Tips in bathing your dog

[MaryAnn]

Margee...Hi...I apoligize for getting back to you so late.

My little Schnauzer's name is "Angel"... and she has definitely lived up to her name. She came into my life at the right momment, and has been and continues to be...my beloved companion and side-kick everyday, although she knows who the Pack Leader is. She (we) have worked hard in her two years of life. She too, enjoys making the rounds and visiting residents at the home every other Monday. It's wonderful what you and Parker do at the Inpatient Hospice Unit. What organization is Parker certified through?

What specific training info would you like? Talk to you real soon.

[MargeeTx]

The Hospice has their own certification process. He passed all of the requirements with flying colors. BTW, what are the 't/d's' you mentioned for their dental care? I just can't figure it out!! Angel sounds like a really special little girl!!! Where does she do her visiting? It is so rewarding to witness the effect that these little ones have on those suffering.

We are in the process of housetraining Cooper...using the crate and watching like a hawk...not letting him have any real freedom without us right there with him. He was born 2/24/10, so still pretty young to have developed bladder control. But, he's doing remarkably well. The little guy is so small that I can hardly tell when he is getting ready to squat to pee!!! But, we can definitely tell his signals for # 2. I was just wondering...do you have any advice about feeding schedule and elimination? I've read quite alot, and would like to hear what you advise. The longest he is left alone is 4 hours, between me, Mike and my daughter helping out with the potty runs. He has only had a couple of accidents in the crate...poop. And, the crate is small, and he went in the very far back of it. He has gotten alot better at night, and now is waking us up only once...which I think is really good. We get up, do the poop/pee, and I let him have a drink of water, and then he goes right back to sleep. Most of the literature says not to expect real housebroken success until 5-6 months, so I am probably rushing it some. I'm out of town this week for work, and I miss him so much!!!! I travel about every other week.

I will look forward to hearing back from you....margee

[MaryAnn]

As the saying goes...."Rome wasn't built in a day" - - Every puppy moves at his own pace when learning proper bathroom habits. Some figure out housebreaking in one day, others take months. You can make the training go smoothly with consistency: allowing for frequent trips outside (with plenty of praise); providing every meal regularly (at the same time each day); and always using confident, authoritative, calm voice with your puppy.

**** Keep this number in mind: 15 minutes after your puppy eats or plays vigorously, he/she will need to eliminate. As he/she gets older, he/she will be able to wait longer. An adult dog eliminates three to four times a day and will learn to hold it - within reason.****

RE: the Crate..the dog should be able to stand and turn around in it.

Angel and I do our visiting at an Adult Family Home, and a larger Nursing Home. She first had to take a 6-week course, then 3-4 months of visits supervised by the head of Nursing, then the app process, and then we were both issued our ID cards which we renew yearly. We go with a friend and her Golden Retriever (Angel's best friend)...the residents and staff all get a kick out of the two when they walk in as they look like "Mutt and Jeff"....mine is approx 15 lbs. and the Golden is approx 60 lbs..

One of my other posts descibes t/d's in detail.

Talk to you soon.