TOY CARE COMMON SENSE

Circulate TOYS

For dogs who like to play with toys

Not only do you have to supervise toy use, it is your job to maintain those toys. Keep three or four sets of toys, in different buckets, bags, baskets or containers. To maintain your dogs interest in the toys, use a different bucket every couple of days. Mix them up. Rotating the toy buckets helps keep things clean and it is also useful in dog training. Keep a bucket for highly prized play items.  Toys can be great motivators for rewarding dogs and cats. Make note of which toys your pet favors so that you may employ them in bribery and reward. Keep those for special time in a special set.  Label the buckets; 1,2,3 and Special.  Many dogs value their security in terms of personal possessions. If your dog is so inclined, pay attention to those needs by seeing that the “stash” is protected and not raided. A towel or small blanket to hide the bucket or dish from view is often satisfactory. Change the play toys bucket every other day, keep the Specials for obedience praise. Toys not being used on a particular day can be cleaned if needed. 

Weekly, check toys for safety, wear and cleanliness. Wash kongs, hard rubber toys, frizbees and nylabones with a scrub brush, water and a bit of bleach, then dish soap and water, then rinse really well. The bleach will cut the saliva and the dog smell.

Launder fluffy toys by themselves, in a washing machine. Use hot water and unscented detergents. Dry the fluffy toys in the dryer. If they do not survive the laundry, you did not want them for your dog and do not repurchase them.  Even though the toys have been in the dryer, there will be water in the squeekers, so set them out in the air for a while before packing into the toy bin. Mold could be an issue. 

Once toys are dirty, throw them away if you do not want to launder them. Discard used rawhide chews; they can harbor bacteria. Check nylabones for rough or prickly edges and cut them off or file down, or discard when worn. Supervise toy use. Watch that powerful chewers do not break off bits. If swallowed they will cause problems by getting stuck in the dogs intestines. Never assume toys are safe.

DISCARD RAWHIDE CHEWS ONCE THEY ARE WORN OR COMING APART

DO NOT BE CONCERNED IF YOUR BOY DOG LIKES PINK....
SALMON IS PINK AND THAT IS A VERY STRONG SWIMMING  FISH.

ALL TOY USE REQUIRES SUPERVISION

 SOME DOGS LOVE ANY TYPE OF EASY PLASTIC SQUEAKER TOY. WASH THESE REGULARLY WITH WATER AND BLEACH TO PREVENT UGLIES GROWING INSIDE 

CHOSE THE CORRECT SIZE OF TOYS

LAUNDER STUFFED TOYS REGULARLY;  THROW OUT WHEN DAMAGED
BEYOND REPAIR

DO NOT ASSUME TOYS ARE SAFE. INSPECT AND RESEARCH DILIGENTLY

INSPECT CHEW BONES REGULARLY. DO NOT USE RAW BUTCHERS BONES

SWITCH UP THE TOY BUCKETS EVERY OTHER DAY

BUSTER ONLY HAS 3 LEGS BUT THAT DOES NOT SLOW HIM DOWN AT ALL. HE IS AN INCREDIBLE TOY COLLECTOR EXTRAODINAIRE!

CHECK BONES FOR WEAR AND ROUGH EDGES, SOME CAN BE FILED 

THIS END HAS BEEN FILED DOWN WITH A DREMEL TOOL

THE TOY STASH

STORAGE BINS WITH LIDS STACK WELL

BASKETS ARE OKAY IF DOG DOES NOT CHEW. NOT SAFE OTHERWISE 

PLACE ONLY CLEAN, DRY TOYS IN BINS

PLASTIC DOLLAR STORE BASKETS IDEA

SOME DOGS LIKE THEIR TOYS HIDDEN

LEASH STUFF

3 Places the dog can be for one week

On the leash chain collar on

In the crate collar off

In the Business Xpen collar on

BUDDY BROWN in the Business xpen

After 3 or 4 weeks dog is ready for some kitchen freedom, or expanded  enclosure area indoors. Some dogs within a week, but do not be in a hurry. Slower is better.

On walks position becomes more demanding. No free ranging in an easy controlled walk, but staying in close at heel.

ABOUT THE LEASH

Use the leash for everything; it is your communication device, it is your friend. Use the ribbon lead in the house and the leather leash outside.

When the dog is a leash length distance from you:

Shake the leash back and forth side to side to say hello heads up

Shake straight down whip like to say WHAT THE HELL!  Stop tugging. Change your pace or direction of travel.

Finger wiggle on the leash to say come here, use an encouraging voice. Gather leash in.

Beside you, in heel position:

 Click the leash straight up on a sit, dog needs help with haunch placement at first or snack enticement

Pop the leash straight forward to set off heeling, straight back to slow down. Make sure you change your pace.

Leash corrections in heeling must be in the direction of travel.

You cannot correct going in a circle or turn. It must happen as you go into the turn or circle or as you come out of it.

Listen for the sound of the chain shaking or clicking, that is the correct move.

Jones waiting for work

SOCIAL MEDIA SCHOOL

WHIPPET BIRTHDAY OPERA REPLAY

https://www.youtube.com/v/5OIPfUUW9z8?version=3&autohide=1&showinfo=1&autohide=1&autoplay=1&feature=share&attribution_tag=LRmYrNnttBgCmnE8c0kBUA%20%20What%20a%20whippet%20video!%20Copy%20the%20above%20and%20paste%20it%20in%20your%20browser%20address%20bar.


I LOVE this whippet video!

DOGS KEEP US GOING

A dog does not care what the daily schedule is as long as there IS a schedule. You must provide fresh water in a clean bowl twice daily minimum, feed in a freshly washed bowl daily, sort and clean bedding daily and go for a walk daily. Voila’ ready-made schedule no matter who or where you are.

 Put the dog to bed a sunset, so before bed walk should happen around dusk if possible. Get up at sunrise. Makes a short night at times, but that is dog training. One reason I think pets help us through depression is because they demand that we get with it, even if it is just for a short while.We keep on schedule and active for them when we can’t do it for ourselves.

Keeps me ticking

Learning to swim at Lexy's Dog Pool in Portland Oregon

Christie Springs with Toby and China

Keeping busy

JENNERS THE WHITE DOG

JENNERS

Jenners was obtained from the Calgary Humane Society where they believed she was a whippet cross. Well, no she wasn’t a whippet cross at all but there it was. She lived out the rest of her life at Anna Lee’s because she had been traumatized such that she needed skillful handling and was not suitable to move on to another home.  She was spooky for sure and had been in a puppy mill. Having pups taken in such a place mentally and physically destroys a dog. When we first got her she was a sad mess. Sometimes I question the motives of rescue groups which seldom clean dogs up adequately. Jenners was a perfect example of that. She was extremely broken down in the back end and she was filthy not having been clean up since forever. We soon became very good friends and she nursed me through many late work nights. One funny thing I recall about her was the time she swiped a bag of bread and a bag of hot dog buns out of the groceries as they were being brought into the house. She had wolfed it all down in half a second and hid the evidence by stashing the empty bags under her bed cushions. She was very quiet too. We never heard her bark; don’t know if she could bark actually. 

When a rescue dog has been through a lot, it can take months to see who they really are. Much time is needed just for observation and in gaining the dogs trust. Humans are not usually on their favorites list. They just need lots of resting in the private enclosure and crate, going on leash walks, visits to the outdoor expen and back in to the private enclosure, new toys and chews, grooming and all the perks. Training cannot begin until the dog is healthy and secure and in emotional control. The training to and from the crate to the outdoor business area and controlled walk on the leash is about all the training for a couple of months.

THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT FOR WALKING

Most rescued dogs already walk on the leash okay, but sometimes puppies and always new puppies need to learn a bit. Some dogs just walk on leash no worries, others throw a big fit.The slip collar when correctly placed on the dog will not allow him to escape unless you drop the leash. You must use a slip collar and a leather leash. NOT NEGOTIABLE. Other collars will allow the dog to back out of the gear and run away. People end up with the collar buckled too tight and it hurts the dog. Chain cloth combo collars cannot stop the dog from slipping out either. The slip chain is most comfortable when used correctly and is not unkind whatsoever. Some people refer to the chains as choke collars and indeed they will choke a dog but not if you tell him correctly what you want. I prefer to call the chain a "thinking necklace" or "brain chain".

If the dog will not follow you and backs up and bucks to get away, throwing a big fuss, ignore it. Get onto soft grass or not hard surface for safety in case of tantrums. Set off walking again. Just put your hands in your pockets, look where you are going and walk with great determination even if the dog yells.  Get going. Chitty chat to yourself. Do not look back at the dog, just go. He will drag and protest but not for long if you just get going and talk loud and happy. Pretty soon he will get his feet under himself and will catch up. Resist the urge to look back at the dog. Resist the urge to use food as bait. Wear soft soled footwear to save stepped on paws.

LEATHER LEASH AND CHAIN SLIP COLLAR

THESE ARE THE SUM TOTAL OF THE LEASHES AND COLLARS YOU NEED

WALKING TRAINED WHIPPETS

CLOTH SLIPS USED AFTER CHAIN TRAINED

Chain slip collars

cloth slip collars

COLLAR FOR DRESS UP ONLY NOT TRAINING note links

TRAINING COLLAR TOP DRESS UP COLLAR BOTTOM

Assembled to slip over dgos neck when dog is on handlers left side

CHAIN COLLAR SIZE SHOULD BE DOGS NECK SIZE PLUS TWO INCHES. SOMETIMES THREE INCHES BUT NO MORE THAT THAT

ONLY THIS TYPE OF CLIP IS NANA APPROVED

RIBBON LEADS

WHIPPETS AND GREYHOUND TOGETHER

ONCE DOG RESPONDS TO CHAIN TOTALLY YOU CAN SWITCH TO CLOTH SLIP FULL TIME IF COAT ALLOWS.
LONG HAIR TANGLES

WHIPPET AND GREYHOUND

CHAIN SLIP AND CLOTH SLIP, LEATHER LEASHES

WELL HEELED

BEFORE YOU GET A NEW DOG, PLAN AHEAD

Do research to see where to place the dog indoors and outdoors. It must be convenient for you to access and be comfortable for the dog. No basements or Garages. No locking in the laundry room or washroom. NOT NEGOTIABLE. Dogs are social pack animals. Do not isolate your dog or hell will ensue.

Plan to collect your new dog when you have two or three days off, even if  you work from  home. Even if you are always there as a homemaker, arrange it so your time is free for the dog. Have the equipment prepared and ready to use.

 So, your dog has traveled to your house in a car crate, or on the bus in a carry crate, whatever. Just be sure you have the genuine equipment for the task. Otherwise someone gets hurt. Once home, the  Leash and Collar are put on the dog to go from the crate to where the dog will do business from now on. Here again there are several possibilities depending on you and your situation. People with yards have dog run areas, people in apartments are restricted to on leash nature calls. No matter what, your dog will require a circular area about 16 feet in circumference about 5 ft across.  This is something to consider BEFORE you bring the dog home. We make all dogs over four months walk on leash to outdoor exercise area to go potty. Even Chihuahuas. Once your dog will do his duties in that spot, you can move on, but for the time being, this will be the potty exercise area and you will establish your pack authority. Freedom is earned over time.

So, take dog to the potty area which is ready ahead of time, and see if you get a woopoo or a puddle. If successful on both accounts, dog is brought to prepared indoor private enclosure, for twenty minutes of out of crate time and observance. After twenty minutes, give opportunity to relieve again at outside exercise area and then inside to crate. Observe. Is the dog quiet  in the crate and how easy it was to put your dog in crate? Sit on a chair and think about what is next.
Each time you take your dog out to the exercise potty area, you must use the leash and collar. Do not let the dog wander around your house off lead either. Use the ribbon leash indoors. Always use the leashes and collars recommended by Nana

Indoor private enclosure on washable floor is best

outdoors on washable gravel

Paving bricks with a patch of gravel is ideal for larger guys

Place the exercise area in close proximity to your door and washing facilities lie outdoor garden hose.

fencing can be wooden but make certain it is secure and comfortable

 Enclosures give you that secret measure of control

A strip of sidewalk along side of the house works we

Doing training research

Press the budget for a bedtime crate in bedroom  if possible

Bedtime crate

private enclosure crate and car travel crate

Use old sheets to cover carpets where you place a private enclosure