If you have a veteran dog in your home, then you may not worry about where you put him when you leave the home; he’s probably been around long enough that away-from-home disasters rarely happen. However, if you have a puppy or a dog that gets bored easily, then figuring out where to keep him when you are away can be an issue. Here are a few suggestions on what to do with your beloved pooch.
Some owners have an outdoor area for their dogs. So, when they leave their homes, the dogs have a place to chill out, and the owners do not have to worry about their homes being destroyed. If you have an outdoor area for your pooch, then use it! The area needs to be safe and provide protection for the dog. If it’s super hot outside, then your dog needs access to a shade. If it’s cold outdoors, then your dogs needs access to a dog house or something to keep him warm. No matter what, your pooch should always have access to plenty of water. If you choose to leave your dog outside, then don’t assume that he won’t be bored. Bored dogs outside can be just as destructive as bored dogs inside. An outside dog may dig holes, bark excessively, or try to escape. Keep your pet occupied with fun, mind-stimulating toys.
Be careful about chaining or tethering your dog. Many communities and organizations view chaining and tethering as a form of animal cruelty. No, that doesn’t mean that you are necessarily harming your dog, but problems can arise when an outdoor dog isn’t properly cared for or if he gets hung up on the chain. Before you place your animal on a chain, make sure that it is not illegal in your area, and follow extra safety precautions to keep him free of danger.
For the puppy: If you are crate training, then what to do with your puppy is probably not an issue. You simply leave the puppy in the crate while you are away. If you are not crate training, then you may have to be a little more creative. Does your puppy have a favorite room or area in your home? If you are away from your home a fair amount of time, then you may need to make an area especially for your pooch. You can even enclose a space with pet gates. Remove any breakable or valuable objects from the area. If you leave something dear to your heart with your puppy, then you should take the blame if something happens to it. If your puppy isn’t potty trained, then you may want to include potty pads or newspaper in the area. Also, throw in a Kong, chew toy, or other favorite toy to keep your pup occupied.
For the older pooch: Perhaps your dog has already gone through crate training, and you do not like the idea of keeping him in the crate. This is perfectly fine; however, many dogs will resort to destructive behaviors while their owners are away, so letting him roam your home may not be an option. In these cases, you may have to treat him like a puppy: make an area just for him to use while you are away. If he has shown destructive behaviors in a certain area of your home before, then do not leave him in this area. Instead, choose an area where he is normally calm and content. Often, a dog won’t destroy his sleeping area, so you may want to try that place out. If he is housetrained, then newspaper or potty pads are probably not necessary, but toys are a must!
If you must leave your pet at home during the day, then it’s always a good idea to relieve some of his excess energy before you go. Tiring him out can help ease his destructive behaviors. You can even play soothing music or music made especially for dogs (yes, it’s true), while you are gone. Be creative, and figure out what calms your pet.
You probably don’t want to leave your pet at home all day; but for most owners there is no way around it. Having a safe, outdoor area for your pooch is always a good option. But, if your dog needs to stay inside, then try to figure out what keeps him calm. Place him in “his” area, and leave him with plenty of toys. It’s always a good idea to tire him out before you leave, relieving some of his excess energy.
This article was provided by www.pet-super-store.com a pet website featuring dog strollers and dog crate pads.
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September 27th, 2008 