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Congratulations on your new puppy!
Below are some hints that we hope you can use once you get home with your new puppy.
First, relax, it takes time for you and your puppy to get in sync. As long as you can celebrate the small steps eventually things will move right along.
Next, remember that no matter how much you love your puppy he/she is a dog first and has certain characteristics that you cannot change. Stop now whatever habits you don’t want your puppy do as an adult.
Food/feeding *Food choice is a very personal thing but the general rule of thumb is to try to buy higher quality kibble.
* Organic is best. It’s better to have a higher percentage of protein to carbs. A higher percentage of grain in the food the greater chance for allergies to develop.
*Another thing is buy a food that has a limited number of protein sources in it. If it has 3, say chicken, turkey, and duck that is too many. If your dog should have a problem with the food it would be hard to tell which type of protein doesn’t agree with him/her because there is more than one.
* If you ever decide to change to a new food, you should gradually add more of the new food to the old food until all you are feeding is the new food. This transition should be over a 7-14 day time period to avoid stomach upset.
*Feeding times should be scheduled. Normally the puppies will eat three times a day but if they leave some food from the last meal then they should be ready to go to 2 feedings a day.once in the morning and evening.
*Always make them earn their food, don’t just feed them. Make them sit and wait(you’ll have to hold them for a while till They learn) and then when you say it’s ok then they can eat.
*Give them no more than 20minutes to eat, if after that time they are still not eating pick it up and try again at the next meal. The exception to this rule are toy/mini breed dogs, these dogs may require access to food all day long to prevent low blood sugar. . *If the puppy is running around playing and doesn’t want to eat then put them in their crate until the 20 minutes is up.
*Don’t let the puppy take food from the bowl and eat it somewhere else if he/she does then put them in the crate until the 20 minutes is up.
*If the puppy doesn’t seem that interested in the food try adding some warm water to the food as this may release an aroma the dog likes enticing them to eat.
*Be careful not to overfeed your puppy. It’s better to have a long, lanky puppy than a rolly polly puppy. The extra weight during growth can cause hip, shoulder, and knee problems.
*For larger breeds, as they start to grow you may have to start elevating their food bowl. This will help to aleviate pressure on the shoulders and elbows.
Crate Training
*Remember the crate is your friend and training partner. It is not a place for punishment.
* As you did for feeding, you should also have a set schedule for potty breaks. The best times are as follows:
First thing in the am when puppy wakes up
10-15 minutes after the puppy eats
After nap times
After play times
Last time before puppy goes to bed
If you’re home then several more times throughout the day
*Make sure that everyone in the household uses the same words for potty to avoid confusing the puppy.
*Don’t allow the puppy to play while outside pottying. Once the puppy has pooped and peed take the puppy back inside, wait a few minutes then you can say “let’s go play/outside” whichever words you want to use.
*By being specific with what you expect from the puppy then the quicker he/she will learn.
* If you have a toy breed and don’t intend on taking it outside then they do make indoor litter pans with grass so at least your puppy will learn to go on grass.
*If you catch the puppy in the process of pottying in the house, make a loud sound to get their attention but try not to yell no because the puppy won’t understand what no is for, they may stop in midstream, if they do take them outside and give them the command to potty and praise them when they do. Don’t reprimand them for things you didn’t see them do because they won’t remember what they had done.
*If you are not actively playing with the puppy, then it should be in the crate or confirmed to a play pen.
* The crate is their den and it should be a positive area. If the puppy cries that’s ok. Don’t tell it to be quiet or take it out of the crate until it stops crying. It will learn that the crate is an ok place.
*Remember that the puppy is like a baby and will need plenty of rest time too.
*A crate should be used until the puppy is well over a year old and sometimes longer than that. A crate will keep your puppy safe and your belongings safe . If your older dog stays outside make sure it has shelter and water.
Behavior training
*Behavior training is something that you can work on everyday. As the puppy starts to grow the sessions can be longer but right now 5 mins at a time is sufficient.
*You’ve already done some training when you made the puppy sit and wait before it eats.
* Next, make it sit before it gets any affection.
* You always want to reward the behavior you want. If the puppy is jumping all over you or the kids and won’t stop then walk away from the puppy or simply turn your back. You may have to do this several times but eventually the puppy will realize it doesn’t get any attention when it’s jumping.
*Only feed or pet your dog/puppy when it is in a calm state.
*Don’t reassure your pet with affection or petting if it is anxious or upset because doing so tells them that it is ok to be upset or anxious. Ignore the behavior and when they settle down then pet them and praise them for being a good boy/girl.
*Behavior training is as much physical stimulation as mental stimulation. If your dog is not in a calm physical state then it won’t be able to listen to you mentally.
*Walks are very important. During the walk there should be no stopping to sniff or potty (all of that is done prior to the walk). It should be almost like a power walker but it doesn’t have to be that fast unless you’re able. If you want to rollerblade with your dog then go for it. The point of the walk is to tire the dog so then it’s physical needs for exercise have been fulfilled. A tired dog is a happy dog and a happy dog is a happy family. All of the information on the walk is inspired by Cesar Millan “the dog whisperer”. He says that when a dog is well exercised (challenged) then his mind is open to receive your direction (training, etc). Note: the length and intensity of the walk will increase as the puppy gets older. Don’t over do it, your puppy is growing and it could put undo stress on the puppy’s bone development.
*Make sure during this time that you curb unwanted behavior while the puppy is still young. It’s a lot easier to deal with a 20lb puppy rather than a 50-60lb adult with the same problem. You should have your puppy in a beginning obedience class by the time he/she is 4 mos. Old.
Bathing/grooming
*The main issue with bathing and grooming is do a little bit of grooming each day so the puppy gets used to combs, brushes, etc.
*If you have a breed that will require professional clipping make an appointment with a groomer so they can discuss with you when to start with them. Many times they will do a short session while you wait just so the puppy can get accustomed to the environment.
*Get the puppy used to you looking in its’ ears, opening its’ mouth, playing with its’ feet/toes. All of this work will make it easier for future visits to the vet and the puppy/dog won’t be nervous to have those things done.
*Don’t over bathe your puppy. Bathing strips the necessary oils from the hair and leaves the coat dry and flaky if done too often. Unless your dog gets into something smelly baths aren’t really needed. Every 4-6 weeks is ok if you want to bathe them.
*Nail trimming is very important* as the nail grows so does the quick(blood vessel) inside the nail. If you keep the nails short the quick stays short. Nails can be trimmed every 2 weeks. It’s good to get your dog used to having them done. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself have someone else do them. Untrimmed nails can cause undo stress on dogs feet and can hinder their natural walk. Untrimmed nails can also grow into the pads of the feet causing infections.
* These were just a few subjects that we thought you might have questions on. So we hope it helps.
Conclusion:
*Never leave your puppy unattended with a toy or chew stick.
*Never leave a choke chain on your dog/puppy.
*Never leave a dog/puppy in a car when the temp outside is questionable. If in doubt leave them at home. Even on cool days the temp in a car can get overheated.
*Never ride with your dog in an open bed of a truck.
* Get insurance on your new family member. A little money spent now will save you a lot of money later.
*Have the animal emergency clinic number and poison control number posted in an easy to find place so you’ll have it if you need it.
*Keep a current photo and copy of your pets’ records; including vaccine and rabies information, allergies, current medications, etc in an easily accessible file. This information can also be accessed through your personal Pet Portal at www.wieucaanimalclinic.com.
*Make sure to have a plan in case of some natural disaster ( tornado, earthquake, fire, etc.) Keep an updated getaway bag for your pet.
*There are several good books to help you with your puppy:
Cesar Millan- a member of the family: good book that helps with introducing a puppy into your family and helpful hints on training.
The Monks of New Skete- good book on training
Victoria Stillwell- she has a show “it’s me or the dog” and she gives you good hints on how to correct certain bad behaviors.
These are just a few but do some research. If you put the work in while the pup is small then you will have so much more time to enjoy your dog.
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