Russell Hancock asked:


There is always a great deal of excitement for both you and your new puppy when you bring them home. The puppy is all new for you and your home is all new for the puppy. There will be certain mischievous happenings from now on but keep in mind that your puppy is all about learning and exploring at this stage and it really won’t know on automatic what it can and cannot do.

Your job as a new Mommy or Daddy to your puppy is to make the transition to your home as comfortable as possible. With that in mind, here are a few home hints to help keep puppy out of trouble and you as the new owner less stressed about having a puppy in the house.

One quirk that new puppies develop is the curiosity that takes them into every trash can in the house. It does not matter if it’s the kitchen trash with food or the bathroom trash with no food because to your puppy it is just a bin full of stuff waiting to be explored. Try either keeping the bathroom door shut or get a smaller bin to put under the counter to keep the puppy out of the bathroom trash. A bonus to keeping the bathroom door shut is that your puppy will be less likely to be enthralled by the toilet paper roll and try to eat all of it. With the kitchen trash, again try keeping that under the counter but if that is not possible then you’ll want to invest in a bin that has a snap on secured lid and not just a flip lid; the snap on lid has a better chance of keeping the curious puppy out while the flip lid has no chance at all. In regards to bedroom trash you can also use one with a secure lid or keep it above ground on a shelf high enough that puppy cannot get to.

Another and potentially deadly quirk for puppies is their almost homing like qualities when it comes to power cords. For a puppy it generally looks like a snake or a worm that doesn’t do much but if it’s moved at all or tripped over that cord suddenly becomes attack worthy. Try taping or stapling down your cords along the baseboards or better yet try using the same method up the corners of the room to keep the cords even further out of reach from the puppy. You could also try dabbing some of the bitters sprays for pets on the cords and any other area where you don’t want the puppy to be chewing.

Another potential hazard is your house plants. Puppies love to chew on fresh grass but they will also be attracted to try any other greenery around your home. Some standard house plants are not harmful to the puppy but there are some common plants that kill if ingested. Plants that are bad for your puppy are: Lily of the Valley, Rhododendron, Japanese Yew, Chinese Evergreen, Philodendron, Devil’s Ivy, Aloe Vera, English Ivy, Branching Ivy, Sago Palm, Azalea and Bird of Paradise to new a few.

For a more complete listing of plants which are harmful or poisonous talk with your vet, or research online.



Dog Health Insurance

Karen Corey asked:


 

Puppy training actually begins the moment you bring a new puppy into your home. The first week is very important. Everyone in the family needs to be on the same page when it comes to the routine, responsibility and rules that will be set for the newest member of the family. This is also a good time to be thinking about pet insurance, as small puppies have yet to develop a strong immune system or sense of danger, and the new environment could contain many potential hazards, most of which could seem perfectly harmless! Animal Friends Insurance is one provider which can offer you a range of dog insurance plans to suit your needs and budget, including full lifetime cover for your new puppy.

 

The first few days in your puppy’s new home are extremely important and will be a time of much excitement and joy. However, remember your new puppy has just been taken away from the only place he has ever known and is very vulnerable and impressionable. You have to set up a routine and rules from the start. Puppies are very smart and will learn very quickly.

 

First you need to set up a special place for the newest member of your home. Puppies need security and a set routine. Set up a small room to be their own special safe place for the next couple of weeks or so. Make sure you paper the entire floor and put down food and water bowls, a bed and scatter plenty of toys around.

 

Try playing with your puppy quietly and gently. If your pup seems to be tired, leave him alone in his special place and let him sleep. Puppies are like babies, they need lots of sleep. Puppies are so irresistible and most people want to give them whatever they want. If you allow that to happen now when the pup becomes older you will find you may have problems breaking bad habits.

 

Never hit your puppy. They don’t mean to be bad or misbehave- they are just doing what comes naturally to them. Show the pup what kind of behavior you want and teach him how to play with his toys. Make sure that you show him how happy you are that he is chewing on his toys and not your furniture.

 

We all know that puppies are chewing machines. That is why it is important to have plenty of chew toys around for them to use. When you see the pup start to chew on your furniture or a shoe, immediately grab one of their toys and get the pup’s attention. When the pup starts to play and chew on its toy make sure to praise them profusely. This shows them that you are happy with what they are doing. This shows them that when they do certain things which make you happy they will receive attention. You want to reward the good behavior and not the bad.

 

Puppies have to be watched over very closely for the first few days until they figure out what their boundaries are. They have to be shown what is acceptable to be chewed on and what is not. They are just doing what comes naturally and don’t know any better. If you are not available to watch over them make sure they don’t have access to places where they can get into trouble. This is where a baby gate can come in handy if you want the pup to be around the family during the day but out of harm’s way.

 

Routines are especially important to establish with your puppy. Having a set routine gives your puppy security and helps to keep him calm and not fearful. If you and other family members will be gone during the day or on certain nights you need to get the pup accustomed to being alone. Every time the puppy whines resist the urge to comfort him.

 

One of the first things to take care of after the puppy is settled into its new home is to make an appointment with your veterinarian. Make sure to do this right away and to set up the schedule for vaccinations. Vaccinations are very important because puppies are susceptible to many canine diseases. Take out a comprehensive pet insurance policy too, as vet’s bills for unexpected mishaps and illnesses can be very expensive.

 

If you establish a routine and rules from the start, everyone, including your puppy, will be able to form a bond that will last a lifetime. Puppies grow up very quickly and you will want to be able to enjoy all of the different stages they will go through. When you get frustrated with potty training and the chewing, just remember it will pass and soon you will be over the hardest part of the adjustment period. Like raising a baby, puppies need a lot of love, attention and special care. In return you will get devotion, love and loyalty from the newest four-legged member of your family.



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Susan Koranki asked:


s often leave their canine family and go to their new homes when they’re still babies. A medium to large breed puppy should be at least 8 weeks old, and a tiny/toy breed needs to be 10 – 12 weeks.

At this age your puppy is just a baby, and the stress of leaving his familiar family and surroundings, perhaps coupled with a long car ride, or airplane journey, and topped off with a sea of new faces/experiences and possibly even a change in diet, is a LOT OF STRESS for him to handle.

When you first met your new pup, he was probably feeling safe and secure with his momma and siblings. He may have been the boldest in the litter then, but once you get him home he’s likely to act much more like a anxious and homesick baby – and that’s okay, because that’s what he is!

It’s natural for that confident, happy little pup you first met to be affected by the stress of these big changes in his life. Anxiety, sadness and withdrawal are not surprising, but they can be worrying and upsetting for his new parents.

What to expect during the first few days

Your new pup may seem happy and lively when you first get him home, running around and greeting everyone with that little tail wagging nineteen-to-the-dozen. However, most puppies tend to gradually become quieter and more subdued. All puppies are different, and you may only notice one of these behaviors – or all of them…

A loss of appetite

He seems ‘lazy’ or extra sleepy

Diarrhea

A lessening of interest in toys/treats/attention

Apparent ‘depression’ or sadness

General anxiety

Your puppy’s little body is trying to adjust to many new things, and he may react to this by ‘shutting it all out’ – simply withdrawing from activity and going to sleep.

Like babies, puppies need to sleep a lot anyway, but for the first few days they may seem to be taking one marathon nap! He’s feeling scared, and a bit homesick, and it’s not surprising that he may not feel much like playing or eating.

As the days pass though, and he starts to feel more ‘at home’ with his new family and surroundings, he will start to ‘perk up’, his appetite will come back (often with a vengeance!and he will suddenly be the bright, active little pup you first met. When that starts to happen, you know he’s settled in.

How to tell if your new puppy is just homesick…. or really is SICK

Although in most cases, the above symptoms last only a couple of days and are nothing to worry about, it’s important to know that the same symptoms CAN SOMETIMES INDICATE TRUE ILLNESS.

There are many serious, contagious canine diseases that cause loss of appetite, diarrhea, lethargy (excessive sleepiness) and so on. One of the difficult things for new puppy owners is knowing when there’s nothing to worry about – and when to seek veterinary help.

Although it’s not possible for me to tell you how to know for sure whether your puppy is homesick or really sick, there are some tips that can help you figure it out.

Your puppy may be suffering from an illness if -

His diarrhea is frequent, and is getting worse. Or if it is watery or contains blood/mucus

He is vomiting repeatedly and is unable to keep food/water down

He seems totally exhausted – too tired to lift his head or care about toys/treats

A puppy who is just homesick may seem sleepy and sad, but can generally be enticed with a game of fetch or a tasty treat. Most times there will be short periods of happy activity during the day, even though he isn’t quite ‘himself’. However, if your puppy is truly sick, he will usually be unwilling/unable to run around and play – even for short periods. He will look and act as if he feels terrible.

What to do if you’re worried

Young puppies are very vulnerable, and can get sick very fast. It’s best not to take any chances with a young puppy. If you are worried or concerned, always err on the side of caution and take him to see your veterinarian.

Whenever you bring a new puppy home it’s a good idea to have him checked over by your veterinarian within a day or two anyway. This way you can be certain that he’s current on all his puppy shots, de-worming and other routine care. It also gives you a chance to make sure there are no underlying health issues that you need to be aware of.

If you’re not certain whether your puppy’s behavior means he’s just going through the normal ‘adjustment period’, or whether he’s not feeling well, take him to your vet just as soon as you can. That way you can put your mind at rest, and be certain that you are doing the very best you can for your new puppy.

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Dean Burton asked:


Bringing your new puppy home marks the start of a long and rewarding companionship. Just as you and other members of your household must adjust to life with the new puppy, the puppy has to adapt to his role in a new family. The routine and habits your puppy develops at this crucial early stage can carry into adulthood, making it extremely important that he learn acceptable behavior from the moment he arrives at his new home.

Regardless of the human-like qualities you assign to your new family member, it is important to remember that he is still a dog, ingrained with the same instincts as a wolf in the wild. Instinct guides all of the decisions your puppy makes. Dogs in the wild fall into one of two roles—leader or follower. If your puppy does not view you as the leader of his pack, instinct will lead him to assume that role himself. A dog who considers himself the leader of your pack, or receives confusing signals about who leads and who follows, is likely to demonstrate unwanted behavior. Some behavior that may indicate that a dog is acting as leader are jumping on people, pulling when on a leash, and ignoring commands. A dog who understands that you are the leader will look to you for guidance and adhere to the boundaries you set.

A common mistake new puppy owners make is allowing the puppy free reign, and then attempting to discipline the dog when he gets older and exhibits unwanted behavior. In doing so, the dog owner is sending mixed signals to the dog. Establishing an environment of structure and discipline and enforcing it at all times can prevent this pattern. Even when the puppy is very young and harmless, it is important to enforce the same boundaries as you will when he is an adult dog. If you do not want a 75 pound Labrador stretched out on your sofa for the next ten years, it is best not to allow him on the furniture as a puppy.

Besides sending clear signals to your puppy about who is in charge, it is imperative that you and every member of your household are consistent in enforcing the rules. Determine what areas of your home are off limits and what boundaries you will enforce before even bringing the puppy home. It is certainly easier to make your dog understand boundaries that are in effect from the start than to attempt to reverse habits that you have already allowed the dog to develop. Be sure to praise the puppy when he is behaving appropriately. Every member of your household must be committed to assuming a leadership role and enforcing the same rules when it comes to taking care of the puppy.

Being the leader of the pack can mean the difference between a healthy, mutually beneficial relationship with your dog and an unbearable one. Structured training with a professional can be helpful to both dog and owner in establishing roles and discipline. A healthy relationship in which the dog respects his human’s role as leader begins the first day you welcome the puppy into your home.



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Sharon Price asked:


When you make the decision to get a new household member of the small fluffy furry kind there are several things you should know about taking care of a new puppy before you go and look at them.

You first of all need to decide what breed of dog you want although taking care of a new puppy of any breed requires the same attention when they are young but they do grow very quickly and you do not want to get a breed that will grow into a big dog if you feel that you will not be able to take care of it as you did when it was young.

When you bring a puppy home, he or she will usually be around 8 weeks old. Most good breeders will not allow them to leave their mother much before this date. Taking care of a new puppy at this young age requires a warm room and a warm place to sleep. You will also need to have several supplies for taking care of your new puppy. At that time, you will find that you need to make sure that you have several supplies ready. You should have a place that the puppy can be during the day, where he can play, eat, and piddle, without a problem.

Young Puppies:

If you are taking care of a new puppy that has just been born and is still with the mother you need to have an environment where you can have the puppies where you can easily control the temperature, and you have to be sure that the puppies are warm. You also should provide a place that is safe for them so that they don’t get hurt by accident. You will also need to make sure that the mother is comfortable with fresh drinking water at all times. Taking care of a new puppy at this stage must be carefully monitored to ensure that the mother does not accidentally trample on or suffocate her new puppies.

One of the best general puppy care tips in taking care of your new puppy is that you need to remember to socialize your puppy. No matter what kind of puppy you have, you will see that it is important you socialize them all of the time. Your puppy will be fine around anything you want, as long as you expose them to these things when they are young. This means that you have to let them be around children and babies and other animals to make sure that they are socialized but only when they reach about eight weeks old.

Safe And Healthy

When taking care of a new puppy there are many general puppy care tips that involve keeping your dog safe and healthy. You will need to take your puppy to the vets so that he or she can be checked over and weighed and given any appropriate medication. You will also be given advice on taking care of your new puppy with the type and amounts of food and exercise you should be giving to him or her. The vet will also advise you when its vaccinations, worming and flea treatments are due.

One of the best general puppy care tips that you can get is to make sure that your puppy has the proper amount of love. It might sound silly, but a puppy needs love to thrive on more than anything. You have to be sure that you are always being kind and gentle with your puppy, because that is the best way to have your puppy grow into the dog you want him to be. Taking care of a new puppy is hard work and it will require commitment and training from you but the rewards of taking care of a new puppy far outweigh the work involved. You must remember that one day the little puppy will grow into a dog and will be relying on you for the next 10-15 years.



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