Freaky Fido

02/04/2023

Wow!

02/04/2023

😱😱 😱😱 😱😱 😱😱
(Credit: Mark Parisi)

02/04/2023

how cute !!!

02/04/2023

Asleep in moms purse Mini Doxie

28/07/2022

Obedience Training for Your Freaky Fido

One thing about dogs — they WANT to please their masters. Now, cats don't feel the same way. Cats pretty much do as they please, but dogs want to make the people they love happy (I personally can attest to both). And because dogs want to please you, obedience training is simply done by helping the dog to understand what you want him to do. If he understands, he will do what you tell him to do.

It's important to understand that dogs, ALL DOGS, are pack animals. And it's really important to understand that a pack has only one alpha dog — one leader. When you get a puppy, you and your family become his pack. From the puppy's point of view, every pack must have a leader. If you aren't the alpha dog, the boss, the pack leader, your puppy WILL assume that role.

There are only two choices, the way the puppy sees it: either YOU'RE the boss, or HE'S the boss. It'll be better for both of you if you are the boss. You'll both be happier. One way to establish yourself as the alpha dog in your puppy's world is to initiate obedience training as early as possible.

Obedience training is also done for the safety of the dog. Just like a child, you can't take care of and protect a dog that won't mind you. When you say "come," the dog must come to you. When you say "sit," he needs to stop what he's doing and drop his behind onto the ground. When you say "stay," he needs to stay exactly where he is until YOU release him. No physical restraint is needed to control a dog that has been adequately trained in obedience.
You'll find millions of books on the subject. You can look in your local phone directory to locate a licensed trainer in your area. Do what you must, but make certain that your dog has obedience training at the earliest possible time.

Training never stops. Stay tuned for more tips and tricks to help you through the “ruff” patches with your Freaky Fido!

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28/07/2022

How do I choose the right Freaky Fido for my family/lifestyle?

Dogs are not man-made. They don't come off an assembly line, so that one is identical to the one before and the one after. Like humans, all dogs are different. All of the dogs of a specific breed aren't exactly the same. There are certain traits that are more predominate in certain breeds, of course, but that doesn't mean that every single dog of that breed will exhibit those traits.
There have probably been more words of advice written about "choosing the right dog" than on any other dog issue. There have been lots of words written about crate training, obedience training, potty training, and on and on and on. And all of those subjects are important. But the first order of business is to choose a dog that is right for you and can adapt to your lifestyle.

If you live in a small apartment and work at a full-time job, a big, active dog is probably not the best choice for you. If you are past the prime of life, a little high-energy dog like a Jack Terrier won't be a good choice for you. On the other hand, if you and your family live a very active lifestyle and engage in a lot of physical activity a Shih Tzu isn't going to adapt well either.

You need to learn about predominate traits of the different breeds before you choose a canine companion. The same is true about mixed-breed dogs. Their heritage still lives. If a puppy is the product of several different breeds, he will exhibit the predominate traits of one or more of those breeds.

Choosing the right dog is a two-part process. You need to choose a dog that will easily adapt to your lifestyle, and you need to choose a dog that will like your lifestyle.

Training never stops. Stay tuned for more tips and tricks to help you through the “ruff” patches with your Freaky Fido!

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05/07/2022

Help! How do I trim my Freaky Fido’s Nails?
Trimming a dog's nails is called a pedicure, not a manicure. It's really best for you to get a vet or one of his or her assistants, or a professional dog groomer to demonstrate cutting your dog's nails before you actually do the job yourself.
You don't need instruction, because trimming dog's nails is a difficult job. It isn't. It's actually very simple, but you want to be sure that you don't hurt the dog. It's actually more important to know what NOT to do. You don't want to cut back into the quick. If you do, it will cause pain for the dog, but it will also open his or her body to germs, bacteria, and fungi that can make him or her ill.
All dogs don't need to have humans trim their nails. The nails of most of the larger breeds of dogs that spend most of their time outdoors will simply thin and flake off. No trimming is necessary.
But for almost all dogs that spend most of their time indoors, nail trimming needs to be part of regular grooming. He needs a bath. He needs his ears cleaned. He needs his teeth brushed, and he needs his nails trimmed.
The type of nail trimmer you choose will be based on the size of your dog's nails. The Resco type is the one that is the easiest to learn to use and is suitable for most dog breeds, but the Safari Claw type might be needed for large-breed dogs with particularly large nails like basset hounds, for example.
Examine the nail clippers closely. They don't look like the nail clippers used by humans. Put the main part of the trimmer in the palm of your hand. The moveable part is controlled by your fingers. Now squeeze the handle. You should be able to see the small cutting blade that slides as you squeeze.
To trim safely (if a white nail) cut the white tip off, but do not cut into the pink area. That is the quick and cutting into it is essentially the same feeling if you cut your own nail back until it bled. A black nail is a lot more difficult as you cannot see the quick. For dogs with black nails, I simply nip the tips off on a more frequent basis vs. accidentally cutting back too far.
If you do clip too deep, the nail will bleed. For some dogs the pain of too deep of a clip can make it very hard to cut their nails in the future. If it happens, the same product a man can use on his face to stop bleeding from a razor cut can be used on your dog’s nail. I call it Quick Stop, but you can probably find it under other names as well.
The beautiful thing about a good nail trim is not only is it more comfortable for your dog, it saves wear and tear on your floors, furniture, clothing, and skin. It’s also very noticeable sound-wise. Your dog’s nails properly trimmed makes them “stealth” in comparison to the loud clicking of an untrimmed nail.
Give it a try. You might surprise yourself. If you find it too difficult or your dog is very uncooperative (some are; especially with their owners), most vets, groomers, boarders, and even some shelters will hold Pedicure Days. In my area it’s currently around $15.00 per dog although it may be higher in yours.
Learning and training never stops. Stay tuned for more tips and tricks to help you through the “ruff” patches with your Freaky Fido!

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05/07/2022

HELP! Freaky Fido is Chewing Everything in Sight!
How Do I STOP THE CHEWING?

One of the biggest problems we dog owners face other than house breaking is chewing and dogs can find things to chew in a seemingly empty room! One of my dogs took turns between my shoes (just my shoes, not my husband’s), the stair railing and then finally chewed the cabinet door of my kitchen cupboard! The area he chewed was about 4 inches wide and went almost the full length of the door. As if this wasn’t bad enough, in the same day she also chewed up a rather expensive book, my husband’s brother had lent him to read. His chewing was beginning to get expensive and it was time for me to focus on teaching him not to chew on things.

With a new puppy, it is becoming quite evident that I need to bring out my anti-chewing tips and tricks. So far our Dixie Pop has chewed up two phone chargers in 3 days!

Research shows that chewing is a normal pattern for dogs. Believe it or not one of the biggest reasons dogs chew is to relax. Stress, anxiety, or the separation of you being away at work could be other reasons. Your puppy may chew because he is teething, and just like a baby it hurts (a lot). The bottom line is no matter the cause, this is a destructive habit that needs to be addressed as quickly as possible.

I found with my dog that giving her a frozen rawhide bone helps a bunch. It is a wonderful way to begin breaking this habit. I always kept a few in the freezer for her. Because some dogs’ attention spans aren’t much larger than a gnat when they’re left to their own devices, it is a good idea to get 10-12 rawhides chews to freeze, put half of them down, then the next day (every few days works as well), rotate them back to the freezer and put down the other half. Each one smells a little different and this gives her a variety of things to chew on without endangering my furniture or shoes!

I also provide my dogs with lots of toys. In fact according to my hubby, they are ridiculously spoiled with toys. (They actually have 3 toy boxes, but I am donating the gently used contents of one to a local rescue.)

The truth is you can never have too many of them and I know they get a lot of comfort from them, even when I am not around. Playing with your dog and his toys helps him to learn that they are fun to play with and chew and eventually he will choose them over other items he isn’t supposed to have.

It seems like common sense, but as a warning: NEVER GIVE A DOG AN OLD SHOE OR SOCK AS A TOY! He won’t know the difference between the ones he can have and the ones he isn’t supposed to have.

Boredom is another reason a dog will chew. He can’t go to school or work each day, doesn’t understand the drama of soap operas, and can’t use the internet or talk and text his friends on the phone. So he chews out of boredom! This is another training issue solved by chew toys and I find it’s definitely worth all the times you have to trip over and pick up those toys!

Finally, remember that supervision is key when it comes to stopping your things from being chewed up. If you leave your “chewer” unsupervised all day or night, expect to find all sorts of things chewed up that you never would expect. Rather than becoming upset, it is best to deter the behavior in the first place. That’s where crate training really comes in handy, but that is a different lesson for a different day.

Always remember training never stops. Stay tuned for more tips and tricks to help you through the “ruff” patches with your Freaky Fido!

05/07/2022

05/07/2022

Puppy Crate Training for Newbies

Somewhere deep inside that absolutely adorable puppy that you've just adopted lie genes that tell him that he needs a den. Dogs have always wanted a den — a place that they consider safe and comfortable. So the first thing to get into your head when you begin crate training that puppy is that you're not mistreating him. You are actually providing a safe and comfortable "den" for him.

Crate training is an essential part of creating peace and harmony when humans and dogs live together. Crate training will make the dog happy and satisfied, and crate training will also aid in housebreaking because it takes advantage of the dog's natural reluctance to soil its sleeping place, or den.

Crate training can also help to reduce separation anxiety, prevent destructive behavior like chewing furniture, keep a puppy away from potentially dangerous household items like poisons and electrical cords, and to serve as a portable indoor doghouse that can be moved from room to room whenever necessary.

First, you need to let your puppy come and go into and out of the crate as he wants to until he figures out that the crate isn't a trap. Make a game of it. Place the puppy's toys at the very back of the crate so that the puppy recognizes the crate as a "happy" place rather than as a place of confinement.

Add bedding to the crate. Dogs like a soft towel or pillow to curl up on. And if the puppy will be left for more than two hours in the crate, be sure to add a water bowl that attaches to the side of the crate. During the early days of crate training, the crate should be placed close to YOU when you are home. This will help to relieve any separation anxiety the puppy may be feeling.

Crate training is simple, and it's an effective way to make living together pleasant for both of you. Training never stops. Stay tuned for more tips and tricks to help you through the “ruff” patches with your Freaky Fido!

23/06/2022

Having a Sense of Humor About My Dogs’ Training Helps, A LOT!

Trust me when I tell you there are two things you must remember when you are training your dog, these are:

*Patience, never get in a hurry when you are training your dog, I guarantee he will pick up on your anxiety and won’t learn a thing.
*Keep your sense of humor in tact; it will really come in handy during those unexpected training blunders!

What exactly is a training blunder? Well let’s see, it’s the time when you are teaching your dog to fetch a ball and he brings back the neighbor gardening gloves, with your neighbor still in them.
Or housebreaking him and you believe it has been successful, until you walk into the laundry room and realize that he has learned to hide his mistakes, in the laundry pile. These are training blunders, and you must maintain a sense of humor about them.

You just continue with whatever lesson you are working on, or go back to the one he didn’t really learn the first time, like being housebroken.

Never lose your temper with him when he makes a mistake, it just reinforces the bad behavior, and he will pick up on the anger and frustration you are feeling. If you get mad and chase him, he probably will just think you want to play.

If you take away something he has chewed and give him a rawhide chew, he has learned that by chewing up your favorite shoe, he can get a treat.

Dogs are much smarter than most people give them credit for, and like children they are very literal, we need to be aware of this when we are training them, and keep a sense of humor and patience all the time, even during the worst of training blunders.
Training never stops. Stay tuned for more tips and tricks to help you through the “ruff” patches with your Freaky Fido!

13/06/2022

Meet Dixie Pop! She found her forever home with us over Memorial Day weekend. She is Miss Personality and is settling in well with her brother Ringo and sister Belle.

29/04/2022

Are car rides with your dog fun? Do you drive your dog or does your dog try to drive for you? Let’s not even talk about other behaviors like unrelenting whining and going back and forth from the front seat to the back seat over and over again. Have dog problems? Make sure to like, share, and message me.

29/04/2022

Do you walk your dog or does your dog walk you? Are you overpowered by your dog and find it impossible to start the training process for fear of being injured? Have dog problems? Make sure to like, share, and message me.

23/04/2022

Ever tell your dog to sit and stay, you turn around literally two seconds later and they're GONE without a trace? Then they show up at the house an hour later having been sprayed by a skunk and this is just the beginning of your problems. Have dog problems? Make sure to like the page and message me.