Last week I answered a question about a new puppy who was having trouble sleeping in his bed without whining and barking all night long. I have suggested a few tips for crate training, but have received a lot of emails from across the country offering a few more ideas.
Here is a collection of those tips, along with my acknowledgments.
DEAR JEANNE: We had our new puppy 9 months ago, and we bought a toy puppy with a plastic heart that beats like a mother dog. She loved it and it helped her sleep. I think my wife found it online.
Ron, Dublin
DEAR JEANNE: It is also helpful to put a clock under the puppy’s bed. I have used it with all of my puppies over the years. It’s supposed to mimic their mother’s heartbeat.
Julia R. Engler, Orfordville, Wisconsin
DEAR JEANNE: When I had my first puppy, I lay on our kitchen floor, caged puppy with my caged fingers, for two nights.
Then I had a stuffed animal and for two days I took it with us and the puppy around the house. At night I told the puppy it was bedtime and put the puppy and stuffed animal in the crate. The puppy had someone with him.
Marilyn Lauzon
DEAR JEANNE: For crate training, a pet store approved stuffed animal is useful. When mine was 7 weeks old I found a bear the same size as the puppy. They slept together.
Laura Jerzewski, Kissimmee, Florida
DEAR JEANNE: I gave my new baby Chihuahua a cave dog bed (from Amazon) to sleep inside his crate. He loves it and has been sleeping there since day one. He’s 6 months old now and when I say ‘let’s go to bed’ he knows where he sleeps. If I put him in our bed, he will sleep a bit, but wants to go back to his bed.
Donna Tweed, Marshall, Texas
Dear readers: The price of the beds ranges from $ 30 to $ 150, depending on the model.
DEAR JEANNE: In response to the puppy’s sleeping situation, they are the perfect companion for him. It’s $ 40 on Amazon. She is a small, plush puppy that can be warmed up and has a simulated heartbeat to make her feel like she did with her kennel mates.
The product is called âSnuggle Puppy Heartbeat Plush Dog Toy – Pet Anxiety Relief, Calming and Soothing Aidâ.
Nicholas Bruns, Raymore, Missouri
And here’s a suggestion on moldy hummingbird feeders in Mountain View.
DEAR JEANNE: Regarding the issue of black mold in hummingbird feeders, there is one product I bought that really helps keep the nectar fresher. It’s called Hummingbird Feeder Fresh Nectar Defender.
It contains no preservatives or artificial colors, just a mineral micronutrient that is part of the hummingbird’s natural diet. The nectar stays fresh in the feeder for up to 2 weeks, even in hot weather. This stuff really works. I have four feeders so this is a real time saver.
Debi, San Rafael
DEAR DEBI: I had never heard of this product before, and I appreciate you telling me and other hummingbird enthusiasts about it. In addition to this brand, there are a few more on the market. Check with your local wild bird supply store or order online. Amazon, of course, wears it.
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