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Puppy Tips
by Janice Kumar
Owning a puppy is exciting but also a big
responsibility. A new puppy is cute, attractive and seeks your love and
attention so it can be a delight. However it is the pet owner's responsibility
to take care of a new puppy that is initially a little bewildered and lost as
it seeks it place in the new house. A new pup that is bought home, may suddenly
lose it's playfulness and piddle away at different places due to excitement. It
is experiencing new smells and sounds and is trying to find a place for itself.
So it is natural and normal for it to be a little subdued in the beginning. It
will tend to urinate / piddle from excitement, fear or after meals. You can
normally guess, when the puppy dog is about to piddle because it will run in
circles a few times, sniff around and then finally squat to urinate. As the pup
tries to please you, seeking your love and affection, start the toilet training
immediately. Say No ! No ! loudly as it piddles and take the pup outside to
urinate. Start to call out it's name and let is get used to the sound of the
words.
 Never lift the puppy by his front legs as these
are very tender and may get disjointed. The pup has to be lifted with a hand
under his rump and a hand against his chest. Hold the pup close to your body as
you lift it. This is the right and safe way to lift a small dog. As the legs get
stronger, you may try a different way to pick it up, but to start with, it is
important to be careful.
A puppy in a new house is a little bewildered and lost. It is
important to provide a safe and comfortable sleeping corner for the pup. Avoid
too high a place for the pup as it will find it difficult to climb up too high.
Try to find comfortable spot and let the pup sleep independently. Try not to
pamper it if it cries but try to give it some sound to keep it company. A
ticking clock or some light music will do nicely. Puppies catch cold quickly, so
try to keep it warm. Also try to avoid stairways as the pup will find it
difficult to initially climb stairs with weak legs.
It is important to visit a veterinarian (vet)
within a week to ten days of your obtaining it. It is important to start the
immunization program, as soon as possible.
It is important to get the dog it's own non tipping pans for food
and water. It is better to have a different pan for food ( solids) and water
(liquids). Try to buy the supplies from a good pet store rather than use,
discarded utensils which may not be the best for developing good eating habits
in the dog. It is
recommended that leashes and collars may also be bought at this time. Normally
there are three kinds of leashes available- a short traffic leash (normally up
to 18 inches long), a waking leash (normally up to 60 to 72 inches long) and a
freedom/training leash (up to 15 feet or 180 inches long) to enable a dog to
run around and play without problems.
It normally takes several minutes to accustom
the wildly twisting pup to tolerate a collar the first time. But is it important
to put a collar on quickly to avoid problems in the future. A collar should be
slightly loose so that you can slip in up to two fingers between the collar and
the neck but not too lose so that the pup may remove it. It is also important to
check collar size regularly so that the dog may not outgrow the collar. If that
happens, the dog may feel choked and may start behaving erratically.
Play time is great fun for the puppy. But it is also exhausting
for the small dog. Let is play till it cannot stand up and then let it rest. The
pup may need to rest every 15 to 20 minutes in the beginning before it starts to
develop a stamina and its muscles. Retrieving a ball comes naturally to a pup
and it should be encouraged. Try to buy it a squeaking toy which are normally
available in a pet store. A puppy will enjoy playing with such toys and they
should be encouraged. Do avoid giving old shoes to a pup to play and chew as
this can lead to behavioral problems in the future. When the pup is four to five
months old, do explore and buy its some bone shaped toy/aid to chew. This is
important for the development of the gums and teeth.
After immunization, it is important to take the
pup to different places to help it socialize. This will help develop an
acceptable behavior for the dog especially when some one visits or when longer
trips are required. Avoid leaving a small dog, alone for long period of times
locked up in a garage or an apartment. This is likely to make the dog either
timid or overly aggressive. Both are undesirable behavioral patterns for the
long term.
It is recommended that a pet owner, never strike the dog in
anger. However it is important to discipline the puppy when it does not behave.
A small tap on its paws or a newspaper slap on the owners thigh will caution the
pup, that bad behavior will not be tolerated. Use strong words like - Bad Boy !
, Bad Dog ! to discipline the dog. Do not waste time in disciplining the dog if
it is in error so that cause and effect can be appreciated by the pup quickly.
Do remember that you can get a number or name
tattooed in the ear or the inner part of the dog's thigh. This is normally
positive identification for a dog.
Do check, if the local government authority in your area requires
a license or registration. It is best to follow the rules to avoid heartbreak
later.
I hope you find these tips useful. Here's
wishing you much happiness and joy with your pet.
Disclaimer: The article and
tips are for guidance only. Use them at your own risk and discretion. We take no
responsibility for any suggestion given above. We strongly urge you consult a
qualified professional vet to find a lasting cure for any problem. Please
consult a professional , before using any information on this site. No liability
of any kind is accepted by us.
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