Services for your house pets:
- Feeding & watering
- Dogs’ exercise & potty break
- Cats' playtime and litter box care
- Medications
- Daily care for other animals
- New Puppy Program (described below)
- Cuddling, massaging, brushing
- House security measures
- Pet taxi for vet or groomer app't.
- Other tasks as negotiated
Scout's Best
Pet Sitting
Services for your farm animals:
- Feeding, haying, watering
- Oral & topical medications
- Turn out & in
- Mucking out stalls
- Goats' hoof trimming (in stanchion)
- Meet & assist farrier or vet
- Security measures
- Other tasks as negotiated
New Puppy Program:
The first few months of your puppy's life are so very important in determining how well mannered and well balanced it will be as an adult. Puppies require so much care that waiting through a typical work day is way too long for them, both physically and mentally. But our pet sitting service can help!
We will come to your home, take your puppy out of its enclosed area (crate/pen/gate), clean up any messes, provide food, fresh water and plenty of affection. We will work on "toilet training," social skills, loose leash walking and basic obedience, as well as learning how to play appropriately.
The New Puppy Program is adjusted as your pup grows. When it is just eight weeks old, we typically make four visits a day. By about three months, we're down to three visits a day. At five months old, many pups are ready for two visits a day. Every visit involves some gentle training and socialization -- the essentials of puppy care. When contracted by the month, the cost of the puppy care program is discounted from our regular fees.
New Puppy Tip of the Week
Phone:
541-497-0845
Office Hours:
Monday - Sunday
8 to 8
Email:
scoutsbest@q.com
Early Training for the ‘Come’ Command
Many puppy owners, when starting their pets in basic commands, begin with the sit command, then progress to down, stay and perhaps a couple of others, finally tackling come. Many professional trainers suggest that the come command be started right at the beginning – even if you are working on another at the same time – because the pup of two or three months is eager to come to you anyway and doesn’t yet have access to a broad field of distractions.
Here is a good way to train your puppy to come:
Put a short, lightweight leash on Bailey and let her trail it around a closed room for a while. (Do not let her chew on the leash; get a bitter solution for it if you need to.) At some point, crouch down, show her a toy she likes and say her name. Your voice should sound upbeat and not too loud. If she doesn’t come to you promptly, take the end of the leash and give a very gentle tug toward you and the toy. The instant Bailey starts toward you, say come, give her the toy to play with, and briefly praise her. After a minute or so, do this again. The early practice sessions should last only a few minutes.
After a couple of practice sessions, use different toys or tiny bits of treat food. Then start to command come as soon as she pays attention to her name: “Bailey. . .come.” Soon you will be able to put the whole command together – “Bailey come” and expect her to respond. Caution: Do not repeat the command or use extra words.
Don’t ask your puppy to come unless you will (gently) back up your command. If she runs away, rather than chasing her, which will entice her to run even more, simply sit down patiently and let her see the toy. Wait until she responds appropriately or at least until her leash is within your reach.
After your pup is consistently coming to you on command for a visible reward, give her the command without letting her see a reward. You will still be giving her praise when she comes to you, but occasionally give some physical affection, too, instead of a toy or treat. From now on, you can vary her reward her in these several ways, and occasionally give just a cheerful “Good girl!” Never have your pup come for something unpleasant!
Anytime you are reasonably certain that Bailey will want to come to you anyway, so that the leash will not be needed as a backup, practice the come command. Meal time is obviously a good occasion to practice it. And when you are in the yard, you can practice with a lightweight long line (15'-25'). Eventually, you can reinforce your pup’s good responses with just a verbal reward and/or a chest rub most of the time.
