| AREN'T NEW PUPPIES WONDERFUL SELECTING A NEW PUPPY: Select your new puppy with your lifestyle and living in mind. Primary considerations in addition to personality include temperament, size and coat. Some breeds have traits that may be objectionable in certain circumstances, such as a tendency to bark. Dogs originally bred for specific purposes tend to retain these characteristics and may require additional patience. BEFORE BRINGING YOUR NEW PUPPY HOME: Prepare your house for your puppy's arrival. A special place should be designed for it to eat, sleep and potty. Purchase all the necessary items your puppy will need ( harness, leash, food, ID tag, Crate and doggy bowls ) before bringing your new puppy home. You will need to puppy-proof your home just as you would child-proof your home to avoid accidents. Harmful cleaners, plants, electrical cords and breakable's should be kept out of reach. HOUSING: A crate is a combined, sleeping area, housebreaker and preventer of bad habits; basically, it's one of the best investments you'll ever make for your puppy. Select a crate large enough to house the dog when it is full grown, and insert a divider to make it smaller for housebreaking. The reduced area should be small enough that the puppy can't potty in one end of the crate and sit/sleep in the other. HOUSEBREAKING: Begin as soon as the puppy arrives in your home. Young puppies should be taken out immediately upon waking and just before bedtime, and as often as you can daily. Most puppies can not hold it for long periods of time, so it will need to go out as often as every hour at first, and then gradually wait long periods of time between taking them out. Take the puppy to the same area every time and praise them it immediately when they potty. Do not play, or talk to the puppy until after he goes potty. If your puppy doesn't go potty each time, he will use the potty inside. MEALS: Feed a quality diet designed for puppies. A wide variety of diets and formulations are available and your veterinarian should be your primary source of information as to the best choice for your puppy. The amount fed will vary with the type of food and the puppy, but in general should be only what the puppy can consume in 5-10 minutes at a given time. Puppies are usually fed 3 times a day when 6-12 weeks old, 2 times when 12 weeks -6 months, and may be fed 1-2 times daily when older than 6 months. HEALTH EXAM / VACCINATIONS : You will want to have your new puppy examined by a veterinarian to ensure that it has no major health problems and is started on a program of preventative care. Your puppy;s health care plan includes a series of vaccinations. Vaccinations are usually given at 3 weeks apart from 6-16 weeks of age. At 15-16 weeks the first rabies vaccination can be given. Puppies should be checked regularly for intestinal parasites, fleas, and heart worm disease and appropriate preventative be given. GROOMING: Regular brushing, bathing and nail care are essential. Protect your puppy's eyes and ears when bathing and don't allow puppy to become chilled after bathing. Not recommended to bath a small breed until 12 weeks old. CRATE TRAINING YOUR NEW PUPPY: Crate training is very effective. To do this you need to buy your crate. Metal crates are great. It is usually recommended that you get a crate that will fit your puppy when full grown. You must block off a large part of the crate with a divider so that your puppy only has room to lay down and sleep. You should put a washable soft pad and a safe toy. Until your puppy is completely trained to go outside, he should be in the crate whenever you cannot closely watch him. Take your puppy out to the same spot on a leash shortly after eating or drinking. The time period will vary depending on your pup and the food their eating. Try to keep them on a schedule of eating and drinking so you and them develop predictable routines. Take your puppy out to their same spot shortly after playing or having a chew toy for a bit. Also, be alert and take them out anytime you see them sniffing the floor a lot or circling and other behaviors that you will associate with your pups need to go outside. As your puppy begins to potty start to praise them and when they finish give them a small treat. Then take them inside for some playtime. Don't let them frolic outside until their fully trained because you want them to associate outside with house training. Don't punish your puppy for accidents, as these are the fault of the owner for not watching them properly. Quickly clean up with white vinegar and resolve, then watch them more carefully in the future. At first your puppy should be crated anytime you cannot directly supervise them. Gradually, time outside the crate can be increased as can letting the pup into various areas of your home. Start with crate in your kitchen then move to the playpen in the living room, and so on as your pup develops control and know the difference between outside and the rest of their new home. |