PET TAXI’S AND PUPPY TRAINING
PET TAXI’S AND PUPPY TRAINING
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A GUIDE TO HOUSETRAINING YOUR PUPPY FROM MIDWEST PET FINDER The correct & incorrect ways to use a Pet Taxi in training. BY LAURIE HOOKER - OWNER/OPERATOR - HTTP://MIDWESTPETFINDER.COM (20+ YEARS EXPERIENCE IN DOG TRAINING / BREEDING)
SO YOU HAVE GOTTEN A NEW PUPPY. FRIENDS, FAMILY AND EVEN SOMETIMES, THE BREEDER HAVE TOLD YOU THAT THE BEST WAY TO HOUSE TRAIN YOUR PUPPY IS TO LOCK HIM IN A “PET TAXI”. WHY, YOU SAY? SIMPLY PUT, BECAUSE AN ANIMAL USUALLY WON’T GO “POTTY” WHERE IT SLEEPS. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS, IF THE ANIMAL IS CONFINED TO THAT SPACE TOO LONG, IT WILL GO POTTY RIGHT WHERE IT LAYS. AFTER ALL, NOTHING AND NOBODY CAN HOLD IT FOREVER. ESPECIALLY A PUPPY, WHO HAS A VERY SMALL BLADDER. THESE “PET TAXI” TRAINERS ULTIMATELY FIND THAT THE PUPPY DEVELOPS SERIOUS BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS, URINATING EVERY TIME YOU SPEAK, NERVOUSNESS, ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR, NUISANCE BARKING, HYPER ACTIVITY, AND EVEN AGGRESSION. NOT TO MENTION, THAT ONCE THE PUPPY STARTS GOING IN THE “PET TAXI”, IT IS OFTEN HOURS THAT IT SITS IN A PUDDLE OF URINE OR MASHED FECES. THIS RESULTS IN URINARY TRACK INFECTIONS, WORMS AND OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS FOR THE PUPPY. IMAGINE THAT YOU ARE AN INQUISITIVE LITTLE PUPPY. THE WORLD IS A NEW AND SOMEWHAT SCARY PLACE. YOU WANT TO GROW, LEARN AND INVESTIGATE IT, AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU HAVE JUST LOST YOUR MOTHER AND SIBLINGS AND ARE NOW SURROUNDED BY STRANGERS. NOW IMAGINE THAT SOME ONE LOCKS YOU IN A SPACE ONLY LARGE ENOUGH TO TURN AROUND AND LAY DOWN. YOUR ONLY VIEW OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD IS THROUGH AIR HOLES AND A SMALL PIECE OF FENCE. SOMEONE COMES AND LETS YOU OUT FOR AN HOUR AT LUNCH. THEN THEY BECOME IRRITATED WITH YOU, BECAUSE YOU ARE BEING VERY HYPER, AND WON’T SETTLE DOWN. SO, THEY LOCK YOU BACK IN THE BOX. DO YOU THINK YOU MAY GO INSANE? WELL, IT REALLY DOESN’T MATTER BECAUSE, THE PUPPY DEFINITELY WILL. PUPPIES NEED AIR, SUNSHINE, EXERCISE, COMPANIONSHIP, FOOD, AND WATER JUST LIKE YOU. WITHOUT THESE THINGS THEY WILL BECOME DEPRESSED, UNSTABLE, ILL OR ULTIMATELY DIE, JUST LIKE YOU. IF YOU DON’T HAVE TIME TO PROPERLY CARE FOR YOUR PUPPY, OR YOU ARE SO WORRIED ABOUT YOUR HOME BEING DAMAGED OR DIRTIED, OR EVEN IF CLEANING UP AFTER THE PUPPY SEEMS LIKE TOO MUCH OF A HASSLE. THEN I BEG OF YOU, DON’T GET A PUPPY. IT WILL NOT BE A HAPPY EXPERIENCE FOR EITHER OF YOU. “PET TAXIS” WERE ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR THE SAFE TRANSPORT OF YOUR ANIMAL. AND YES, THEY ARE AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR TRAINING WHEN USED PROPERLY. HOW IS THE PROPER WAY TO USE ONE? IT’S SIMPLE REALLY. THE “PET TAXI” SHOULD ONLY BE USED AT NIGHT WHEN THE HOUSE IS DARK AND EVERYONE IS ASLEEP. THE “PET TAXI” SHOULD BE ONLY LARGE ENOUGH FOR THE ANIMAL TO TURN AROUND AND LAY DOWN. THE ANIMAL SHOULD NOT BE LOCKED IN IT FOR MORE THAN A MAXIMUM OF 8 HOURS OUT OF A 24 HOUR DAY. TAKE FOOD AND WATER AWAY FROM THE ANIMAL AROUND 6:00P.M. THEN THE ANIMAL SHOULD BE TAKEN OUTSIDE BEFORE YOU GO TO BED. STAY OUTSIDE WITH THE ANIMAL UNTIL YOU KNOW IT HAS BOTH URINATED AND DEFECATED. PUT THE ANIMAL IN FOR THE NIGHT WITH A BLANKET OR TOWEL, AND IF POSSIBLE, HAVE A RADIO ON NEAR THE “PET TAXI”. IN THE MORNING, THE ANIMAL COMES FIRST, TAKE IT OUTSIDE RIGHT AWAY AND MAKE SURE IT BOTH URINATES AND DEFECATES AGAIN. GIVE IT FOOD AND WATER. WHEN IT IS DONE EATING AND DRINKING TAKE IT OUT AGAIN. PUPPIES WILL GENERALLY HAVE TO GO WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF FINISHING THE MEAL. IF YOU HAVE TO GO TO WORK, EITHER SET THE PUPPY UP WITH A ROOM, SUCH AS THE KITCHEN, AND USE A CHILD GATE TO KEEP IT IN, OR LET THE PUPPY BE OUT IN THE YARD ALL DAY. IF YOU CHOOSE TO LEAVE YOUR PUPPY OUTSIDE ALL DAY, MAKE SURE HE HAS A SHELTER FOR SHADE AND PROTECTION FROM THE WEATHER. IN EITHER CASE, IT SHOULD HAVE PLENTY OF FOOD AND WATER. PUPPIES ARE GROWING AND NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE FOOD AND FRESH WATER THEY WANT. PREFERABLY WEIGHTED DISHES THAT THEY CANNOT TIP OVER. IN CLOSING, IF YOUR PUPPY IS SPENDING MORE THAN 8 OUT OF 24 HOURS IN THE “PET TAXI” YOU ARE ABUSING THAT ANIMAL. PLEASE RE-EVALUATE YOUR SITUATION AND MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES. *A NOTE TO BREEDERS AND DOG KENNELS* PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LINK TO THIS PAGE ON YOUR WEBSITES OR TO PRINT OUT AND DISTRIBUTE COPIES WITH YOUR PUPPY SALES. IN FACT, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE IT. I DON’T THINK ANY OF US WANT TO SEE OUR PUPPIES DRIVEN TO MADNESS AND EVEN EUTHANIZATION DUE TO “PET TAXI” ABUSE, AND OVER USE.
ANY FORM OF ANIMAL CONTAINMENT CRATE OR CAGE FALLS UNDER THE TERM OF "PET TAXI". I HAVE PICTURED THESE 2 ABOVE, BUT THERE ARE MANY VARIETIES. |
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