How to Bring up a Puppy
- 1). Have a veterinarian examine your new puppy right away to catch any potential problems early and get the necessary inoculations. Young pups are most vulnerable to disease as they haven't developed much resistance other than what they received from their mother.
- 2). Get your pup used to being handled right from the start. If handling is associated with comfort and love, your dog will be much easier to care for when grown.
- 3). Bonding takes place from the moment your pup enters your life. Take the teacher/dam's role seriously and establish yourself as the loving, benign dictator. Give lots of positive feedback -- mostly pats and praise -- when the pup is not doing anything wrong. Silence and being shunned is a terrible punishment for a puppy (in nature it threatens survival!) so save that for bad behaviors. And since young dogs have short attention spans, try to correct poor behavior quickly and move on. Punishment should not be necessary with a young pup -- even if you want to loose your temper. Puppies do not plan to be bad or intentionally do wrong. They just need guidance.
- 4). Socialize your pup. Expose him or her to a variety of people, pets, places and situations as soon as it is safe to do so. This will build confidence. Give your pup lots of exercise. This is good for the body and mind and will keep you laughing. Feed good healthy food and always make sure fresh food is available. Don't overfeed. An overweight puppy is likely to turn into an unhealthy, fat dog.
- 5). Respect the growing pup's need to chew before during and after teething. I limit the number of toys so my pups always know what is and what is not okay for chewing. Too many toys can be confusing. And make sure all electrical cords are out of reach so tiny teeth don't stray into a lethal mistake.
- 6). Puppies are never too young to start being trained. In fact, whether you are aware of it or not, you are perpetually training your pup with every action you do! Sitting, staying and other basics can be made into a game that even young pups enjoy playing. Just don't expect them to focus for very long with their short attention spans.
- 7). Get used to grooming. Now is the perfect time to get your dog used to the brush. Make it soothing, fun and enjoyable. Again, your dog will have a short attention span so only do it for short periods of time or it won't be fun anymore. This is also the best time to get your dog used to have ears handled, teeth touched (for later cleaning), claws clipped and feet touched. Let them hear and get used to the sounds of any tools like clippers, dremels, hair driers or other electric gadgets that may be part of their lives. Introduce these things slowly so they can become desensitized to the sounds before use.
- 8
Play a lot! It's good for both of you. Make training part of play and play part of training. Training is most effective (and easiest on you, too), if it is a positive experience. Train for exercise and good health as well as offering a way to burn off puppy energy. Give treats in the form of food, toys or even just fun. Train for fun. Train for bonding and establishing your role as top dog. Train for control. Train so you can become pals and partners. - 9). Raising a puppy is a lot of work. It can be demanding and time-consuming. It can also be heart-warming, fun and totally engrossing. When you get a new puppy, you are making a big commitment that can enrich both your life and that of your pet. I hope some of this advice can help you along with those funny, fascinating and sometimes trying months of puppy-hood.
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