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Month: October 2011

The Thing About Housetraining Is…

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The thing about house training is that it isn’t really a matter of training the dog at all. It is a matter of training the person to be attuned to the dog’s needs.

Think of it this way. A dog (regardless of their age) doesn’t know that doing their business on the living room rug or kitchen floor is a no-no. All they know is that mother nature is calling and they have to answer. A person, on the other hand, knows that a dog has to relieve itself every so often and knows that they want their canine friend to relieve themselves outside. So in a way it is all a matter of training the human to anticipate their dog’s needs.
If you’re bringing home a 10-week-old puppy for example, you should already know that a puppy’s bladder control (like a baby’s) is not great. They will need to go – a lot! So rather than waiting for the pup to piddle and then dealing with the mess, anticipate that your pup will have to go about every hour. Get them into the routine of going outside every hour and praise them when they water the flowers. Your pup will learn that outside is the place to be for that behaviour. As the pup matures their bathroom needs will lessen, meaning you can gradually cut back to going out every few hours. Dogs are creatures of habit, so if the human gets into the habit of taking them out regularly the dog will soon catch on and become scheduled, if you will.
Of course, such a technique is only practical if somebody is home all day with the puppy. If you’re not around during the day and decide to crate train your puppy, be sure to take them outside as soon as you get home. It is human nature to want to make a fuss and play right away, but all of that additional excitement won’t help your pup control their bladder. If this habit is repeated every time you come home, accompanied by regular outdoor outings in the evening, the puppy will again grow accustomed to this routine and soon be pestering you to go out.
Similarly getting older dogs into a bathroom routine can help make house-training a lot easier. The process is about creating a schedule and maintaining it thus avoiding accidents before they happen. Of course, this is simply one technique when it comes to house-training, but in my experience it has been very successful. What are your house-training tips?

Pet of the Week: Deuce

My apologies for being MIA yesterday. If you can believe it, I had internet troubles — yes, in this day and age internet troubles still exist. However, things are all fixed now, which is wonderful news because I can introduce you to this week’s pet of the week, Deuce!  He is a brown and white Boston Terrier and apparently a Halloween fanatic! He is now in the running for the October Pet of the Month title and prize!

Thank you everyone for your submissions this week! Remember it’s never too late to send us your pet pictures to [email protected].

Creative Peeps 03: Carole + Chai

Carole Allman is the founder and designer of Huggable Hound, an independent online shop that sells unique collars and the occasional leash. Based in Ottawa, Carole and her trusty sidekick, Chai the Greyhound, work together to create a little sumthin’ sumthin’ different in the pet world. Here’s a peek into their studio!

1)  What is your typical work day like with your pet?

I spend an equal amount of my day searching for fabric online, sourcing materials, connecting via Facebook and Etsy and sewing.  Chai is never far behind, she follows me from room to room, always waiting for ear scratches or a tummy rub.
2)  Does Chai help model the collars that you make?
Chai definitely is my ‘go to girl’ for all of my collar modelling needs, even the boy patterns!  She always makes me laugh because she really doesn’t like it when I take her collar off and always wiggles into a new design when I hold it up in front of her.  Crazy as it sounds, I do believe she really likes trying on new collars.
3)  How do you get started in the morning/what is your morning routine with your pet?
First priority, a double espresso cappuccino and snuggles with Chai. Then she has her breakfast and a half hour walk.  Walks are always interesting with Chai because I always have to be on the lookout for squirrels and neighbourhood cats.  Most times she sees a critter long before I do (I have the sore shoulder to prove that!)  
Next it’s onto social networking. Facebook first. I always post pictures of my new fabrics and collar designs there and follow up with requests for donations to rescue and adoption groups.  Then onto my Etsy shop where I check for any questions or messages.  I’m beginning to have lots of repeat orders and custom requests, because people are looking for a specific colour or pattern and I’m always happy when I can successfully match a request with a find.  My most recent custom request was for pretzel fabric for a lady with a Greyhound named Pretzel.  She was thrilled with her 2″ inch pretzel buckle collar and matching leash and I was very happy to be able to cater to her custom request.  


4)  What is your favourite thing to do during work breaks with your pet?

Chai determines the work breaks around here.  When she wants to play, she will come into my sewing room and do whatever it takes to make me take a break.  She will try to get her paws on my legs or manoeuvres her head under my arm, until eventually I give in and take a break. There is only one thing we love to do during break time.  Stuffies!  Chai is crazy about her stuffies and loves it when I throw them down the hall for her.  She races down the hall before I even throw it, getting a head start, catches it and jumps on my bed.  Then she goes through her ritual of shaking it (to death) or ripping its stuffing out.  Then runs back down the hall — “again Momma?”

5)  Where is your favorite place to work? 

My favourite place to work is in my sewing room.  I live on a very quiet street and have three 20-year-old maple trees right outside my window. I enjoy hearing the birds chirping and watching the squirrels, with Chai on her bed beside me. What could be better?
6)  If Chai could talk, what do you think she would advise you to do when designing collars?
“Momma, you need more PINK collars!”  Chai is all about PINK.
7) Where do you get your design inspiration from? 
I’m always searching for new fabric trends, either on Etsy or Ebay.  I have over 600 friends on facebook, most of them dog owners, and I have to say I get my inspiration from them.  My customers have been great with their feedback, letting me know if they want to see more reds, more novelty fabrics or “my dog really looks great in turquoise, can you find something for her?” I’ve also been known to stop a nurse or two and ask them where they purchased their scrubs because I can picture that fabric on a martingale collar!
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Thank you Carole and Chai for sharing about your creative process! If you’re a creative person with a pet and would like to be featured on Pawsh please write to us at [email protected].

Rain Rain Don’t Go Away!

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Putting your dog in a rain coat isn’t for everyone. However I believe that as long as the piece is functional there is no reason for it not to also be cute. Keeping your pup dry amidst a rain storm not only makes their walk a little more enjoyable — especially if your pup hates rain as much as Rory does — but it saves you the hassle of towel drying when they return indoors with a mad case of the ‘water wiggles’ (aka when a canine gets hyper because they are wet).

These beautiful designs from Tree Parlour offer classic tailoring with a generous splash of personality. Bright prints, bold graphics and stylish colours make these charming coats a must have for the season! And don’t forget about the super comfortable and cozy winter jackets too for when old Jack Frost comes a-calling. PS: Isn’t the greyhound in these photos just darling?