• Tie the puppy to you. Get a piece of clothesline about 10 feet long and tie a clip to each end. Clip one end to the puppy’s collar, the other end around your waist whenever he’s out of his crate. You’ll be able to know what he’s up to every moment, keep him from inappropriate chewing, stop him if he’s having an accident, and he’ll learn to walk on a leash and respect you as his leader.
• Buy him a crate. He will learn to accept the crate as his little den. A crate will confine him when he can’t be watched, will aid in his housebreaking, give him security at night or at nap time. Introduce it by throwing in a yummy treat and praising him when he goes in. Close the door behind him for only a second or two at first, then increase the time. The crate should be only large enough for him to stand up and turn around to be useful for housebreaking.
• Get a good book on raising a puppy if you haven’t raised one for a long time. Training and management methods have changed a lot in recent years as we learn more about dogs, their behavior and how they learn.
• Socialize, socialize, socialize! Your puppy needs to be exposed to new people, new dogs, new situations, new surfaces before he’s 4 months old or he risks being maladjusted and fearful or aggressive as an adult. Make sure his interactions with new experiences are happy and fun, not scary and stressful.
• Take him to a puppy class. Puppy classes are designed to teach you how to train your puppy, care for him, socialize him with people and other dogs and set him up for future learning. And -- it’s FUN!
• Remember, he’s just a baby. He has to learn house rules. He needs to chew to learn about things in his environment and for dental health. He may not be able to “hold it” all night until he’s almost 6 months old. He isn’t trained yet, and won’t be for some time. Be kind but firm and always consistent.
• Teach children how to behave around the puppy. Don’t let them harass him, tease him or hurt him. Children should not discipline a puppy - an adult should be the “pack leader.” Always supervise when children are with a dog or puppy and stop inappropriate behavior.
• Remember -- what gets rewarded gets repeated! Praise your puppy for good behavior and avoid petting or giving treats when he’s misbehaving. Many people inadvertently reward puppies for bad behavior. For example, distracting him with a treat while he’s chewing your slippers may seem like a reward to your dog. Keep in mind that every time you pet, praise or treat your dog, it is a reward for whatever he is doing at the time and he will be likely to do it again.

Dogs and Fireworks: A Top Ten Survival Guide

(YOUR COMPANY NAME) provides help for Memorial Day

(YOUR CITY) May XXX, 2007 - YOUR COMPANY NAME knows that with the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, dogs across the country will react with fear and anxiety to all the firework celebrations.

"The noise of fireworks can be extremely stressful for dogs," said YOUR NAME HERE, a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals and (YOUR TITLE -- OWNER, HEAD TRAINER, PRESIDENT) of (NAME OF YOUR BUSINESS) in (NAME OF YOUR CITY). "We recommend these top ten strategies to YOUR CITY's dog owners, to help them through the Memorial Day weekend."

1. DO expose your dog to loud, unexpected noises on a regular basis, especially leading up to an event that includes firework celebrations. Drop pot lids, toss a soda can with a few pennies in it, slam a door: anything to get your dog accustomed to being startled, so he can practice recovering quickly.

2. DO NOT bring your dog with you to a fireworks celebration.

3. DO provide your dog with a safe, comfortable place that will help her feel more secure amid the scary sights and sounds. Close the blinds to keep out the flashes of color in the sky, and turn up the television or some music to help muffle the sounds.

4. DO NOT put your dog in a crate; a panicked, frightened dog can easily injure himself in a crate.

5. DO ask your veterinarian if an herbal remedy or prescription sedative may be appropriate for your dog.

6. DO consider giving your dog a highly valued chew toy before the fireworks celebration begins, which may help to keep her mind off the disturbance.

7. DO attach a “house leash” to your dog, to act as an extra long handle, should your dog try to escape or run away.

8. DO NOT comfort or "baby" your dog if he is afraid. Dogs take their cue of how to behave from their owners; if you are acting "strange" by offering soothing words and gestures, your dog may interpret your actions as praise for being frightened, or as confirmation that the fireworks are truly scary.

9. DO act as normal and as "matter of fact" as possible, to help your dog understand that there is nothing to worry about.

10. Most importantly, DO ensure your dog is wearing proper identification in case he manages to escape.

"More dogs escape during holiday celebrations than at any other time," said YOUR LAST NAME. "With a little preparation and an understanding of how to help dogs through their fears, dog owners can help prevent their pet from becoming a statistic this Memorial Day weekend."

(YOUR NAME and/or NAME OF YOUR BUSINESS) offers (SHORT DESCRIPTION OF WHAT YOU DO, and WHERE YOU DO IT, with CONTACT INFO - website, e-mail and phone).

(YOUR NAME) is a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals, a group of trainers, veterinarians, kennel operators, dog walkers, retailers, and other professionals dedicated to the well being of dogs. With an IACP member, you know you're in Safe Hands. Visit the IACP website at www.dogpro.org.

For more information:

YOUR NAME

YOUR COMPANY NAME

YOUR E-MAIL

YOUR PHONE NUMBER

YOUR COMPANY provides help for Halloween

• LICKING lips or LIFTING one paw
• looking or trying to move AWAY
• excessive or exaggerated YAWNING
• sudden vigorous SCRATCHING, or becoming very STILL.

• Excessive drooling
• Excessive urination
• Pupil dilation (look at your dog’s pupil’s now, to learn what “normal” looks like)
• Rapid heartbeat
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Hyperactivity
• Muscle tremors and seizures
• Coma