Teaching the Basics: House Training & Crate Training

The first few days in your home are special and critical for a pet. Your new dog will be confused about where he is and what to expect from you. Setting up some clear structure with your family for your dog will be paramount in making as smooth a transition as possible.To make the transition as smooth as possible at home, here are some helpful tips on how to set your new pup up for sucess with both house and crate training.

House Training:

Coming into a new home with new people, new smells and new sounds can throw even the most housebroken dog off-track, so be ready just in case. House training is accomplished by establishing a surface and location preference AND by preventing the dog from eliminating in unacceptable places.

As a general rule, a puppy can only hold his waste for the same number of hours that he is old, in months. In other words, a four-month-old pup should not be left alone during the day longer than four consecutive hours without an opportunity to go outside.

By the time the pup is four months old, he should be able to make it through the night without going outside. Adult dogs adopted from shelters are often not fully house trained and need a refresher course. Here’s what to do to get started with house training:

Keep the dog on a consistent daily feeding schedule and remove food between meals.
Know where your dog is at all times. To anticipate and prevent accidents, you need to watch for early signs that he needs to eliminate. These signs include pacing, whining, circling, sniffing and leaving the room. If you see any of these, take the dog outside as quickly as possible. Not all dogs learn to let their owner know they need to go outside by barking or scratching at the door. Some will pace a bit and then just eliminate inside.
Accompany the dog outside and reward him with praise, treats, play, or a walk whenever he eliminates outdoors. It’s best to take the dog to the same place each time, as the smells may prompt the dog to eliminate. Some dogs will eliminate early on in a walk; others need to move about and play for a bit first.
Take the dog outside on a consistent schedule. Puppies should be taken out every hour, as well as shortly after meals, playtime and naps. All dogs should get out first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and before being confined or left alone. Adult dogs must get out at least four times a day.
If you can catch the dog in the act of eliminating inside, make loud noises. Immediately run to the dog and rush him outside. If he is small, pick him up; otherwise, just grab him by the collar and run outside with him. The idea is to startle him, which should stop him in mid-stream. Allow the dog to finish outside, and reward him. If you do not catch the dog in the act, do not do anything to the dog. Clean accidents with an enzymatic cleanser to minimize odors that might attract the dog back to the same spot.

Crate Training:

Crate training is effective, helps with potty training, and keeps your furry friend out of trouble. Be sure to use a crate that is large enough for the dog to stand up, turn around and lay down comfortably. You don’t want the crate to be too big (as the dog may relieve himself inside of the crate).

Make going into the crate a positive experience for the dog by offering a treat in the crate and/or using an excited tone of voice when you are ready to put the dog in the crate. They will learn to love going into the crate. It’s like “their home”.
Put the dog in the crate when you leave the house and at night. Crate the dog when you are away from the home until you are confident that the dog will not go potty in the house.
Be sure to let the dog out of the crate regularly for potty breaks (offer a treat/praise when the dog goes potty outside). Young puppies need to be let out of their crate every 3-4 hours, and adult dogs (1 year+) every 6-8+ hours.
Leave the dog in the crate when you are away from home. Upon coming home, take the dog outside immediately to potty. Reward with praise/treat when successful.

How to Introduce New a Dog to Other Furry Family Members

Congratulations on your new family member! Getting a new dog is exciting for all but can be initially stressful for the new dog, as they enter a new environment. Some dogs are easy going and adjust very quickly, others may take more time to warm up and be 100% comfortable in their new surroundings. This is especially true when it comes to warming up to other furry family members!

To help make the introductions as smooth as possible, here are some helpful tips on how to introduce your new dog to others pups and even kitties!

Introducing Dogs:

If you have other dog(s) in the household, initially introduce the dogs to each other on neutral ground (if they haven’t already met at the shelter). For example, meet at a park, and take walks around the block.

When introducing the dogs to each other, have both dogs on a leash. Start by walking the dogs past each other a few times (no touching). Follow this by allowing the dogs to sniff each other for 3-5 seconds (on leash) a few times. Gradually lengthen the time of dog-to-dog sniffing/touching from 5 seconds to 10 seconds to 30 seconds. Once both dogs are comfortable with each other on-leash, you may want to take them to a fenced in area to allow them to sniff/play off-leash before going into your house.

In the first few weeks of owning a new dog (or until you are 100% comfortable), you may want to crate the new dog when you leave the house to ensure there are no issues between the dogs.

Introducing Cats:

If you have cat(s) in the house; have the dog on a leash upon entering the house, so that the cat(s) can safely approach the dog and get away if necessary. SLOW AND GUIDED is the best approach. Cats take a lot longer to adjust than dogs, so sometimes it may take several days (or weeks) until they are comfortable being in the same room as each other.

If the pup you are bringing home as never interacted with cats before, it may be best to keep them separate by a door or baby gate and have them get comfortable with each others scents before they have any one-on-one interactions.

If you adopted your pup from AAWL, don’t forget you can reach out to our behavior hotline to get assistance from both our canine and feline behavior experts.

The How To’s of Introducing Your New Pet to the Family

Introducing a new family member can be an overwhelming experience for all involved. That’s why we’re here to help you through this new chapter in your life and make this transition as easy as possible. We would be thrilled for all our pets to have the best experience from the get-go when meeting a child, but we know sometimes it’s best to take it one step at a time. Baby steps if you will.

While cats and dogs have many differences, a great rule of thumb for both is to take it slow when introducing kids. It’s important to respect your pet’s space and let them decide the pace they want to go at, meeting new people can be scary.

Here are some great tips for introducing your new dog or cat to children at home

Have children sit on the floor for the initial encounter and engage in activities such as reading books, coloring, etc. Allow the dog or cat to walk around and engage with the children at their own comfort level.
Give each child a few treats like Temptations for cats or Milk-Bones for dogs.
- When the cat approaches, your child should reach out, let the cat smell their hand, and see if the cat accepts some pets.
- For dogs, a fun game of fetch or toss the treat while your child continues to sit is a great way to help them get used to each other.
Your new pet should have a safe zone that is off limits to kids and other pets when they are not in the mood to interact. For a dog think a crate and for a cat think a cat bed or high places.Remind the kids at home that cats can be very sensitive to loud noises and sudden movements, so a quiet and calm environment is best to encourage your new cat to come up and engage with them.
Make sure kids and other pets cannot disturb the cat when using the litterbox. A cat that gets interrupted when using the litter box may stop using it all together.
A similar notion goes for dogs, kids should not be allowed to bother them while they’re eating or take dog toys from them.
When petting a dog, help teach kids to pet the dog’s side or back and to practice a “pet, pet, pause” movement while keeping their hand within reach of the dog. If your dog pushes himself back into their hand, they want more pets. If they stay still or walk away, they’re all done.

Overall, supervision and patience are key for both furry friends integrating into their new family. Please keep in mind, while your pet is new to your home, absolutely everything in your home is new to them. It can be an overwhelming experience but with love, time, and patience they’ll melt right into the whole family’s heart. Plus, when you adopt from AAWL, our team is available to support you for the lifetime of your pet, so even years after adoption you can reach out with any questions you may have! Learn more about our Post-Adoption Support here.

We’re Here for You & Your Pet

Our support for you and your pet doesn’t stop once you leave our shelter! We have a variety of programs here to support you and your pet as you embark on your new journey together.

Once you are ready to bring your new family member home, we have a full-time Adoption Support Coordinator, who is dedicated to following up with our adopters for the first year after adoption to help ease the transition for both of you. Any questions or concerns about your pet’s behavior or really just about any questions you have as your pet is settling into your home.

Our team is available to support you for the lifetime of your pet, so even years after adoption you can reach out with any questions you may have!

We want to make sure that you and your pet are well taken care of and set you both up for success. That doesn’t stop at our post-adoption support, we also offer low-cost wellness and preventative care at our Community Vet Clinic. We’d love to help keep your adored pet happy and healthy which is why we offer services like vaccines, wellness consult, flea/tick prevention, nail trims, microchips, and so much more.

Plus, the fun doesn’t end there! We also offer affordable dog training classes to help their transition into their forever home be as smooth as possible. If your puppy needs help learning their manners, our Puppy Manners class is perfect for you. Maybe your pup is reactive and needs a boost of confidence in public settings, join our Feisty Fido class! If they need extra support with a private lesson, we have that available for you and your pet. The best part is, all AAWL Alumni receive a discount for our dog training classes.

Our team really is here to support this new, amazing change for both you and your pet. New things can be wonderful and grand, but it can also be scary and intimidating. We’re here for your pet throughout their lifetime, whether it be a private dog lesson or just asking why your cat all the sudden doesn’t like their litterbox, AAWL is here to help you!

Did you find kittens? Don’t Kit-Nap!

Spring is the onset of kitten season and due to Arizona’s climate, our kitten season lasts several months. It is not uncommon to see cats, especially kittens, flooding our local shelters from April to October. Summer is the most challenging time for Valley shelters and we need our community’s hands-on support to help save these little lives while also ensuring that they don’t continue to reproduce.

What if you find stray kittens?

If you find stray kittens, please leave them be. When we find a litter of kittens, our good-hearted instincts tell us to rush to the aid of these fragile felines. Thankfully, human intervention is typically not required.

In fact, the best thing you can do is leave the kittens alone. Mom will likely return shortly, and it’s critical that the kittens remain in her care as she offers the best chance for survival.

What if you know these kittens are abandoned?

If you are extremely certain that the kittens are orphaned (mom has not been back for at least 8 hours), you can then step in and help by caring for the kittens until they’re old enough to find homes, as this time of year Valley shelters are overcrowded and limited on space and resources.

The Arizona Humane Society also offers Care In Place kits. Those who find kittens can call AHS’ Pet Resource Center at 602.997.7585 ext. 3800 and they will provide a free Care In Place kitten care kit, or you can create your own kit here. Due to limited supplies, free kits are limited to one kit per client per season.

So Many Cats or Kitten Lady is another great resource for tips on how to care for and feed young kittens, and has a great guide if you need help figuring out how old the kittens are.

If the kittens are safe with their mom, what do I do next?

Let mom care for her kittens until they’re 8 weeks old. Then make sure you get both mom and the kittens spayed and help the kittens find homes! Be on the search for friends, family, or neighbors who are looking to adopt a loving, fixed feline.

Always remember, if adult cats are present, or you have any outdoor cats that need to be spayed/neutered, be sure to contact the Spay/Neuter Hotline at 602.265.7729 (SPAY) or by filling out the Animal Defense League of Arizona’s online form to ensure that the animals can get fixed and no longer reproduce unwanted litters.

Chandler Adoption Center Reopening Their Doors

The Arizona Animal Welfare League is thrilled to announce the reopening of its Chandler Adoption Center on March 1 following the completion of a $105,000 renovation. The newly updated facility located inside the Chandler Fashion Center now features brand-new kennels and a refreshed look that incorporates our new logo and brand colors. Since replacing a puppy mill store in 2012, the Chandler Adoption Center has helped find homes for over 13,000 animals in the Valley.

“We are so fortunate to have received a $35,000 grant from PetSmart Charities that inspired hundreds of other animal lovers across Phoenix to make generous donations to close the funding gap and make this latest renovation to the Chandler center possible,” said Alessandra Navidad, president & CEO. “With the support and generosity of our community, we can continue to offer a safe, comfortable environment for animals in need while they await their forever home.”

When AAWL first opened the Chandler Adoption Center following the closure of a puppy mill store, our goal was to find loving homes for vulnerable animals in the community and break down stereotypes around shelter animals. Over a decade later, the Chandler location is the Valley’s largest adoption center located inside a mall. Nearly half of the lives saved at the Chandler Adoption Center are animals rescued with the help of our rural rescue partners.

Prior to the remodel, the kennels were beginning to deteriorate, as they were original to the space and over 20 years old. The center will now feature brand-new condos and kennels for enhanced comfort and sanitation. Additionally, the space has been refreshed to reflect our recent rebranding.

The renovation is a part of our continued commitment to rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home vulnerable animals in the Valley. As part of this goal, we recently introduced a full-time Adoption Support Coordinator, who is dedicated to following up with our adopters for the first four months after adoption and beyond. The program hopes to ease the transition for pets into their new home and ultimately decrease the chance that a pet is returned to the shelter. In addition, we provide low-cost dog training and preventative wellness care for adopters.

Stop by our Chandler Adoption Center and find your furry soulmate today!

Exciting Changes at AAWL’s Community Vet Clinic

We have some big changes that are coming to the AAWL Community Vet Clinic that we are so excited to share with you! Some of you may recognize the AAWL Low-Cost Community Vet Clinic as MD PetCare, and we are so grateful for everyone that has chosen us to support them and their pets over the years.

In recent years, the veterinary shortage has impacted our ability to provide consistent vet care to pets in need. Without a full-time veterinary team, we have relied on part-time veterinarians to staff our general practice. This has made it difficult to ensure continuity of care, especially for pets with chronic issues. In fact, it wasn’t unusual for clients to wait months for an appointment at our clinic. We know we can and must do more to save more lives.

Starting Saturday, March 2, 2024, our Community Vet Clinic will be transitioning from a full-service low- cost vet clinic to providing low-cost prevention and wellness services only. We will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays to provide vaccines, flea/tick/heartworm preventative treatments, nail trims, treatment for basic ear infections, and more. Although we will no longer provide surgeries or treat chronic conditions, this transition will allow pet owners to schedule preventative wellness exams with a veterinarian in a timelier manner.

While we know this is a big change, especially for our clients who have been with us for many years, we are making this transition to become more accessible to pet owners and ultimately help more pets by providing services that are desperately needed.

To better understand the most important needs, we’ve spent the last two years surveying over 700 pet owners in our community. Through these conversations, we learned that the most-needed services are vaccines and preventative care, and that pet owners do not have access to low-cost providers for these services because of barriers like limited availability of appointments and other factors. These surveys helped inform this shift in our vet clinic services to better meet the needs of people and pets in our community.

If you have any questions about this transition or about our services, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our AAAWL Community Vet Clinic team at vetclinic@aawl.org or 602-358-7267. We hope you continue to choose us for your pet’s preventative and wellness needs!

To learn more about our new services check our low-cost Community Vet Clinic click here.

Have a Pet-Safe New Year Celebration!

With New Years Eve right around the corner, all the festive planning has begun! And that includes planning on how to keep your furbaby safe and comfortable during this time. As we all know, the new year is a great time for celebrating new beginnings, new goals, and new resolutions but it’s not always our pet’s favorite time of the year since the large crowds and loud commotions can be overwhelming. Not to worry, we’re here to share some great tips on how to keep your furry friend safe during this joyful night.

Fireworks and loud music can be an intense and frightening experience for your pet. Hence why many pets run away and are reported missing the next day when all the commotion has passed. The best practice is to avoid loud noises altogether, especially fireworks, but that’s not always in your control. Make sure all doors, windows, and gates are locked and secured, make sure their ID’s and microchips are up-to-date, and create a safe haven for them to relax and burrow in during the festivities.

If you’re hosting, keep your pets away from dangerous substances. Even though they can seem harmless to humans, they can be incredible toxic to your pets. Things like chocolate, alcohol, meat with bones, onions, mushrooms, etc. can be harmful to our furry friends. Feed them their regular food and make sure to inform your guests, especially the younger ones, which foods are not allowed for pets.

While on the note of hosting, create a quiet space for your pets to retreat from all the commotion! Try to keep them indoors and maybe even dedicate a room or space for your pets. Add in their favorite blanket, their special toys, and even some yummy treats and create a safe space. That way you can enjoy your evening without the worry of your furry friend stressing, and they can have a special, cozy night. You could even add in a new toy or puzzle to keep them entertained!

A great way to help them enjoy their quiet, alone time is to give them plenty of quality time together the day of. Especially some playtime like fetch, tug of war, a feathery wand, a crunchy ball, an extra-long walk, whatever your furry friend enjoys! A tired pet is more likely to chill out the night of New Year’s Eve and enjoy their cozy corner even more. And remember, all the loud, abrupt noises can be frightening so make sure to be patient and understanding with your furbaby.

New Year’s Eve is a wonderful time of the year to celebrate all the new things to come and we want to ensure that it’s as pleasant of an experience as can be for your furry friend too! From everyone at AAWL, here’s to a magnificent new year and we hope everyone has a fun and safe night! Happy New Year!

The Right Way to Gift a Pet this Holiday Season

A surprise kitten or puppy under the Christmas tree may seem like the perfect gift, but this adorable present comes with a lifetime of commitment.

There are a few things to keep in mind before giving a pet as a gift. The Arizona Animal Welfare League, the largest and oldest no-kill shelter in Arizona, has a few things you should consider before you add a new pet to the Christmas list.

Visit the shelter beforehand

Many potential pet adopters are looking for the surprise factor when giving a dog or cat as a present, but you should make sure your entire family agrees before bringing home a new furry friend.

Make it a family affair by bringing your whole family to your local animal shelter and find a pet that everyone loves. Plus, how much better would it be if your new pet was there to celebrate all of the Christmas festivities with you instead of just being the Christmas morning surprise?

Deck the home

Puppies, kittens, cats, and dogs—all require different preparations at home. Does the cat have a scratching post? Does the puppy have a crate to sleep in at night? Have you prepped for any necessary training scenarios? These are all points to consider when adopting your next family member.

Also be sure that your family or family member is ready for the responsibility of a new pet! Taking care of a pet can take up a lot of time, especially if it’s a young puppy or kitten. They require a lot of training and attention to make sure they learn good habits as they grow, so make sure you are ready for the commitment!

Think about their lifestyle

You might be so caught up in the excitement of giving a pet that you forget a few realities. Make sure the person receiving the pet has time to care for a new animal to ease this transition.

A new environment can be stressful for a cat or dog and owners will need to make time to bond and create a loving experience.

Consider a senior pet

While many envision puppies or kittens under the tree, senior pets make great additions to the family too! Senior pets are often already trained, have calmer temperaments, and will be overjoyed to go home with you.

after considering what suits the family best, surprising someone with a pet Christmas morning might not be the best way to go about giving a pet as a gift. For most people, it’s a busy, hectic day, so bringing home a new pet in the midst of all the holiday chaos could create additional anxiety and stress for the animal. Avoid it if you can.

At the Arizona Animal Welfare League, we would love for all homeless pets to have a home for the holidays, but we want to make sure that everyone is committed and loves the pet they are adding to their family.

That’s why we suggest that the recipient be involved in the decision and be the one pick out their new best friend and form that immediate bond with them.

Thanksgiving Safety

Thanksgiving holiday is coming up and we want to make sure you and your beloved pet(s) have the best time! We predict there will be many big round eyes begging for food from the table and while it can be hard to say no, it’s with their safety and wellbeing in mind.

When it comes to table scraps, the best practice is to avoid sharing any with pets. As there can be added spices or ingredients that could be harmful to them. There are some table scraps that you’ll especially want to keep away from your pet’s reach. Things like turkey bones, fatty foods, chocolate, and raisins are especially dangerous for them.

But that doesn’t mean they can’t participate in the fun! If you’d like your furry companion to enjoy a holiday treat, you can make one especially for them! Make them feel extra special and it includes all their favorites, pumpkin puree and plain yogurt! Just make sure there’s no added sugars or ingredients. Once you mix them together, pop them in the freezer, and voilà a wonderful frozen treat for them. Bonus points if you grab a silicone mold for the treat to have a fun shape. Our personal favorite is a paw shaped mold!

One of the best parts of Thanksgiving is hosting! It can be a fun night at home with all your favorite people plus your furry family members. If your pets tend to get overwhelmed or are shy around new people, create a safe and calm space for them to retreat to. Also, be sure to let your guests know that your furbaby gets easily overwhelmed and to take it slow. Let your pet approach them at their own pace. We also don’t want any pets sneaking out during the commotion. So, if you have a furry friend that tries to bolt through the door anytime it opens, keep them behind a gate or closed door while guests are entering your home. That way there’s no opportunity for them to escape!

Thanksgiving is a great holiday to get together with your loved ones and enjoy plentitudes of food! We want to ensure this holiday season is a fun and safe one for everyone involved. Keep your pet’s safety in mind when eating at the table or introducing new people. And most importantly, have a wonderful holiday season! We’re grateful for all your support and for giving your furry companion the love they deserve. Happy Holidays from all of us here at AAWL!