NYC DOG WALKERS Expert Guide to Dog Ownership and NYC Dog Walking

By Paul Columbia, NYC Dog Walkers

http://www.nycdogwalkers.com

Big city Dog ownership is time consuming, expensive, requires advance planning and hiring a dog walking service.

Here we will help you with what to do, not do, what to expect and how to go about successfully meeting the challenges of dog ownership in an urban environment.

Get ready!

Successfully handling the challenges of dog ownership and dog walking in an urban environment like New York City are not easy but, make it work and the rewards are incalculable.

Finding and choosing your new puppy:

If you have already purchased your dog at a pet store, enjoy your new puppy and the new addition to your family.

If you are thinking about adding a new puppy to your family, purchase your puppy from a reputable dog breeder. Many pet stores obtain their puppies from puppy mills. Over breeding by puppy mills can cause genetic problems and in my experience, puppies from pet stores tend to have a lot of health issues. A money back guarantee won’t do you any good once you have fallen in love with your new puppy.

If you would prefer not to utilize the services of a breeder, make regular visits to your local ASPCA or animal shelter until you find the puppy or dog that is right for you and your family.

Choose a breed that fits your life style and expectations:

Do a search on the internet and identify which breed is right for you.

All dogs need exercise. Some breeds need more exercise than others.

For example: Large dogs that are in the hunting or working class categories need a lot of exercise.

Most behavioral issues (barking, destructive chewing etc.) are related to inactivity. 

Plan on walking your hunting/working class breed, yourself, at least 2 times per day for 60 minutes, with a minimum 30 minute walk from your dog walking service in the afternoon or 2 - 45 minute walks per day yourself and a good 60 minute walk in the afternoon by your dog walking service.

Note: It isn’t necessary to run with your dog, regardless of the breed. Nice, fast paced walks will provide your dog with plenty of exercise and are actually better for your dog than running. Running on hard surfaces is tough on the joints and can easily cause heat exhaustion in the summer. Take a moment to observe dogs off leash. They don’t run continuously. They run for 15 – 30 seconds, stop, sniff around, walk, sniff around, walk and then run again for 15 – 30 seconds.

Make an appointment with your veterinarian in advance of bringing your new puppy home.

Schedule your first visit within the first two days of bringing your pup home.

It is estimated that in NYC we are living with more than 10 rats for every human. Diseases found in the city are greater than those found in the suburbs. Start or continue with all of the vaccinations recommended by your veterinarian. Check with your Veterinarian to see when it will be safe to take your pup outside. Many Veterinarians will recommend keeping your pup in the apartment until you conclude the vaccination process. Other Veterinarians are ok with taking your pup outside providing your pup does not have contact with other dogs and of course are not allowed contact with other dogs eliminations.

Hiring a Dog Walking Service:

Before you make the decision to purchase you puppy call and speak with dog walking services. Dozens of dog walking services are listed on the internet. Ask to set up a meeting with your dog walker prior to your first walk.

Ask if they offer both private walks and semi-private group walks?

Do they have a maximum number of dogs allowed to walk in a group?

Verify that they never leave their dogs unattended outside while they are picking up additional dogs in the group.

All reputable dog walking services are bonded and insured.

Ask how frequently the service turns over personnel and do they check references and do background checks prior to hiring their walkers?

Will you have the same dog walker every day?

What is their plan if your dog walker is out sick or needs a day off?

What their cancellation policy?

Do they accept credit cards and how do they process the card transactions?

Do they have a direct, electronic link to the bank to process your transaction or do they use a third party service to process your credit card?

Which third party billing service do they use?

Do they handle puppies differently than they handle walks for mature dogs?

Do they take their dogs to the city’s dog runs?

Dog Runs and dogs off leash:

Pet insurance companies all make it very clear that their policies don’t cover dogs off leash and in dog runs. Insurance companies do risk assessment analysis and have found that most accidents happen off leash and in dog runs. The reason why dog runs are dangerous is because dog walking services walking dogs in large packs use dog runs as large unsupervised play pens in the mornings and afternoons, during the week. The best time to take your dog to a dog run and go off leash are on the weekends when dog owner are present.

Hiring a dog trainer:

Remember, a dog trainer is there to train you how to train your dog, not train your dog for you. Dog training is all about repetition and positive reinforcement of training issues.

Unless you have a very large breed or a breed with breed specific, protective and territorial issues, I advise clients to go to amazon.com, review the hundreds of dog training DVD’s for sale. Pick one that focuses on positive reinforcement of training issues and attempt to train your puppy yourself. A good video allows you to stop, rewind, fast forward and revisit training issues at you and your dogs own speed.

Remember, aggression and most behavioral issues coincide with inactivity. A happy, calm, well socialized, dog is a dog that gets a lot of exercise.

Training your dog to behave well in the city:

Unless you are planning on signing your pup up for a job in the circus, there are really only 7 commands your pup really needs to know and your pup really needs to know and respond to these commands. Keep the commands consistent and simple. Use one syllable words and use the same words to issue your commands all the time.

1. Come

2. Sit

3. Stay

4. OFF or Down (when jumping up on people)

5. Heel

6. No!

7. Drop it!

House breaking your pup – Crate Training and Crude Fiber:

Get your puppy a well ventilated wire crate with a plastic pan at the base and large enough to accommodate your pups growth for the first 6 months. It’s the fastest way to housebreak your pup. Place a soft old towel or two at the base of the crate.

First, you are not being unkind to your pup by crate training. Dogs are instinctively den animals and will quickly adapt to spending time during the day in a well ventilated wire crate. Never use the crate as a disciplinary tool. Always make spending time in the crate positive.

Crate training sets boundaries for your pup. It is nearly impossible for your puppy to understand that it is ok to eliminate on a wee-wee pad in the kitchen but not ok to eliminate in the hallway, living room or bedroom. Pups don’t want to eliminate where they sleep and realizing pups sleep most of the day, your pup will begin to exercise bladder and bowel control while in the crate.

Second, before the age of 12 – 16 weeks your pup has little to no control over eliminating (think in terms of an infant). Depending on your work schedule, make sure you schedule your dog walking service to take your puppy for walks in 4 hour intervals. Unless your pup has health issues, visits in intervals shorter than 3 – 4 hours are not necessary. Your pup will be maturing quickly physically and sleeping most of the day.

By the time your puppy is 6 – 7 months old your pup will have developed better bladder control, can transition out of the crate and to one good walk in the afternoon.

Crude Fiber: 

Make sure to check the crude fiber content on your pups dog food bag. Crude fiber is a natural laxative. Too much fiber and your pup will be eliminating throughout the day.

Too little fiber and your pup will be constipated.

Pick up after your dog:

Start saving your plastic bags and bring two or three bags with you on every walk. Reusing plastic bags is good for the environment and picking up after your dog is essential dog walking etiquette in NYC.

One of The Beatles!

Getting a puppy isn’t easy. It is expensive. There is a tremendous amount of preplanning and work involved. On the other hand the joys of dog ownership are incalculable. The relationship you will have with your dog will be one of unconditional love.

When I get home at the end of the day, regardless of how the day has been or the mood I am in, I open the door and there is Tino, my Yellow Labrador. His tail is wagging and he greets me like I’m one of The Beatles!

Lhasa Apso Dogs – Expert Free Tips

A Lhasa Apso dog is a wonderful companion and certainly an extremely important member of the family. They give unconditional love and expect nothing in return except love and attention. We can certainly learn a lot from our dogs can’t we?Your pet greets you with excitement, a wagging tail and dog kisses whether you have been away for one minute or for many weeks. I never get sick of this!Research has shown that pets, such as dogs and cats, reduce peoples stress levels and lower their blood pressure. Your Lhasa Apso can amuse and entertain you, keep you from getting bored and turn a bad or boring day into a great one. A dog loves you no matter what you wear or what you look like. They teach their owners about devotion, acceptance and patience and in return, you nurture your pets and care for them. In return, we, the owners try to teach our dogÕs acceptable behavior to prevent dog behavior problems, such as excessive barking. How Your Lhasa Apso CommunicatesYes, I know the picture is not of a Lhasa Apso, But I just couldn’t resist using this!OK. . . so when any dogs bark, growl, whine or even howl it is a natural and normal behavior and their way of communicating with each other and with their human families. Starting when they are young puppies they use vocalization to communicate. This may include crying sounds when they are frustrated, afraid, hurt, or soft whining sounds when they are hungry or cold. Older dogs make different sounds for different situations such as:* Whimpering or Whining Ð Dogs often use whining or whimpering as a means of communicating when they seek attention or show submissiveness when greeting other dogs. Many also whine when they are in pain, frustrated, lonely or want something, such as a dog treat or someone to take them for a walk. * Howling Ð Many dogs use howling as a long-range means of communicating. If a dog can hear another howling in the distance they often howl back as a form of communicating. Some howl when they hear sirens, certain music or go hunting. * Growling Ð As most owners will tell you, dogs growl not only as a warning, to show aggression, dominance and in defense but also when playing. A wagging tail and lots of movement may often accompany play growling. You can tell the difference between play and aggressive growling by a dogÕs posture; a dog that remains stationery, snarls or stares is using an aggressive growl and they are serious. * Dog Barking Ð Barking dogs and excessive barking are ways dogs communicate. Some breeds are trained to bark, such as working or herding dogs and guard dogs. Although barking is normal behavior often used to get attention show excitement and other emotions, excessive dog barking often creates many problems. For the most success with ; it is a good idea for you take the time to do a little online research. Tell Me About Excessive Lhasa Apso Barking Then. Lhasa Apso barking turns into a problem when it becomes loud, unwanted, inappropriate or excessive. When people hear continuous dog barking, is not only disruptive but also causes stress and annoyance to you and others, such as neighbors. Nervous, uneasy or lonely barking often happens when you leave your pet home alone and they experience separation anxiety or fear. As your Lhasa Apso becomes more upset, lonely or anxious, the barking gets higher and louder and quite often annoys neighbors. Many dogs think than when you close the door and leave you are never going to return and this starts the continuous, loud barking. What’s Your Lhasa Apso’s Environment Like?An uninteresting, boring environment that offers no stimulation often creates a bored barker, that makes a lot of noise as an outlet for his or her pent-up energy. Lhasa Apsos left alone outside or inside for long periods often demonstrate this continuous barking behavior. They are social animals, and when confined alone in a kennel or yard the result is excessive barking because they are bored or lonely and want some attention. Since nobody is there to stop them from barking, it almost becomes a hobby to themDogs love playing ball, Frisbee and other games with their owners and often bark when they become excited. Unfortunately, some get too excited and the dog barking turns into a major problem for anyone within hearing distance. Did You Know This?The percentage of male and female purebred and mixed bred Lhasa Apsos that bark excessively is essentially the same,Lhasa Apsos that do not get enough exercise often bark or whine to release tension. Some dogs seem to be very hypersensitive to movements and sounds around them. Often, when a person gets a new puppy and it barks, they yell at them to stop their barking. Unfortunately, a puppy takes this as a sign that you are answering them back so they continue and this eventually turns into excessive barking or inappropriate dog behavior. Sometimes owners unintentionally train their Lhasa Apso to bark by giving them the attention they want. If your Lhasa Apso barks to go in or out, for a treat, to play ball, for a tummy rub or other reasons, they learn quickly that barking will get results!How About Some Tips To Help Control Barking Then?Well, here are a few proven tips on teaching your Lhasa Apso to stop his or her excessive barking:* As amazing as it sounds, teaching your Lhasa Apso to speak or bark on command is a simple way to teach them to stop barking. Find something that gets them barking, such as holding their toy or treat away from them. Once they bark, praise them and keep repeating the word ÔspeakÕ. When you do this often enough, your Lhasa Apso learns that the word speak means bark and the dog will start barking on command. Now you teach them the word ÔstopÕ or ÔquietÕ. You do this when they are barking, say the word and give them their treat or toy. When repeated often enough, it doesn’t take long for your dog to figure out that saying the word quiet or stop, means for them to stop barking and they receive a reward. If someone comes into your home and you tell your dog ÔquietÕ and it stops barking, praise him or her and always keep reinforcing your dogÕs good behavior. * The best way to teach your dog to stop barking is by training them well when they are very young. If you have an older dog, don’t give up though!* There will be times when you must leave your dog alone. To get your pet used to this without barking, start by leaving the house just for a few minutes. Never make a fuss of your dog when you leave and after being gone a few minutes, come back in. Again, do not make a fuss of the dog. Gradually increase the time you are away but make it seem very natural so your dog knows you will return. This way they do not feel so stressed. * Some Lhasa Apsos are calmer when they hear a personÕs voice so try leaving the radio on low. * Try to keep your Lhasa Apso away from things that start him barking, for example looking out the window. Close your curtains or blinds and if this doesnÕt work, give the command ÔquietÕ or ÔstopÕ, then slam a book down or shake a can full or marbles, to make a loud noise. Once he is quiet, have him sit, praise the dog and give it a treat. * Exercise and mental stimulation are extremely important and help keep dogs from nuisance barking or exhibiting bad dog behavior. Letting your Lhasa Apso out in the yard for a few minutes is not enough exercise. Your pet needs a long walk, brisk exercise or playtime daily, to run off some of his energy and keep his barking controlled. Remember that a tired dog does not bark as much. When out walking, your dog smells and sees different sights, which keeps him from getting bored. Try teaching your Lhasa Apso new tricks or obedience training, as they need mental stimulation to keep them from barking. A Final Word For You. When properly exercised, rewarded and trained there are very few Lhasa Apsos that are unable to control their barking. It is very important to remember that dogs bark as part of their natural behavior, just like humans speak to communicate. Never try to eliminate dog barking entirely from their repertoire, and use only positive training methods to accomplish this. Most Lhasa Apso owners will be able to curb or prevent problem barking. Need Some More Help?I hope this short outline introduction to Managing Barking has been helpful to you. For further information, please consider the Insider’s Complete Guide To The Lhasa ApsoThis extensive Lhasa Apso training package includes a detailed and extensive Lhasa Apso Training System plus other extensive resources for best caring for your Lhasa Apso.