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| HOME ALONE | ||
I believe that owning a dog is compatible with having a full-time job outside the home. You just need to use the right techniques and products to keep him/her occupied while you're gone. You also need to minimize the possibility of constant barking that upsets your neighbors and results in the animal control showing up on your doorstep.
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| Here's what has worked for me: | ||
Create an indoor den Leaving a dog alone outdoors all day is a terrible idea. It guarantees problems with the neighbors and behavior problems from your dog. Further, you can't protect your dog from sudden, bad/hot weather. Use a crate if you or a friend come in during the day to let him/her out for a break. The rule of thumb is don't keep a dog in a crate longer than 4-hours at a stretch. If no one is home, use a gate that he can see out of, to create a den in a room such as the kitchen or laundry room. (X-pens are a great benefit for this) Arrange a toilet area in the farthest part of the room/pen using a doggy door to the outside, newspapers, pads or a dog litter tray. |
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Don't let him have the run of the house especially if he's a puppy. A bored dog is a destructive dog and one that can harm him/herself by chewing or swallowing dangerous objects, or destroying your favorite items. Bad habits develop this way. Have a favorite blanket, toy and comfortable bed in his crate or the room where you leave him during the day. He needs a comfortable place to nap during the day. |
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| Create mental stimulation | ||
| Kong toys filled with peanut butter or other gooey treat are one way to keep them busy. | ||
| Create pleasant sounds | ||
| Do you like to be a quiet house for hours on end? leave the radio, TV or CD player on. Some owners tape their own voices and leave that playing all day. My dog loves classical music. Just make sure it's soothing music, no heavy metal bands, please. | ||
| Create sustenance | ||
| Don't like to leave food out. Bored Silky Terrier dogs can overeat just as bored humans do. However, Silky Terrier dogs should have drinking water available any time they want it. Try leaving a bowl or two of water for him. If you can afford it, use a water dispensing product. | ||
| Create a soothing environment | ||
| One of the newest products available is an electric diffuser that releases Dog Appeasing Pheromones (DAP). These mimic the natural pheromones produced by lactating bitches to reassure puppies. One study showed a 70% reduction in barking and whining when the DAP was used. Sounds weird may be a scent-sible solution for whining puppies. | ||
| Create unemotional leaving and return | ||
Don't make a production when you leave and come home. Spend time with your dog (playing to tire him out and taking him to the potty) before you leave in the morning. When you get home at night, try to wait 5 or 10 minutes before acknowledging him when you get home. |
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