Puptown Dog Training Houston

Why Does My Dog Growl When I Pick It Up?

Posted on March 26, 2023March 26, 2023 by Gideon

Dogs are social creatures that communicate through a variety of means, including body language, vocalizations, and scents. Growling is one way in which dogs communicate, and it can indicate a range of emotions, from fear and anxiety to aggression and warning. If your dog growls when you pick it up, it can be a sign that your pooch is uncomfortable or stressed. We will explore some of the reasons why dogs may growl when picked up and what you can do to help your furry friend feel more comfortable.

Photo by Razvan Sassu

Pain or discomfort

One of the most common reasons why a dog may growl when picked up is because your pup is experiencing pain or discomfort. Dogs can suffer from a range of health issues, from minor ailments like sore muscles and joint pain to more serious conditions like arthritis or even broken bones. If your dog is experiencing pain, it may growl or snap when picked up because it is trying to protect itself.

To rule out any medical issues, it’s important to take your dog to the vet for a thorough checkup. Your vet will be able to examine your dog and determine if there is an underlying health issue that may be causing your dog to growl when picked up. If your dog is diagnosed with a medical condition, your vet may recommend a course of treatment or medication to help manage the pain and discomfort.

Fear or anxiety

Another reason why a dog may growl when picked up is because it is is feeling fearful or anxious. Dogs can be afraid of a range of things, from loud noises and unfamiliar people to other dogs and even certain objects. If your dog is afraid, it may growl or snap when picked up because it feels threatened or overwhelmed.

To help your dog feel more comfortable, it’s important to identify what is causing this fear or anxiety and work to address it. For example, if your dog is afraid of loud noises like thunderstorms, you can try to create a safe and comfortable space to retreat to during storms. You can also try using calming supplements or medications to help your dog feel more relaxed.

It’s important to note that forcing your dog to be picked up or holding it when your pup is scared can actually make the problem worse. If your dog is afraid, it’s important to give it space and let your dog come to you when it feels comfortable.

Overstimulation

Some dogs may growl when picked up because they are overstimulated or excited. This is especially true for puppies and young dogs who have a lot of energy and can easily become overwhelmed. If your dog is overstimulated, it may growl or snap when picked up because it is trying to communicate that it needs a break.

To help your dog feel more comfortable, it’s important to give plenty of opportunities to burn off excess energy through play and exercise. You can also try using calming techniques like massage or aromatherapy to help your dog relax.

Lack of training or socialization

Finally, some dogs may growl when picked up because they have not been properly trained or socialized. Dogs who have not been exposed to a variety of people, animals, and situations may become fearful or aggressive when confronted with something new or unfamiliar. Similarly, dogs who have not been taught to accept handling may become defensive when picked up.

To help your dog feel more comfortable, it’s important to work on training and socialization from a young age. You can enroll your dog in obedience classes or work with a professional trainer to teach your pooch how to behave in different situations. You can also work on handling exercises with your dog to help it become more comfortable with being picked up and held.

The Role of a Dog in a Family

Posted on March 22, 2023March 22, 2023 by Gideon

Dogs have been called “man’s best friend” for centuries, and for good reason. They are loyal, loving, and often considered a member of the family. The role of a dog in a family can vary depending on the household, but there are some common themes that most dog owners would agree on.

Photo by Andrea Brambila

Companionship

One of the most important roles a dog plays in a family is that of a companion. Dogs are social creatures and enjoy spending time with their humans. They are always happy to see us and are eager to be near us. This companionship can be especially important for people who live alone or those who have lost a loved one. A dog can provide comfort and help alleviate feelings of loneliness.

Physical and Mental Health

Dogs also have a positive impact on our physical and mental health. Studies have shown that owning a dog can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and increase our activity levels. They also provide emotional support, which can be helpful for people with anxiety or depression. Additionally, taking care of a dog can provide a sense of purpose and routine, which can be beneficial for our mental health.

Protection

Another important role a dog can play in a family is that of a protector. While not all dogs are bred for protection, many breeds are naturally protective of their families. They can bark to alert us of potential dangers or intruders, and their presence alone can deter criminals from targeting our homes. This can provide a sense of security for the entire family.

Teaching Responsibility

For families with children, owning a dog can be a valuable opportunity to teach responsibility. Children can learn how to care for another living being by feeding, walking, and grooming their dog. This can help instill a sense of empathy and responsibility in children, which can benefit them in other areas of their lives.

Bringing Joy

Perhaps one of the most obvious roles a dog plays in a family is that of a joy-bringer. Dogs have a way of making us laugh and smile, even on our toughest days. They are always excited to see us and are often eager to play. Their unconditional love and affection can bring a sense of happiness to our lives that is hard to replicate.

Choosing the Right Dog for Your Family

While dogs can bring many benefits to a family, it’s important to choose the right dog for your household. Different breeds have different temperaments and activity levels, so it’s important to do your research before bringing a dog into your home. Some things to consider include:

Activity level: Do you want a dog that is high-energy and requires lots of exercise, or would you prefer a more low-key companion?
Size: Do you have enough space in your home and yard for a larger dog, or would a smaller breed be a better fit?
Temperament: Do you want a dog that is good with children or other pets, or do you have a specific temperament in mind?
Grooming needs: Some breeds require more grooming than others, so consider how much time and money you’re willing to invest in grooming.

The role of a dog in a family can be multifaceted. From providing companionship to teaching responsibility to bringing joy, dogs can have a positive impact on our lives. However, it’s important to choose the right dog for your household to ensure a successful and happy relationship. With the right breed and proper care, a dog can become an integral part of any family.

Lastly, dogs are intelligent animals with complex social and behavioral needs. While they are often referred to as “man’s best friend”, dogs are not born knowing how to behave in human society. Just like humans, dogs need to learn and follow social rules to live successfully and safely in their environment. This is where Lodge & Learn Training becomes crucial.

The Importance Of Puppy Socialization

Posted on March 21, 2023March 21, 2023 by Gideon

Bringing a new puppy into your life can be a joyful and exciting experience. However, it’s important to remember that puppies need more than just love and affection to grow into happy, healthy dogs. One of the most crucial aspects of raising a puppy is socialization. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the importance of puppy socialization and how you can help your furry friend become a confident and well-adjusted adult dog.

What is Puppy Socialization?

Puppy socialization is the process of exposing your puppy to new experiences, people, animals, and environments during their critical socialization period, which is typically between the ages of 3 and 14 weeks. During this time, puppies are more open to new experiences and are less likely to be fearful or anxious. By exposing them to a wide range of social experiences during this time, you can help your puppy learn to adapt to new situations, build confidence, and develop good behavior.

Photo by Ricardo IV Tamayo

Why is Puppy Socialization Important?

Socialization plays a crucial role in a puppy’s development. Puppies that are not adequately socialized may grow up to be fearful, anxious, or aggressive. Here are some reasons why socialization is so important:

Prevents Fear and Anxiety

Exposing your puppy to new experiences early on can help prevent them from developing fears and anxieties later in life. Puppies that are not socialized may become fearful of strangers, other dogs, or new environments, which can lead to behavior problems such as aggression or anxiety.

Builds Confidence

Puppies that are socialized properly are more likely to grow up to be confident, well-adjusted dogs. By exposing your puppy to new experiences and challenges, you can help them learn to cope with new situations and build confidence.

Prevents Aggression

Puppies that are not socialized may grow up to be aggressive towards other dogs or humans. By exposing them to a wide range of social experiences during their critical socialization period, you can help them learn appropriate social behavior and prevent aggression.

How to Socialize Your Puppy

Socializing your puppy is not difficult, but it does require some effort and planning. Here are some tips to help you socialize your puppy:

Expose your puppy to new experiences, people, and environments regularly. This can include taking your puppy to the park, inviting friends over, or taking them on car rides.

Introduce your puppy to other dogs and animals in a controlled environment. This can include play dates with other puppies or supervised meetings with well-behaved adult dogs.

Reward your puppy for good behavior. Use positive reinforcement techniques to encourage good behavior, such as treats or praise.

Be patient and take things slowly. Don’t overwhelm your puppy with too many new experiences at once. Gradually introduce new experiences, and always monitor their behavior.

Socialization is a critical part of raising a healthy, happy, and well-adjusted puppy. By exposing your puppy to new experiences, people, and environments during their critical socialization period, you can help them build confidence, prevent fear and anxiety, and prevent aggression. Remember to take things slowly, be patient, and use positive reinforcement techniques to encourage good behavior. With time and effort, you can help your puppy grow into a confident and well-adjusted adult dog.

Do you need professional puppy training that includes socialization? Contact Puptown Houston now!

How To Read Your Dog’s Subtle Cues

Posted on March 21, 2023March 21, 2023 by Gideon

Dogs are highly social creatures that communicate with us in many ways. Unlike humans, dogs cannot use language to express their needs and emotions. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to their body language and behavior to understand what they are trying to tell us. Here are some tips on how to read your dog’s subtle cues.

Photo by Angel Luciano

Tail Wagging

Most people think that tail wagging always means a dog is happy. However, this is not always the case. Dogs can wag their tails for different reasons, and it’s crucial to pay attention to the context in which the tail wagging occurs. For instance, a dog may wag its tail slowly and stiffly, which can indicate anxiety or aggression. On the other hand, a relaxed and loose tail wagging usually means that the dog is happy and content.

Ears

A dog’s ears can also tell you a lot about how they are feeling. When a dog’s ears are erect and pointed forward, they are usually alert and paying attention to something. If the ears are flat against their head, this can indicate fear or submission. Additionally, when a dog’s ears are pinned back against their head, this can indicate aggression or anxiety.

Body Language

A dog’s body language can also give you a lot of information about their emotional state. For instance, if a dog’s body is relaxed, they are probably feeling calm and content. However, if their body is tense or stiff, this can indicate anxiety or aggression. Additionally, if a dog is cowering or trying to make themselves small, this can indicate fear or submission.

Facial Expressions

A dog’s facial expressions can also tell you a lot about how they are feeling. For example, a dog with a relaxed face, with an open mouth and relaxed eyes, is likely feeling calm and content. However, if a dog’s lips are curled back, showing their teeth, or their eyes are narrowed and focused, this can indicate aggression or fear.

Vocalizations

Finally, a dog’s vocalizations can also give you some clues about how they are feeling. For instance, if a dog is barking loudly and rapidly, they may be excited or agitated. However, if a dog is growling or barking in a low tone, this can indicate aggression or fear.

It’s essential to pay attention to your dog’s body language and behavior to understand how they are feeling. By learning to read your dog’s subtle cues, you can better communicate with them and respond appropriately to their needs. Remember that every dog is unique, and it’s essential to pay attention to their individual personality and behavior. With time and practice, you can become an expert in understanding your dog’s body language and behavior.

If you’re having a difficult time figuring out your dog’s behavior, contact a professional now!

Effective Puppy Training Techniques: A Guide For New Pet Owners

Posted on January 31, 2023February 1, 2023 by Gideon

Bringing a new puppy into your home is an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming. Puppies, like babies, require a lot of time, patience, and consistent training in order to grow into well-behaved adult dogs. In this guide, we will discuss some effective puppy training techniques that will help you raise a happy and well-trained pet.

Photo by Andrew Schultz from Unsplash

Start Early

The first thing to keep in mind when training your puppy is to start early. As soon as you bring your puppy home, begin working on basic commands such as sit, stay, come, and heel. Consistency is key when it comes to puppy training, so make sure to set aside time each day to work on these commands.

Potty Training

Another important aspect of puppy training is potty training. This can be one of the most challenging aspects of raising a new puppy, but it is also one of the most important. To potty train your puppy, establish a regular schedule for feeding, walking, and going outside. This will help your puppy learn when it is appropriate to go potty.

Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is also an important part of puppy training. This means rewarding your puppy when they do something good, rather than punishing them when they make a mistake. Treats, praise, and playtime are all great ways to reward your puppy for good behavior.

Socialization

Socialization is also an important part of puppy training. Socializing your puppy means exposing them to different people, animals, and environments. This will help them become well-adjusted adults who are comfortable in a variety of situations.

Patience

Lastly, it is important to remember that every puppy is different and may learn at a different pace. Be patient and don’t get discouraged if your puppy doesn’t seem to be catching on quickly. With time, patience, and consistency, your puppy will learn and grow into a well-behaved adult dog.

In conclusion, training your new puppy can be a lot of work, but it is also a lot of fun. By using positive reinforcement, consistency, and socialization, you can raise a well-trained and happy pet. Remember to be patient and always keep in mind that every puppy is different and learn at their own pace.

Do You Have Puppy That Needs Training? Visit us at Our Facility

Training a Puppy for a New Baby at House

Posted on November 14, 2016January 10, 2022 by WebDev2021

If your household has a new puppy and you are also preparing for a baby, you definitely have a lot of work on your hands. Or maybe things have gone the opposite direction and you have just brought home a baby and you also got a puppy. Either way it is crucial for a puppy to receive great training as early as possible but with a baby in the mix, you need to train your puppy to play well with the other little one. This goes beyond basic obedience training as socialization is also crucial to the mix. Learn more about training a puppy.

If you live in our near The Woodlands, you have the good fortune of being close to the training specialists at Puptown Houston. The reason we recommend professional dog training beginning as early as six weeks old is due to this being an “imprinting age”. During this time your puppy will learn things that will stay with him/her for a lifetime. This is the ideal window for a puppy to learn things like agility, basic obedience commands, house manners, potty training, and most importantly, socialization. Our “doggy day camp” while being trained with positive reinforcement methods and sharing the company of other dogs.

Obedience and Socialization

Believe it or not, basic obedience can help tremendously when a puppy interacts with a baby. Commands like sit, stay, come, and leave it could ensure safety if a puppy gets scared or uneasy from unfamiliar sounds, smells, or movements. After all, human babies can almost be like puppies in their behaviors, which is where socialization comes into the picture as your puppy might very well consider your baby to be another puppy.

Once more, Puptown can help out with this to help teach proper play behavior. We offer unique classes and training to make sure you will have a well-behaved dog. With your permission, our training includes taking your dog to several different places where they will encounter a variety of people, situations, and other animals. Socialization cannot be taught in a ring which is why Puptown exposes dogs to real-world situations as part of their training.

Our expert trainers take puppies and dogs on different “vacations” like to parks, stores, and other dog-friendly areas to teach them how to be polite and well-mannered in a variety of different situations. We believe that learning should be versatile, realistic, and practical rather than taking place entirely in an isolated training ring. We strive to familiarize puppies with a variety of environments and distractions, which can also help in identifying and overcoming any fears of phobias in dogs. This is where one can see the advantage of proper socialization when it comes to a puppy interacting with a baby to prevent a potentially harmful reaction from sudden moves or sounds.

Overcoming Aggression

Another behavior we focus on correcting is food aggression. This is defined as a form of resource guarding in which a dog becomes defensive when eating. In fact, aggression can go beyond the food bowl and extend to toys and other prized possessions. And if a puppy loves a bright, bouncy squeaky toy, there is a chance that a baby could adore it just as much. You can certainly see the potential problem here as a dog defending a prize can elicit anywhere from a mild reaction like a growl to a severe response such as biting. If you see any such behavior, it is critical that behavior be stopped before a very serious situation arises. As Puptown is built around positive reinforcement in correcting undesirable behaviors, we are fully prepared to help your puppy overcome aggression and will do so with great success.

While this behavior is easiest to address in puppies during the imprinting age, we can certainly help dogs of any age overcome this behavioral issue. And we understand the importance of making sure kids are safe around family pooches of all sizes and ages. And it’s not just kids, dogs need to be well-behaved and good canine citizens around other people and animals in general.

Having your dog attack someone or another dog can have devastating results and our goal is to do everything we can to keep this from happening. So if you are ready for a beautifully behaved pup contact us at 832-930-0073 or at info@puptownhouston.com. If you would like a first-hand look at our unique facility drop by 12725 Iouetta Rd., Cypress TX 77449.

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