Dog Training 101: Place Training Made Easy!

For many reasons, it's essential for any dog owner to take the time to properly train their dogs. There are many tricks that can be taught that have many different purposes and benefits. The most important reason to train is to prevent your dog from becoming injured or injuring others. So this week, we're going to focus on one of our favorite commands: "Place." Place training is simple to teach and has many benefits for both dog and owner:

Benefits of Place Training

Besides it being a convenient way to keep track of where your dog is and what he's doing, there are other more important benefits to place training. So let’s talk about the benefits of the "place" command.

• It can keep him from jetting out doors
• It helps stop dogs from barking at the door by giving them a quiet place to go to
• It can keep him from running after vehicles
• It can keep him out of the way if he is constantly underfoot
• It gives him a comfortable place to be when you go somewhere else; vacation, the ball field, your friend’s house etc.

Teaching Your Dog Place Training
It’s not difficult to teach a dog the "place" command, but it will take some time, patience, and consistency. Here are some easy steps to try:

Lure Your Dog to His Place
Start off by standing close to the bed or mat that will serve as your dog's place. Give him the command "place," and then use a treat to lure him onto his spot. As soon as all four feet are on the mat, praise your dog or click the clicker and give him a treat. Repeat this several times. Most dogs will go to the bed or mat on command after a few short training sessions.

Have a Release Cue
Remember to give him a release cue, such as "Okay" or "All done," so he knows when he’s allowed to get off the bed. You shouldn’t force him off it, though – if he’s comfortable, by all means let him hang out!

Extend the Training

Once your dog is consistently going to and lying down in their place once you give the "place" command, gradually increase the distance and/or the duration until your dog will reliably go to his "place" (without a treat) and stay there until you release him. You can go even further with this training by changing up the location of your dog's place. For example, you can designate a spot in each room of your home to be your dog's place. This will teach your dog that no matter where they're at, they must still follow the same rules.

Now that you know the benefits of place training and have some easy steps to follow to train this simple, yet important command, you better get to it! Make sure you've got a place for your dog to call his own by getting a few premium raised dog beds. Our PetCots are perfect for place training and dogs love them! Not only are the comfortable and easy to clean, but they're durable as well - making them the perfect petbed choice for puppies and active chewers. Visit our website today at www.PetCot.com to order your PetCot beds and other products!

Taking Comfort and Care to a New Level for Pets!

Follow ALL Our Social Media Channels!

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Google+

Youtube

Pinterest

Visit Our Website

Make Your Recent Adoption an Easy Transition

At the PetCot Company, we love to hear all of the happy stories that come about when a family opens their home to a pet in need. This can be a big change for your family, though, especially when you get an older dog who may need some correctional training or extra special love after a less than ideal situation. So, in honor of October being Adopt a Dog month and because we care about you and your pet, we have a few tips to help make the your recent adoption an easy transition.

Keep Calm
When you bring your new pet into the home, you should try to keep the excitement to a minimum. When adopting a dog from a shelter, it's important to keep in mind that you may not know the history of the dog and may not know if something will trigger a less than ideal reaction. If your recently adopted dog was picked up off of the street, there is a lot of history that you do not know. By keeping everything calm in the new environment, you can help keep stimulation at a minimum. Your new dog may have reactions to situations that are unexpected because of previous "training" and when you keep a calm demeanor, you can help your dog work through those reactions.

Give Them a Space
Give your new dog a space that they can call their own. It's important, especially in a busy household, that your dog has a spot that they can go to where they aren't required to interact. They can sleep, relax, watch you play, and have a safe spot to do all of those things. Our raised pet bed is ideal for your new pet because it gives them a space to call their own. You can customize it with a blanket of their very own, putting a few toys on it, and before you know it - they will love it. The best part is, our premium pet beds are easy to clean, do not harbor bacteria, and will grow with your pet whether you adopted a puppy or a full grown dog.

Create a Schedule
Ease your pet into their new life with a consistent schedule. In addition to exercise, dogs crave love and attention and thrive on an established routine. This is especially important in terms of potty breaks and feeding times. Also, dogs need enough sleep to function effectively When your dog knows what's expected of them during certain times of the day it can create a safe environment for him to relax and enjoy.

Decide Your Commands
Determine which commands are most important for you to use with your new dog and make sure the entire household knows what they are and how to use them. You want your new dog to adapt to their home, know who is the boss, and keep some continuity. This can all be achieved when everyone is using the same commands, and everyone is training together. Even with young children in the house, it's important to make sure that they know how to work with your new family member, and what is appropriate for interaction.

Work With a Trainer
Don't be afraid to hire a trainer, or at the very least, work closely with your vet. When you first bring your dog home, they may still be shy and timid. They may not know how to react to situations, and they may overreact in some instances. By having professionals working closely with you and your pet, they can help you overcome hurdles that you may find at the very beginning, or that may surface months later as they get acclimated and you get to know them better.

Welcome Home!
We are so excited that you've opened your home to your new family member. There may be a lot of new changes for everyone in the next few weeks, and it's important to have all of the tools you need from the beginning. When you bring your new dog home, introducing them to their new PetCot is a great way to welcome them to their new space. Visit our website today to find the perfect size and color, and give Fido some love from the entire PetCot Company.

Taking Comfort and Care to a New Level for Pets!

Follow ALL Our Social Media Channels!

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Google+

YouTube

Pinterest

Visit Our Website

Essential Commands To Train Your Dog - Part 2

As promised, the PetCot Company is delivering part 2 of our list of essential commands to train your dog. These are commands we feel are necessary to keep your dog safe while out in public, and to keep those around you safe as well. For many reasons, training your dog to have good manners and to listen when commanded is so very important. Too many mishaps can come into play if your dog is not trained these essential commands that could save their life. So without further ado, here are the next 3 essential commands the PetCot Company suggests training your dog.

Leave it
Dogs by nature are curious. They will get into anything they can if given the opportunity. That's why we cannot stress enough the importance of training the "leave it" command. Many dogs have short attention spans or have one-track minds. Once they've got their eyes set on something they really want, it's tough to break through that barrier. By teaching them to "leave it", you will have an easier time redirecting their attention to you instead of whatever it is they're after. Start out by holding a treat in your hand palm closed in front of your dog's nose. When the dog tries to get to the treat in your hand, say "leave it" and pull away.

As soon as your dog's attention has broken away from the treat to you, praise them. If you praise with treats, do not use the hand you're training with. That treat is off limits. Once your dog has mastered leaving the treat in your hand alone, you can step up the difficulty level. Hold the treat out palm open so your dog can see it. As soon as your dog goes for the treat, close your palm and say "leave it." Go through the same process - praise when they revert their attention to you. Once your dog has mastered "leave it" from an open palm, try putting a treat on the floor and walking your dog by on a leash. Anytime the dog goes for the treat, say "leave it" and redirect them away from the treat. As soon as they redirect their attention without reminder or assistance, praise.

Heel
The purpose for the "heel" command is to teach your dog to stay by your side. When they are heeling, they are not permitted to walk ahead or behind you, and they are to stop when you stop and walk when you walk. This skill is important because it reminds your dog that you are in charge. It's also extremely beneficial because your dog will not be pulling you along during walks and putting you in a position in which you can't control.

Put your dog on a leash and position them on your left hand side. Have them sit and stay until you're ready to walk. Keep a few treats in your left hand for praising. As soon as you're ready to walk say "heel" and start walking forward. If your dog stays at your side and walks at your pace, give them a treat every few steps. If your dog begins to veer off, call their attention back to you, make them sit and stay and start again once their focus is on you.

After a few sessions of doing this, keep the treats in your pocket instead of your hand and use more verbal praise than treats. Eventually, your dog will learn to "heel" without being rewarded by treats. This is an advanced command and will take time and patience to learn, so just stick with it and your efforts will pay off.

Wait
The "wait" command is a great command that you can train your dog to do that will come in handy on several occasions. Whether you're getting them out of the car at the vet's office, getting ready to take them on a leash walk, trying to leave for work in the morning, or even just letting them out of their crate, this command can be a lot of help in controlling your dog's excitement.

To start with training the "wait" command, you first need to eliminate bolting as an option for them. So before opening a door, leash confine, crate, or put your dog in a separate room. That way your dog understands that bolting out the door when it opens is NOT an option. Once you're ready to start on "wait", leash your dog, walk to the door, and ask them to sit. As soon as they do, reach for the door handle. If your dog stands up, let go of the handle and ask them to sit. This may take a few tries. Once you can turn the doorknob without your dog standing, you can give the "go ahead" and reward them by taking them for a brief walk so they don't get frustrated with this exercise.

As you're working on this, extend the time that your dog has to stay seated before releasing them to "go ahead," and work towards being able to open the door completely without your dog taking off before being released with "go ahead." Once your dog has this command down for going outside, it'll be easy for you to use it when crating your dog, and when placing your dog in their safe place such as their premier raised dog bed.

With last week's blog and this week's blog, you've now got 7 essential commands to train your dog. Not only will training your dog these commands make your life easier, but they will also help to keep your dog safe. When training your dog, the PetCot Company encourages positive reinforcement and rewarding. To reward your pet for a job well done, visit our website to get a premier raised dog bed for your fur baby today!

Taking Comfort and Care to a New Level for Pets!

Follow ALL Our Social Media Channels!

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Google+

YouTube

Pinterest

Visit Our Website

Four Commands Your Puppy Should Learn

You've made the bold new step for your family by adding one more - only this one has four legs instead of two! As cute and furry as this new addition is, they also whine all through the night, have too many accidents on your carpet, and have started chewing up your shoes. It's time to start your new mission: train the puppy.

At The PetCot Company, we know how much of a commitment a new pet can bring to the family, but we also know how much joy and laughter they can bring as well - which makes it all worth it. Here are four commands your puppy should learn right off the bat, and how our PetCot beds can aid you in your mission.

SIT

This is generally one of the first things you'll want to train your puppy to do, and it can generally be one of the easiest. You can make it the easiest by holding a treat above their nose and raising it up and  back which should cue your pup to sit naturally without having to push their tush down. As they begin to sit, say the command "sit", and when they do, don't forget to praise them and give them the treat!

As they become familiar with that command, begin saying it before they've completed the action. You'll probably have to complete the process many times, and practice it several times a day for it to become natural.

STAY

Teaching your pup how to stay teaches them self-control, and will be an invaluable command as they get older. You can start by showing them a treat and asking them to sit. From there, you will ask them to "stay" and take one step back. If they stay put, you give them a treat and start over. This will be a step by step process - literally! As they become comfortable with one step, you can increase the number of steps until they will stay for long periods of time.

Don't forget to teach them a release command. In many situations you will want your pup to stay until called back to you, so decide on a hand motion and/or verbal command that will signify that they can be released from staying.

You can also use the PetCot bed as a further challenge for staying. Many pet owners use the "place" command to communicate with their dog that they should go to a designated spot (like a PetCot), and then they should stay until released. This is more advanced, though, and should be used after they've mastered the easier commands.

COME

This command is an important one because there are most likely going to be times when you drop their leash, leave the door open too long, etc. Start by putting their leash on them, and when you say "come" give the leash a little tug so they will come. You can then reward them for their obedience and then try it all over again.

LEAVE IT

This command can be invaluable since puppies are generally very curious. While you may be able to control your pup while they are small, as they grow up and get larger, you won't be able to control them as easily when they try to eat something they shouldn't, chase after squirrels, or even try to dig around in the trash. Teaching your pup to "leave it" can be a little more of a challenge for them, but there are some great Youtube videos to give you a head start.

Give Your Pup a Place

Every new furry friend needs a place that they can call their own. While it may start out as a kennel, eventually you'll probably upgrade them to a "toddler bed" - like a PetCot! Our premium pet beds are ideal for providing a place for your pet to call their own, and a perfect spot to relax after a day of training! Visit our website to learn more about the sizes and colors available, and if you don't know what size you need, check out our past blog: Which PetCot Is the Right Size for YOUR Pet?

Taking Comfort and Care to a New Level for Pets!

Follow ALL Our Social Media Channels!

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Google+

Youtube

Pinterest

Visit Our Website

GREAT Testimonials for the PetCot Company

At the PetCot company, we take your satisfaction very seriously. Our products are designed to be the best pet beds on the market, and the are perfect for pets in all walks of life. From young, happy pups who are still active and want to use everything as a chew toy to older dogs who need a comfortable place to relax. Here are a few testimonials from our clients showing why our raised pet beds are so wonderful.

Testimonials for the PetCot Brand Pet Bed

"I got my PetCot yesterday. I have to tell you, I was a little nervous about how my 11-year-old dog would adapt to it. I placed it on the floor, he immediately jumped on it and then got off, looked underneath it and the dove back on. I don't think he has been off of it since. Thank you so much for providing such a great product in a timely manner!"  - Tatum Westphal, on behalf of Otto - the best boy EVER!

"We Can't wait to get our order of new PetCots here at the Texas Pet resort! Everyone is so excited! The dogs love them, and the staff loves how durable they are and super-easy and quick to clean and sanitize, and that is so important to us!"  - Vicky Wommack Fultz

"The following is an explanation of how we use the PetCot in training. We call the PetCot a climb bed. the 'climb' is a command we teach the dogs to stay on top of the PetCot and not jump off. We like to call it a kennel without walls. The owners can tell their dogs to 'climb' when they are watching TV, cooking, cleaning, or just hanging out with the family. This way the dog can still be out with the family even though they may be unable to have their full attention on the dog, but they can still be consistent with training. The dogs can do anything up there except jump off. It is also very useful when company comes to the door to keep the dog from rushing and jumping on your visitors. The 'climb' is the dog's job, so they aren't able to come up with some unfavorable jobs on their own. Small puppies can learn the climb easily and it aids in potty training. We like to use the PetCot brand because the beds are comfortable for the dogs, they always seem to favor the PetCot versus another type of 'climb.' The clients like them because they are easy to move from room to room or to take on a camping trip. They are obviously more decorative for people to put in their living room as well." - Jake Kemp, Instructor at Dog House Inc.

"I received the PetCot beds with 35-ounce vinyl a few days ago and gave them to my two most aggressive chewers. I have pleased to report that they are still intact. One is scuffed up a bit, but not much. I have tried nearly ever bed in the market that was advertised as chew proof and yours is the only bed that has come close. I just placed an order for four more and plan to order four a month until I have them in all 16 runs and also a couple for outside! My business partner, Marie Thomas, is ordering some too. Thank you so much for this wonderful product." - Kathy Harris, Hilltop Bull Dogs

Chew Proof Dog Beds!

As you can see from these reviews, we have many happy customers, and we are proud to say that the reviews keep coming in. PetCot beds are set apart from the rest because they are easy to clean, easy to use, easy to store, and hard to destroy! The minute you take your PetCot bed out of the packaging, you will find that your dog will enjoy the comfort, and you will enjoy how easy they are. No more smelly, nasty pet beds that store germs and odors - PetCot beds are easy to clean! If you're ready to buy the best pet beds on the market, visit our website today!

Taking Comfort and Care to a New Level for Pets!

Follow ALL Our Social Media Channels!

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Google+

Youtube

Pinterest

Visit Our Website