Introducing a baby to the family dog

When bringing home a new baby, having the dogs at home sniff her scent before baby comes home. How important and how valuable is this for the animals?

 Bringing Baby Home: Is a very important day for both Human and any animal in the home. Prior to bringing your newborn home introduce the smells of the baby to your dogs. The smell of a diaper, lotion, baby powder, butt cream, formula, the baby's clothing, car seat, stroller and also introduce them to the nursery. Make a family decision if the dogs are allowed in the nursery or not. If NOT, then start giving those boundaries NOW. Not allowing them to follow you into the nursery when you walk in. Stopping them at the door and making them Sit & Stay. If the ARE allowed in the room make sure you give them direction of HOW to BEHAVE in the room. Making them enter the room calmly and have them Sit & Lay Down in one place. The goal is to make sure the dogs understand that the baby WILL be apart of the PACK. It is a MUST that all dogs accept the baby as a new pack member or there can be trouble in the future. When the baby arrives you can also help with providing the baby a form of Pack Leader mentality. YOU must let the dogs know when it is ok to be close to the baby and when its NOT ok ESPECIALLY when you are holding the baby. Once the roles are put in place and the dogs have become comfortable with the new scents, sounds and changes everything will run smooth.  

Important Note: Take the dogs for a walk with you and the baby. Have them walk beside the stroller or even behind. The nice thing is 90% of the time the protective side will come out of the dogs and they will have this sense of protecting the baby and you from any harm. Most dogs automatically HEEL right beside the stroller and walk in a calm submissive matter. If not then you can contact a local trainer to help with this process.

"Potty Train My Puppy!!!"

Please help me potty train my puppy!!!

This is the MOST common problem. You bring home your puppy and get so excited over the newness and cuteness that you may inadvertently forget to do the MAIN things to help get your puppy settled.

Potty training is one of the first things that you should get started with IMMEDIATELY! When you first bring home your puppy and are outside with them, bring treats along with verbally and physically praising them when they eliminate (relieve themselves) outside. They will start the association with "go potty outside and I receive treats".

Puppies need to eliminate every 1 to 2 hours from the ages of 6 weeks to 5 months. And depending on size and breed you will need to keep a mental note or set a timer to remind yourself to LEAD (do not carry, walk with them) your pup outside to go potty. Every time they go potty outside PRAISE them with verbal and physical praise along with a treat or two.

How to deal with accidents in the home:
First and foremost DO NOT I repeat DO NOT rub your dogs nose in the spot they had the accident. DO NOT spank or be physical with your pup. This will only teach them to find somewhere else in the home to eliminate where they cant get CAUGHT. This is usually the first reaction because as a human you express your disgust with your pup over the accident. Keep in mind they are in TRAINING and are still learning. Simply pick up the feces with a paper towel or wipe up the urine with a paper towel lead your pup outside. Place the feces and urine on the grass and say "Potty outside."  Have you pup sniff the grass and the feces and urine. This will help them understand that the grass is where they are to eliminate. Then assertively and calmly walk back in the home and close the door behind you. Your pup will try to follow, make sure they do not enter the home. Keep them outside for up to 15 minutes. Watch over them and if you witness them go potty while they are outside, go outside and praise them for doing so and allow them back in the home. Keep a mental note when they went potty and lead them back outside when the time is up so they can relieve themselves again.Puppies need to relieve themselves every 2 hours. 

Routine: 
Setting up a schedule of when to feed and when they go potty helps with having less to no accidents in the home. Medium to Extra Large Breeds should typically be on a feeding schedule. Either twice a day or once a day, you will know when they will need to relieve themselves. Taking away water by 8pm, last chance to go potty by 11pm the latest will keep your floors from accidents in the night. Have fresh water ready by 9am.

Apartment living:
Do the same ritual but keep your pup on the leash and stand outside with them until they eliminate. If they don't eliminate(due to them fully relieving themselves in the home). Make a mental note of when they had the accident and take then back outside 1 hour after the accident so they can go potty outside then praise and treat them. If you work and do not have the time to potty train during the day, crate train your pup. However you will need to have someone come in and let them relieve themselves every 2 hours outside. If need be take your pup to a reputable Doggy Day care where they can get exercise and help with potty training.


Cold Weather:
In times of cold weather do the same ritual. But only leave your pup outside for up to 15 minutes and stand with them outside as well. If its too cold purchase puppy pads and place them in the garage or laundry room for them to get the feel on NOT eliminating near bedrooms, living rooms, family rooms or kitchens. This will help to give them the sense they must go elsewhere to potty. Treat them when they use the puppy pads.

This is a task that can NOT be ignored. It must be done in order to keep your carpets and floors clean along with keeping your sanity from having a puppy.

 **Reminder: Every dog and household is different. What may work for others may not necessarily work for you and your dog. If you are having continuous problems, find a local trainer in your area that can help you and your family.**

Diggin' Dog

Dogs digging........ 

It's a very common thing for canines to dig especially for hunting/retriever breeds such as ALL Retriever breeds, Hounds, Beagles, Pointers, Spaniels, Terriers, etc. It's in their DNA to dig. Its their JOB to hunt, find and retrieve to satisfy their pack leader, YOU.

If you don't have a working breed then other reasons play into WHY they are digging. Boredom, Cooling or Warming, the scent of fertilizer, making a den, escaping, storing food or items (hoarding), and the biggest one ATTENTION.

To first solve this dilemma you must observe your dog digging. How, where, when, and what.

HOW is your dog digging? Is it in one place like under the fence or in the middle of the yard? It is in multiple places 5 to 20 inches apart from each hole?

WHERE is your dog digging?

WHEN are they digging?

WHAT are they digging for?

First answer those questions then you can move on to finding a solution to solve it.

The one thing that will always work with ANY breed and size is EXERCISE!!!! Go for a walk!!! And make it a good walk. 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on size/breed. Make the walk a job for them to accomplish. Purchase a doggy back pack and have them carry bottles of water or their treats or snacks. This will give them the feeling of having to complete a job you are asking them to fulfill and they will be highly rewarded.

Any other questions feel free to ask


**Reminder: Every dog and household is different. What may work for others may not necessarily work for you and your dog. If you are having continuous problems, find a local trainer in your area that can help you and your family.**

Best Dog Foods

**Reminder: Every dog and household is different. What may work for others may not necessarily work for you and your dog. If you are having continuous problems, find a local trainer in your area that can help you and your family.**

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What is the best food I can feed my dog?

I am a firm believer in a Natural Food diet. Make sure the first 5 ingredients are the true protein. Stay away from Wheat, Corn and Soy. Those cheap fillers are the main cause for skin problems, bloating and your dog still being hungry after a full meal.

List of Natural Dog Foods:

Blue Buffalo

Natural Balance

Merrick

Solid Gold

Taste Of The Wild

Halo

Wellness

FROMM

Bravo

Acana

Innova

Nature's Variety

Pure Vita

Canidae

Bad human foods for dogs...

What human foods are bad for my dog?

If you like to share your food with your dog, there's nothing wrong with that. Its nice to make them "feel" apart of the family. However some foods are very harmful to your four-legged beggars.

Foods NOT to give you dog and WHY: 

• Avocado - The leaves, seeds, fruit, and bark contain persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea. 

• Bones from fish, Poultry, or other meat sources - Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.

• Chocolate, Coffee, Tea, and other caffeine - Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea and be toxic to the heart and nervous systems.

• Grapes, Raisins and Currants -  Contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys. There have been no problems associated with grape seed extract.

• Macadamia nuts - Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle.

• Milk and other dairy products - SOME adult dogs and cats may develop diarrhea if given large amounts of dairy products. 

• Mushrooms - Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death.

• Onions and garlic (raw, cooked, or powder) - Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Garlic is less toxic than onions.

 Here are some healthier alternatives:

• Bananas without the peel

• Apples without the skin

• Carrots

• Unsweetened Natural Peanut Butter (small amounts)

Always remember EVERYTHING is moderation.

Barktober Photo Contest!!!

That's right!!! Its Barktober and Buddy's Ktichen Dog Treatz is hosting a Photo Contest.

Photo Contest: You and Your Dawgy!!!

How to Enter

1. Find or take a photo of you and your dog. You can be dressed up for Halloween or not. Your dog can be in costume it doesn't matter. The cuter the photo the more "LIKES" you can get. It can be you or your kids but a human MUST be in the photo with your dog.
2. Send that photo to - buddyskitchendogtreatz@gmail.com
3. Look for your photo on our  Fan Page Album
4. SHARE your photo from that album with friends and family to get the most "LIKES" 
5. The photo with the most likes on our Facebook Page WINS!!! 
6. Contest ends Halloween Night

**CONTEST RULES: https://www.facebook.com/notes/buddys-kitchen-dog-treatz/photo-contest/337459436354335