412. The best place in the world for an injured stray dog

THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD FOR AN INJURED STRAY DOG


"The puppy fell into the correct drain," Mr White smiled as he puffed his cigarette and drank a glass of Tiger Beer at the gate. I was leaving the house after an unannounced short house visit. Mr White was a visitor to Mrs Baker's house. Mrs Baker was surprised to see me. So was I surprised to see her as she was a busy working lady.

I came to check on the black Miniature Pinscher Cross with terrible large areas of exposed front and back leg muscles being nursed by Mrs Baker. The best bandages money could buy covered her foreleg and hind leg being changed daily. Temperature taking at four hourly intervals. This was the 3rd day and the puppy had no fever due to the antibiotics and sterile cleaning by Mrs Baker.

"Yes," I waved to him. "Mrs Baker's house is the best place in the world for a stray dog to fall sick."

Mrs Baker spent the whole night assuring the puppy that everything would be all right on the day she spotted her in the drain outside her house. Her brother lifted up the puppy and got bitten in the hand. He was given a tetanus jab by the doctor.

"Bring the dog to the surgery," I said to Mrs Baker when she asked for a house-call on Saturday, the day she found her in a drain. "Dog abuse. Somebody had sliced off the puppy's skin. I read about cat abuse in the Straits Times and this is a real bad case."

But Mrs Baker did not bring the dog to the surgery. She nursed her. Taped up the wounds.

In the Sunday evening, I went to see the puppy as she complained of a high fever.
She had done a good job in washing up the wounds. But I told her that the puppy needed to be given a thorough cleaning of the wounds to remove the embedded grit and hairs. And this should be done under general anaesthetic. It was just too painful.

The puppy was treated on Sunday afternoon. Thoroughly cleaned and bathed. Mrs Baker wanted to bring her back to nurse.

Today, the puppy was lying down on her cushion. There was no more fever today. The puppy was fully bandaged.

"Do not forget that the 7th day will be the day I need to do surgery to close up
the muscles," I reminded Mrs Baker who happened to be at home when I visited today before lunch time.

Everybody was happy. Mr White, a South African expatriate was much impressed to pass the comment of Mrs Baker's house being the best place to fall sick if you were a stray puppy. I could not agree more.

411. Toilet spots, common mistakes, success factors

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore


Oct 2, 2006 NLB Victoria Street 5.28 pm

TOILETING SPOT

1. History.
If he was reared in a clean environment, he would prefer to eliminate away from food, water and bed. Instinct tells the puppy to eliminate far away from the eating, drinking and sleeping area. Breeders who clean up frequently or change soiled newspapers.

2. Smell.
2.1 Urine and poop smell.

Soft areas like carpet - once smelled of urine - dog's nose is very sensitive and can detect urine.

Corners of rooms - wall have urine smell. Behind doors. So used to eliminate there. Neutralise urine smell.

Smell of poop may mean that the dog does not poop on non-pooping smell area.
2.2 Urine spray (commercial). Too pungent for some dogs.

3. Surface when growing up.
In Singapore, almost all pups - wire crate floor in pet shops and breeding kennels.
So, a pee pan with wired top flooring is ideal and acceptable, esp for bigger breeds.

But very few owners are aware of this. Playpens are most commonly recommended. Newspapers get shredded. Puppies cannot understand why they get shouted at.

In the home, apartment usually ceramic or marble tiled floors and/or newspapers for most puppies. So, something new surface to be getting used to.

4. Urine marking behaviour usually but not exclusively in entire male dogs. Small amount of urine peed on a surface like chair, sofa, curtain, bed. Not a toilet training problem. Needs separate solution. Mistaken for signs of regression by some owners.
Very angry family members.

5. Avoiding punishment. So pees when the owner is not around. Behind sofas, under the bed and elsewhere.



COMMON MISTAKES.

1. Not confined to a small area. Pee and poop anywhere, esp. small breed.
2. Owner does not train the puppy. Confine to playpen and newspapers or crate. No treats and praises. Just scolding after the accidents.
3. Negative reinforcement. Shouting,spanking after accidents or during elimination.
4. Working couples work 12-hour days. No time. Take 1 week leave to toilet. Success rate very high. But must know how to toilet train too.



TO SUCCEED
1. Confine. Unless you can supervise puppy. Prevent mistakes. Time soilet stops. Reward and praises.

Short periods like one hour. Take to toilet area.
1.1 Tied to your waist/leg of table by a leash.
1.2 Crated( room, balcony etc).
1.3 If crated >2hours, water bowl. Go to grass or newspapers. Backyard patio or lawn.

2. Take party to toilet after every play, sleep, meal or drink. Average every hour.
Say "pee pee".
When the puppy squats and eliminates, treat and praise. Release word "Good boy". Use clicker and treat?

3. Repeat many times. This means you are preventing mistakes or accidents.

410. Moody, so Jack Russell pees outside Pee Pan!

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore




"Accidents" may not be due to "moodiness". The strong smell of urine outside the pee pan may need to be neutralised with vinegar:water 1:3 and no more "accidents" may occur.