The Ultimate Guide to Dog Care. Tammy Gagne
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A crate with soft bedding makes a comfortable den for your puppy or adult dog.
Place your dog’s kennel in a location that will allow him to rest without feeling too far away from the action of the household. A corner of the kitchen or living room is ideal. Remote locations of your home are usually a bad idea because they typically isolate your pet from the rest of the family. You don’t want your dog to view spending time in his crate as a social-deprivation experiment.
Once you set up the kennel, leave the door open so your dog can go inside as soon as he likes. Place a toy or other treat in the crate to encourage him to investigate the enclosure. Don’t forget to add a crate pad or other type of bedding for comfort. If your dog is still a puppy, you may want to use an old blanket until he becomes reliably housetrained. Some pups will chew on crate pads, so waiting a while to purchase one could save you from having to buy several. I still use a blanket with my two-year-old dog, Jemma, because she has “de-stuffed” three crate pads to date.
SIZING THINGS UP
Choosing the right size crate for your dog is essential. The ideal kennel offers your pet enough space to stand up and turn around comfortably. While it might seem like an indulgence to buy your dog a crate that is far more spacious than he needs, doing so is a bad idea. If you are planning to implement crate training as part of the housetraining process, a crate that is too big will likely negate its housetraining perks. A resourceful dog is likely to create his own “bathroom” at one end of a too-large enclosure and still have plenty of space to lie down. If your dog is still a puppy, look for a crate that will accommodate his adult size, but block off part of the crate in the beginning. A piece of cardboard can serve this purpose, although some crate models come with their own divider panels.
If you have an adult dog, it is important to measure him as well as the crate you choose for him. After measuring your dog’s height and length, add about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) to each measurement. These two totals should equal the respective height and length of the crate you select for your pet.
The chart on the opposite page offers an overview of the most popular crate sizes, as well as examples of the breeds and sizes that these crates most commonly serve. If you have a mixed-breed dog, select a crate based on what you know about his background. A Beagle-Pug crossbreed, for example, typically grows to be closer to the size of a Beagle than to that of a Pug.
Crate Alternatives
I adopted my mixed-breed dog, Jemma, when she was about five months old, and I began crate training her right away. While she has never shown any fear or discomfort toward her kennel, it is important to note that crates aren’t right for all dogs. They tend to be poor choices for dogs who began their lives in puppy mills. Animals who have been kept in crates for unreasonable amounts of time can develop a phobia of crates. In these cases, it is best to skip the crate altogether. When used correctly, safety gates can serve a similar purpose without stressing out the dog.
Leashes
The only safe way to take your new dog home is on a leash. Your pet will also need to be on leash when going for walks and any other time you take him out in public. In addition to keeping dogs safe, leashes are required by law in many municipalities. A leash will also come in handy when training your new pet.
At one time, leashes occupied only a small part of an aisle in most pet-supply stores. Today, however, leashes can take up an entire aisle all by themselves. The materials, functions, and prices of these items can vary dramatically. Owners can choose from a wide range of leash colors and patterns in a variety of options, including conventional fixed-length leashes, extendable leashes with ergonomic plastic handles, and leashes with attachments that hold small rolls of cleanup bags.
The best first leash for an average-sized dog is a simple 6-foot leash made from a sturdy material. For larger dogs, you’ll need a wider leash, but smaller pets fare better with narrower leads, which tend to weigh less. Likewise, a small dog or one with a delicate neck, such as a Greyhound, should never be walked on a heavy leash made of chain.
Leather leads often hold up better than those made from cloth, but they are typically more expensive. Cloth leads come in many choices, though, such as nylon and hemp. The latter is a highly renewable resource, so it’s environmentally friendly as well as economical.
Some brands are marketed as “chew-proof” or “indestructible,” and choosing one of these leads may be wise if your dog is still a puppy. If your pup chews on his leash when you walk him, you can teach him to discontinue this behavior, but until he has reliably stopped chewing, going with a chew-proof brand is a smart move.
You may choose to invest in more than one leash for your pet. Perhaps you want a longer lead for walking your pet in large, open areas. Most trainers discourage owners from using an extendable (retractable) leash because it is more difficult to control a dog’s behavior with this device. A retractable lead must be inspected regularly to make sure the cord has not frayed. Still, many owners enjoy using this type of leash, which allows them to walk their dogs at a 4-foot length, a 26-foot length, or anywhere in between. If you go this route, just make sure that the leash you select can safely accommodate your dog’s size. And use added caution if you wear shorts, skirts, or other warm-weather clothing, because this type of lead can inflict nasty burns or cuts if it wraps around a bare leg.
A sturdy leather leash should give you years of use.
A retractable lead is housed inside a plastic handle, and the leash extends or retracts with the push of a button.
Consider a Halter or Harness
A great option for walking an overly enthusiastic dog is a head halter. This specially designed harness helps prevent a dog from pulling without tightening around his neck. Two simple straps wrap around your pet’s muzzle and neck, placing the ring for attaching his leash just below your dog’s chin. If he pulls while walking on his leash, this collar will pull his head downward and toward you, interrupting his motion. A head halter can help solve a pulling problem quickly without causing your dog any pain.
Head halter
For a correct fit, the halter’s nose strap should sit just underneath your dog’s eyes, and the strap around his neck should sit as high up as possible—just behind your dog’s ears. Like a conventional collar, a head halter should fit your pet snugly yet comfortably. Unlike a regular collar, though, you should be able to fit only a single finger between a head halter and your dog’s neck. A proper fit ensures that your dog won’t slip out of the collar.
Harness
A harness is another option. With a front-clip harness, the ring for the leash is located at the center of the chest strap. If your dog pulls while wearing this type of harness, it pulls him around toward you. This interruption to his movement will discourage him from pulling further. While a head halter does not tighten around your dog’s neck, he can still give himself a hard jerk if he runs to the end of his leash too quickly while wearing one; using a harness usually prevents this from happening.
Most dogs adjust to wearing halters or harnesses fairly quickly, but if your pet resists, put it on him for short periods of time indoors to help him acclimate to it. Both head halters and harnesses are designed for on-leash walking, however, and should always be removed once you return home from a walk.
Collars and Harnesses
Like leashes, collars come in a wide variety of materials, colors, and patterns. Some even offer special technology that makes them safer for your pet. Once again, leather is usually the most durable—albeit costliest—option. A less expensive cloth collar may be the better choice if your dog is still a pup, as he will almost certainly outgrow his collar before reaching his adult size. A large-dog