How to avoid my Miniature Schnauzer being jealous of my new born baby?

Big Dog | June 21st, 2010

Is it normal, anyway?!

Yes, it is. Just imagine the situation from the point of view of your Mini Schnauzer. He is part of the family, often treated as “the kid”, and then, suddenly, a new creature arrives and takes all the attention of his beloved family. It is quite similar to what older children feel, when a little brother/sister arrives. One of the differences is just that the dog can’t speak English :)

Actually, if we are aware of this ‘problem’ in advance, the situation can be handled, but it needs consciousness and to be started in time, long before the baby’s arrival. Let’s see how we can prepare our Miniature Schnauzer for the new family member.

If your dog’s daily routine has to be changed with the baby’s arrival (it probably will), you should start changing the rules much earlier, giving him plenty of time to get used to the new set up. This way it isn’t going to be so sudden and shocking. If your Miniature Schnauzer hasn’t really been trained before, it’s high time to start. He should learn at least a few commands, like sit, stay, etc. This way, he’ll be easier to handle.

Many families worry about their dog endangering the health of the child, so the best thing to do is to take your pet to the vet, get him checked and get some advice. Get your Mini Schnauzer used to the new smells, sounds in advance (blankets, lotions, toys). It’s also a good idea, that just after your baby was born, send home a blanket that the baby had been in, so your dog can experience the child’s smell in advance. It is very important to know that your  Miniature Schnauzer will get a lot less attention from the mother, so when taking the baby home for the first time, the mother should greet the dog, so it is better if someone else is carrying the baby.

It is also a good idea not to leave them alone together at the first times, until your Mini Schnauzer feels comfortable with the baby, because, for example, it is very possible that the dog won’t tolerate the child’s crying very well in the beginning. You have to teach him that this is a normal sound, and you should motivate him not to bark (with treats, for example).

And the most important rule for last, maybe it seems too obvious, but it’s still worth mentioning: try to give as much attention to your Miniature Schnauzer as you can. The point is that he has to feel that you do care about him. If you keep this in mind, most probably there will be no problem. You could also try Preparing Fido, which is an amazing collection of Baby sounds designed especially to get your dog ready for the arrival of the new Baby!

How to train your Miniature Schnauzer? Common Mistakes.

Big Dog | June 21st, 2010

The narrow line between training and abuse

Many dog owners think that their Mini Schnauzer is the smartest in the world. There’s no problem with this, up to certain a point. This point is when the owner expects as much from the dog as if it really was the most intelligent creature the world has ever seen. They expect them to learn everything right away, whereas dogs need time to learn things, the same way as we, humans do. Just in a different way :) Well, the point is, that training requires time and patience. It can be different for all dogs, but we do have to keep this in mind and take the time and energy to train our Mini Schnauzer.

Another common mistake (also because of the lack of patience) is to give up. Many people think that they have already tried everything but the dog doesn’t want to learn. In this case, maybe the methods are not the best, or they need more time. There are no dogs who wouldn’t be able to learn at least a few commands. Giving up is never a solution.

So, if we have the time and the patience we can avoid the next, and maybe the biggest mistake: to turn training into abuse. Probably you expect me to tell you where this line is. I can’t. This is something the owner should know. Training is all about communication. If you know your Miniature Schnauzer, if you pay attention to him, you see how he feels. Unfortunately many dog owners don’t have this ability, because they only keep pets for entertainment, while a dog is much more than that.

Going back to training, a very important rule is that your goal should be that your Mini Schnauzer obeys to commands because he is keen to do so. NOT BECAUSE HE IS AFRAID. Many-many owners forget about this, and feel the training successful, but actually they are making their dog unhappy. How can someone live happily in fear? No way. These owners are only keeping a dog to make themselves happy, and don’t feel the responsibility they should.

So the point is, that ‘positive training’ is possible. Actually, that’s the only way.

The first difficulties most Mini Schnauzer owners face is potty training their puppy. As with general training, the main principles remain the same: a positive, rewarding approach and a lot of patience is required. There are, however a few tips and tricks that will make the whole process faster and easier for both puppy and owner. Find out what Sharda Baker has to say on the topic, who has developed her best practices by years of trial and error.

Please comment if you have something to add.

Tons of Mini Schnauzer puppies

Big Dog | May 3rd, 2010

Beautiful Miniature Schnauzer puppies playing with the owner. Playful, intelligent, friendly little puppies! They’ll grow up to be perfect watchdogs. If you are planning to buy a pup, see more about the possibilities here.

Beware of the Miniature Schnauzer!

Big Dog | April 11th, 2010

Miniature Schnauzers are known to be alert and spirited, yet this breed is very obedient to its owner’s commands. A Miniature Schnauzer is a very friendly pet, intelligent and willing to please. They are usually easy to train and can be very excellent watchdogs with good territorial instinct, but they are more inclined toward vocal notification than attack. Miniature Schnauzer, just like any other breeds, needs to be properly trained and socialized to maintain its neutral temperament and avoid developing any aggressive behavior.

Although the Miniature Schnauzer is not aggressive and is very timid, whatever dog you have, you still need to take precautions. Most of the time, even the most timid breed or pet can turn into an aggressive and brave dog at the sight of a stranger, that is why it is recommended for dog owners to obtain a warning sign that can be hung outside their gates or within their yard where visitors can easily see it. A Miniature Schnauzer Aluminum Guard Dog Sign can be best used for these purposes. It is made with aluminum and with a white sign blank with black graphics. This should warn your visitors that you have a pet at home, and that they should not do anything to provoke it from becoming wild.

How to potty train a Miniature Schnauzer?

Big Dog | March 8th, 2010

Potty training a Miniature Schnauzer can take a long time and cause a lot of pain for both dog and owner if not done correctly. Sharda Baker’s ebook and audio package, ‘The Complete 7 Day Dog Potty Training Guide‘ teaches you how to potty train any dog in just seven days. Baker’s comprehensive approach is based on her real life experience and also deals with adult dogs, rescue shelter dogs, which other similar products tend to miss.

  • Effective and ineffective training methods compared
  • The best time to start training
  • List of best equipment and supplies
  • How to clean soiled areas in no time
  • Training older dogs
  • Handle common potty training problems
  • Potty train a new puppy
  • How to use potty pads
  • Crate training
  • How to train dogs from rescue shelters
  • What to do about marking
  • Litter box training
  • Effective paper training
  • Leaving your dog home alone.

The package also includes free bonuses, like the Vet Health Tips Audio Interview dealing with all aspects of dog care and 101 Homemade Dog Recipes to help you feed your dog in a healthy, convenient and economic way. The book comes with a 60 day 100% money back guarantee so you have nothing to lose.

Visit official website.