Experts offer tips on living with a dog

Toy tip

Dogs don't make distinctions well, so dog toys shouldn't resemble household items, trainer Allison Jamison Woosley said.

They see no difference between an old shoe you give them and your $300 pair. Soft chew toys seem little different from your child's beloved teddy bear. Pillows with fringe might be mistaken for your tug-of-war rope.

Time limit

The Kentucky Humane Society in its obedience classes teaches that dogs have an attention span of about two seconds for you to catch them being good and reinforce it. The same works for being bad.

If you punish your dog for something he destroyed five hours ago or even five minutes ago, he has no idea why you're ranting. He may look guilty, but that cowering is just a reaction to your angry voice. Let it go.

Caught in the act

If you catch your dog in the act of chewing something he shouldn't, the Dumb Friends League/Humane Society of Denver advises interrupting the behavior with a loud noise and offering him an acceptable chew toy instead. Praise him lavishly when he takes the toy in his mouth.

You also can practice a "drop it" command for those times when he picks up an off-limits item. Offer a yummy treat to trade for the object.

Coming clean

For potty accidents on your carpet, dog experts recommend enzyme-based cleaners that totally eliminate the odor. Otherwise your dog will continue to use the same spot.

Trainer Woosley recommends Nature's Miracle or Kids 'N' Pets brands, available at Target and most pet stores. She said OxyClean works well on yellow stains.

"I have also used Odormute, available at Feeders Supply. I used this on my entire house when my dogs got skunked a few years back. It worked great!" she said

Another tip from Woosley: You should never use heat, such as the heat setting on a steam cleaner, to clean up a urine stain. The heat will just bind it to the carpet fibers.

Preventive measures

Trainer Marilyn Donlon says that, while Grannick's Bitter Apple is often recommended as a deterrent to chewing, it doesn't work for some dogs.

Instead, she recommends a product called Fooey, which its maker calls "the most bitter stuff on earth." It can be especially important if your dog chews on electrical wiring. "But you have to spray it on every day," she advised.

Games to stimulate your dog's mind don't have to be expensive, Donlon says. Here's one: Put a dog cookie on the floor under a flat piece of Tupperware. The dog will have to figure out how to flip it over to get the treat.

A little freedom

How much freedom to give your dog in the house? Over a period of time, check it out, says Donlon.

Leave long enough to walk out to the garage. If all's well when you return, next time venture into the yard. Later walk down the block. The next time get in the car and drive around the block. These jaunts condition your dog to your absence and to the fact that you will return.

Though she wouldn't give a dog free rein in the house, it can help you decide whether instead of crating your dog, you can allow a bit more dog-proof room.

Reference: www.courier-journal.com

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