COOLEAMBER AIREDALES

                                                                                                      'Airedales to Live With'

Dundee

Keegan

Jaimie

Sheena

All About Puppies (Training, Health, Toys, Names)

Using a Crate

I strongly urge you to purchase a dog crate. Used properly this will make your life with a dog much easier. A crate approximately 24” x 36” and 26” high is the right size for an adult Airedale. It is enclosed and comes apart easily for cleaning or transporting.  There are a variety of other crates available at pet supply outlets, and choose one that is airline approved.

           Uses for a crate:

            1. Housebreaking

            2. Confinement during puppyhood

            3. Confinement after a bath or until you can bathe a soiled dog

            4. Feeding place for dogs in a multi-dog household.

            5. The dogs "bed" or place of refuge

            6. Confinement for the dog when you have visitors who don't like animals,                repairmen, etc.

            7. The dog’s portable home when you travel with the dog

8. A cool resting place during summer months when draped with a reflecting thermal sheet.  There are also mesh crates, but these are best for adult dogs who don’t chew.

 As you begin to use the crate, your goal is to ensure that the dog enjoys the crate and views it as a safe haven, not punishment. A crate is not cruel.  The dog is a den animal and will come to feel very relaxed and secure in his crate.  For a puppy, line it with a bed of washable material such as a flannelette sheet, blanket or large towel.  Once he is old enough not to chew his bed, you can treat him to one of those nice cushions or fleece mats available for crates.

Crate Training

When you get your puppy home, take him outside for elimination and then play with the puppy. As you sense the puppy is getting tired (about one hour), take him outside again and then put the puppy in the crate. Never put the puppy in the crate without giving it a chance to eliminate first. Use the words you would like the puppy to associate with the crate. I use "kennel”.  Be sure the crate is placed where the puppy can see you but is not in the middle of loud activity. You might try the corner of the kitchen or the family room. Put a biscuit or small safe toy in the crate. If the puppy starts to cry, ignore it (leave the house and take a walk if you can't stand the noise).

Do not let the puppy out of the crate when it is crying. You will reinforce that crying leads to being let out of the crate. After a few minutes (or more if the puppy is sleeping quietly) let him out of the crate. Praise the puppy for being good, and take him outside immediately. At first it is safest to pick the puppy up and carry him outside to avoid an accident. Repeat this sequence a few times the first day and you are well on your way to crate training.

 As you approach bedtime be sure to give the puppy a lengthy play session. Then move the crate into your bedroom, close to your bed so you know what is going on during the night. This is ideal but not mandatory. The scent of the family member will help the puppy know someone is near. Take the puppy outside again and then place him in his crate. Be prepared to sit up awhile as the puppy cries. Remember, do not let the puppy out of the crate when he is crying.   Soon (hopefully) the puppy will go to sleep. Since he prefers not to soil in his crate, you will be awakened a couple of times in the night by his crying as he does need to eliminate. The puppy will probably not be able to sleep through the night until he is about four to five months.  Quietly lift him up and carry him outside to do his business, then return him to his bed with little conversation from you.  You don’t want him to think that it is time to get up and play!

 Some Crate Do's & Don'ts

 1. Provide him with a crate that is his size, then move him into a larger one as he grows.

2. Confine your airedale puppy (up to one and one-half years) to the crate or secure safe area whenever you can't directly supervise him. This will avoid chewed-up shoes, doorway, puddles on the floor and getting into trouble when he is so delighted to see you back again.

3. Allow your dog to eliminate immediately prior to being crated.

4. Crate your dog when you've just had "enough" or are tired and want a time out.

5. Don't allow your dog to whine or bark incessantly while crated. I use a squirt of water in his face from a spray bottle and say “No”.

6. Don't disturb your dog when he is in his crate. Never pull a dog out of a crate or allow children to poke or bother a dog when he is crated. It is his private retreat.

 Housebreaking

There are a number of methods that work for housebreaking your puppy. Just remember to be consistent, gentle and patient. He does not have control over bodily functions until about four months so he should be confined when in the house until he is reliable. Give lots of praise with each success.  Pick a word or phrase like “get busy” when you want him to relieve himself.  Good Boy!

 Helpful Hints

1. Toilet him as soon as he wakes up, right after eating, drinking, playing or being held.

2. Remove drinking water at least 2 hours before bedtime.

3. Toilet him in a designated area of the yard and use a cue word to trigger the response. We have taught our dogs to relieve themselves "on command" with the words "get busy". It makes this chore easy whenever we travel away from home with them or are just in a hurry.

 Training

Basic training and manners should start right away, but advanced obedience exercises shouldn't be undertaken until at least 8-12 months when he is more mature and can concentrate. Most airedales have a determined and curious disposition (which is also part of their endearing personality). Guidelines for behavior need to be established from puppyhood, otherwise he can be unruly, resulting in him being excluded from activities and people he would enjoy.  The relationship between dog and master should be one of  mutual respect.  Agility is great fun; airedales really enjoy this activity and at the same time learn their lessons happily without the boredom of repetitive drills

 Tips to avoid the Nag, Drag or Beg approach to training:

 1. Airedales by nature chew and should be taught not to bite hands. Say "NO" firmly and give him a toy or other distraction. Gently holding his mouth closed for a few seconds may help or shake him by the scruff; but don't lift him off the ground when you do this.

 2. Never hit or yell at him as he will quickly learn to distrust you. Instead, scold him if you catch him in the act and show him what you expect. Avoid using his name when you are correcting him. Discipline should be prompt, consistent and always followed with praise. It goes without saying that no one is allowed to tease or be rough with him.  Was it your fault an accident happened by leaving him alone too long or unsupervised?  If I am to blame, I just remove the puppy, without comment, and clean up the mess.

 3. Simple early words could be: his name, “come”, “go for a walk”, “cookie”, “supper”, “kennel”,  “get busy” and “NO” for serious offenses.

 4. Pick the puppy up with both hands, one under his bottom and the other under his chest. He is heavy and could be injured if not supported.  Never lift him by the scruff, as this hurts him.

 Play, Toys and Treats

The airedale is forever young at heart; a playful mischievous character from puppyhood to old age. His enjoyment of toys and games with you will endure throughout his life. It is, however, important that he is given toys and treats that are safe for him, as airedales have extremely powerful jaws and like to exercise them by chewing. A blockage of the bowel caused by swallowing an indigestible object is a serious condition, often fatal.

Puppy Toys: Knotted sport socks, racquet ball, milk carton or other box (staples and tape removed), and sheepskin, squeaky or hard rubber "dog toys".

Adult Toys: "Kong" (black is the strongest), racquet ball,  heavy knotted rope.

Treats: Hard dog biscuits, rawhide, pieces of raw carrot or apple, large knuckle bones only, dentabones to clean the teeth.Do Not give nylabones, balls small enough to swallow, wood, stuffed animals with eyes etc. or treats with preservatives or coloring in them, nor tennis balls which destroy the tooth enamel.

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