Getting a Puppy
Getting a Puppy Guide: Veterinary reviewed information that provides an in depth overview of Getting a Puppy; including what to expect, training techniques, and much more. Get started on the right “paw”, and see what to expect from your new puppy.
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Introduction
Bringing a new puppy into the house can be a chaotic and exciting moment for both you and the puppy. The first 48 hours with your new puppy can sometimes be overwhelming; this experience is a lot like bringing a new little toddler into your home for the first time. In order to prepare yourself, and your puppy, for this moment, here is what to expect in the first 48 hours with your new puppy.
What to Expect
Depending on the puppy’s attitude, the puppy will either be into everything at once or the puppy will be scared and timid. If your new puppy is all over the place, you will have to increase your supervision and make sure that you have effectively puppy-proofed your household. If your puppy is shy and timid, try to quiet the household, and let the puppy get to know the home, and you, on its own terms.
Excitable and nervous puppies, and puppies that have just been separated from their mother and siblings, will often bark and wine more than usual. You can expect a lot of barking and whining in the first 48 hours of bringing the puppy home. As the puppy gets used to its surroundings and new home, the barking and whining should calm down.
Puppy puddles and accidents will more than likely occur multiple times. Excitable and nervous puppies are especially prone to having accidents. Prepare yourself with plenty of clean up tools, and if possible restrict the puppy at first to an area without carpeting.
A change in environment, and especially a change in diet, can cause the puppy to experience diarrhea or loose stools. If the puppy has diarrhea, make sure that the puppy is getting enough liquids and decrease the amount of food the puppy is getting. If the diarrhea does not begin to improve within 24 – 48 hours, take the puppy to the veterinarian and have the puppy checked for intestinal parasites.
A new puppy in the house can cause quite a whirlwind of excitement, chaos, and confusion. These little energetic fur balls want to explore, taste, experience, and test everything around them. To reduce some of the disarray of these moments, and to keep your new puppy safe, here are a few ways to prepare your house for a new puppy.Puppies are a lot like babies that are crawling and learning to walk; they get into
Puppies are delightful little bundles of joy, though they can also be almost uncontrollable little bundles of energy. Your new puppy is going to be testing boundaries at every turn, and your interactions with your new puppy will help your puppy to quickly learn appropriate and acceptable behavior. These beginning interactions may also determine whether or not you have a well behaved dog in the future. In order to ensure that you are getting off
There are many restraints available for dogs from your veterinarian or pet store. The equipment should be sturdy enough so that it will not break if the dog lunges suddenly. It should also be comfortable for the pet, and only apply sensation when pressure is applied. They should be fitted and sized appropriately. Avoid oversized collars that will slip off or that have long dangling ends, or tight narrow collars that apply continuous pressure around
You are right to be concerned about proper identification should your dog or cat become lost. With proper identification you can greatly increase the chance your pet will be returned to you. An effective method of pet identification, called electronic pet identification or microchipping, is rapidly gaining popularity. It involves the injection of a small identification chip, about the size of a grain of rice, under the skin of your pet’s upper back. Humane societies,
Most veterinarians agree that all dogs should be vaccinated against those diseases that are widespread, cause serious illness, and/or are highly contagious. In addition, other vaccines may be recommended based on the risk they pose to individual dogs. While many pet owners believe vaccines produce 100% protection in all dogs, this is not always true. Some vaccines will protect most dogs, but others may only reduce the severity of clinical signs.This disease, caused by the
There are other non-core vaccines available to protect individual dogs deemed to be at risk for certain illnesses.A vaccine for Bordetella bronchiseptica which is a contributing cause to kennel cough syndrome is available. These bacteria are a leading cause of kennel cough, causing respiratory symptoms such as coughing, nasal discharge, and fever. Serious infections can lead to pneumonia. Dogs in close contact with other dogs such as in shelters, boarding facilities, dog shows, training classes,
The first few weeks of a newborn puppy's life are crucial to its future development. What happens to a puppy during its first weeks can often determine whether a dog will lead a normal, healthy life or a life that is wrought with illness or behavioral problems.When a puppy is born, it is essentially helpless and unable to fend for itself. Almost 75% of puppy deaths occur in the first 18 days after birth, usually
Your new puppy is going to need a lot of instruction from you at first in order to learn the rules of the household. Training your puppy the right way, the first time, will ensure that your puppy grows up into a well behaved dog. In addition, a puppy that learns that rules of the household is a happy puppy. The puppy knows that he or she is doing a good job, and the puppy
The key to effectively house training a puppy is consistency. Unless you are prepared to devote a certain amount of time, effort, and patience, house training efforts will be frustrating.House training a puppy involves four basic steps:Feed on a schedule: Puppies, as do most animals, possess a reflex called the "gastro-colic reflex". Put simply, when a pup eats a meal, its stomach is stimulated, which in turn stimulates its lower bowels. This is why they
If used properly, a crate can be a place for your puppy to feel safe and relaxed; a crate can also be used to provide a comfortable sleeping and traveling space for your puppy. In order for a crate to work in the right way, you will need to properly crate train your new puppy as soon as possible.To begin crate training your puppy, choose a crate that will fit your puppy’s size as it
Safety, of course, is imperative in any child-animal interaction. The first step to ensuring safety is to choose a pet that is appropriate for your family and your child. Educate yourself, if you do not already know, about any safety issues with regard to this pet. Horses, parrots, dogs, cats, all have unique safety issues.The following are important lessons that have been recommended to guide a child’s interaction with dogs:Many children, especially very young ones,
Dogs placed in a new environment, whether they are adults or puppies, are generally fearful and anxious. Their entire world has been turned upside down and, regardless of whether their new world is in an excellent environment, they will need time to adjust to this situation. Night times are particularly distressing because the dog is alone, and the dog may express its fear though constant barking.One of the best remedies that will help to calm