• Reducing Urine-Marking Behavior in Dogs and Cats
  
• Caring for Your Dog: Top Five Essentials
  
• Bringing You New Dog Home
• Removing Pet Stains and Odors
• Summer Care Tips for You and You’re Pets
  
• Dogs Destructive Chewing
  

Reducing Urine-Marking Behavior in Dogs and Cats

What Can You Do?
Much like the miners during the gold rush, dogs and cats are territorial animals. They “stake a claim” to a particular space, area or object. They let other people and animals know about their claim by marking it using a variety of methods at different levels of intensity. For example, a dog may bark to drive away what he perceives to be intruders in his territory. A cat may mark a valued object by rubbing her head against it. Urine marking is a more extreme form of the same behavior. Ways to stop your pet's urinne marking behavior include:

• Spay or neuter you pet as soon as possible. (If he has been urine-marking for along time, the pattern may already be established)
• Resolve conflict between other animals in your home
• Restrict you pet’s access to doors and windows through which he can observe animals outside
• Keep your cats indoors. (They will insure safety, a longer life, and less need to mark his territory)
• Clean soiled areas thoroughly. (Don’t use strong-smelling cleaners, this may cause your pet to “over mark”
• Use a cleaner made specifically for pet stains - these generally contain agents that break down the enzymes that encourage your pet to mark the same place again.
• Make previously soiled areas inaccessible or attractive.
• Keep objects likely to cause marking out of reach
• If you pet is marking in response to a new resident in your home (such as a roommate or spouse), have the new resident make friends with your pet by feeding, grooming, and playing with him. If you have a new baby, make sure good things happen to your pet around the baby.

• Outfit your dog with a collar and ID tag that includes your name and contact information.
• Follow local laws for licensing your dog and vaccinating him for rabies
• Take your dog to the veterinarian for regular check-ups
• Spay or neuter your dog
• Be loyal and patient with your faithful companion

Bringing Your New Dog Home
So you’ve taken the plunge and adopted a dog of your own. Congratulations! What do you do now?

• Collar and leash
• Water and food bowl
• Toys
• Identifications tag

• Try to arrange the arrival of your new dog for a weekend or when you can be home for a few days
• Spend some quality time together
• Remember not to neglect other pets and people in your household

• If you already have dogs or cats at home, make sure they are up-to-date on their shots and in good health before introducing your new pet dog.
• Take your new dog to the veterinarian within a week after adoption.
• If your dog has not been spayed or neutered, make that appointment!

House Rules

Work out your dog-care regimen in advance among the human members of your household. Decide things like:

• Who will walk and feed him?
• Will Fido be allowed on the couch, or won’t he?
• Are there any rooms in the house that are off –limits?

• Always assume that your new pet is not housetrained, and work from there. Read over the housetraining information given to you at the time of the adoption

• Crates may look to you like the canine equivalent of a jail cell, but to your dog, who instinctively likes to den, it’s a room of his own.
• Do not crate your dog all day, or he will consider it a jail cell.
• The crate should not contain wire where his collar or paws can get caught.
• He should be able to stand up, turn around and sit comfortably in normal posture

• Dogs need an active life
• That means you should plan plenty of exercise and game time for your pet.
• If running in the park is too energetic for your tastes, try throwing a ball or a stick, or just going for a long walk together.
• If you are visiting family or friends, bring your dog and a leash along

• Be reasonable in your expectations. Life with you is a different experience for your new companion, so give him time to adjust. You will soon find out that you have made a friend for life.

Removing Pet Stains and Odors
You know how it goes: The minute you turn your back, your pet decides that your new carpet is the perfect place to relieve himself. You clean, but you can’t get rid of that smell. What can you do?

• Machine wash as usual, adding a one-pound box of baking soda to your regular detergent. Air the items for best results.
• If your pet urinates or defecates on the sheets or blankets on a bed, cover the bed with a vinyl, flannel backed tablecloth when you begin the retraining period.

• For new stains,those that are still wet, soak up as much of the urine as possible with a combination of newspaper and paper towels.
• The more fresh urine you remove before it dries, the easier it will be to remove the odor
• Place a thick layer of newspaper on the wet spot, cover with a paper towel and another thick layer of newspaper. Stand on this padding for about a minute. Remove the padding and repeat the process until the area is barely damp

• To remove all traces of heavy stains in carpeting, consider renting an extractor or wet vac
• When using these machines or cleaners please follow the instructions carefully. Don’t use any chemicals with these machines as they work more effectively with plain water
• Once the area is clean, use a high-quality pet odor neutralizer; many are available at pet supply stores

• Don’t leave pets in parked cars for any period of time.
• On a warm day even with the windows cracked, the temperature in a car can reach 120 degrees in a matter of minutes.
• It's very dangerous, and in some states illegal, to drive with a dog in the back of a pick-up truck.
• Summer is often a time when people fertilize their lawns and work in their gardens. But be aware: Plant food, fertilizer, and insecticides can be fatal if your pet ingests them.
• Make sure your pet is always wearing a collar and identification tag
• Your pets and pools can equal disaster. Prevent free access to pools and always supervise a pet in a pool.
• Provide plenty of water and shade for your pets while they’re enjoying the great outdoors so they can stay cool.
• Pets need exercise even when it is hot, but extra care needs to be taken with older dogs, short-nosed dogs and those with thick coats.
• Use only flea and tick treatments recommended by your veterinarian. Some over-the-counter flea and tick products can be toxic, even when used according to instructions.
• Pets can get sunburned too, and your pet may require sunscreen on his or her nose and ear tips.
• Don’t take your pets to crowed summer events such as concerts or fairs.

• Take responsibility for your own belongings: if you don’t want it in your dog’s month, don’t make it available.
• Keep clothing, shoes, books, trash, eyeglasses, and remote control devices out of your dog’s reach
• Don’t confuse your dog by offering him shoes and socks as toys and then expecting him to distinguish between his shoes and yours.
• Until he knows the household rules confine him when you‘re unable to keep an eye on him.
• Give your dog plenty of time and attention.
• If you catch your dog chewing on something he shouldn’t interrupt the behavior with a loud noise, offer him an acceptable chew toy instead, and praise him lavishly when he takes the toy in his mouth.
• Have realistic expectations. At some point your dog will inevitably chew up something you value; this is often part of the transition to a new home
• Remember that your dog needs time to learn house rules and you need to remember to take precautions and keep things out of his reach.

• He’s left alone for long periods without opportunities to interact with you.
• His environment is relatively barren, lacking playmates or toys.
• He’s a puppy or adolescent (under three years old) and he doesn’t have other outlets for his energy.
• He’s particularly active type of dog (like the herding or sporting breeds) who needs to be occupied to be happy.

• Play with your dog daily in a safe, fenced in area. Playing fetch is a great way to use up your dog’s excess energy without wearing you out too!
• Go for a walk! Walks shouldn’t be just for “bathroom time”.
• On the leash walks are important opportunities for you and your dog to be together. Allow time for sniffing, exploring, instructions, and praise.
• Teach your dog a few commands or tricks and practice them daily.
• Dog training classes; are fun, and such classes teach commands important for your dog’s safety and give you and your dog time to work toward a common goal.
• Provide your dog with lots of appropriate toys. Rotate your dog’s toys to refresh his interest in them.
• Consider a good “doggie day care” program for two or three days a week to help your dog work off some of his excess energy.

• A change in the family’s schedule that leaves your dog alone more often
• A move to a new home
• The death or loss of a family member or another family pet.
• A period at a shelter or boarding kennel.
• Remember: That these behaviors are not motivation