COME. SIT. STAY. Does Your Dog Listen?

Some of us give up on our dogs when they develop or continue a bad habit... This outcome can be a better one if we provide our pups the proper training. 

Morris Animal Inn's Trainer Nancy works with 3-month-old Newfoundland Little Four.

With today's busy schedules, sometimes we need a little help to get the training started or to keep our dog on the right track. When we choose to be a dog owner, we owe it to our lovable furry family members be well behaved and have great manners. 

It's National Train Your Dog Month, so start the New Year off right  with a Canine Training Camp.

For more information on our dog training at Morris Animal Inn click here or give us a call at 973-539-0377. 

New Pet Introductions

Whether you already have a dog and are considering getting a cat, or vice versa, their first introduction is very important! Setting up an environment for success will help your current pet and your new pet better adjust to having a new furry sibling!

The American Humane Association provides some great tips how to best match your new dog or cat with your current furry friend, and how to introduce them!

Matching Cats and Dogs

It’s essential to consider the personalities of both the dog and cat when you're thinking about adding a new addition to your family.

A new cat isn’t a good idea if your dog:

• Chases, pins, picks up or has otherwise been rough with any cat in the past
•  Growls, lunges at or obsessively barks at cats

A new dog isn’t a good idea if your cat

• Growls, swats at, runs from or hides from dogs

Dogs who like to chase. If a dog loves chasing things, then a fearful, shy cat who runs away probably wouldn’t be the best choice, as it could start a chase! Similarly, an energetic cat who runs and pounces would also fall into this same category. A better match here would be a calm, confident cat who will not run away!

Playful dogs and cats. If a dog plays roughly, it is best to avoid pairing them with kittens or elderly cats who are more fragile. Instead, a playful adult who is interested in play, but is also confident and self-reliant might be a better choice! If a cat is rambunctious or playful, a dog that is playful, but gentle, could be a great option!

Elderly and calm dogs and cats. A calm counterpart would be best. Rambunctious companions may annoy, frighten or otherwise bother your other pet!

The Introduction Process

The American Humane Association provides four steps that can help you ensure a successful meeting:

Step 1: Choose the proper location for the first meeting

If you are adopting, speak with an adoption counselor to find the best place for your pets to meet for the first time. Depending on whether you are introducing a new cat or a new dog, at home may or may not be the best option!

Step 2: Separate your new furry family members

Alternate which pet has freedom and which is limited to a safe place to allow each animal plenty of time to investigate the other’s scent. When your pets are home alone, the dog and cat must always be separated so unsupervised interactions are not possible.

Once both pets are calm, you can proceed to the next step!

Step 3: Make leashed introductions

Allow both the dog and cat to be in the same room at the same time, but keep the dog securely leashed. Continue with this type of introduction until the dog is calm and ignores the cat, and the cat is calm, eating and using the litter box normally.

Continue until both the dog and cat seem happy and relaxed around each other.

Step 4: Allow unsupervised interactions

Unsupervised time together can happen after the cat and dog have been supervised around each other for a significant period of time and you are positive they will not hurt each other!

Remember, stay patient and calm! It may take time for your new pet to adjust, and that's completely normal. If you have any troubles along the way, never hesitate to consult your veterinarian for advice.

Source: The American Humane Association

January is National Train Your Dog Month

This month marks the fifth celebration of Train Your Dog Month, created by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). APDT believed it was long overdue to dedicate a month to bringing awareness to the importance of socialization and training.

This month we would like to invite pet parents to embark on enriching their canine companion’s life and most importantly, understand that training your dog can be a fun and rewarding experience!

As a proud member of APDT, we want to celebrate training your dog with everyday manners. We also wish to stress the importance and benefits of training dogs to become happy and healthy companions. Too many dogs are turned into animal shelters each year for behavior and training issues that could be easily solved with proper socialization and positive and gentle methods of training.

Beyond the month of January, there are so many benefits of training with your dog on a consistent basis:

•  Strengthen the bond with your pet
• Create a positive relationship
•  Gain an understanding of your pets behavior
•  Increase the safety of your pets, guests, and family
• Decrease daily stresses
• Make life with your pup more enjoyable
•  Fulfill your dog’s need for structure

At Morris Animal Inn, we offer many training options. From Puppy Daycare; to Manners Daycare; to Manners and General Obedience lodging packages; to a two-week Canine Training Camp, there are endless opportunities for your dog of any age! Whether you added a puppy to your family this holiday season or have been blessed with a dog for many years, it's never too early or late to train! 

So...where to begin?  APDT offers many resources to start. Our training offerings may also help pet parents get the ball rolling. Remember, training is supposed to be a fun learning experience for both you and your dog.  It requires patience, love, consistency and lots of treats!

Happy training!

Source: APDT

Benefits of Training your Dog

Did you know that January is National Train Your Dog Month? Created in 2010 by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, this month promotes dog owners' awareness of how important it is to socialize and train your pet. 

1. Professional Advice

When you seek a professional dog training service for your dog, the advice and recommendations that you receive should come from an individual who has learned and tested this information thoroughly and shares these techniques with you. Their genuine interest in your dog’s successful training inspires a certain amount of trust. It is also good to know that while your dog is undergoing this learning experience, they are in a supervised and safe situation and monitored by a trained professional.

 

2. Less Time Needed For Training

With today's busy lifestyles, some may not want to add dog training to their already large To Do List. Individuals who believe they can train their own dogs often must take classes and learn specific information about dog training before actual training can begin. This can be time consuming for the owner and detrimental to the dog, who is missing out on critical learning time.

Using the services of a professional dog trainer also decreases the amount of time devoted to training. After a short amount of time with the dog,a professional trainer can provide useful information that can be implemented almost immediately. According to Heather Inks, contributing writer of Benefits of Professional Dog Training - 10 Reasons Why Your Dog Needs It, a “dog owner who invests in professional dog training usually finds that their dog is trained in record speed and bad habits are broken quickly or better yet entirely averted”.

3. Being Proactive

With problems stemming from many different factors including a dog’s breed, history, personality or temperament, a dog trainer has the knowledge, either personally or through a network of other trainers, to make changes and stop bad behaviors quickly. Having experience working with many different dogs provides a professional dog trainer with the ability to curb problems with a training plan.

4. Greater Overall Satisfaction

A properly trained dog will result in a harmonious relationship with you and your dog.
Training your dog is the responsible choice which allows for your time spent with your furry friend to be filled with fun!

In certain cases, a lack of training can lead to more serious repercussions than just bad behavior. "Most dogs brought to shelters are surrendered because of the animal’s lack of training," states Fido Friendly Magazine. If problems aren't corrected, some owners may feel that surrendering the dog to a shelter or rescue is their only option. 

 For your training needs, Morris Animal Inn provides Manners Training to learn basics skills including Sit, Stay, Down and more. 

For more information about Manners Training, call 973-539-0377. 

Sources:
National Train Your Dog Month
Association of Pet Dog Trainers. "APDT Train Your Dog Month." Train Your Dog Month. Association of Pet Dog Trainers, 2010. Web. 04 Jan. 2013. <http://www.trainyourdogmonth.com/>.
Yahoo 
Inks, Heather. "Benefits of Professional Dog Training - 10 Reasons Why Your Dog Needs It."Yahoo.com. Yahoo! Contributor Network, 7 May 2009. Web. 04 Jan. 2013. <http://voices.yahoo.com/benefits-professional-dog-training-10-reasons-why-3234833.html>.
Fido Friendly Magazine
"What Families Need to Consider When Gifting Pets for the Holidays | FIDO Friendly."FIDO Friendly. FIDO Friendly Magazine, 22 Dec. 2011. Web. 09 Jan. 2013. <http://www.fidofriendly.com/blog/what-families-need-to-consider-when-gifting-pets-for-the-holidays>.