The Benefits of Kennel / Crate Training
In my opinion, crate training your dog is one of the most important tools in the overall obedience and facilitates several other training obstacles we may encounter.
Not only do we put a baby in a crib to prevent roll outs,but we also do it to contain a child to encourage rest and we may put them in a playpen while we cook supper or need a break from constant watching every move. Another great use of a playpen for our family was to use as a temporary bed if we had to travel or visit relatives or friends.
Training your dog to sleep in a kennel helps in the house breaking process, reduces the occurrences of separation anxiety, prevents unattended injuries, reduces property damage and produces a more well adjusted pet. All these factors as well as the fact that the dog travels with his own bedroom, makes it easier to find appropriate and willing pet sitters. Another benefit is car travel. Your pets legally have to be properly constrained in a moving vehicle in most jurisdictions and it is simply safer that way, whether in a kennel or in a seat belt restraint.
Five Tips for Crate Training
- While house breaking, the size matters. The dog should only have enough room to turn around in a circle and lie down. Usually the dog will not soil where they sleep unless they absolutely have to. Remember, 10 week old puppies have small bladders and should go out every 40-60 minutes and withhold food and water for 2 hours before bed. Put a box or some kind of divider in the crate to limit space. Make sure Pup can’t get trapped.
- If Pup is having anxiety being left alone at night, start with crate in the bedroom. Teach Pup the “Quiet” command as you go. Eventually move the crate to the door, outside the door, down the hall, until you have it where you want it. I have also used Walkie-Talkies to give Pup the “Quiet” command once the crate is out of the room and he decides he wants to play at 3 o’clock in the morning.
- Make sure Pup won’t chew up bedding in the crate. If he has a tendency to chew, leave the bedding out until the teething subsides. Know your dogs chewing habits and how heavy a chewer he is and provide safe chewing toys and treats while in the crate. Never leave pet unattended with items that can allow large pieces to chip off or toys that can cause choking.
- Choose from a travel type plastic vari-kennel, a steel cage type kennel, high end wooden decorative furniture kennels and even collapsible playpens.
- Use the kennel when you can’t watch a young puppy like a hawk. They like to get into everything and to prevent the pup from learning unwanted behavior, kennel him when you need a break. You will be better focused after 15-20 minutes and then you can provide the attention Pup needs.
New Bakery Section
Wag & Wash has expanded it’s baked good selection and we are showcasing it in our new glass display case. We always try to provide the healthiest treats for all our discerning customers.
New Bakery Case
Drool worthy
Good enough to eat!
Oh so good for them!
We’re working on pet birthday cakes and treat bags for Birthday parties. Call and order your Birthday cake today.
Drop by and see our always growing selection at Wag & Wash, 121 Pine Glen Road, Riverview. 388-9274.
Winterize your pets
Winter in Canada can be harsh. We break out the puffy jackets and Ski-Doo mitts to run to the warmed 
up, idling car. We spend more time on the couch and less time being active. We will perhaps even add a few pounds and have to loosen our belts. Well, it’s no different for our pets.
The fact that we become more sedentary, automatically causes our dogs to become more sedentary as well. Animals are tough and resilient, but the extremes that we can experience in our area can be quite dangerous.
The following are some tips to keep your pets safe in our typical Canadian winters.
- Keep Fit – Nutrition - 41 % of pets in Canada are overweight. Keeping the fat off of a pet is as easy as burning more calories or consuming less. With pets being more sedentary in the winter months, we must cut back on their intake. Cut back on the kibble by 25% or choose a low calorie pet food recipe. Don’t count out “Senior” recipes, as they are simply a low calorie alternative with joint supplements and vitamins such as glucosamine and chondroiten that cannot hurt a younger dog and are beneficial, especially larger breeds. Our exclusive brand, Multi Menu, offers three low calorie choices; Diet Menu, Lamb and Rice and our super premium Senior recipe. Free samples always available. There are also low calorie treats available as well. Be sure to read your labels.
- Keep Fit – Exercise – Every little bit counts. A pet can be a great motivator for us to keep ourselves active in the winter months. Look into those loving eyes and tell yourself that every minute of activity your pet gets will add time on the end of their lives for us to enjoy that much more. Face it, our pets don’t live long enough as it is. The best way to show our love is to prolong their lives as best we can. Get out to the dog parks or the Dobson trail, or where ever you like to go. Even a quick jaunt around the block is better than sitting on the couch eating a barrel of cheese balls. (Thanks Superstore – I love those cheese ball barrels. Make great Yankee Swap gifts too). Don’t count out the treadmill! My dog does 20 minutes a day, three days a week. If you have one, start slow. Train them to stand on it (use low cal treats) first. This may take five minutes or a few days. Turn it on the slowest speed and then work from there. Never leave the dog unattended. I like to sit facing the dog in front of the machine.
- Paw Protection – Ever gone barefoot on the snow? Ever put salt then an ice cube on your skin? WELL DON’T DO IT ! IT BURNS! Pets paws are generally quite tough and can handle the extremes of winter. However, some dogs have more sensitivity to the cold on their tootsies than others. There are products that can help. From a topical paw protector balm to booties of all shapes and styles. Be sure that if you try booties, you put them on and immediately go for a walk. Don’t think that you should let the dog wear them around the house to get used to them. Your best bet is to get out there exploring right away in order to get their attention of the boots and on to smelling every snowbank on your street.
- Containment – Be aware that the copious amounts of snow and the drifting that goes with it can make our otherwise inescapable fenced in yards not so secure. Keep an eye on the snow levels around your fenced in area and shovel if necessary.
What the Heck is Multi Menu?
Multi Menu pet food is a Canadian made premium pet food.
Multi Menu is 
sold through franchisees throughout Canada and the Riverview and area Franchisee is Wag & Wash. Originally a home based home delivery business, franchisees are able to keep overhead down (i.e. Storefront , fancy packaging etc.) and offer recipes at 20-40% less than the price of comparable brands. Wag & Wash, having a storefront still offers these amazing prices for such an excellent product. With 19 formulas of dog and cat food, Multi Menu has something for every pet from seniors to puppies and kittens and everyone in between. Drop by Wag & Wash for a free consultation and sample. Or call 388-9274 and we’ll be happy to deliver you a bag of food or a sample for the fussier pets.
Check out the products at www.multimenu.net .
Need a Trainer?
Are you having behavioral issues with your dog? Do you have a new puppy that is nipping and chewing? Is your dog constantly pulling when you take them for a walk? Do you have a retriever that y
ou would like to tune up?
Look no farther! Call John Watts at 878-8617. With over thirty years of experience and growing up in a dog training family, John can asses your needs and meet them with a friendly ONE on ONE approach.
Why dog whisper when you can Dog Talk?
Shedding Myths and Tips
All pets shed to some degree (except hairless breeds). The degree in which they shed depends on the type of hair or fur they have. Wiry or curly hair usually doesn’t shed as much and therefore these pets need to be groomed on a regular basis to prevent matting and tangling as well as keeping the pet cleaner.
One myth about shedding is that we can prevent shedding through diet or supplements. While some foods and supplements can slow down year-round shedding, they don’t help much with seasonal shedding. With the change in temperature from winter to spring and again from summer to fall, the pet will completely drop its coat to make room for their next season’s hair follicles as they come in coarser for the winter and finer for the summer. This is even more prevalent in pets that spend a lot of time outdoors.
How to reduce Shedding
To minimize year round shedding, feed the pet a high quality pet food, rich in omega fatty acids, such as Multi Menu Evolution or Gourmet Salmon. Some supplements may work but are usually unnecessary if the pet is on a high quality diet. 
To reduce the amount of clean up due to seasonal shedding, regular grooming is the key. Daily brushing with proper tools such as the Safari Shed Magic or a speed rake for double coated dogs such as huskies. A good bath with a “blast” f
rom a high speed, cool air dryer is also a great way to speed up the seasonal shedding process.
Call Wag & Wash at 388-9274 for any more information on shedding and regular grooming of your furry best friends.
Greater Moncton Pet Show
Get ready! The new and improved Greater Moncton Pet Show is back and bigger than ever. 
Slated for September 17 at the Beaver Curling Club, it promises to provide all the information the pet loving public will need for the care and enjoyment of their furry or scaly or feathery buddies.
Contact Lana at lana@greatermonctonpetshow.ca or visit http://www.greatermonctonpetshow.ca/ for more information.
Pavlov’s Doorbell
On your bed
Try this! It works best with younger puppies, but with a little work, you can teach any dog to go to a specific place when the doorbell rings. It gives the dog a job to do which stimulates his brain and focuses him as well as preventing him from jumping up on visitors or barking at the paper boy.
Simply have a helper come to the door unnoticed and ring the bell. Immediately command your dog to go to his spot, I use “on your bed” and lead the dog to the spot and administer praise and treats if you wish when you arrive at the spot. Repeat this four or five times with a few minutes in between rings. Do this drill every night for several nights. Each night, use the stay command and walk away further until you can go to the door and the dog will stay.
Once this is a success, start making noise at the door and eventually let the visitor in and start talking. Practice a lot with your helper so that you can stop and correct if need be. Too often we try to train when we have an actual visitor and give up because we don’t want to annoy the friend.
If the dog leaves the spot, stop every thing and lead the dog back to the spot and start again. make being on the spot a positive thing with treats and / or praise.
End on a positive even if you have to go back to a go to command like sit or shake-a-paw.
Groomers On Staff
Wag and Wash would like to introduce Melissa Steeves . Melissa is a professional groomer and has been with Wag & Wash for three years and is accepting reservations at 388-WASH.
Call for prices.
- Regular Self Serve Pet Wash – $17.99
Includes shampoo, conditioner, towels, high velocity dryer and cologne. Grooming tools available upon request.
- Each Additional Pet – $12.99
- Toy Sized Pet (under 10 pounds) – $12.99
- Nail Clip (We’ll do it) - $6.99
- Fur Buster De-Shedding - $7.99
- Clean and Tidy – $39.99
- Full service wash and nail clip, we’ll do it. Appointment only.
Pooper Scooper Service
Spring clean up - $75.00
We are a Multi Menu Pet Food Franchisee. Click logo for info on our premium Canadian made, all
natural pet food.
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