Your New Puppy

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW PUPPY! FOLLOWING ARE A FEW SUGGESTIONS WHICH MAY BE HELPFUL WHEN RAISING A NEW PUPPY. Naming your puppy can be fun for the family. Try to think of a two syllable name that ends in "a", "o", or "e" like Sara, Cleo, or Cassie. These types of names are easy for a puppy to remember and won't get confused with one-syllable commands such as "sit" and "stay". Whatever name you choose be consistent until your puppy understands and responds to it. Refrain from calling your puppy various connotations of the name you have chosen (i.e. name is Lilly, avoid "Lil"; name is "jack" avoid "Jackson, Jackie" etc. ) as this will only confuse him/her. When you cannot keep an eye on your puppy he needs a place that he can call his own and will keep him out of harm's way. There are many different types of crates that will suit the purpose but we recommend something that is classified as airline approved because of their sturdiness and versatility. Dogs come from wolf like ancestors and instinctively feel cozy and safe in anything remotely cave like, even a turned over box. Once your puppy gets use to being in a crate you will find that he will go into the crate voluntarily whenever he feels tired or threatened. When he does go in the crate respect his privacy and don't reach in and pull him out; let him come out on his own or call or coax him out. Another reason for crate training is so that you will be able to travel with your puppy. If you are staying at a hotel and want to go out for a quick meal most hotels will not allow you to leave your puppy loose in the hotel room . By having your puppy crate trained you can leave him in the crate with little fear of him barking or howling to be let out. Remember that until the puppy is about six months of age it is still a baby. Puppies need sleep. After playing and the puppy goes and lays down, let the puppy have at least 30 minutes rest. The type of food you feed your puppy is very important to your puppy's current and future health. It is essential that you choose a high-quality meat-protein food that provides complete and balanced nutrition during your puppy's critical growth stage. If you see your puppy chewing something they shouldn't be chewing, say "No" firmly (do not yell at puppy) and place something he is allowed to chew in his mouth. Teach puppy the commands sit; stay; down, come and off. Don't wait; do it in the first few weeks. Sit, off and down are especially important. Give puppy treats when he is successful. Do not use the command "down" when you want the puppy to stay "off" something; off people, off the furniture etc. Down is the command used to indicate you want the puppy to lie down - do not confuse him by using the same command for two different behaviors. Socialize your puppy -When you have company over; have your company hold and pet the puppy so it gets familiar with other people. Take puppy on car rides - even if just to the corner store. Take puppy visiting to friends' homes. Keep an eye on the puppy and take him out on a lead as necessary, so puppy will not mess in the house. At six to nine months go to a basic obedience class. This is very important as it will familiarize the puppy with noises, other dogs and total strangers. Use a pin brush and a water bottle (plant mister, or a cleaned Windex bottle will do the trick). Mist the puppy and run the brush over puppy's fur weekly. This will familiarize the puppy with grooming. Handle each paw so that puppy will be use to this when it comes time to cut puppy's nails. Lead train and house train at the same time. Put a soft collar on the puppy. Train by putting the lead on and taking the puppy outside. Carry the puppy to an area that you want him to use as a bathroom, place puppy on the ground and use words such as "do business" or something else that you are comfortable with. Once the puppy has relieved himself praise him with something like "good dog" and say it with enthusiasm. Walk puppy back to the house. If the puppy begins to relieve himself in the house say "NO" sharply and immediately take the puppy outside again, not forgetting to praise puppy if he relieves himself outside. The best idea for house training is to take the puppy out the first thing in the morning, after puppy eats or drinks, after a nap, last thing at night and if you notice puppy sniffing the floor. Clip your puppy's nails regularly. If you can hear them clicking on the floor when he walks, it's time for a trim. If you let your pup's nails get too long, they will break and cause soreness. Dog nail clippers are better than scissors for nail trimming. Hold the paw firmly, and clip a little at a time. Don't try to take the whole tip off with one whack. Be careful not to cut into the "Quick" which is the sensitive flesh underneath the back of the nail. Should you accidentally cut too far and bleeding occurs, use baby powder, corn starch or a product such as "Quick Stop" to help stop the bleeding. Do not scold your puppy unless you catch him in the act of a misdeed. Puppies have very short memories and will not associate the discipline with the undesirable act. Remember to forgive your puppy a few minutes after you discipline him to let puppy know that you are not mad at him any more. Never call your puppy to you and then discipline him. If your intention is to discipline him you must always go to the puppy without giving him any command. If you do call the puppy to you and then proceed to discipline him; he will soon learn to associate coming to you with punishment. This will eventually teach the puppy to not come when called. When you give the come command and he returns to you, make sure you praise him even if he has just done something you are not pleased with. Play with the puppy. (fetch, ball, tug of war, etc.) Do not leave small puppies outside by themselves - especially for long periods of time. Go out with him as puppies can get through the smallest holes imaginable and can wander off or get lost very easily. Do not give the puppy free run of the house. Puppy is not ready for that responsibility but can work towards it. Keep shots up to date. Have the dog wormed once a year, or more if necessary. Use caution when practicing flea control if your environment/climate poses a flea problem for your puppy. Puppies under six months of age should not be flea sprayed. Some dogs are allergic to flea sprays. If after spraying, the dog drools excessively or if he has a change in attitude, either take him to a vet immediately and talk to the vet about flea spraying, or bathe the dog immediately, using a non- flea shampoo. Wait a week and then bath as often as necessary with a flea shampoo. Dogs can also be allergic to flea collars so, use them with discretion. There will be times when you have to give your puppy medicine that is in a pill format. To do this we have found it useful to put the pill in something such as a small piece of a cheese slice so the puppy will consider the pill a treat.