Bark Busters Media
NEWS RELEASE WINTER 2006
Winter woes?
A dog-lover’s guide to solving winter blues
If your dog is your best friend, you probably want to make sure that it is warm and comfortable during the wet and windy months of winter. Bark Busters, the world’s leading home dog training specialists, offers some invaluable tips that will ensure you’ve got a happy hound right through winter, whether it spends most of the time inside or out.
Outdoor dogs
If your dog sleeps outdoors, make sure its kennel is large enough for it to stand and sit in, but small enough to retain its body heat. You could also winter-proof it before the cold weather hits, thereby guaranteeing your pooch remains cosy and comfy all through the winter. To do this, simply:
- Raise the kennel several centimetres off the cold ground;
- Place a blanket or hessian sack inside the kennel for it to lie on;
- Change the dog blanket or hessian sack frequently during wet weather; and
- Attach a flap to the door to keep cold winds and wet weather out;
- Change the direction of the kennel, so it faces away from cold, windy weather.
Indoor dogs
Dogs that spend a good part of their time confined indoors during the winter months can sometimes become lethargic or – quite the reverse – overactive! There is, however, a simple solution to activate a slothful dog, and calm down one with energy to burn. You get them to THINK!
Yes, dogs can really think, if they are taught to. Simply spend 10-15 minutes each day training your dog with basic skills, such as:
- Sit;
- Stay;
- Come; and
- Walking with a lead.
“This training will energise a languid dog, and tire out an overactive dog,” says Bryan Edwards from Bark Busters. “Provide your dog with training twice a day, and you will have a doubly happy hound.”
Eating woes
Humans are not the only ones that can suffer from the ‘winter bulge’ during cold weather. Some dogs do, too. Not unlike humans, dogs need more kilojoules during the winter to keep warm. A dog that remains reasonably active will need his/her food increased by about 10 per cent.
However, dogs that become less active during winter (often through no fault of their own) due to less frequent walks, don’t need their food increased. These dogs will simply put on excess weight.
Jumpers and pullovers
You may think dogs look extremely silly dressed up in the latest woollen dog fashions, however, if you own a short-haired hound, such as a chihuahua, greyhound or whippet, then it is advisable to don your dog in a jumper before taking it outside in the cold air.
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About Bark Busters
Bark Busters dog behavioural therapists are renowned authorities in the area of correcting dog behaviour. The Bark Busters’ training system can successfully train any dog, even puppies. The company’s natural training technique leverages the same communications methods - body language and voice control – that dogs follow as part of their instinctual pack mentality. About 80 per cent of Bark Buster clients require only one two-hour home visit from a licensed dog behavioural therapist, if they continue with just 10 to15 minutes a day follow-up exercises for several weeks. All training takes place right in the home where the problems generally occur. Bark Busters is the only international dog training company that offers a lifetime guarantee. Therapists will provide future sessions free of charge if problem behaviors recur, or if any new problems develop.
For further information:
Bryan Edwards (Director)
Bark Busters Australia
Phone: (02) 4262 0783
Fax: (02) 4262 0793
Email: bryan@barkbusters.com.au
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