Category: Apartment Dogs

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Apartment Dogs New Puppy Products

Thrifty Puppy: Inexpensive Items For Your New Puppy

Puppies can be expensive. While far less expensive than other hobbies, dogs – especially puppies – come with expenses that can add up quickly. Walking the aisles of a pet supply store, it is easy to get the feeling that expensive puppy toys are a necessary expense. However, there are many options for inexpensive puppy toys that work great for young dogs. Some may actually be laying around your apartment right now.

Cheap Toys

Most dog owners know the feeling of bringing home an expensive new toy for your dog, only to find that the dog is more interested in chewing on the packaging than the toy itself. While we do recommend many commercial dog toys, many inexpensive puppy toys will do just fine.

Puppies often find the things you least want chewed to make their toys. Chew training a different, and more complex topic covered in depth in this post.

Rope

A two-foot length of rope with a knot tied on each end may seem drab to us humans. To a puppy it ticks all the boxes of an amazing toy! In fact, we at Apartment Dog rarely spend money on toys for new puppies. Instead we keep a few lengths of rope lying around. They work for fetch or tug and are safe for puppies to chew on. Our dogs were basically raised on these toys and they work great. 

Tip:
Avoid nylon or fibrous ropes. The fibers in these ropes can get into your dog’s throat and irritate them. The best ropes are used rock climbing ropes with a braided sheath on the outside. 

Chew Toy Alternatives

One of the all-time best hacks to occupy a high energy puppy is a chew toy with a small amount of something tasty like peanut butter hidden inside. This simple combination will occupy a dog for hours. It is also a great way to wear out your dog before a big nap. 

We have been using the Kong toy for years, and definitely think this is worth the purchase. But, if you are on a budget, a racquet ball with a hole cut in it will do the trick. Simply punch out a hole in the ball about the size of a quarter, then punch a smaller hole on the other side to make it easy to rinse out. Swab a small amount of peanut butter inside the ball and watch your pup go after it for hours! 

Warning for larger dogs:
Racquet balls are great toys for dogs, but it is possible for larger dogs to swallow them. This can be a very dangerous situation. If you own a large breed of dog, you might opt for a toy that is larger than a racquet ball. 

Treats

There are a number of really expensive treats on the market that will likely leave your fingers smelly and your wallet empty. While we do use some of the commercially available treats, there are some common food options that work just as well. Here are a couple of our go-tos:

Kibble

Simple kibble, like the kind that you feed your pup during meals works great as a treat. These can be kept in your pocket, or a specific pouch, and doled out during training or play sessions. 

Pro tip: Get the most out of your puppies meals. We often use “working meals” to combine training with feeding. These are a great way to use feed time to burn up a puppy’s energy and get a little training in. If your pup usually eats ½ cup of kibble at meals, simply put that ½ cup in your pocket and get your pup to work for it. Just remember, you can over-train a young puppy, so don’t make them work longer than about 5 minutes for their kibble. This short amount of time is enough for training. After that, simply feed them the rest. For older dogs, there’s no reason why they couldn’t work for their whole meal. 

Hot Dogs

It is always a good idea to have a really extra special treat on hand. These are useful in training dogs in high-distraction situations, or when reinforcing a really important behavior like a recall. Hot dogs diced into ¼” cubes work great for this. You can go uber cheap here, but do your dog a favor and find pre-cooked hot dogs without nitrates in them. 

Puppy Beds

Depending on where you shop, dog beds can feel like a luxury purchase. It is not uncommon to see fancy dog beds going for $100-200. Like most of our product recommendations, we have nothing against spending money on your dogs, especially if it makes your apartment look better. But, if you are constrained by a budget, there are some inexpensive options that will work great for a dog bed. 

Most of our Border Collie puppies slept in the house on folded blankets. Old fleece blankets are great options for dogs. If you have one or two of them lying around, that will work perfectly well as a soft spot for your pup to snooze. Just fold blankets in a shape large enough for your pup to spread out on. 

Shampoo

Dog shampoos vary widely from general cleaners to medicated or specific-use products. When using shampoo for general baths, a bottle of Johnson’s baby shampoo works perfectly well. This soap is gentle, non-irritating to the eyes and is fragrance-free. It is also a fraction of the cost of most dog shampoos. 

A Word About Dog Scent
One of the most perplexing things to humans is a dog’s eagerness to roll in smelly, disgusting things. The smellier and more rotten, the better as far as a dog is concerned. There is an evolutionary explanation behind why a dog would want to do this. From a hunting perspective, if a wolf were coated in Gazelle poop, they smell horrible, but what they don’t smell like…is wolf. Big advantage when sneaking up on prey.

Where Not To Skimp

These are some of our favorite puppy budget hacks. But, there are some products that you simply do not want to skimp on. 

Here is a list of dog items not to skimp on:
  1. Crate
  2. Collar
  3. Health Products
  4. Food

Crate

A crate is probably one of the most important things you can buy for a new puppy. Crate training gives your pup a sense of security, their own space and helps with potty training and separation anxiety. You definitely want to buy a high quality crate.

Health tip
When buying a crate for a new puppy who has not finished their vaccination series, you may want to avoid buying used unless you are absolutely sure that it came from owners whose dogs were vaccinated. Your big concern with puppies is parvovirus, which most young puppies are not protected against until about 16-18 weeks of age. Parvovirus infections cause severe illness in dogs, and the bill for the vet hospital stay might level any budget savings from the above hacks. There is no way to reliably clean used products, so you may as well buy new. 

Collar 

A good quality collar with a strong clasp can be a lifesaver. Most collars are not that expensive, so don’t go cheap on them. We recommend leather collars. They are long lasting, and they do not take on smell. Nylon collars can start to smell a bit “doggy” after a while.

Health Products

When it comes to health and grooming products like nail clippers, brushes, teeth cleaning products there is no reason to skimp here. Taking care of your dog’s health properly requires the right equipment. 

Food

It is true, there are some supremely inexpensive dog foods on the market. I won’t name brands, but this is not an area to be cheap. Unless you are using a specific diet like raw feeding, your dog will subsist almost entirely on kibble. As their main source of nutrition, you want a product that is well formulated and made from ingredients that are healthy and well-tolerated by dogs. These tend to be a bit pricer than the bargain basement options. Good food is worth every penny.

These tips are meant to provide you with alternatives and suggestions for inexpensive puppy toys. Visit our website for more in depth descriptions of toys, products and training.

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Apartment Dogs Training Uncategorized

How To Exercise Your Dog on a Rainy Day

Rainy days make walking and exercising your dog a messy chore. Incorporate these activities into a play session that keeps your apartment clean and your dog happy. 

Rainy days can really put a damper on the fun of walking your dog. For you city dwellers and apartment residents, regular daily walks are usually your dog’s main form of exercise. What is usually a fun frolic through the park on a sunny day may turn into a tromp through the mud, and a dirty dog to bring back to the apartment. If you aren’t up for that, or if the weather is just too bad to go outside, you need not despair. Here are a few suggestions for safe, apartment-friendly indoor workouts to stimulate and tire out your dog. 

Reminder: Dogs love to play, but don’t get sucked into the idea that they need to play every day. Even Olympic athletes take days off to sit on the couch. If the day is dreary and cold and you are simply too busy or tired to follow these tips, it is ok. Your dog can handle a day off!

Hide and Sniff

Dogs come with incredible smelling machines attached right on the front of their face. Using their noses to sniff out treats and toys ties back to their evolutionary makeup. For that reason, scent activities are highly stimulating for dogs. Rooting out a tasty treat or favorite toy can be an all-consuming task. 

A little training around toys and patience is all you need to get these games going in the house. To begin, simply take your dog’s favorite toy and hide it under a couch cushion, behind a bookshelf or under a carpet. You can do this right in front of them because dog’s don’t have quite the sense for object permanence that people have. In fact, you can actually hide a toy right in front of most dogs. Once the toy is hidden, give your dog the “Go find it!” command and let her sniff around. If she finds it, reward her a little party with a light game of tug or short toss. 

Eventually, she may figure out your game, so you’ll need to vary your hiding locations a bit. For a little extra challenge, have your pup wait patiently in another room while you hide a toy and then release her to find it. This of course requires a well-trained “stay” command. 

Most dogs are scent wizards. However, some dogs are actually bred for scent work. Dog’s like hounds and beagles will astound you at their ability to find items based on even the faintest scent. Other dogs may get bored rather quickly. If your dog is one of the scent gifted, you might consider getting them involved in scent-based sports like barn hunt. If your dog is more like the latter – like our border collies – then you’ll need to just do short scent sessions mixed in with some of the other activities listed in this article. 

Chew Puzzles

Chew puzzles are probably the most passive option for rainy day activities. But, that doesn’t mean they aren’t a blast for your dog. Chew puzzles can range from basic chew bones like Kong or Nylar on up to fairly elaborate toys that hide treats behind a maze of moving parts. 

Chewing is southing and satisfying for a dog. But like all activities, some dogs take to it more than others. That’s perfectly fine! A ten minute chew session can be really rewarding, and quite tiring for a dog, especially toward the end of the day. 

One of the easiest chew puzzles involves putting a small amount of peanut butter or Kong Stuff’n Easy Paste into a Kong Classic Chew Toy and letting your pup spend the next hour trying to lick all of it out. This is about the easiest stimulation you can give your dog. Just make sure you don’t overdo how much peanut butter you put in there. You don’t want to turn a rainy day activity into an upset stomach. 

Tip: these chew sessions should be just one component of your rainy day activity. This is often a great way to cap off an indoor workout and let your dog chew her way into a nice long nap.

Tricks

There really is no better option for indoor workout than tricks. Trick training works your pup’s mind and body, builds your bond and helps train them into well-behaved dogs. Trick training can start as early as 8-10 weeks and go throughout the dog’s life. Whether you are teaching your pup to sit for the first time, or working on an elaborate obedience sequence, there’s no denying the benefit of trick training. 

The number of tricks you can teach a dog are virtually endless. If you have a new pup, try working on the mainstays like “sit” or “lay down.” Older dogs can work on more physical tricks like heeling or walking through your legs. If your pup loves tricks, you have no reason to stop until you’ve choreographed your audition routine for America’s Got Talent.

Reminder: The younger the dog, the shorter the trick training session. 8-12 week old dogs only need about 5 minutes at the time. Dogs can sour to work if you overdo it, so make the sessions quick and concise and move on to the next exciting activity.

Tug

Tug is one of the best games you can play with your pup. However, this game goes so far beyond simple play. Tug is a way to build obedience, use up physical energy, help avoid possession guarding and strengthen your bond with your dog. But, there is a right way and a wrong way to play tug. 

The old-fashioned “tug-of-war” is outdated and inadequately describes the essence of this activity. The goal of tug isn’t to win possession of the toy as the word “war” implies. The purpose of the game is to engage in play together. However, your pup might see the game differently at first. Dogs, especially puppies love a game of keep away, and winning possession of a toy through tug is just the first step in that game. Don’t fear, this is easy to correct.

When you play tug with our dogs, the game should look more like a game of catch than a game of keep-away. Try swishing the toy along the ground to entice the pup to go after it. Once they have a good hold of it (more on this later!) the game has begun! The pup pulls and gains ground, then we pull back. Tug tug tug, give give give. Mix a little light shaking and suddenly the game becomes wildly exciting for a dog. 

Drop-Take-Drop

A game of tug is a great way to build obedience. Try using the command “drop” periodically throughout the game. If your pup is reluctant to give up the toy, don’t repeat the command, just sit perfectly still until she drops it. As soon as she does, exclaim “Yes!” and immediately offer back the toy with the command “Take!” and resume the game. What did you just teach her? Two things. One, when she gives you the toy, it doesn’t mean she loses it forever. Second, giving up the toy actually means the game resumes! 

Approaching tug in this way teaches a dog to listen to you and to associate you with fun. More importantly, your dog learns that they can give up their toys and not lose them forever. In fact, if they give up the toy, the game gets even more fun! 

Now, there are a few things to avoid when playing tug. First, a dog’s teeth look strong, but there are limits. Avoid tugging hard, or using sharp jerking tugs as you could possibly break a tooth. Puppy teeth are especially vulnerable to this. 

Tip: Make sure your dog has a solid hold on the toy before tugging. If she only has a little bit of it in her front teeth, there is a lot of force being put on those teeth. Give her time to get a good hold on the toy before tugging to avoid damaging her teeth. 

Second, avoid pulling upward such that your dog’s neck cranes backward. This puts unnecessary stress on their neck. Get down on your knees to avoid pulling upward. Pull the toy horizontally or toward the ground. Notice that your dog’s head is in line with the rest of its body? That’s a good thing. 

Lastly, when the game is done, always end on a positive note. We prefer not to leave the pup with the toy after the game, but rather to take the toy and end with a “Ok, all done!” At that point, the toy goes away and the pup gets lots of pets and praise. Soon dogs learn that the game is over and it’s time to grab a drink of water and rest. 

Reminder: the saying “play makes potty” is real. Once you are done with your play session, take your pup out for a potty break because they probably have to go. 

All of these exercises can be done in the confines of your living room. They offer a great option for exercising your pup on a rainy day. Even better, they are an opportunity to build your training and strengthen the bond between you two. 

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Apartment Dogs New Puppy

How To Puppy Proof Your Apartment

Puppy proofing your apartment is one of the best ways to keep your puppy safe. These steps will help you make a safe apartment space for your pup.

You’ve made the decision, selected your pup and at last are bringing them home! The first day at home with a new puppy is as joyful as it is anxiety provoking. Puppies have a remarkable ability to do the polar opposite of what you want them to. Puppies getting into trouble sometimes means putting themselves at risk.

Apartments come with their own set of hazards to a young pup. Many of the risks to puppies in your apartment may not be immediately obvious. This post will highlight the key changes you need to make to create a safe apartment space for your puppy.

Puppy proofing a home is an absolute requirement to any new dog owner. Puppy proofing should be done in the weeks leading up to the pup arriving home, not after. Here are some tips for the new puppy owners that will help you puppy proof your apartment.

The Things that Zap

To humans, electricity is well-contained within cords and sockets and poses no real hazard. To a puppy, with razor sharp teeth and very little real world experience, electricity in the house can pose a hazard. A young puppy can easily chew their way into an electrical cord and receive a nasty zap. 

One of the first steps in puppy proofing is to lift all electrical cords off the ground. Since most electrical sockets are within a foot of the ground, you’ll need to do something about those that are within reach of your pup. Puppies are attracted to dangly things that move. Jewelry, clothing, furniture tassels and unfortunately electrical cords all make an attractive chew toy. Electrical cords secured to a wall become stationary and therefore uninteresting to a puppy.

Hardware stores sell electrical cord brackets, straps and conduit that will securely fashion cords out of reach of your pup.

Some cords and cables simply cannot be removed from the interest of your pup. In this case, it is up to you to be vigilant of the puppy and make sure she isn’t chewing into something she’s not supposed to. 

The Things That Tip

The flat screen TV on your entertainment center may seem secure. A puppy can find 101 ways to tip that thing over. Similarly, the glass vase on top of the end table might be well out of a puppy’s reach. Turn your attention elsewhere and your pup will have that thing shattered on the ground in no time. Obviously, falling objects are a huge hazard to a little pup. It is up to you to think a few steps ahead to protect your pup. 

Apartments, with their limited space, usually force people to own taller and narrower furniture. How you decorate your apartment may be hazardous to a young pup. Even shelves and dressers can be unstable enough to tip if a puppy finds a way to tug on them.

Walk through your house and imagine any appliance, piece of furniture or trinket as something that can fall. If you can even remotely imagine an item being tipped, you best start securing, moving or replacing it now. 

The Things They Chew

Puppies chew, there’s no getting around it. It is up to you to decide what they chew. All household items are vulnerable to a young puppy’s teeth. Very young puppies are inhibition-free little drones. They have the attention span of a fly. Puppies will bounce between table legs, shoes, utensils or anything else that they can get their mouths on.

Teething pups find chewing not only enjoyable, but necessary. A big part of avoiding damage to your apartment is chew training. For very young pups, this simply involves not giving them the opportunity to chew household items. 

Take some time prior to your puppy’s arrival and crawl throughout your apartment. Drop your head low to the ground and see what you can find from a puppy’s perspective. You might discover a lotion bottle that had fallen under a couch. Had you not known it was there, it may have ended up all over your pup, and all over your apartment in no time. 

Don’t spare the bathroom, closets or kitchen. Move any items that you don’t want chewed well out of reach of a pup. 

The best way to avoid a puppy failing is to not create a situation where they can fail. 

The Things They Eat

What a puppy chews, it often eats. What a puppy eats can at best nourish them and at worse poison them. Pay close attention to things like household cleaners, chemicals or even food products that may be within reach. There is a lengthy list of foods and chemicals that smell or even taste appealing to dogs. Many of these can be harmful if not lethal to your pup. 

Common Household Items That are Hazardous to Puppies:

  1. Pens and markers
  2. Makeup
  3. Household cleaners
  4. Alcohol

When it comes to food, don’t assume a box or thick bag will deter a pup. Those sharp little puppy teeth can find their way into cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, and bags. Secure your food in thick plastic tubs, or better yet stashed away in a cupboard. Make sure your cleaners and chemicals are out of sight and out of reach. 

Things They Fall Off Of

This is an important topic, especially for puppies in apartments.  Many apartments come equipped with stairs, lofts and balconies that all pose a fall hazard for the pup. Young dogs don’t really have an understanding of heights or the repercussions of a fall. It is up to you to protect them.

It is a good idea to have a gate up to stop puppies from heading up or down the stairs. Those adorable uncoordinated little legs can easily trip, sending little pup into a nasty tumble. 

The best way to avoid a puppy failing is to not create a situation where they can fail

Balconies are another hazard, even with built in guard rails. Many rails that line balconies and lofts are sufficient to stop a full-sized dog. However, a skinny little puppy might easily slip between the bars or through holes in them. We have already established that puppies have neither inhibition nor much sense. A distraction could send them through a guard rail and careening of the edge of a balcony. 

The next time you have your puppy nearby, wrap your hands around their body, their shoulders and their hips. You

You’ll find that your furry little friend has a body that is far skinnier than it looks. Dogs can squeeze through some pretty tight spots when they want to.  

Bulk mesh wiring, chicken wire or plastic barricades are a great way to reinforce balcony or patio guardrails. Most hardware or home goods stores sell these items cheap. They can be easily cut to custom sizes that fit your particular guard rail. Make sure you secure these areas at least two feet off the ground.

Puppy proofing is and will always be a work in progress. There are a lot of things to do before bringing home a puppy. Puppy proofing your home is one of the most important. These few steps, taken in advance of your puppy’s arrival to your apartment will lessen your stress and create a safe environment for your young dog to grow up and thrive. 

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Apartment Dogs

Getting Started With Apartment Dog!

So you love dogs. So do we!

Let’s face it, though. Life does not always allow us to live in places where dogs can run free to their heart’s content. Jobs, families and dozens of other factors force many of us to take up residence in cities and relatively small flats, apartments, studios or townhouses. Does this mean you can’t own a dog? Of course not! 

We will admit, straight away, that apartment life is not the ideal life for a dog. That is sort of the purpose of this site. Most dogs were bred for vigorous outdoor work and activities. Their very physical makeup is evolutionary proof of their ability to resist the elements. A select few breeds of dogs were actually bred in a way that makes them quite suitable as apartment dogs, but those are the exception rather than the rule. By and large, your pup would love to spend his or her days trotting along, sniffing the ground, chasing whatever looks tasty or smells interesting and napping in the dirt. But that doesn’t mean that dogs aren’t adaptable to indoor living conditions. It just takes the right situation.

One of the traits of dogs, something that they have carried with them for thousands of years, is a predisposition toward cooperating (to varying degrees) with humans. There are several theories as to why dogs became human’s best friend, but the general consensus is that long ago dogs and humans entered into a mutual agreement that involves food safety, work and protection. Even though dogs are about as different from humans as they are from cats, they manage to cooperate quite well with humans. This trait alone makes them adaptable to living with you in your apartment.

There will be times, however, when the differences between how your dog lives their life and how you live your life will seem so apparent that you might find yourself at your wits end. For example, your dog really doesn’t understand morning coffee. The pleasure that many of us feel by waking up slowly in the quiet and peace of our house with a warm cup of coffee is as foreign to a dog as preparing taxes. As soon as dogs wake up, they are ready to run, to play and to eat and they have no qualms about letting you know it. Without the proper training and guidance, a dog will obliterate this peaceful routine of yours, and likely any other treasured time or belonging in your life. 

This situation can be made much worse by living in a small apartment. Sadly, many a dog is returned to a shelter or rehomed because of incompatibilities at home. Even more sad is the fact that it is usually the dog that receives the blame, being labeled as “bad” or “crazy.” This leads to frustration and occasionally abuse of an animal all because they were being who they are. In truth, there is no such thing as a bad dog. Dogs are just dogs, and we love them for their purity. More often than not, the reasons that dog-human relationships fail is due to shortcomings of humans, not the other way around. 

With that, we welcome you to Apartment Dog. Through this site we hope to teach people about how dogs think and behave, what drives them and what deters them. With a good understanding of dogs, how to take care of them and give them what they need, you can cultivate a happy and fulfilled dog. With a few tricks and tips you can raise a dog that happily resides with you in your apartment. Thank you for joining us!