Bunnies, Ducks and Chicks can make wonderful pets. These cute babies have a life expectancy of 8 to 12 years, so they are quite a commitment, not just an Easter gift.

Potty training

Whether you are training a new puppy or an older dog who didn’t quite grasp potty training the first time around, it is important to set them up for success. A very young puppy shouldn’t have to hold it longer than a few hours at a time, his body is just not ready for it and although an adult can hold it longer you still want to stay ahead of him to avoid any accidents.

When an accident occurs at any point during training just clean it up with an enzyme based solution to get rid of the smell completely. If the smell is not removed completely, your pup will continue to recognize the spot as an okay place to go. It will do no good to reprimand your dog for an accident. Creating anxiety can lead to behavioral problems that you don’t need.

Begin by selecting the appropriate place for your dog to go potty. Keep in mind that out door areas are full of scents and interesting things that may distract a pup from the business at hand so it might take some getting used to.

When using newspaper or wee wee pads to train your dog, choose either a laundry room or bathroom that you can close off and can easily clean. Begin by covering the entire area with newspaper so that wherever your dog goes he will be doing it right. Over a few days reduce the area until you have a small spot.

Give him enough time to sniff around and find a spot, but keep it short so he doesn’t think he is out for entertainment or that the pad is for him to play with. When he does go, say “go potty” in a nice upbeat voice. Allow him to finish and as soon as he’s done give him lots of praise and maybe even a treat. If he doesn’t go potty, go back to your life and try again after an hour or so.

After a successful go, he should be able to wait about 3 or 4 hours. He will most likely need to go if he’s been playing and running around, after waking up and right after eating.

Until your dog is potty trained, don’t leave him loose or unsupervised in your home. It is better to keep him confined as it’s in your dog’s nature to try and keep his sleeping and eating quarters clean. He will try to hold it as long as he can.

As you and your dog start communicating better, you’ll be able to leave him longer and he may even start letting you know when he needs to go. 

Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherds, commonly known as Aussie’s are not actually Australian. The breed was called after Basque shepherds who came to America from Australia. Aussies were also known as Spanish Shepherds, Bob-tails, Pastor Dogs, New Mexican Shepherds and California Shepherds. This is a very energetic dog that needs lots of daily vigorous exercise. They have strong herding instincts which makes them great working dogs but this may also cause problems around children. Aussies have been a great asset to stockmen because they are quite versatile and trainable. These dogs are very smart and need a job to do. These dogs excel at dog sports like frisbee, flyball and and agility since they are quick and eager to please. 

They are a medium sized dog between 30 and  65 lbs. Lately they have started breeding a smaller Aussie too about (15lbs to 30lbs). They are usually tri colored (black, white and red) black, red, blue merle (marbled black, white and gray) and red merle (marbled red, white and buff). Though double merles can be very pretty dogs they often have excessive white and this may lead to hearing, vision and skin problems. They need to be brushed at least once a week since they have a thick under coat.

Aussies are a great family dog once they have been trained, training should start early to avoid bad behaviors from developing. So if you have a family that’s happy to spend lots of time in the great outdoors this dog is a great option for you.

Home made pup treats.

Pup crisps

Ingredients:

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3/4 lbs ground or minced chicken

1/4 cup minced celery

1 cup chicken broth

4 cups whole wheat flour  

2 cups cooked rice

3 tbsp dried basil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or foil.

1. Lightly cook chicken and celery in vegetable oil (3 to 4 mins.)
2. In a blender, mix chicken, celery and chicken broth until pureed.
3. Mix flour, rice, dried basil and chicken puree in a bowl.
4. Roll out dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Using a cookie cutter or knife, cut into fun shapes like bones, fire hydrants, food bowls, etc.
5. Place cookies on lined baking sheets and bake for 30 min. Turn off oven and let cookies dry for 3 hrs or overnight.

Oatmeal cookies

Ingredients:

4 cups whole wheat flour

2 cups old fashioned oatmeal

1 1/4 cups water

1/4 cup minced apple (without seeds)

3 tbsp ground cinnamon

2 tbsp vegetable oil

2 tbsp honey

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325F. line baking sheets with parchment or foil.
2. In a large bowl combine all the ingredients until it forms a paste.
3. Roll out dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Using a cookie cutter or a knife cut into fun shapes like bones, paw prints, fire hydrants, etc.
4. Combine dough scraps and continue to roll and cut until gone.
5. Place cookies on lined baking sheets and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

Sherlock

Sherlock’s birthday is?

5/12/14

How did you obtain your dog?

From Lonestar Doodles

How old was your dog when you got him/her?

8 weeks

Your dog’s favorite food. 

Cheese

Cutest thing your dog does.

When he lays on his back and holds his chew bone, like so...

Smartest thing your dog does.

Rings bell on door to ask to go out, there are so many!! His name is Sherlock after all! :)

Anything else you would like to share about your dog:

He's the sweetest most loving dog ever!!!