Excitement Urination

Excitement urination occurs most often during greetings and playtime and is not accompanied by submissive posturing. Excitement urination usually resolves on its own as a dog matures, as long as it isn’t made worse by punishment or inadvertent reinforcement.

Your dog may have an excitement urination problem if:

• Urination occurs when your dog is excited; for example, during greetings or during
  playtime.
• Your dog is less than 1 year old.

What to do if your dog has an excitement urination problem:

• Keep greetings low key.
• Don’t punish or scold him.
• To avoid accidents, play and greet outdoors until the problem is resolved.
• Take your dog to the veterinarian to rule out medical reasons for the behavior.
• Until the problem resolves, you might want to protect your carpet by placing a plastic drop cloth or an absorbent material in the entryway where accidents are most likely to occur. Alternatively, you can purchase “doggie diapers” at your local pet supply store.
• Ignore him until he’s calm.

Disclaimer: Reading materials in this site are obtained from its respective website and it is for information purposes only. It is not Puppy Cottage Sdn. Bhd. view and it is not to be used against Puppy Cottage Sdn. Bhd.

Submissive Urination

Submissive urination occurs when a dog feels threatened. It may occur when he’s being punished or verbally scolded, or when he’s approached by someone he perceives to be threatening to him. It’s important to remember that this response is based on the dog’s perception of a threat, not the person’s actual intention. Submissive urination may resolve as your dog gains confidence, but you can help build his confidence by teaching him commands and rewarding him for obeying. You should also gradually expose him to new people and new situations and try to make sure all of his new experiences are positive and happy.

Your dog may be submissively urinating if:

• Urination occurs when he’s being scolded.
• Urination occurs when he’s being greeted.
• Urination occurs when someone approaches him.
• He is a somewhat shy, anxious or timid dog.
• He has a history of rough treatment or punishment after the fact.
• The urination is accompanied by submissive postures, such as crouching or rolling over to expose his belly.

What to do if your dog has a submissive urination problem:

• Take your dog to the vet to rule out medical reasons for the behavior.
• Keep greetings low key.
• Encourage and reward confident postures from him.
• Give him an alternative to behaving submissively. For example, if he knows a few commands, have him “sit” or “shake” as you approach, and reward him for obeying.
• Avoid approaching him with postures that he reads as dominant, for example: Avoid direct eye contact. Look at his back or tail instead.
• Get down on his level by bending at the knees rather than leaning over from the waist and ask others to approach him in the same way.
• Pet him under the chin rather than on top of the head.
• As you approach, present the side of your body to him, rather than your full front, and avert your gaze.
• Don’t punish or scold him. This will only make the problem worse.
• Until the problem resolves, you might want to protect your carpet by placing a plastic drop cloth or an absorbent material in the entryway where accidents are most likely to occur. Alternatively, you can purchase “doggie diapers” at your local pet supply store.

Disclaimer: Reading materials in this site are obtained from its respective website and it is for information purposes only. It is not Puppy Cottage Sdn. Bhd. view and it is not to be used against Puppy Cottage Sdn. Bhd.

Destructive Dog Digging

My dog makes me laugh. He usually has little interest in digging, until he sees me doing it. If I dig a hole in one area, I guarantee that if I turn around, he will be giving a hand somewhere else in the garden. So why do dogs like digging so much and why in some cases this can be seriously destructive and requires corrective action ?

Dog Digging - Why ?

Our dogs early ancestors learnt the art of digging from an early age. They learn that burying food for later retrieval, kept it safe from other predators. They learnt that digging dens can help keep cool in hot weather and warm in cold weather. The also learnt to dig out prey that lived underground. So it should be no surprise to find that our domestic friends still have a significant digging instinct. Dog digging is a natural canine activity for which they can find highly enjoyable and therapeutic.

In the case of the domestic dog, digging behaviour can be caused by a number of factors. One thing for sure is that they don't dig your garden up out of spite, revenge or simply the need to be destructive. Dogs are not humans and they do not think like we do.

How do I stop dog digging ?

Understanding your dog's motivation to dig helps in determining the solution to stop or reduce this behaviour. Below are some suggestions to help correct digging behaviours. It is difficult to pin dog digging down to a single cause and to some extent most digging is motivated by boredom or the sheer fun of it. In all cases, punishing dog digging (particularly after the event) does not work and in all likelihood, it will cause anxiety that may make the situation worse.

Motivation	Symptoms	Possible Solutions
Protection or comfort	Dogs that spend a great deal of time outside can resort to the instinctive desire to have shelter, a place to keep warm and secure. Usually this would be as near to you as possible, perhaps near your house walls, possibly under windows so that they can hear you. Rarely would this sort of digging be in the middle of your lawn	We never recommend leaving dogs outside for prolonged periods unattended. They are pack animals and need to be part of family life. If they are left outside, ensure your dog has a kennel near the house and possible under a window that is often open. It should not be in the hot sun or cold winds.
Recreation or Boredom	For some dogs, digging can be one of their most favourite things to do. It is one way of expelling unused energy, perhaps from lack of exercise. Other dogs simply love digging, they love the earthly smells, the feel of the mud and dirt, and the pleasure of digging.	Refocusing this behaviour often achieves better results than attempting to stop it altogether. Install a digging pit filled with sand. You can start to refocus the digging by hiding treats in the sand. Also, ensure your dogs environment is full of interesting things and toys. Activity toys such as the stuffed Kongs are ideal for outside activity. Have a range of activity toys to rotate to make them seem new.
Food	Some dogs are highly motivated by food. This sort of dog digging usually takes place at the foot of trees and shrubs, rather than at walls or boundaries. The digging can be in a 'path' layout, as the dog attempts to track burrowing animals such as moles.	Some say that you should look for signs of underground animals and seek ways to deter them from your garden (at Canine Concepts, we believe all animals are equal and only condone humane methods to 'deter' rather than eradicate animals). Providing other forms of activity (see digging for 'recreation and boredom') may also help. Hiding food treats in a digging pit would also help refocus this dog digging behaviour.
Attention seeking	Digging in your presence is a symptom of this. Any behaviour can become attention-getting behaviour if dogs learn that they receive attention for engaging in it (even punishment is a form of attention).	Ignore this dog digging behaviour. Give your dog plenty of attention and human interaction.
Seeking escape	Usually involves digging along a fence line.	In this case you will need to look at the reason the dog wants to escape. These can be wide and varied and would warrant an article of its own. Some options to prevent digging at the fence line are to bury the bottom of your fence a foot or so underground, or lay chain link fence on the ground and anchor to the fence.

Well, hopefully the above article will help those of you whose dog who just love to dig your garden or lawn.

Disclaimer: Reading materials in this site are obtained from its respective website and it is for information purposes only. It is not Puppy Cottage Sdn. Bhd. view and it is not to be used against Puppy Cottage Sdn. Bhd.

Early Puppies Training...

Q: I have been told that we should not start training our puppy until they are six months old. Is this true?

A: Not true!!

For the first week or two that you have your puppy home, you will both be busy getting familiar with each other, you will be learning how to take care of your new pet’s physical needs, and very soon, it will be time to begin some training. Once a puppy is settled into the household happily and has begun to trust you, you should start early basic puppy training. Obedience classes usually require their canine students to be four months old because of medical reasons -- to protect the participants, dogs in class need to have their permanent vaccinations. Nevertheless, this does not mean your puppy cannot start her training before then. With some dog breeds, waiting until they are four months of age could mean you will have a serious behaviour problem before class even starts.

Many people still hold the presumption that young puppies are not ready to learn anything until they reach a certain age and that they should be allowed to simply grow up up with no rules or parameters. However, this may not be true because they are pack animals by nature, all canines, no matter how young, are happier and more secure when they know what is expected of them. Young wolf cubs are not allowed to simply run wild until they reach a certain age. Their mothers and the other adult pack members keep careful watch on the cubs and clearly show them exactly what they are allowed to do, where they should eliminate, and so forth. In other words, wolf cubs are given rules to live by from the moment they leave the den, for their own safety and for the good of the entire pack. Puppies need this kind of direction, too.

This is not to say that a very young puppy is ready for strict, complicated training. Nevertheless, it is receptive to you, eager to please, and will be happier and less confused if it gets clear signals from you, its combination mother and pack leader.

Whatever you call it, these early weeks of training are very important if you want your puppy to grow up to be a well-mannered dog. Just as it is never too early to socialize a puppy to handling and touching, it is never too early to begin to teach it some basic social skills such as toilet training, wearing a collar and walking on a leash, and learning its name.

Subsequently, you can start teaching your puppy simple commands like Sit, Stay and Come right now.

Keep your training periods short and fun. Puppies have very short attention spans -- there are so many things happening that are new and fascinating that it is impossible for them to be focus for very long. Work on one command at a time and end the session when they are successfully completed a command and use lots of praise and treats. You will be amazed just how fast they can learn!

Puppy Cottage provides day care services for your puppies, which are great for early socialization with strangers and other dogs, as well as building a foundation for early obedience training. They are design to help you and your puppy start your relationship off on the right foot. Moreover, they are a lot of fun for puppies and people alike!


Disclaimer: Reading materials in this site are obtained from its respective website and it is for information purposes only. It is not Puppy Cottage Sdn. Bhd. view and it is not to be used against Puppy Cottage Sdn. Bhd.

Dogs on the Sofa

Dogs on sofa? I am sure some of us allows our pet dog to sit/ sleep on the sofa and some of us must be frustrated that our pet dog is always jumping onto your sofa.

The following article is obtain from http://www.pets.ca/ describing why does our pet dog loved to jump onto our sofa set:

Why do dogs tend to sleep on the sofa, your favourite chair or even sleep on your bed? They seem to love these places and often climb onto them repeatedly even when we repeatedly ask them to get down.

True enough, sofas, chairs and other furniture are extremely comfortable and that's one reason why dogs like to hang out on them. Another key reason often has to do with dominance. Before dogs became domesticated, the alpha dog, or leader of the pack, would always choose a high sleeping ground as the choice place to sleep. Feral or wild dogs in packs as well as wolves still sleep in this way. The highest ranking member of the pack sleeps at a level that is physically higher than the other members of the pack. This hierarchical nature of the pack is hardwired in modern dogs as well. By letting your dog sleep on furniture that is higher than the ground (the same places you relax and sleep on) you are quite possibly communicating to him/her that he/she is your equal. You may even be communicating that your dog is more dominant than you. This is especially true if your dog regularly exhibits other dominant behaviour and it has the potential to escalate into a real problem, including aggression. These other dominant behaviours include growling at you, leaning on you, eating food before the human family, entering or leaving doorways before you and generally not listening to you etc. A dog that KNOWS that every member of the family is higher in rank, will generally not exhibit these behaviours.

It is therefore good practice, not to allow your dog access to these high sleeping grounds (or high relaxation grounds) in order to assure your position as the leader of the pack. If you are not home and the dog has access to these higher places for resting, than placing certain objects that dogs dislike on the couch or chair in question is a great idea. There are plastic items in most pet stores that have blunt plastic spikes on them that are perfect for this situation. If the dog jumps on the couch or chair, it lands on the blunt spikes which don't hurt the dog but make it uncomfortable for the dog to lie on.

It is best that the dog's place of relaxation and sleep be a comfy blanket or basket on the floor. This will prevent possible behavioral problems associated with dominance.

Disclaimer: Reading materials in this site are obtained from its respective website and it is for information purposes only. It is not Puppy Cottage Sdn. Bhd. view and it is not to be used against Puppy Cottage Sdn. Bhd.

Socialise Your New Puppy

The last thing on minds of the most new puppy owners is to socialise the new addition, but is very vital that puppy socialisation begin as early as possible. If possible, send the puppy to a day care facility nearby or go for dog event.

Mingling a new puppy is an important part of any training program, and it is significant for socialisation to begin early. The gap for socialisation is very small, and a puppy that is not properly socialised to people, dogs and other animals by the time he or she is four months old never develops the socialisation he or she requires to become a good canine citizen.

Learning how to interact with other dogs is something that usually would occur among littermates. However, since most dogs are separated from their mothers so soon, this littermate’s socialisation regularly does not finish properly. The most vital lesson puppies often learn from their littermates and from the mother dog is how to bite, and how not to bite. Puppies usually roughhouse with each other, and their thick skin protects them from most bites. However, when one puppy bites too hard, the other puppies, or the mother dog, swiftly reprimand him, often by holding him by the scruff of his neck until he submits.

In fact, the best way to socialize your loved puppy is to have it play with lots of other puppies. It is also okay for the puppy to play with a few adult dogs, as long as they are friendly and well socialized.

When socialising puppies, it is best to let them play on their own and work out their own issues when it comes to suitable roughness of play. The only time the owners must step in is if one puppy is hurting another, or if a grave fight breaks out. Other than that, the owners must simply stand back and watch their puppies interact.

While this socialisation is taking place, the pack hierarchy must quickly become apparent. There would be some puppies that are especially submissive, rolling on their backs and baring their throats at the least provocation. Other puppies in the class would be dominant, ordering the other puppies around and telling them what to do. Watching the puppies play, and formative what type of personality traits your puppy has, would be extremely valuable information for us.

It is also significant to introduce the puppy to a variety of other animals, particularly in a multiple pet household. Introducing the puppy to friendly cats is imperative, as are introductions to other animals the puppy might encounter, such as rabbits, guinea pigs and the like. If your household contains a more exotic creature, it is essential to introduce the puppy to it as early as possible, but to do it in a way that is secure for both animals.

It is often good to start by introducing the puppy to the smell of the other animal. This could be easily accomplished by placing a piece of the animals bedding, like a towel or bed liner, close to where the puppy sleeps. Once the puppy is familiar to the smell of the other creature, he or she is much more likely to believe the animal as just another member of the family.

Last but not least, we, Puppy Cottage has a designated day care area for your beloved doggies to either socialise with other dogs or with our Puppy Cottage PR Manager, Harry. Please click here to view pictures slide of Harry in action. Do call us to know more about the facility that we are providing for your pet doggie. :)

Disclaimer: Reading materials in this site are obtained from its respective website and it is for information purposes only. It is not Puppy Cottage Sdn. Bhd. view and it is not to be used against Puppy Cottage Sdn. Bhd.

Introducing Your New Puppy to Your Dog

Buying a new puppy is one of the most important decisions you and your family can make, especially if you already own a dog.

So, the day has come to introduce your new puppy to your existing dog and the question rises, what if they do not get along? Given time and a few challenges between the two, the outcome will more than likely be favourable. However, you can give both dogs a head start and make them feel more comfortable by making introductions in an unfamiliar place.

Dogs have a protecting nature and quickly decide that their home is their territory. Feeling threatened can happen when another animal crosses his or her territory.

Close supervision is needed when introducing your new puppy to your dog. If it seems as though the two are not getting along, or there is growling back and forth, let them be as long as they are not too rough or hurting each other.

If possible, start by introduce the dogs outside. In fact, if you can leave them together outside for a day before bringing them into the house, this will reduce their tendency to mark in the house.

If for some reason, extensive growling and/or fighting persist between the two, give up and try again later. If aggression appears to be a problem, it is probably best not to continue and try again the next day.

Never expect dogs to hit it off right away when introducing your new pup to your dog. Just like people, it may take a little while for your dog to become friendly and trusting of the new puppy, soon they will become friends. It is important that your existing dog be well trained and not has any annoying behavioural problems before you introduce another dog into your home. The reason for this is that dogs mimic. For example, if your dog is an excessive barker, the new dog may mimic this habit. On the other hand, if you have a well-natured dog, you may find him almost parenting the new puppy and trying to “show him the ropes”. Older dogs are usually more tolerant to the clumsiness and curiosity of new puppies.

Dogs, just like children need a lot of tender, loving care. When introducing your new puppy to your dog, remember that you are lucky to have both of these additions to your family and while they give you so much freely, and offer unforgettable memories, they never ask for anything in return, except maybe a treat occasionally.



Disclaimer: Reading materials in this site are obtained from its respective website and it is for information purposes only. It is not Puppy Cottage Sdn. Bhd. view and it is not to be used against Puppy Cottage Sdn. Bhd.

First Time at Home

You have just brought home your new puppy. Where do you start? For the next few days, your life will revolve around puppy's needs and schedule, so begin that first minute by getting him into a regular routine.

Firstly, please ensure the surroundings and environments are clean and safe for the puppies. Ensuring a clean environment is important to the puppy in order to avoid diseases that may occur due to dirtiness. Always make sure that the crate or area the puppy sleep is clean and dry. Wiring, metals, pest control products and things that can be harmful to puppy should be hidden or thrown away in order to avoid unnecessary accident from happening.

If you have an existing dog at home, it is advisable to spend some time to introduce both of them. Please read the article “Introducing your New Puppy to your Dog” that we will be posting soon.

As you develop your daily care schedule, remember that young puppies cannot control their bladders well and need to be let out about every three to four hours if possible. Normally they will also need to eliminate following playtime and after drinking or eating.

First day

As soon as puppy arrives, show him where his "potty area" will be and allow him time to eliminate and stretch his legs. Next, bring him inside to his crate for some quiet time. While he is in his crate, puppy can look around and start to check out his surroundings. Do not overwhelm puppy immediately with too many new people, pets or strange situations. Talk to puppy and try to sooth any fears he may have.

After a brief nap, let puppy out for a potty break and some supervised playtime and petting. If it is time, feed the puppy, take him out again, and then let him go back into his crate. As the day passes, introduce puppy gradually to his new home and family.

Stick to a familiar routine and wording, show him he is welcome and puppy will begin to settle happily into your household.

During the first few weeks or so, the puppy faeces might be soft or watery. No cause for worries as this is due to the new environment.

First night

Puppies may cry throughout the night because of new environment or miss his/ her friends. If possible, pay no attention to the cry. Put a safe chew toy, familiar smelling towel or blanket into his crate. In cases where puppy has to sleep in a room away from you, a night light and a ticking clock or soft music may help him to sleep better. However, if you can not withstand the crying, the other option is to keep puppy's crate next to your bed. However, this option is not advisable because you will spoil them in the future.

Most puppies will need to be taken outside during the night, and again early in the morning to eliminate.

First day home alone

When you return to work and puppy has to spend his first day alone, there are some steps to make him/ her feel at ease.

Before you leave, put puppy out for his potty break. Feed him/ her in his crate while you are getting ready. Let him/ her out again to eliminate, then allow some play or exercise time. Return them to their crate with some safe toys before leaving.

Leave on a radio for the puppy while you are gone. It will calm the puppy down while you are away.

When you return home, greet your puppy and resume his normal schedule. Spend some time - playing, teaching him and being together - and enjoy each other's company.




Disclaimer: Reading materials in this site are obtained from its respective website and it is for information purposes only. It is not Puppy Cottage Sdn. Bhd. view and it is not to be used against Puppy Cottage Sdn. Bhd.

Behaviour & Training

Dear Puppy Cottage new puppy owner and blogger,

We, Puppy Cottage will be posting some articles relating to puppy/ dog behaviour and training for our client who have new puppy in their home under the label of Behaviour and Training.

We are happy and proud that you have yourself a new family member who share your lives and loves, protect your lives and those of your loved ones, and give all unconditional love to you and your family. Your family member and you must be very excited now. However, your new puppy has his/her own special needs that require your attention and understanding in order to enjoy the wonderful rewards that your puppy will give in the near future. Try to spend some times and read the articles that we have compiled from various sources to guide you on the behaviour, basic care and training for your puppy and yourself. We hope that it will give you some insight and it wills kick-start a great relationship with your puppy, your family member and you.

We wish to inform that the very moment a dog is welcomed into a home, the "same rule" is established, the owner becomes both boss and father to the dog and its family, and therefore the dog will depend and respect its owner as such. Taking care of a dog is very much like as taking care of your own kids, it requires a lot of time and patience. You must also have in mind that a dog needs a lot of space to be able to feel free and satisfied. You must also know that the education of your dog, while he is still young of age, is of utmost importance.

Lastly, click Behaviour and Training label from time to time for new articles.