July 16, 2008
A Note From The Editor
Hello & Welcome to Puppy Pawprints!
Happy July everyone!
Puppy parenting can be an uphill struggle sometimes, just like human parenting really! Some days it seems that you're 'furchild' is never going to 'get it' (and the 'it' can be anything from housetraining or learning basic good manners, to understanding that the garbage can/cat litter tray/laundry basket is NOT an alternative food bowl!)
At the same time, your little angel can melt your heart (and score extra treats) with one glance from those puppy dog eyes. It's a bit of a roller-coaster ride isn't it?
Here at The Puppy Dog Place, we want to make your ride a little smoother. We've 'been there, done that', and although we don't by any means think we know it all (how could we? There's always a puppy ready to disprove that particular theory), knowing that you're not the only one struggling with a particular puppy problem or behavior can be very reassuring.
We have several areas on our site where we invite you to participate by asking questions, giving feedback/comments, sharing your favorite puppy dog stories/poems/quotes etc., showing off your precious pup and more.
There are also several pages with puppy stuff that's just for fun, including... online jigsaws, a fun puppy personality test, adorable puppy videos, a way for single, puppy parents to meet other people who share their interests, and more.
Check out the links below, and have some fun while helping us to build an interactive, online community of puppy parents.
- Help inspire and encourage others to consider adoption when thinking about adding a new pup/dog to their family by sharing your puppy dog adoption story. You can also read the heart-warming stories other visitors have sent in, and add your comments or rating
- If you have a favorite puppy dog poem (and it can be one you've written yourself or one that you found in a book, magazine, online etc.) send it to us and we'll add it to our Puppy Poems page. The same goes for your favorite quote on our Puppy Quotes page.
- If you have a question that you just can't find the answer to (and don't think any question is too small/silly/unusual for us!), you only have to ask us!. You'll get a quick, personal answer!
- Everyone knows their puppy is just the cutest thing on four legs! Well, we're giving you the chance to prove it...by entering your furchild in our monthly, Puppy Photo Contest.
- If you like jigsaw puzzles, why not try your hand at the free, online jigsaws on our Puppy Jigsaw page? If you want some for the kids, try our Kids Jigsaws page. The best part? There's no fiddly little pieces to get lost!
Well, enough from me...enjoy this issue of 'Puppy Pawprints' and don't forget to check out the-puppy-dog-place.com regularly as we're constantly updating our site with new information, tips and resources for puppy parents.
Whether you're a regular visitor and receiver of Puppy Pawprints, or a brand new visitor, I want to extend A BIG THANK YOU for making my job so much fun and so rewarding!
Knowing that you find my site useful and interesting, helping people find solutions to their puppy care problems, and seeing all the adorable entries to our Pup Of The Month Contests (that arrive in my e-mail box daily) has been a wonderful experience.
You can subscribe to our rss feed by clicking on the rss box below the nav bar buttons on each page. That way, you'll definitely not miss out as you'll automatically receive all our updates and news items delivered right to your computer!
It's not all fun and games...
Adding a new puppy to your family is always exciting, but it's definitely a time of challenges too.If you're a new, or first time, puppy owner, taking proper care of that little ball of fur can seem quite daunting!
There are so many questions..... what do I feed him, how do I housebreak him, what to do about all that nipping/chewing/barking and so on.
My Puppy Questions page is one of my most popular ones, and I see different versions of the same question over and over. New puppy parents have the same worries and concerns the world over, and I thought I'd use this issue of my e-zine to address those questions.
Here goes...........
Potty Training
This is probably the biggest hurdle new puppy owners face, and it's one of the most important things that a puppy needs to learn. A mature dog who is not reliably housebroken is difficult and frustrating to live with, and many adult dogs are abandoned or surrendered to rescue centers for just this reason.So, to ensure a long and happy life together it's vital to get housebreaking under your belt as soon as possible. Here are a few pointers that will make the whole process easier than you expected.
- Crate Train!
Using a crate for housebreaking purposes makes everything simpler. It eliminates the majority of opportunities for your pup to have 'accidents' indoors, and helps him to learn bladder/bowel control. The most important thing to remember is to get a crate that is the correct size - not too big! It should be just big enough for your puppy to stand up, sit down, turn around and lie down without touching the sides. No bigger. You will need to set up a schedule of mealtimes and playtimes and take your pup for a potty break every 30 mins to an hour at first. This improves as he matures and starts to 'get the picture' of what's expected of him. My Crate Training page has all the tips, advice and information you need to start crate training your pup today. - Set Up A Routine
Puppies are creatures of habit, and they need to build the correct associations between actions and results/reactions. Repetition is very important in teaching ANYTHING to a puppy, and being consistent is vital. By setting up a schedule for feeding, naps, playtimes and potty breaks, you will help your pup learn what is expected of him, and what to expect from you, every day. That will give him a sense of security, and also has the added benefit of regulating his bodily functions so that you can anticipate when he will need to pee/poop, sleep etc. My Potty Training Your Puppy Schedule will give you a good idea of where to start. - Clean Up 'Mistakes' The Right Way
ALL puppies have 'accidents' now and then, it's pretty much a fact of life. The aim is to have them make as few as possible, and to avoid them being attracted back to the same spot over and over you need to clean up all traces of odor. Regular household products may make the area LOOK clean (and even smell clean to you), but a puppy has a very acute sense of smell and will still be able to detect his own scent. Instead of using Mr Clean or whatever, buy an enzymatic cleaner especially designed to break down the urine/feces/vomit etc. and totally erase the odor and stains. Find a selection of the most effective dog urine cleaning products and then take a look at my Dog Urine Cleaning page for advice and tips on using them properly.
Naughty Puppy!
Puppies are just like little children, and they need to learn what is acceptable behavior and what isn't. Their natural canine instincts are sometimes at odds with what their human family's expect and this can cause trouble.Dogs in the wild quite naturally indulge in behaviors such as Barking, Chewing, Biting and so on. However, in our homes, these behaviors are generally frowned upon :o)
One of the problem behaviors I get the most questions about is biting (also knows as nipping or 'mouthing').
This is a universal puppy habit, and ALL puppies bite. However, some breeds (like German Shepherds, Collies, and 'bully' breeds) and even some individual puppies are much more persistent about it than others.
Bite-inhibition (just how hard/often it's okay to bite others) is learned from play with littermates and corrections made by the momma dog. This is one of the reasons that it's recommended that a puppy spend at least the first 8 weeks of it's life with it's canine family. Proper 'doggie' behavior and social interaction is learned during the period of 5 - 8 weeks and on.
Biting is generally an attention-seeking behavior, although it can sometimes be an attempt at dominance, and the easiest and quickest way to 'nip it in the bud', is to withdraw your attention from your pup the minute he starts to bite or nip.
Stop playing, petting or interacting with him in any way. Cross your arms, avoid eye contact and ignore him for a minute or two. You can even walk away or leave the room if he continues to nip at you. Once he's stopped biting, resume interaction as before.
As I mentioned earlier, puppies are creatures of habit and learn through association, and it's very important to be consistent about this. You need to withdraw your attention from him every single time he nips or bites, and make sure all members of your family do the same. It's very confusing for a pup for one person to allow a behavior, and another to correct for it. So make sure all the humans are on 'the same page'. My Puppy Biting page has more information and advice on dealing with this common puppy behavior, and some tips to try if the above method doesn't show results within a couple of weeks.
I also recommend an excellent resource that helps puppy owners deal with all kinds of puppy behavior issues. It's called SitStayFetch and it's a comprehensive guide written by a professional dog trainer. Find out more by checking the box below. This guide could be just what you're looking for!
Raising A Healthy Puppy
Puppy Health issues are another area where I get a lot of questions from worried puppy owners. Here are some links to articles/advice that cover some of the most frequently asked questions...
How early/often do I need to vaccinate my puppy? What shots does she need? Are there any side effects to vaccinations? These are common worries for new puppy parents. All puppies need three sets of the combination DHLPP vaccine, plus corona virus and a Rabies shot. Other vaccinations may be required depending on the breed of dog you own and what part of the country (or which country) you live in. My Puppy Shots page gives you comprehensive information on what vaccines are required, what diseases they guard against, what kind of reactions are possible, and much more. It's really 'required reading' for all new puppy owners.
Puppies have a tendency to eat anything and everything in their path, with fairly predictable results! Puppy Diarrhea is pretty common, and can be caused by a sudden change in diet, stress, eating something he shouldn't, or illness/disease. It's important to know what an episode of diarrhea signifies and when to worry, so please check out my Puppy Diarrhea page for more info. on this. There are many common human foods/products that are toxic to dogs and keeping them away from your pup is vital, please take a look at my Poisonous Foods page for a list of these, and also what to do in case of an emergency.
Diarrhea and/or vomiting can also be symptoms of some very serious and contagious illnesses that puppies are prone to. Knowing what signs to look for and when to seek veterinary help could save your puppy's life, you'll find a list of the most common of these diseases (symptoms, diagnosis, treatment etc.) on my Dog Illnesses" page.
Nasty little critters like fleas, ticks, and worms are very common in puppies. They generally don't cause serious problems in the short term, or unless there's a severe infestation, however they definitely need to be treated correctly to avoid trouble or illness. Most puppies are wormed by their breeder before they go to their new homes, however they do need to be wormed several times and your own vet will most likely do this when your pup has his vaccination appointments. Fleas and ticks can cause a lot of discomfort, not to mention pass on diseases, and need to be eradicated as soon as possible. You will find lots of tips and advice on dealing with these annoying creatures on my Fleas and Ticks and Puppy Worms pages.
Help Guides
Sadly, this ezine issue doesn't have the space for me to cover all the behavior, health or other issues that worry new puppy owners. So, in an effort to address as many topics as possible, the list below will link you to the appropriate articles/pages that have comprehensive information and advice on each topic.
General Health Issues
Spaying and Neutering
Heartworm Prevention
Choosing A Veterinarian
Dog Allergies
The benefits of Pet Health Insurance
Basic Dog First Aid Supplies
Dog Poisoning
What A Good Puppy!
Raising a puppy also involves helping him learn to obey your commands. Obedience training is a must if you want to have a well-behaved adult dog.Socialization is also a very important part of his education. A friendly, well-balanced dog will have had exposure to all sorts of different people, places and things. Both as a puppy, and throughout his lifetime.
You can find out more about basic puppy training at home on my Basic Puppy Training page, and about the importance of formal obedience classes and how to pick a good school on my Dog Obedience Schools page.
The how's and why'socialization are also fully explained here
Questions, questions and more questions.....
My Puppy Questions page has become one of my most popular, and I always do my best to answer every question that comes in.Many questions are variations on the same theme, but sometimes may require a slightly different approach. To make it easier for people to find answers to questions similar to their own, I have divided the existing questions by topic, and created three more individual question pages (with more planned for the near future).
- Puppy Health Problems - deals with all kinds of health questions, including puppy diarrhea, vomiting, eye problems, vaccinations, allergies, parasitic infections and more.
- Training A New Puppy - covers things like biting, chewing, barking and other common behavior problems, obedience, socialization and more
- House Training A Puppy - helps you with all aspects of potty training and crate training.
If you have a specific health-related or training question you can use these individual pages for research, or submitting your own question. The original puppy questions page is also still available for any and all questions!
Cute Puppy Alert!
All puppies are cute, irresistible and downright adorable! Why not share your furbaby's cuteness with the world by entering them in our
You can take a look at previous months entries, and see our
slide show of winners
here
Well folks, that's all for this issue. I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Our aim is to make Puppy Pawprints a valuable, welcome addition to your 'Inbox' and welcome any comments, suggestions or questions you may have.
Feel free to email us at Editor.PuppyPawprints@the-puppy-dog-place.com or go to our
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Well, that's all for this month. Watch out for our next Issue of Puppy Pawprints... coming to your mailbox in August!