Playing

Playing:

The urge to play and express himself energetically is one of the most natural responses in your puppy’s repertoire. As with children, play and lighthearted interactions can be fabulous instructional tools and can be used exclusively during your first few months together.

How you play with your young puppy determines your long-term relationship. Rough, confrontational games, such as wrestling or tug of war, communicate confrontation, which can be detrimental to your relationship. A confronted puppy will be more likely to challenge you and ignore your direction. Games such as the two-ball toss, soccer, and name games instill cooperation and a fun-loving attitude — this puppy won’t ever want to leave your side.

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Going Potty

Going Potty:

House training can’t be summed up any better than with the wonderful maxim, “Whatever goes in must come out.” Your puppy’s biological clock will have her eliminating on demand. When her bladder or bowels are pressed, she’ll let loose whether she’s outside or on the papers — or on the rug, if you’re not watching.

If your puppy is coming straight from Mom, she may have paved the way for you by urging her puppy to  leave the “nest” when eliminating. This stage occurs between 7 and 8 weeks. If Mom was too relaxed or you picked up your puppy before this stage, the puppy will rely on you to clean up after her, a
message of total care and devotion.
 

Your goals are to teach your puppy where to go and how to let you know if an obstacle (such as a door) is stopping her from getting there. Fortunately, you’ll find this task easy after you commit to a routine and relax your expectations. Tension or expressed frustration is confusing; your puppy won’t learn quickly and may grow increasingly afraid of you. Your puppy needs a schedule, a routine, and a consistent pattern — all of which are within your grasp.

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Sleeping

Sleeping

We all love a good sleep, and you’ll find that your puppy is no exception. Create a quiet space where your puppy can escape the daily hubbub and catch 40 winks whenever he needs too. Make it clear to friends and family that this area — perhaps a crate, bed, room, or pen — is off limits to people when your puppy needs to nap. An overtired puppy is impossible to deal with. Like a child, a puppy will simply melt down. In fact, when pushed, his mouthy, testy behavior may turn into snappy aggression. Don’t correct, worry, or admonish him. Have pity instead — he’s exhausted.

Like kids, some puppies have a hard time putting themselves to sleep, especially when excitement levels are high. If you have kids, ask them to baby him by staying quiet until he’s sleeping. Each time he seems tired, escort him to his resting area while saying a cue word like “Bed.” Eventually, he’ll go to this area on his own when he’s tired.

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Drinking

Drinking:

Puppies need a lot of water, especially when the weather is hot or when chewing and playing. Even though it’s important to allow them access to water when their system demands it, it’s equally important to monitor their 
drinking habits. Bladder muscles are the last to develop, so what goes in, comes out quickly. Dogs can hold their urine for a long time — puppies can’t.

Establish a drinking station for your puppy and keep her dish there whether it’s empty or full. Give your puppy water with her meals; after playing, chewing, or napping; or as you’re on your way to her potty area.

If you’re forgetful, it’s better to fill his dish and leave it out for her throughout the day. Though it may delay your house training, it’s better than having her go thirsty.

Restrict water after 7:30 p.m., unless you want to be up all night taking your puppy outside. If your puppy clearly needs a drink, either give her a small amount (no more than a cup for a large dog or a quarter cup for a small fry) or offer a couple ice cubes.

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Puppies Diet Sheet

Eating [Puppies Diet Sheet]

 

Puppies are happiest when a predictable routine has been set. A hungry puppy is understandably upset and may show you by eating anything — even the difficult-to-digest things such as tissues, remote controls, or walls.Schedule feeding times and stick to them as closely as possible. If you notice your puppy getting nippy or difficult, check your watch. The behavior could be a result of hunger tension. See Table 7-2 for guidance when setting up feeding times.

A young puppy has a high metabolism and should have more frequent meals. Schedule three to four meals throughout the day, slowly phasing out meals as your puppy matures. At some point after your puppy reaches 6 months, you may drop to one meal.

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Puppy’s Basic Needs

Puppy's Basic Needs

Your puppy is a lot like a human baby. Okay, sure, your pup may have a furry coat, a curly tail, and a full set of teeth, but many of the differences stop there. Like a child, your puppy has basic needs and an instinct tosatisfy them. A baby communicates his helpless neediness through crying. It’s a guardian’s role to interpret the cry and satisfy the need. In essence, a cry indicates that the baby lacks the ability to associate a specific need with a bodily sensation. When he’s hungry, his belly hurts. When he’s tired, his brain shuts down. When he’s thirsty, his throat constricts. If these needs aren’t satisfied, he gets anxious. When a loving caregiver routinely satisfies his needs, without stress, discipline, or confusion, he develops a strong bond with that person.

The same holds true for puppies. Like babies, they have five basic needs: eat, drink, sleep, potty, and play. Unlike babies, many puppies don’t cry when their needs aren’t met. Instead, they start nipping and, if  irected, may bark and become frantic and fidgety. The behaviors are different, but the concept is the same. Both are easily overwhelmed when their bodies make demands. If initial nips are met with harsh discipline, the puppy may develop defense reactions, such as aggression or barking back.

You can help your puppy identify his needs by pairing directions with routines. Whereas a child develops language and a more civilized approach to communicating her requests, your puppy will develop his own system of communicating by prompting the routine. Read about puppy needs in the upcoming sections, and use Table 7-1 to create your own routines — your puppy will be ringing the bell to go outside in no time!
Whoever satisfies a need is held in high regard. Though it may take some time for your puppy to “pay you back” with his love and devotion, each passing day brings you closer to that ultimate connection. Need by need, your bond will grow.

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Puppy’s first night

Puppy’s first night

Your puppy will probably be so overwhelmed by the new sights, sounds, smells, and attention that he won’t much miss his littermates and his old home. Everyone will want to hold the puppy and play with him; that’s fine, but remember that he’s still a baby and gets worn out quickly. He needs to sleep, but he may not eat on that first day. He has a lot to get used to — don’t worry about it much. Let him explore.

Puppies aren’t stuffed toys, and you must help your children realize that. Small children — especially kids under 5— can’t really help being a little rough with puppies (and dogs) and must be carefully supervised to ensure that neither hurts the other.

Where should your puppy sleep? Dogs can sleep in the bedroom — not on your bed, but in their own bed or in a crate. Allowing the dog to sleep in the bedroom is especially important in households where a dog is left alone for hours at a time when the family is at work and at school. Letting your dog sleep in your bedroom — or in your child’s bedroom — counts for time together, even though you’re all asleep. It can go a long way toward building and maintaining a strong bond, assuring your pet that he’s an important member of the pack.

If you want your dog to sleep in the service porch, that’s your business. But please don’t start on the first couple nights after you bring your puppy home. He needs you now. Those first couple nights are tough on a puppy. The reassuring warmth of his litter mates is gone, and everything has changed. He’s going to have a lot to say about this situation, so be prepared. He will fuss less if he’s in your presence, if he can be reassured by your smell and the sound of your breathing.

Set up the crate next to your bed and prepare it with a soft blanket to sleep on and a chew toy or two. Tell him “Crate” firmly, put him inside, and close the door. Then open a book, because you won’t be sleeping for awhile. (For more on the use of crates in puppy raising, see Book IV.)Endure the cries and whines as best you can, but don’t punish your puppy, and don’t take him out when he’s carrying on — you’ll teach him that all he needs to do is fuss to get what he wants. He’ll probably settle down and then wake once or twice in the middle of the night. Take him out to relieve himself — and praise him for doing so — and then put him back in his crate.

In a day or two, the worst of the heartbreaking crying will be over.

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Puppies Names

Puppies Names (The name game)

Naming a dog has to be one of the most delightful parts of getting one. It seems not a year goes by without a new book of dog names being published, including ones that specialize, such as a book on Irish names.

Avoid names that sound like common obedience commands, like Sitka or Stacy. Keep names short — one or two syllables — and easy to pronounce. Using names that are not traditionally for people reinforces the fact that a dog is a dog, after all. Name books are a good start, but don’t forget atlases or special dictionaries such as foreign dictionaries or books of baseball, railroad,
gardening, or music terms.

Make your puppy love her name as much as you do by making sure that it has a positive association. Never scream your puppy’s name at her or use it in punishment. The late dog trainer Job Michael Evans used to recommend making up a song with your dog’s name in it and singing the song to her. Commercial jingles are wonderful for this, he said, because they’re catchy
and you can put the pet’s name in where the product is mentioned. Yes, it’s silly. But try it anyway.

The name your dog hears — her everyday name — is what fanciers term a call name: That is, it’s what you call your dog. If you have a purebred dog, she’ll have a registered name, too. You get 28 letters and spaces with the American Kennel Club to come up with a registered name for your pet. If you choose a name someone else has already chosen, the AKC issues it along with a number to distinguish your dog’s name from the others, so unless you want your Collie to be the AKC’s Lassie 897,042, use all those spaces to come up with a middle name or two, something sure to be unique.

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Bringing Home a Puppy

Bringing Home a Puppy

The day your puppy comes home is a big step for both of you. He’s leaving his littermates and throwing his lot in with yours. You’re taking on the huge responsibility of raising a dog. You want the transition to be as smooth as possible, yet you want to make sure that from that very first day, you’re laying the groundwork for a wonderful life together. Repeat the following:

I will never let my puppy do anything I wouldn’t let him do as a grown dog.

You’re ready to be a full-fledged puppy parent now, heaven help you. When you go to pick up your puppy, bring towels, both old bathroom ones and the paper kind. Chances are, your puppy will get carsick. (He won’t necessarily be carsick his whole life, though.) Don’t go alone, either. If you’re a single person, have a friend drive so you can hold your puppy. Have a spouse or kids? Take ’em. This moment is one you’ll want to remember.

But don’t let your children fight over the puppy. He’s not a football. One person can hold him, on a towel, for the ride. (Maybe draw lots and make it up to the other kids later.) Remember that you want to lay the groundwork for your puppy from the beginning. Do so with your children, too, by insisting on gentle, respectful handling. If the puppy throws up or makes any other kind of mess, don’t make a fuss. Change to a clean towel, and clean it all up when you get home. When you get home, take your puppy outside and praise him for relieving himself, if he does.

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