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Don't Buy a Bouvier! by Pam Green
Crate Training by Sherry Benoit
Puppy Socialization by Fernand Beaudry
DON'T BUY A BOUVIER!
by Pam Green (c.1992) pamgreen@mother.com
(This article, written many years ago, has become a notorious classic in Bouvier
circles. It has been reprinted many times by clubs to use for the education of
prospective Bouvier owners. I give my permission freely to all who wish to
reprint and distribute it in hopes of saving innocent Bouviers from neglect and
abandonment by those who should never have acquired them in the first place.)
Interested in buying a Bouvier? You must be or you wouldn't be reading this.
You've already heard how marvelous Bouviers are. Well, I think you should also
hear, before it's too late, that BOUVIERS ARE NOT THE PERFECT BREED FOR
EVERYONE. As a breed they have a few features that some people find charming,
but that some people find mildly unpleasant and some people find downright
intolerable.
There are different breeds for different needs. There are over 200 purebred
breeds of dogs in the world. Maybe you'd be better off with some other breed.
Maybe you'd be better off with a cat. Maybe you'd be better off with goldfish, a
parakeet, a hamster, or some house-plants.
DON'T BUY A BOUVIER IF YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO THE BREED *CHIEFLY* BY ITS
APPEARANCE. The appearance of the Bouviers you have seen in the show ring is
the product of many hours of bathing and grooming. This carefully constructed
beauty is fleeting: a few minutes of freedom, romping through the fields or
strolling in the rain restores the natural look. The natural look of the Bouvier
is that of a large, shaggy farm dog, usually with some dirt and weeds clinging
to his tousled coat. His esthetics are those of an unmade bed. Remember that the
Dutch nickname for the breed, "Vuilbaard" means "dirty beard". The true beauty
of the Bouvier lies in his character, not in his appearance. There are many
other breeds whose natural beauty of appearance far exceeds that of the Bouvier.
Some of the long-coated and most of the short-coated breeds' appearances are
less dependent on grooming than is that of the Bouvier. (See also the section on
grooming below.)
DON'T BUY A BOUVIER IF YOU ARE UNWILLING TO SHARE YOUR HOUSE AND YOUR LIFE
WITH YOUR DOG. Bouviers were bred to share in the work of the farm family
and to spend most of their waking hours working with the family. They thrive on
companionship and they want to be wherever you are. They are happiest living
with you in your house and going with you when you go out. While they usually
tolerate being left at home by themselves (preferably with a dog-door giving
access to the fenced yard), they should not be relegated to the backyard or
kennel. A puppy exiled from the house is likely to grow up to be unsociable
(fearful and/or unprovokedly aggressive),unruly, and unhappy. He may well
develop pastimes, such as digging or barking, that will displease you and/or
your neighbors. An adult so exiled will be miserable too. If you don't strongly
prefer to have your dog's companionship as much as possible, enjoying having him
sleep in your bedroom at night and sharing many of your activities by day, you
should choose a breed less oriented to human companionship. Likewise if your job
or other obligations prevent you from spending much time with your dog. No dog
is really happy without companionship but the pack hounds are more tolerant of
being kenneled or yarded so long as it is in groups of 2 or more. A better
choice would be a cat, as they are solitary by nature.
DON'T BUY A BOUVIER IF YOU DON'T INTEND TO EDUCATE (TRAIN) YOUR DOG.
Basic obedience and household rules training is NOT optional for the Bouvier. As
an absolute minimum, you must teach him to reliably respond to commands to come,
to lie down, to stay, and to walk at your side, on or off leash and regardless
of temptations. You must also teach him to respect your household rules: e.g. is
he allowed to get on the furniture? is he allowed to beg at the table? What you
allow or forbid is unimportant; but it is *critical* that you, not the dog, make
these choices and that you enforce your rules consistently. You must commit
yourself to attending an 8 to 10 week series of weekly lessons at a local
obedience club or professional trainer and to doing one or two short (5 to 20
minutes) homework sessions per day. As commands are learned, they must be
integrated into your daily life by being used whenever appropriate and enforced
consistently. Young Bouvier puppies are relatively easy to train: they are eager
to please, intelligent, and calm-natured, with a relatively good attention span.
Once a Bouvier has learned something, he tends to retain it well. Your cute,
sweet little Bouvier puppy will grow up to be a large, powerful dog with s
highly self-assertive personality and the determination to finish whatever he
starts. If he has grown up respecting you and your rules, then all his physical
and mental strength will work for you. But if he has grown up without rules and
guidance from you, surely he will make his own rules and his physical and mental
powers will often act in opposition to your needs and desires. For example: he
may tow you down the street as if competing in a sled-dog race; he may grab food
off the table; he may forbid your guests entry to his home.
This training cannot be delegated to someone else, e.g. by sending the dog away
to "boarding school", because the relationship of respect and obedience is
personal between the dog and the individual who does the training. This is true
of all dogs to greater or lesser degree, but definitely to a very great degree
in Bouviers. While you definitely many want the help of an experienced trainer
to teach you how to train your dog, you yourself must actually train your
Bouvier. As each lesson is well learned, then the rest of the household (except
young children) must also work with the dog, insisting he obey them as well.
Many of the Bouviers that are rescued from Pounds and Shelters show clearly that
they have received little or no basic training, neither in obedience nor in
household deportment; yet these same dogs respond well to such training by the
rescuer or the adopter. It seems likely that a failure to train the dog is a
significant cause of Bouvier abandonment.
If you don't intend to educate your dog, preferably during puppyhood, you would
be better off with a breed that is both small and socially submissive, e.g. a
Shetland Sheepdog. Such a dog does require training, but a little bit goes
further than with a Bouv. In the opposite direction, if your goals in obedience
training are oriented towards success at high level competition (HIT, OTCh, and
Gaines), please realize that the Bouv is not among the half dozen breeds best
suited to such highly polished performance. (Bouvs can, with adequate training,
excel at such working competitions as agility, carting, tracking, protection and
herding.)
DON'T BUY A BOUVIER IF YOU LACK LEADERSHIP (SELF-ASSERTIVE) PERSONALITY.
Dogs do not believe in social equality. They live in a social hierarchy led by a
pack-leader (Alpha). The alpha dog is generally benevolent, affectionate, and
non-bullying towards his subordinates; but there is never any doubt in his mind
or in theirs that the alpha is the boss and makes the rules. Whatever the breed,
if you do not assume the leadership, the dog will do so sooner or later and with
more or less unpleasant consequences for the abdicating owner. Like the
untrained dog, the pack-leader dog makes his own rules and enforces them against
other members of the household by means of a dominant physical posture and a
hard-eyed stare, followed by a snarl, then a knockdown blow or a bite. Breeds
differ in tendencies towards social dominance; and individuals within a breed
differ considerably. Bouviers as a breed tend to be of a socially dominant
personality. You really cannot afford to let a Bouvier become your boss. You do
not have to have the personality or mannerisms of a Marine boot camp Sergeant,
but you do have to have the calm, quiet self-assurance and self-assertion of the
successful parent ("Because I'm your mother, that's why.") or successful
grade-school teacher. If you think you might have difficulty asserting yourself
calmly and confidently to exercise leadership, then choose a breed known for its
socially subordinate disposition, such as a Golden Retriever or a Shetland
Sheepdog, and be sure to ask the breeder to select one of the more submissive
pups in the litter for you. If the whole idea of "being the boss" frightens or
repels you, don't get a dog at all. Cats don't expect leadership. A caged bird
or hamster, or fish doesn't need leadership or household rules.
Leadership and training are inextricably intertwined: leadership personality
enables you to train your dog, and being trained by you reinforces your dog's
perception of you was the alpha.
DON'T BUY A BOUVIER IF YOU DON'T VALUE LAID-BACK COMPANIONSHIP AND CALM
AFFECTION. A Bouvier becomes deeply attached and devoted to his own family,
but he doesn't "wear his heart on his sleeve". Some are noticeably reserved,
others are more outgoing, but few adults are usually exuberantly demonstrate of
their affections. They like to be near you, usually in the same room, preferably
on a comfortable pad or cushion in a corner or under a table, just "keeping you
company". They enjoy conversation, petting and cuddling when you offer it, but
they are moderate and not overbearing in coming to you to demand much attention.
They are emotionally sensitive to their favorite people: when you are joyful,
proud, angry, or grief-stricken, your Bouv will immediately perceive it and will
believe himself to be the cause. The relationship can be one of great mellows,
depth and subtlety; it is a relation on an adult-to-adult level, although
certainly not one devoid of playfulness. As puppies, of course, they will be
more dependent, more playful, and more demonstrative. In summary, Bouvs tend to
be sober and thoughtful, rather than giddy clowns or sychophants.
A number of breeds retain into adulthood a more puppyish and playful
disposition, e.g. Australian Shepherd, Malamute, and others. Quite a few are far
more dramatically demonstrative and/or more clingingly dependent, e.g. the
Golden Retriever.
DON'T BUY A BOUVIER IF YOU ARE FASTIDIOUS ABOUT THE NEATNESS OF YOUR HOME.
The Bouvier's thick shaggy coat and his love of playing in water and mud combine
to make him a highly efficient transporter of dirt into your home, depositing
same on your floors and rugs and possibly also on your furniture and clothes.
One Bouvier coming in from a few minutes outdoors on a rainy day can turn an
immaculate house into an instant hog wallow. His full beard soaks up water every
time he takes a drink, then releases same drippingly across your floor or
soppingly into your lap. (It is of course possible to cut the beard off and to
keep the feet clean-shaven year-round to reduce mess.) Although it is
technically true that Bouviers do not shed, you will find that the grooming
process usually results in balls of pulled out hair tumbleweeding their way
about your house, unless you deposit same directly from comb into a trash
basket. I don't mean to imply that you must be a slob or slattern to live
happily with a Bouv, but you do have to have the attitude that your dog's
company means more to you than does neatness and you do have to be comfortable
with a less than immaculate house.
While all dogs, like all children, create a greater or lesser degree of
household mess, almost all other breeds of dog (except the Old English Sheepdog)
are less troublesome than the Bouvier in this respect. The Basenji is perhaps
the cleanest, due to its cat-like habits; but cats are cleaner yet, and goldfish
hardly ever mess up the house.
DON'T BUY A BOUVIER IF YOU ARE FASTIDIOUS ABOUT UNPLEASANT ODORS.
Bouviers are one of the more flatulent breeds of dog. While the volume and aroma
of the emissions depends partly on the diet, about half an hour after his meal
your nose knows! (As the period of maximum emissions lasts only half an hour to
an hour, it would not be unreasonable to put the dog outdoors in a fenced yard
for this period.) The Bouvier coat, when damp, tends to smell rather swampy. A
wet Bouv confined to a car or small room for an hour or so can create an aroma
even the least sensitive will perceive. Some people consider the Bouvier beard
to have noticeably unpleasant body odor even when dry and recently groomed. The
Bouvier beard tends to retain particles of food, which soon become offensive if
the beard is not washed frequently.
Almost all of the short-haired breeds, other than hound breeds or afield-bred
(oily coated) Chesapeake, are less likely to offend the nose through general
coat/body odor. I'm sure many other breeds are less flatulent, but it is
difficult to get reliable information on this as few owners care to discuss the
issue.
DON'T BUY A BOUVIER IF YOU DISLIKE DOING REGULAR GROOMING. The thick
shaggy Bouvier coat demands regular grooming, not merely to look tolerably nice,
but also to preserve the health of skin underneath and to detect and remove
foxtails, ticks, and other dangerous invaders. For "pet" grooming, you should
expect to spend 10-15 minutes a day (e.g. while listening to music or watching
television) on alternate days or half an hour twice a week. Of course any time
your Bouv gets into cockleburs, filigree, or other coat-adhering vegetation, you
are likely to be in for an hour or more of remedial work. During "oxtail"
season, (western US), you must inspect feet and other vulnerable areas daily. In
Lyme disease areas during tick season, you will need to inspect for ticks daily.
"Pet" grooming does not require a great deal of skill, but does require time and
regularity. Keeping the dog in a short or semi-short "working clip"
substantially reduces grooming time, but does not eliminate the need for
regularity. "Show" (beauty contest) grooming requires a great deal of skill and
considerably more time and effort or expensive professional grooming.
Almost every Bouvier that is rescued out of a Pound or Shelter shows the effects
of many months of non-grooming, resulting in massive matting and horrendous
filthiness, sometimes with urine and feces cemented into the rear portions of
the coat. It appears that unwillingness to keep up with coat care is a primary
cause of abandonment.
Many other breeds of dog require less grooming; short coated breeds require very
little. The Rottweiler has a temperament and personality similar to the Bouvier,
yet requires little grooming.
DON'T BUY A BOUVIER IF YOU DISLIKE DAILY PHYSICAL EXERCISE. Bouviers need
exercise to maintain the health of heart and lungs and to maintain muscle tone.
Because of his mellow, laid-back, often lazy, disposition, your Bouvier will not
give himself enough exercise unless you accompany him or play with him. An adult
Bouvier should have a morning outing of a mile or more, as you walk briskly,
jog, or bicycle beside him, and a similar evening outing. For puppies, shorter
and slower walks, several times a day are preferred for exercise and
housebreaking.
All dogs need daily exercise of greater or lesser length and vigor. If providing
this exercise is beyond you, physically or temperamentally, then choose one of
the many small and energetic breeds that can exercise itself within your fenced
yard. Most of the Toys and Terriers fit this description, but don't be surprised
if a Terrier is inclined to dig in the earth since digging out critters is the
job that they were bred to do. Cats can be exercised indoors with
mouse-on-a-string toys. Hamster will exercise themselves on a wire wheel. House
plants don't need exercise.
DON'T BUY A BOUVIER IF YOU BELIEVE THAT DOGS SHOULD RUN "FREE". Whether
you live in town or country, no dog can safely be left to run "free" outside
your fenced property and without your direct supervision and control. The price
of such "freedom" is inevitably injury or death: from dogfights, from
automobiles, from the Pound or from justifiably irate neighbors. Even though
Bouvs are home-loving and less inclined to roam than most breeds, an unfenced
Bouv is destined for disaster. Like other breeds developed for livestock
herding, most Bouvs have inherited a substantial amount of "herding instinct".
which is a strengthened and slightly modified instinct to chased and capture
suitable large prey. The unfenced country-living Bouv will sooner or later
discover the neighbor's livestock (sheep, cattle, horses, poultry) and respond
to his genetic urge to chase and harass such stock. State law almost always
gives the livestock owner the legal right to kill any dog chasing or "worrying"
his stock, and almost all livestock owners are quick to act on this! The
unfenced city Bouv is likely to exercise his inherited herding instinct on
joggers, bicyclists, and automobiles. A thoroughly obedience-trained Bouvier can
enjoy the limited and supervised freedom of off-leash walks with you in
appropriately chosen environments.
If you don't want the responsibility of confining and supervising your pet, then
no breed of dog is suitable for you. A neutered cat will survive such
irresponsibly given "freedom" somewhat longer than a dog, but will eventually
come to grief. A better answer for those who crave a "free" pet is to set out
feeding stations for some of the indigenous wildlife, such as raccoons, which
will visit for handouts and which may eventually tolerate your close
observation.
DON'T BUY A BOUVIER IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY, FEED, AND PROVIDE HEALTHCARE
FOR ONE. Bouviers are not a cheap breed to buy, as running a careful
breeding program with due regard for temperament, trainability, and physical
soundness (hips especially) cannot be done cheaply. The time the breeder should
put into each puppy's "pre-school" and socialization is also costly. The
"bargain" puppy from a "back-yard breeder" who unselectively mates any two Bouvs
who happen to be of opposite sex may well prove to be extremely costly in terms
of bad temperament, bad health, and lack of essential socialization. In
contrast, the occasional adult or older pup is available at modest price from a
disenchanted owner or from a breeder, shelter, or rescuer to whom the dog was
abandoned; most of these "used" Bouviers are capable of becoming a marvelous dog
for you if you can provide training, leadership, and understanding. Whatever the
initial cost of your Bouvier, the upkeep will not be cheap. Being large dogs,
Bouvs eat relatively large meals. (Need I add that what goes in one end must
eventually come out the other?) Large dogs tend to have larger veterinary bills,
as the amount of anesthesia and of most medications is proportional to body
weight. Spaying or neutering, which costs more for larger dogs, is an essential
expense for virtually all pet Bouviers, as it "takes the worry out of being
close", prevents serious health problems in later life, and makes the dog a more
pleasant companion. Bouviers are subject to two conditions which can be costly
to treat: hip dysplasia and bloat. (Your best insurance against dysplasia is to
buy only from a litter bred from OFA certified parents and [if possible],
grandparents. Yes, this generally means paying more. While bloat may have a
genetic predisposition, there are no predictive tests allowing selective
breeding against it. Your best prevention is not to feed your dog too soon
before or after strenuous exercise.) Professional grooming, if you use it, is
expensive. An adequate set of grooming tools for use at home adds up to a tidy
sum, but once purchased will last many dog-lifetimes. Finally, the modest fee
for participation in a series of basic obedience training classes is an
essential investment in harmonious living with your dog; such fees are the same
for all breeds, though conceivably you will need to travel a bit further from
home to find a training class teacher who is competent with the more formidable
breeds, such as Bouvier. The modest annual outlays for immunizations and for
local licensing are generally the same for all breeds, though some counties have
a lower license fee for spayed/neutered dogs.
All dogs, of whatever breed and however cheaply acquired, require significant
upkeep costs, and all are subject to highly expensive veterinary emergencies.
Likewise all cats.
DON'T BUY A BOUVIER IF YOU WANT THE "LATEST, GREATEST FEROCIOUS KILLER ATTACK
DOG". Although the Bouvier's capability as a personal protection dog and as
a police dog have been justifiably well publicized, and occasionally
dramatically over-stated, the Bouvier is not any more capable in these respects
than are half a dozen other protection breeds. Nor are all Bouviers equally
capable: some are highly so and some moderately so, but many have insufficient
natural capacity for such work. Due to his laid-back disposition, the Bouvier
is, if anything, a bit slower to respond aggressively to a threat than are most
other protection breeds. For the same reason, however, The Bouv is perhaps
somewhat more amenable to control by the handler and somewhat more willing to
refrain from biting or to stop biting when told to do so. Whatever the breed,
before the dog can be safely protection trained, he must have great respect for
the leadership of his handler and must be solidly trained in basic obedience to
that handler. Equally essential, he must have a rock-solidly stable temperament
and he must also have been "socialized" out in the world enough to know that
most people are friendly and harmless, so that he can later learn to distinguish
the bad guys from the good guys. Even with such a dog, safe protection training
demands several hundred hours of dedicated work by the handler, much of it under
the direct supervision of a profoundly expert trainer. Please don't buy any dog
for protection training unless you are absolutely committed to the extreme
amount of work that will be required of you personally. Also talk to your lawyer
and your insurance agent first.
In contrast to the protection-trained dog, trained to bite on direct command or
in reaction to direct physical assault on his master, the "deterrent dog"
dissuades the vast majority of aspiring burglars, rapists, and assailants by his
presence, his appearance, and his demeanor. Seeing such dog, the potential
wrong-doer simply decides to look for a safer victim elsewhere. For this job,
all that is needed is a dog that is large and that appears to be well-trained
and unafraid. The Bouvier can serve this role admirably, with the added assets
of generally dark color and shaggy "bestial" appearance adding to the impression
of formidability and fearsomeness. If the dog has been taught to bark a few
times on command, eg "Fang, watch him!" rather than "Fifi, speak for a cookie",
this skill can be useful to augment the deterrent effect.
Other breeds of dog which are equally suitable for protection or for deterrence
include the Doberman, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Briard, Belgian Sheepdog,
Belgian Tervuren, and Belgian Malinois. Of these the first 3 are recognized by
the general public as "police dogs" and are probably far more feared by most
potential criminals than is the Bouvier. The Malamute, though not suitable for
protection, is quite effective for deterrence due to his highly wolf-like
appearance.
DON'T BUY A BOUVIER IF YOU WANT A TOTALLY UNAGGRESSIVE AND UNPROTECTIVE DOG.
Most Bouviers have an assertive and confident personality. When confronted
with a threat, a proper Bouvier will be somewhat more ready to fight than to
flee. Thus he may respond aggressively in situations where many other breeds
back down. Most Bouviers have some inclination to act aggressively to repel
intruders on their territory (i.e. your home) and to counter-act assaults upon
their pack mates (you and your family). Without training and leadership from you
to guide him, the dog cannot judge correctly whom to repel and whom to tolerate.
Without training and leadership, sooner or later he may injure an innocent
person who will successfully sue you for more than you own. With good training
and leadership from you, he can be profoundly valuable as a defender of your
home and family. (See also remarks on stability and socialization above.)
If you feel no need of an assertive dog or if you have the slightest doubts of
your ability and willingness to supply the essential socialization, training and
leadership, then please choose one of the many breeds noted for thoroughly
unaggressive temperament, such as a Sheltie or a Golden Retriever.
DON'T BUY A BOUVIER IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO COMMIT YOURSELF FOR THE DOG'S
ENTIRE LIFETIME. No dog deserves to be cast out because his owners want to
move to a no-pet apartment or because he is no longer a cute puppy or didn't
grow up to be a beauty contest winner or because his owners through lack of
leadership and training have allowed him to become an unruly juvenile delinquent
with a repertoire of undesirable behaviors. The prospects of a responsible and
affectionate second home for a "used" dog are never very bright, but they are
especially dim for a large, shaggy, poorly mannered dog. A Bouvier dumped into a
Pound or Shelter has almost no chance of survival -- unless he has the great
good fortune to be spotted by someone dedicated to Bouvier Rescue. The prospects
for adoption for a youngish, well-trained, and well-groomed Bouvier whose owner
seeks the assistance of the nearest Bouvier Club or Rescue group are fairly
good; but an older Bouv has diminishing prospects. Be sure to contact your local
Bouvier club or Rescue group if you are diagnosed as terminally ill or have
other equally valid reason for seeking an adoptive home. Be sure to contact your
local Bouvier club if you are beginning to have difficulties in training your
Bouvier, so these can be resolved. Be sure to make arrangements in your will or
with your family to ensure continued care or adoptive home for your Bouvier if
you should pre-decease him.
The life span of a Bouvier is from 10 to 15 years. If that seems too long a time
for you to give an unequivocal loyalty to your Bouvier, then please do not get
one! Indeed, as most dogs have a life expectancy that is as long or longer,
please do not get any dog!
In Conclusion
If all the preceding "bad news" about Bouviers hasn't turned you away from the
breed, then by all means DO GET A BOUVIER! They are every bit as wonderful as
you have heard!
If buying a puppy, be sure to shop carefully for a *responsible* and
*knowledgeable* breeder who places high priority on breeding for sound
temperament and trainability and good health in all matings. Such a breeder will
interrogate and educate potential buyers carefully. Such a breeder will continue
to be available for advice and consultation for the rest of the puppy's life and
will insist on receiving the dog back if ever you are unable to keep it.
However as an alternative to buying a Bouvier puppy, you may want to give some
serious consideration to adopting a rescued Bouvier. Despite their
responsibility of their previous owner, almost all rescued Bouviers have proven
to be readily rehabilitated so as to become superb family companions for
responsible and affectionate adopters. Many rescuers are skilled trainers who
evaluate temperament and provide remedial training before offering dogs for
placement, and who offer continued advisory support afterwards. Contact local
Bouvier breeders or Bouvier club members to learn who is doing Rescue work.
An Afterward
I first wrote this article nearly 10 years ago. Since then it has become a
classic of Bouvier literature, reprinted many times. Since then I have spent
nearly 5 years in Bouvier Rescue, personally rescuing, rehabilitating, and
placing 3 or 4 per year and assisting in the placement of others. Very little
has needed revision in this new addition.
For more information about rescuing a Bouvier des Flandres, please contact:
Pam Green
du Clos de la Fourriere
9269 Mace Blvd.
Davis, CA 95616-9602
(916) 756-2997
Back to Top
CRATE TRAINING YOUR
DOG
By Sherry Benoit
There are several reasons why you might like to crate train your new puppy:
As a house training aid.
To confine your dog when you are unable to supervise him, i.e. if he is
destructive when you are not at home.
To confine your dog when traveling.
To accustom him to being confined while he is at the groomer's, the
veterinarian's or while at a dog show, etc.
Not everyone will agree with crate training for dogs, however I feel that it can
serve a useful purpose for most dog owners. Although dogs are domesticated
animals, they still possess a great deal of natural instinct, and they were
originally den dwelling animals. You can take advantage of this in housebreaking
your dog because den dwelling animals are naturally clean, which means they do
not usually like to foul the area where they have to eat and sleep. The den is
also a safe place for them to go when they feel frightened or are tired.
Crates are available in two styles: the wire collapsible type or the more rigid
plastic or aluminum crate. Either type is suitable, the type that you prefer
will depend upon your needs. The collapsible wire crates are more portable and
are usually less expensive but they are not suitable for shipping. If you plan
to attend a lot of dog shows or do a lot of traveling, then the rigid crates are
more suitable as they are accepted by most airlines. Buy a size that will be
suitable for the size of the your dog when it is full grown. A proper sized
crate will allow the animal to lie down, turn around or stand up easily. If you
are purchasing a wire crate, check to see that the bars are spaced close enough
together that it is not possible for the animal to get its teeth or jaws hooked
between the wires. The wire crate should also come with a bottom pan to contain
any accidents.
Try to have all of your dog supplies, including the crate, before you bring your
new puppy home. Ideally, dogs are not an impulse purchase, so you should have
plenty of time to prepare everything in advance. If you are living close to the
breeder of your puppy, they may allow you to bring the crate and a blanket or a
couple of toys over ahead of time. This way the puppy will have a chance to get
used to it beforehand. Then when the puppy goes home with you, he has the
familiar smells of his litter mates on his blanket etc. so that it will be less
stressful for him.
If you have room in your vehicle, you should consider taking the crate with you
when you go to pick up your puppy. Then you can place the puppy in his crate for
the ride home. Puppies and dogs should be confined in any vehicle to prevent
them from interfering with the driver and to protect them in case of an accident
or sudden stop. Remember that it is very difficult to hold onto several pounds
of wiggling puppy, plus if the puppy becomes carsick or has an accident, it is
much easier to clean up the crate than it is to shampoo your car's upholstery.
Select a spot for the crate that is close to the center of activity in your home
(for example, the kitchen) as small puppies like to be around others. You might
also like to place the crate in your bedroom at bedtime. It might reassure the
puppy.
Hopefully you have arranged to pick up your puppy earlier in the day at the
start of a weekend, as this will give it a chance to become more familiar with
you and with its new surroundings before nighttime. Well before bedtime, place
the puppy into its crate with a few treats or a toy. You might also like to feed
the first few meals while it is inside the crate. Firmly close the door and
leave the room but remain within earshot of the crated puppy so you can monitor
its reaction. If the puppy makes a fuss, give a firm verbal correction (such as
"No" or "Quiet") but do not go to the crate or let the puppy out. Either of
these will make it more difficult for you to get the puppy accustomed to being
crated because the puppy will learn that if he creates a fuss, he will get what
he wants (freedom or your attention). After the puppy has been quiet for 5 or 10
minutes praise him, then release him. If you praise after you release the puppy,
he may associate the praise with his release, which may act to increase his
desire to leave the crate. You want the puppy to associate the praise with his
being quiet, not his release.
If you use a wire crate you may want to drape a blanket over the crate so that
only one side is left uncovered, as this will give the puppy more privacy so it
can rest undisturbed. Leashes and collars should also be removed while the puppy
is in the crate so that it does not become tangled up in them.
The next step is up to you; you may wish to gradually increase the length of
time that the puppy will spend in the crate, or you may prefer to attempt to
leave the puppy in the crate overnight initially. Either method will work, but
do not give in if the puppy creates a fuss. As soon as you awake in the morning,
or if you hear the puppy start to stir, then you should take it outside to the
area where you want it to relieve itself. Most puppies are hardy enough by the
time that they are ready for their new homes, that they can be taken outside to
relieve themselves, even during our cold winters.
Puppies usually have to relieve themselves when they first awaken (whether it be
after a short nap or first thing each morning), after they are fed, and before
and after each play session (when they are excited and active). If you are using
the crate as a house-breaking tool then start by taking the puppy outside when
these situations occur. Take the puppy to the area that you have set aside for
this purpose and stay with it until it relieves itself, then praise it as if it
has just done the greatest thing in the world. Remember that each time that it
goes outside, it is one less mess for you to clean up in the house! Show him
that you appreciate it. Use the same area each time, as the odor that is left on
the ground will remind the puppy what it is expected to do. If you wish to teach
the puppy to go on command, use the phrase that you have chosen right from the
start. This can make it easier if you travel and take your dog with you, or if
you are planning to show your dog. Then you can use the phrase to prompt the dog
whenever you take it for an exercise run. This way, you can also teach your dog
to "do its business" before you take it for a walk in the neighborhood. Of
course, you will be a responsible dog owner and you will clean up after your dog
if it does have an accident on your walk.
House breaking your puppy will also be easier if you do not feed free choice
(where food is available at all times), but instead feed 2 or 3 small feedings
throughout the day. As the puppy gets older you can increase the amount fed at
each feeding and reduce the frequency of feeding. Dogs that are fed free choice
may be more inclined to overeat, plus it will be more difficult for you to
predict when the puppy will need to go outside for relief. If you follow a
routine, it is easier to increase the time period between exercise breaks, and
build up the puppy's bowel and bladder control.
If your puppy has an accident inside the house, it is your fault as well as his.
Gently scold him if you catch him in the act and then take him outside to the
designated area. This will remind him that he is to go outside. If you do not
catch him in the act then it is usually useless to scold as the puppy won't know
what it has done wrong. It will know that you are upset with it, but it won't
know why. If you are unable to supervise the puppy then it should be placed in
its crate. Remember that they don't like to foul their sleeping area.
Accident areas should be cleaned up with vinegar and water or with the special
products that are available. Try not to use ammonia based products as urine
contains ammonia and the residual odor left on the spot may encourage the puppy
to do an encore. Be patient, and persevere; puppies vary widely in the time
required for them to accept being crated. Some may accept it after 5 or 10
minutes while some may fuss for hours.
The puppy that is crate trained will not develop the habit of messing in the
house and you will gradually be able to give him access to a greater area
without any problems. He will also learn to accept being confined while in a
vehicle, or while at a dog show. Hotels that accept pets usually require them to
be crated to prevent damage to hotel property. You will be considered a much
more desirable guest if your dog is crate trained, as it will not howl and
disturb the other guests. The number of hotels and motels accepting pets is
gradually decreasing in number because not all pet owners are responsible. lease
don't add to the problem.
Puppies that have been crate trained will also seek out their crate as a refuge
and as a sleeping area. If you have children, you should teach them that the
crate is the puppy's "safe area" and that they shouldn't bother it if it is in
the crate, and that the crate belongs to the puppy and is not meant for them to
play in. If you have visitors that dislike dogs, or if hey have young children
that like to tease, then you can confine your pet and relax knowing that it is
safe from harm and not causing problems.
You can also crate a dog that becomes destructive when it is left unattended.
This way your dog can't get into the garbage or chew up the furniture. However,
do not leave your dog confined for more than 5 to 6 hours preferably, or 8 hours
maximum.
Hopefully these hints will help to make your pet a welcome member of your
family, and not a burden. Animals that become destructive end up being
candidates for the local animal shelter, usually because their owners did not
properly train the animals, and they find that they can no longer cope with the
misbehavior.
Reprinted with permission from The Wonderful World Of Bouviers, Edition 4.
Published by the Alberta Bouvier des Flandres Club.
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PUPPY SOCIALIZATION
By Fernand Beaudry
A question that is often asked is "when should I start to socialize my puppy?"
Many experts will say that puppies should be socialized from the time they are
born. They are correct. Puppy socialization should be the responsibility of all
breeders to make sure that puppies are ready for social acceptance of people.
At 1 to 13 days:
Daily handling sessions of five to fifteen minutes in which the pup is
touched and stroked will greatly increase the puppy's social acceptance of
people.
It has also been stated that introducing the puppy to mild stress even at this
age will allow the animal to better cope with stress later in life. This may
occur in the wild, less controlled environments, for example, through
temperature changes, which we can mimic, by placing the animal on a cool floor
for a few seconds each day.
The removal of the puppy from its nest and siblings is stressful, but the stress
is alleviated by placing the animal back in its nest after a few seconds.
At 14 to 28 days:
At this age the pup's senses are now being stimulated and the pup will
forever be influenced by the images formed in his mind. What he experiences now
will influence him for the rest of his life.
We must ensure that the pup's environment is stimulating and educational and a
sensory rich environment which will positively influence the dog's mind.
You can stimulate the dog's mental development by placing harmless yet novel
toys or objects within the nest. Examples are: a small soft squeaker or squeaky
toy, a low step and/or platform that the pup may crawl on, a ball or a small
nylon bone.
Use your imagination, but ensure that it is not injurious. The more a pup
becomes accustomed to and explores now, the more confident and assured your pup
will be in the future. You can effectively influence your pup's behavior and
mental development even in its first four weeks of life.
At 29 to 84 days:
If there is no socialization with humans in this period, it is most likely
the dog will always be fearful and shy of people. The pup is extremely dependent
on frequent human contact and handling between five and twelve weeks of age,
whereas its main social interaction with other dogs is between four to six weeks
of age.
A puppy should never be adopted before six weeks of age, the interaction
occurring within the litter at that time is too critical to a puppy's
development.
Furthermore, around eight to ten weeks the puppy goes through a fear period
where it is extremely susceptible to physical and psychological trauma, the
effects of which may be permanent and irreversible.
This makes the ideal time to adopt a puppy at between seven and eight weeks of
age. At this age, the pup is capable of forming strong relationships with both
dogs and human beings.
Every effort should be made to fully socialize the dog, that is, socialize it
beyond the normal casual encounters with people.
It is highly recommended that you develop a program that will expose the dog to
a wide range of different sights, sounds, and textural feelings, both
environmentally and socially.
Textures: should include pavement, rugs, cement, sand, grass,
gravel, linoleum and dirt.
Sights: would include trees, insects, other animals, men with
beards, women with hats, people in wheelchairs, people with canes and many
children.
Sounds: may include traffic, airplanes, trains, railroad crossing
signals, construction and the sound of children playing.
At the same time, further increase the environment enrichment of the puppy's
nest or den, by adding new toys, a Kong, a piece of heavy rope, or a ball with a
bell in it.
Suspend a rubber tug ring at the puppy's eye level so it can pull on it, or bat
it.
The greater the exposure you can give your dog during this critical period, the
more it will lead to improved social flexibility, social communication,
emotional stability and trainability.
At twelve to sixteen weeks of age depending on your puppy's immunization status,
every attempt should be made to take your dog to a puppy class.
The classes should be using training methods that are based on positive rewarded
responses.
Classes should include socialization and play periods with other puppies,
children and adults.
Puppies should learn to be handled and touched by adults and children. The whole
family should participate in the puppy class.
Basic commands: sit, down, come, stay and off should be covered.
The class should be conducted in an atmosphere of fun and happiness. Rewards
should be used extravagantly. Puppy class should be fun for puppy and family.
Every effort should be made to educate the new puppy owners, as to what is
needed to socialize their puppy.
If all efforts are made from the time the puppies are born, the breeder does his
part in socializing them and if the new owner does his part in socializing his
puppy, the results will be a bond between you and your pet that will increase in
strength and intensity.
You will have a relationship that you can be proud of and enjoy for the life of
your chosen pet.
Reprinted with permission from The Wonderful World Of Bouviers, 4th Edition.
Published by the Alberta Bouvier des Flandres Club.
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