If you want to be sure your dog gets the best of treatment in a loving home, make sure it is well trained
It was just a few days before Christmas when I got a knock on the door. My Christmas present had arrived but it didn’t look like a box of shoes nor did it resemble a new wardrobe; this present was alive and kicking, literally. A tiny puppy wrapped in a red bow was handed to me and that was the moment I fell in love with the new man in my life. I loved cradling him and playing with him and didn’t even mind cleaning the ‘accidents’ that occurred at least every half hour. Fast forward two months and I’m losing my mind, torn between love and hate. If it wasn’t for his big, puppy eyes, I swear I would’ve been hunted down by an animal charity by now. Coming home to a trashed house is not my idea of cute and fun, so it was time to bring in the big guns.
You hear about people who have had similar experiences; a new puppy may sound like a good idea but there is a lot of hard work involved. But unless you’re willing to be tied down by a four-legged creature that would give a three-year-old child a run for its money, purchasing a puppy could turn out to be your worst nightmare. It needs patience, and a lot of it. However, in my case, I also needed a bit of advice.
Donna Kyriacou owns a pet hotel and is also a pet trainer. She lives in a secluded house in the Ayia Napa area, surrounded by trees and dogs. With Tano (my new arrival) in tow, I was on my way. “You know, he’s just being a dog, right?” she said. “He’s a three-month-old puppy that’s just doing what he’s meant to do and that’s explore his surroundings and chew on everything within reach.” She paused and then said: “Because you let him!” I was shocked but did feel there was some truth to what she was saying.
Dogs need to be taught how to behave from a young age and although most of us think there is no need to train a small dog or any kind of dog unless you’re planning to show them, this is wrong.
“Many people think dogs have human qualities and in some cases this may be true but unless you spend time with the dog or send it to a training camp, you won’t be able to reap the benefits of having this friend for life,” Donna said, pointing towards a cage situated in a corner of her open plan living room. Inside a dog was fast asleep and Donna explained that although it may look cruel, this crate, as it is properly called, “is the best thing for the animal and you because you are restricting it and teaching him who the leader is and who the follower is. Right now, having the puppy roaming around your house at its own freewill is asking for trouble.”
Donna trains all her dogs to get used to the crate and tells all her clients to do the same in the case of a house pet. With slightly bigger dogs, she uses a leash. “It’s the perfect way to get a dog to trust you, walk tidily next to you, as opposed to pulling you, and generally be more well-behaved and obedient.” But there’s also another trick, I remember learning when I sent my other dog, a Giant Schnauzer to training camp. Treats are perhaps the only way to get a dog to listen to you and do whatever it is you ask of them. It’s a form of appraisal, something vital when training a dog.
“Pet shops have a wide range of different types of treats but cheese is also a good and inexpensive way to get your dog to simply sit down. She demonstrated on Tano and I could hardly believe it when after five minutes my little terror was sitting down, completely still. Unbelievable! All that was required was patience, a steady tone of voice and, of course, food.
To contact Donna call her at: 23 725572
COMMON PROBLEMS
I had a few questions for Donna regarding various problems I was facing with Tano and here’s what she had to say:
He loves my shoes and so do I. So I need to stop him from chewing on them. How do I do that?
Apart from the obvious, which is to keep your shoes out of his sight and always keep bedroom doors closed, when you come face to face with your shoe in your dog’s mouth it is essential to remain calm. First of all, don’t scream and yell at him because he won’t know what you’re telling him off for. Simply grab his favourite toy and use it as a way to take his attention away from the shoe, while you slowly take it from him.
Every time he’s in the mood to play and I’m walking around the house, he tugs at my trousers. How do I avoid this?
Puppies see everything as a game, so if you try to shake him off, he will persist even more. So, stop walking when he does this, pick him up and set him aside. When he stops and just sits there, give him a treat.
I enjoy playing with him but he tends to bite my hands. How do I stop this?
When he starts biting your hand, stop playing with him, so you’re not encouraging him to do it. As for play time, you should generally play with your dog for 10 minutes every day with a specific toy that’s only available at that time. That way it’s more fun for him and you because you are interacting and bonding.
As soon as I get home, he gets excited and pees. What’s that all about?
When they’re young, excitement puts pressure on the bladder and after being alone all day, he’s bound to get a bit excited when he sees you. To avoid this, when you get home, do not pay any attention to him for at least a couple of minutes. Do not pick him up, just ignore him.
When I put him in the crate, do I give him anything to play with?
Yes, definitely. Try putting some treats in there to get him used to it but never close the door behind him because he will feel like you are trapping him. Give him a toy that stimulates him, something he enjoys like a kong, which is basically a toy you can put food in. It will tire him but he’ll love it.
Perhaps every dog owner’s worst nightmare is housetraining. How can that be properly achieved?
You should know that puppies urinate after sleeping, eating, playing and generally after every activity. Otherwise, every 20 minutes you should keep looking out for him because he’s young and will pee anywhere it suits him. Newspapers are a great idea but find a place that suits you and don’t move them around because the puppy will just keep going there. Again the treats are very important as it is a way to tell the puppy it’s done a good job by going outside or on the newspaper as opposed to the rug or floor. As he gets older, slowly fold the newspaper to form a smaller spot, so you don’t have a floor full of papers.
Hotel
Friends and family might be willing to take in your kids for a weekend but what about your dog? Let’s face it, not everyone is a dog person and it takes someone with a certain amount of experience to look after your pooch. And this is where dog hotels come in.
Although dog hotels offer everything from kennels to food, there are a few things you need to prepare your dog for. Donna Kyriacou of Dancy Dog Hotel says that this involves mostly the necessary vaccinations. “Dogs should also be vaccinated for kennel cough,” she says. “It’s not part of the standard vaccinations, so ask your vet to do it before you take your dog to a hotel.”
Most hotels take up to 10 to 15 dogs. A number higher than that may mean your dog isn’t getting the necessary attention and you should carefully consider your options before making a final decision. “I usually pair them up based on their personality so as to avoid fights but with 10 dogs, it’s easy to control them and dedicate enough time to all of them.”
Hot Dogs: 70 00 18 88 (Nicosia)
Happy Valley: 25-253020 or 99-447313
