that contains twenty-five to thirty percent protein.

These are basic feeding tips for your puppy.  To find out more enroll in a puppy preschool or puppy kindergarten class today.

Category: Florida Puppy Training, Puppy Classes, Puppy Kindergarten, Puppy Preschool  Tags: , , , ,  Leave a Comment

Ways to Build Puppy Confidence

By Jeffery Andrew - K9 Korral
12
Jul 2010

A puppy has a lot to learn about the world and some things may seem scary at first.  But after overcoming different tasks, a puppy’s assurance soars.  Here are a few ways to help your puppy increase self-esteem in a positive manner.

Try Obstacle Courses

Puppies love to play and have lots of energy to expend.  Thus, obstacle courses are a great way to combine both and assemble a strong character along the way.  For when a puppy accomplishes the task of walking up a ramp, going through a tunnel or proceeding downhill then it boosts inner strength. It shows the puppy not to be afraid of something and that the pup can accomplish a task that seems overwhelming at first, but is a cinch to accomplish.  When you go through these little tasks, provide lots of praise.  Make a game out of it.  Provide rewards and keep the mood positive.  Your dog will be running through the obstacle course in no time.

Socialize with Others

The sooner your pup is able to socialize, the better for your dog’s demeanor.  Introduce your canine to other puppies on the same level.  Also, if you have visitors that come on a regular basis, such as a delivery representative or your mother, then have your dog become familiar with that person.  It helps your dog grow to be social and not aggressive.

For more tips on how to build your dog’s confidence at a young age, check out puppy kindergarten or puppy preschool classes today.  The instructor will be able to provide you with additional ideas and positive methods.

Category: Florida Puppy Training, Puppy Classes, Puppy Kindergarten, Puppy Preschool  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment

Avoid These Top 3 Puppy Training Mistakes

By Jeffery Andrew - K9 Korral
24
May 2010

There is so much material about puppy training on the internet making it difficult to decipher the positive from the ineffective methods.  Thus, I have decided to sift through the material for you and provide the top three puppy training techniques to avoid.  These methods encourage good behavior from your pup, and you.

Do Not Abuse Crate Time

Crate training is designed to teach your dog how, when and where to go to the restroom.  A puppy will not go to the bathroom where the puppy plays, sleeps and lives.  Thus, use the crate in such a manner.  Do not use the crate as a means of punishment for your puppy.  Your puppy will not understand and it will confuse your puppy further.

Never Use Physical Force

There is absolutely no reason to hit your puppy.  Instead, gently correct your puppy’s behavior when the pup does something wrong.  If you implement physical harm upon your pup, then you will end up with a nervous, aggressive, and confused grown dog.  Puppy’s need to be taught in a loving environment with positive reinforcement.

Rid the Old Concept of Rubbing Your Puppy’s Nose in an Accident

The old method of teaching your puppy where to go the bathroom via rubbing your pup’s nose in accidents no longer works.   Instead, concentrate on positive reinforcement by showing the puppy where to go, and provide plenty of praise when done correctly.

If you would like more tips on how to train your puppy, enroll in a puppy kindergarten class or a puppy preschool today.

Category: Florida Puppy Training, Puppy Classes, Puppy Kindergarten, Puppy Preschool  Tags: , , , ,  Leave a Comment

How to Choose a Puppy from a Shelter

By Jeffery Andrew - K9 Korral
22
Mar 2010

Rescue a Puppy, Adopt

Puppies left in shelters have been abandoned, left behind, and sometimes abused by prior owners.  Maybe the puppy was a victim of a puppy mill or left to fend for him/her self on the street.  Thus, why not adopt the puppy into your loving, healthy, happy home ensuring a wonderful experience for you and your family?  Adopting a puppy is a mutually beneficial experience.  You just need to be sure to pick the right puppy.

Think about Dog Size

Puppies are adorable.  There is no question about it.  But you need to think about what type of adult dog are you looking for and able to accommodate into your lovely home.  Are you looking for a jogging companion or a family friendly dog?  This may be tricky if the breed of the dog is unknown. However, look at the puppy’s paws.  The size of the paws tells how big the pup will grow up to be.  Ask the shelter volunteers if they know the breed.  Find out if the pup is friendly around kids and other adults.  Do you already have pets in the home?  Discover if the pup is friendly with other animals in the shelter.  All of these questions will help guide you into finding the right dog for you.

Evaluate Puppy Personality

Take the pup outside of the kennel into a space allowed to visit with the pup at the shelter.  Try different tests to find out the pup’s personality.  For instance, pick up the puppy in your arms, cradle the pup in same manner as you hold a baby and see if the pup relaxes.  Is the pup struggling to jump out of your arms?  If so, then the pup may need additional training, which is simple when working with a Florida dog training professional.  If the dog relaxes in your arms, then the pup is familiar with being held and may be a quick study when it comes to puppy preschool classes.

Talk to a k9 obedience training professional before adopting.  He/she will be able to guide you in the right direction.

Category: Florida Puppy Training, Puppy Classes, Puppy Kindergarten, Puppy Preschool  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment

How Puppies Learn Not to Bite

By Jeffery Andrew - K9 Korral
05
Mar 2010

Why do Puppies Bite?

Puppies naturally use their mouth to chew, play, and explore different objects, including your shoes.  But how do you teach a puppy not to bite?  How do dogs learn to control what is called, mouthy behavior?  It is part of the natural process of a puppy growing up to discover not to bite and it starts with learning from socializing with other dogs and people.

Playtime Teaches Puppies Proper Biting Behavior

If you watch two puppies play they wrestle, chase, and nip at one another.  It is endearing to watch, but if you pay close attention there are dog rules to the socializing.  For instance, no pup bites another pup too hard causing harm during play.  If it does occur, a dog will signify to lower the strength of the bite via a yelp.  It is a sign for the other dog to pay attention and decrease the aggressive behavior.  Afterwards, dogs naturally separate.  Take a breather.  Then find their way back to fooling around with one another.  This encounter is a lesson on how a human may teach a pup not to bite.

How to Teach Your Dog Not to Bite

With the pup scenario above, a bitten pup yelps alarming the other dog to stop with the biting practices.  When you are playing with your own dog, utilize the same technique during playtime.

For instance, every time you play with your pup, and the pup bites your skin too hard, yelp.  Make a noise.  Stop play.  Then, resume play after a few moments.  Repeat the exact action until your dog learns this behavior is not acceptable.  The dog will interpret the halt in play as he/she did something wrong.  The method works.  Your dog learns quickly.  It is solely a matter of remaining consistent on your part.

To learn more about how to teach your puppy not to bite with positive reinforcement check out puppy preschool and puppy kindergarten classes today.

Category: Florida Dog Training, Puppy Kindergarten, Puppy Preschool  Tags: , , , , ,  Leave a Comment

Dog Poison Tip #1

By Jeffery Andrew - K9 Korral
22
Feb 2010

Watch Out for Dog Poisons

Many ordinary, household items, if ingested by your dog, may cause your pet to turn fatally ill.  You need to be careful of what you leave laying around the house, and keep things out of your pup’s reach.  Here are a few items to keep stored away and inaccessible to your dog.

Human Food

When the whole family is sitting around the dining room table, and you have not taught your dog to exit the room during dinnertime, you leave your dog at risk.  For you leave your dog available to eat scraps off the dining room floor.  By doing so, your dog may be in danger.  For example, if someone at the table is eating chocolate brownies for dessert and your dog eats up the leftover chocolate left on the floor, then you may be putting your pup’s life in danger.  Chocolate is the number one killer of dogs.   It causes excessive diarrhea, vomiting, abnormal heart palpitations, and seizures.  You should teach your dog how to sit in his/her own spot during human mealtime preventing your dog from ingesting table scraps.

Human Drugs

Human medications may cause your dog to die.  You need to keep all medicines off countertops and away in high shelves unreachable to your pup.  If you do not take these precautions, your dog may ingest whatever liquid, pills, tablets left in plain sight without knowing the risk involved.  You are the responsible, loving pet owner.  Therefore, ensure your actions reflect this and provide your dog with a healthy and happy environment.

Pet owners across the world, would love to keep their pets around as long as possible.  Thus, be responsible and do the right thing.  Keep the human food and medications away from your dog ensuring your dog’s health remains intact, not faltering due to the presence of these harmful elements.

To find out more about what household items may harm your dog; check out Florida dog training classes and puppy preschool today.

Category: Florida Dog Training, Pet Care Tips, Puppy Kindergarten, Puppy Preschool  Tags: , , , , , ,  4 Comments

What to Do When a Puppy Bites

By Jeffery Andrew - K9 Korral
03
Feb 2010

When dogs are just little puppies, they show signs of personality traits.  If the pup is forming aggressive or frightened behavior then the pup may bite.  Thus, you need to modify this behavior from the beginning ensuring your dog lives a joyous life.

Enroll in Puppy Kindergarten

The first key is to enroll your dog into a puppy kindergarten class or k9 obedience training classes.  This class will teach your pup not to bite using a positive reinforcement technique.  Just make sure your pup is current with vaccinations.  Furthermore, the classes are an opportunity for you and your pup to learn how to effectively communicate with one another making the years to come easy on the two of you.

Let the Puppy Mingle

The more your puppy socializes with other puppies, dogs, people, and kids the less frightened the pup will be when he/she grows up.  As a result, the less scared the dog is the decreased odds are that biting shall ensue.  Fearful dogs instinctively turn towards biting.  It is what they know.  It is how they fight with others.  Thus, do not isolate the pup.  When socialization happens appropriately, the pup develops into a well-mannered, friendly, comfortable dog.

If you still have problems with your dog biting, then do not wait to take action.  Find a Sarasota dog training facility that implements positive reinforcement.  Make sure the staff is experienced and knowledgeable in what they do.  Enjoy the time you share with your pup during the close.  It will bring you and your pup closer together.

Category: Florida Dog Training, Puppy Classes, Puppy Kindergarten, Puppy Preschool, k9 obedience  Tags: , ,  Leave a Comment

Training a Puppy to Walk on a Leash

By Jeffery Andrew - K9 Korral
25
Jan 2010

puppy-on-leash-trainingTeaching a puppy to walk on a leash is not that difficult.  It just takes patience and lots or persistence.  If you teach your puppy how to walk properly on a leash from a young age, then it will keep your dog safe while on walks and makes it an enjoyable experience for the both of you to share.

Familiarize Your Puppy to Wearing a Collar

A puppy has no clue regarding the correct way to respond to a collar.  Thus, introduce the idea of wearing a collar from the very beginning.  A good way to do this is while the puppy is eating, slide a collar on.  The puppy will be distracted making this an ideal time.  Once the puppy does realize what you have done, it will probably try to rub it off by sliding itself against the floor or scratch it off.  It is important not to take it off.  It needs to get used to the idea of a collar on so it becomes second nature.

Introduce the Leash

Once your puppy is comfortable and happy wearing a collar, then it is time to clip on a leash.  It is not necessary to use a heavy-duty leash on your puppy at this time.  Choose a lightweight, thin leash.  And once the leash is clipped on allow the puppy to walk around with it.  As a result, the puppy will be accommodating when it is time to put on the leash later.

These are only the first steps to teaching a puppy to walk on a leash.  To find out how to implement the rest just check out a puppy preschool or a puppy kindergarten near you.

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Why Puppy Preschool?

By Jeffery Andrew - K9 Korral
13
Jan 2010

Bringing Home Your New Puppy

Bringing home a puppy is an exciting time in one’s life.  The puppy is full of energy, running around, and adorable.  It is impossible not to love those first moments.  But as soon as the puppy starts chewing up the shoes, furniture, and household items, then it is difficult to maintain a joyful demeanor.  A person may easily direct tension and stress at the puppy for not listening.  This does not help you or the puppy to be in such a negative state of mind.  For the beginning should center on bonding, not scolding your puppy.  Thus, why not attend a puppy preschool class and allow an experienced professional teach you the basic skills to create a fun, loving, healthy home.

Learning the Basics

When you first bring home a puppy, have you noticed how difficult it is to get the puppy to come when called?  Puppy preschool will teach you how to call for your puppy properly.  It will engage the puppy in coming when being called ensuring the puppy associates the two and delivers successfully.  It makes the experience of owning a puppy fun for both the owner and the pup.

In addition, puppy preschool will address how to handle the biting and mouthing.  It will teach the commands sit, drop, stay and let’s go.  Florida puppy training instructs on toilet training, mat training, and calming behavior.  The class should cover nutrition, health, vaccinations, and flea treatments.

Bonding with Your Pup

It is essential to attend a puppy-training course.  It helps ease your puppy’s transition into its new home and gives an opportunity to build a relationship between you and your puppy.

Category: Florida Puppy Training, Puppy Classes, Puppy Preschool  Tags: , ,  One Comment