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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