Products for Your Furry Friend

If you're searching for the best products on the market, you can get overwhelmed.

Many companies claim their products to be "puppy proof" or "indestructible". And then you're left with holes in your bed or toys and a trip to the vet.

We loaded up one of our pups to take back to our handler a few weeks ago. This boy is

competing in the show circuit and is quickly on his way to a Champion title.

We took him for a bath and let him pick out a toy for his trip. Within minutes, he had already chewed two holes in his brand new toy.

Money down the drain.

So, how can you know which products are safe and furry friendly? We're here to help you find the right products that are safe for dogs and have passed our tests.

Safe for the Crate

We honestly only recommend one thing for when a puppy or dog is in their crate. If they have plush toys or anything soft, they can easily swallow the contents and choke. And for that same reason we do not recommend rawhides. They just aren't good.

So, what do we recommend? Bully Sticks.

"Bones & Chews Bully Stick 6" Dog Treats deliver a protein-rich chewing experience dogs absolutely love. These all-beef chews are 100% digestible, making them a great alternative to rawhide. They feature an incredible flavor dogs crave, and even help to clean teeth and gums as your dog chews. These safe and healthy, single-ingredient treats have no chemicals or preservatives." - Bones & Chews Bully Stick 6" Dog Treats

Click here to order from Chewy.com.

Chewing

Dogs differ in their desire to chew based on their breed, age, and energy level. ALL dogs will chew because they teethe. This is the process of their teeth growing or what we call "coming in". It feels good on their gums to bite on something so, instead of them gnawing on your favorite slippers, set them up for success. Give them toys that will feel good on their gums as they chew. Plus, for older dogs, it can help with cleaning their teeth.

No matter the age, we recommend using Kong toys. I won't say they are completely indestructible, but with our labs, which are known for being heavy chewers, they work very well. Kong makes several products, some of which have fabric instead of just rubber. If you get a Kong toy with fabric, make sure your pooch is supervised. We have had a few with a leg, an ear, or a rope torn off.

Beds

I love a cute dog bed. Especially, if you have the chance to get someone to embroider their name on it. So adorable! But...

We do not recommend leaving a dog bed in a crate with a puppy. 9.9 times out of 10, they will have it destroyed by the time you return. Of course they will look all cute and pull an Urkel from the 90's, "did I do that?"

We use an old towel in the bottom of their crate while they are still in training, just in case they have an accident.

All of our dogs have their own Kuranda bed. These beds are not indestructible, but are heavy duty and Kuranda offers a 1 year chew proof warranty. Not all products are covered though. Check out their site to be sure the product you are purchasing is covered before buying.

Want to know about food and treats? That's a whole other topic that we'll discuss in another post, but for now, check out TLC Pet Food. They ship straight to your door within 2-3 days and in most states with free shipping!

Training Your Puppy

How do I get my puppy to listen to me? How do I get my puppy to walk on a lead without pulling me? I need help potty training my puppy!

If you've been asking these questions, I promise, you aren't alone! We are here to help!

Do you know about our Tailored to You training program? At Wildcat Hollow Retrievers, we have a couple of options to fit your timeline and needs. This unique program helps to make the transition from our house to yours a little easier. Through 6 or 10 weeks of training, puppies are introduced to a variety of experiences, environments and activities that are tailored to your lifestyle. They receive basic commands like sit, stay, down and hold, as well as learning their name and eye contact. Our puppies are also introduced to loud noises. Golden Retrievers especially can be timid if not introduced to loud noises at an early age.

Here are some noises that we work to introduce to our puppies through our training:

- vacuum - cats meowing - dogs barking

- door bell - city noises (cars honking) - airplanes/helicopters

- car or truck - construction - fireworks

- knocking - garbage disposal - gunshots

- babies crying - people talking - & MORE

Early introduction is key to getting your puppy desensitized to noises they might hear on a daily basis wherever you live. We also work on crate comfort. This is getting the puppy comfortable with the crate at night. They will begin to feel like this is their safe place and won't mind being in the crate when needed. Our goal is to minimize accidents in the crate at night by the time they come home to you. We also work on establishing the location for using the bathroom. We use one word commands like "Outside" or "Bathroom". As we work with the puppy throughout the training program, they are rewarded for doing their business in the proper place.

They won't be completely house broken, of course, because that takes them being familiar with the layout of your home. But they will catch on pretty quickly as you continue your routine and commands of the foundation that's already been laid. Before beginning the training, we will go through a questionnaire with you to determine several things, one of which is what your normal routine is like and then we do our best to mimic that routine.

This is just the tip of the iceberg with what we offer in our Tailored to You program. We'd love for you to read more about it. In an effort to give the best quality of attention to our training puppies, we do have limited spots available. We are booking spots for our upcoming Fall/Winter litters and our Spring litters as well.

I'm Interested!

With limited spots for this program, we understand that our puppy families may still be in need of training help at home. That's why we partner with Baxter & Bella. This organization offers tons of helpful videos and tips to help you with stopping bad habits, potty training, commands and more! They have one on one help and coaching groups as well. There is something for everyone. And you're one time fee guarantees you for a lifetime of access to their resources!

Because you've visited our site, we want to offer you a 25% discount for their services too. If you're interested in checking out more, follow this link and use the code WILDCAT.

I Want to Learn More!

Best Training Tips for New Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever Puppies

You are getting up all hours of the night, every time you hear a whimper, and letting little Fido out of the crate to go to the bathroom. It's freezing cold, you're in your robe and slippers with one eye half open, and he's sniffing the ground looking for something interesting. After 15 minutes, and a great deal of coaxing from your aggravated and sleepy self, he returns with a stick, and never went to the bathroom.

When will this end??

It won't if you keep doing it his way. So, what's the alternative, you ask?

Here are some helpful tips to make sure You are the trainer and Fido is the student.

Tip #1 - Train the puppy on YOUR schedule, not the other way around.

When it's time for bed, Fido goes in his kennel, you go to bed. When it's time to get up in the morning, you let Fido out to the bathroom, using one word commands such as "bathroom" or "outside". When Fido does his business, reward him with positive words of affirmation and say those words again - outside and bathroom. He will start to make the proper associations.

As you start crate training, you are likely to have a few accidents in the kennel. That's ok, he's learning. Make extra time in the morning for cleaning the kennel, and the puppy if needed. Routines are important to establish early in training.

If he cries at night, as harsh as it may sound, let him cry. He will lay down eventually.

Tip #2 - Use a sound machine or radio

Your puppy wants your love and attention and if he hears people voices, he will want to be in the center of it. When you put them in the crate, turn on some noise for them to drown out anything else they might hear. This could be a radio or even a sound machine. This actually helps with neurological stimulation as well.

"You may need to put a crate in a quiet part of the house so he won’t be distracted by the hustle and bustle that may be going on during naptime." – AKC staff

Tip #3 - Timing is Everything

What time you feed and offer water to your puppy is very important. Just as important as what time you take it up. If you leave it out all the time, you'll see more accidents in the house as you try to potty train.

Let him eat and drink as much as he wants and when he walks away, take it up. Take him out to the bathroom soon after he eats. If you play throughout the day, he will want water, so make that available during your play time, just make sure to take him out afterwards. Feed early in the evening and take water up no later than 6:00 pm. Make sure he's had plenty of time to go to the bathroom before bed. This will help cut down on nighttime crate accidents.

Tip #4 - Treats count as food

Treats are a great option and our dogs love their TLC biscuits, but treats are calories and part of their daily intake. Don't be surprised if Fido needs to go to the bathroom during the day because he's been training with some treats. Many will use their food as treats and that's fine too as you train.

Tip #5 - Get help with training from Baxter & Bella

Sometimes training can feel a bit overwhelming. You've researched and researched and you've got so much, you aren't sure where to even begin. Baxter & Bella make it easy for you! This online puppy school has tons of How To videos, Step by Step lessons, printable charts and checklists and even one on one professional help! You can join an online coaching group to learn tips from others that are also starting out with a new puppy!

Interested? You can save 25% by using our code WILDCAT when you join! It's a one-time fee for a lifetime of access! https://BAXTERandBella.com

Make Training Fun!

Your puppy is learning just like you are. They can see, hear and feel your frustrations. Be patient and have fun with them! Even if they do chew up your favorite pair of shoes... that's a whole other training topic.