A Note From The Editor

Hello & Welcome to Puppy Pawprints!

Happy September 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!

Welcome to The Joys (and Trials) of Puppy Parenting!

Like people, puppies aren't perfect. They're all individuals, with their own quirks - good and bad. There can be health issues, behavior problems, training questions and all kinds of niggling worries. I always say that raising a puppy is like raising a child - there are the same requirements for love, attention, discipline and consistency. Puppies just grow up faster!!

The good stuff will always outweigh the bad, but it's important to know how to handle those 'troubles'. This issue of Puppy Pawprints will help you to be prepared.

Tummy troubles and more....

• Diarrhea
  One of the first things that puppy owners often have to deal with are tummy troubles. A sudden change in diet, car/air travel, the stress of leaving his momma and coming into a new home.... all these things can lead to your puppy suffering from an upset tummy.

  Diarrhea is the most common reaction to all of this, and it's generally fairly mild and self-limiting. Soft/loose stools for a couple of days aren't usually of great concern, if your pup seems otherwise healthy and happy and is eating and drinking normally.

  You can minimize this issue, by making any change of diet a gradual process. Find out what food your puppy was eating at the breeders, and also choose a high-quality puppy food ( you can find an excellent system for rating any dog food according to the quality of it's ingredients on my Dog Food Comparisons page). Start by giving him the food he's familiar with, but add a little of the 'new' food you've chosen. Gradually, over a period of about a week, increase the new food and decrease the old. This should make the change-over fairly painless!

  Of course, diarrhea in puppies can also be one of the earliest signs of illness or disease. If the diarrhea is tar-colored/contains visible blood/is watery, this requires veterinary attention. Likewise, if your puppy is experiencing vomiting, loss of appetite, extreme lethargy and/or disinterest in his surroundings etc. There are several very serious dog illnesses to which puppies are very vulnerable, check out my Dog Illnesses page for a list of these, plus the symptoms you need to be on the look out for.

  Young puppies can get very sick, very fast, so if you're in any doubt at all, take him to your veterinarian immediately.



• Constipation
  This is another tummy trouble that puppies, particularly the small breeds, seem to have a problem with. If your puppy's stools are hard/dry and he seems to struggle to pass them, or looks to be in pain, he may be constipated.

  The first requirements here are to increase his fluid intake, and his activity level. Both of these help to get the digestive system running smoothly. A little canned pumpkin (not the pie-filling variety though), added to his food for a few days can help, as can giving him a little cows milk to drink once or twice. Dogs generally don't digest cows milk well and in normal circumstances it will give them diarrhea. However, a little given once or twice can help loosen up the bowels just enough to relieve the constipation. If none of these measures work, take your puppy along to your vet and ask his advice. He may be able to suggest some other options, or prescribe treatment. Never give your pup over-the-counter/human medications without first consulting your veterinarian.



• Bowel Obstruction
  Thankfully, this particular tummy trouble is pretty rare, but considering that most puppies have a strong desire to prove everything is edible, that's actually pretty surprising! Puppies have a tendency to chew on, or attempt to eat, just about everything that isn't nailed down (plus a fair amount that are). Your shoes, the kids toys, the table leg/sofa cushions/TV remote/contents of trash cans or laundry baskets........ the list is endless. This is why it's important to 'puppy proof' your home in the same way you would 'toddler proof' it.

  However, no matter how careful you are, there may be a time when your little darling manages to ingest something that he really shouldn't have. The majority of the time, these 'foreign objects' work their way through his digestive system and out the other end, without too much difficulty, but it is important to watch for that item to show up in his stools. Sometimes though, whatever it is he's eaten, is too big, too sharp, or just too awkward to pass through.

  This causes an intestinal blockage/bowel obstruction and is a veterinary emergency. If you notice your pup straining to poop (and in pain), but he's not able to pass anything, or if he vomits repeatedly, seems to be in pain or distress (generally shown as repeated panting, pacing, whining and so on) and so on - take him to your vet right away.

Troubling Behavior

• Biting
  This is a big issue for lots of owners, and ALL puppies tend to nip/bite/mouth to some degree. Some breeds/individuals may be more inclined to bite, or be more stubborn about it, but it's a universal problem.

  Puppy biting is usually an attention-seeking behavior, but now and then it can be more of a dominance issue, although this is more likely to be seen during the pups adolescence, than when it's tiny.

  The simplest solution is to withdraw your attention as soon as the puppy starts to nip/bite. Stop all interaction, cross your arms, avoid eye contact and ignore the puppy for a few minutes. You can turn your back to him, walk away, or even leave the room if you have to. After a couple of minutes, once he's calmed down and stopped biting, resume what you were doing before.

  As with all corrections, you need to be VERY CONSISTENT and do this every single time he starts to bite. Make sure all family members do the same. If after a couple of weeks of this, you don't see improvement, there are other options you can try. Find out more about these, and get more tips on dealing with this behavior on my Puppy Biting page.



• Housetraining Issues
  One of the biggest hurdles new puppy owners face, is potty training. Puppies aren't born knowing that they need to do 'their business' outside. As far as they're concerned, anywhere is fair game. However, there is one thing in your favor - dogs are den animals. This means that they will try to get away from their sleeping quarters to eliminate. This is why crate training is so effective.

  Using a crate to train your pup is the simplest and quickest way to potty train him as you'll be working WITH (rather than against) his natural instincts. Of course, you can't just buy any old crate, put him in there for a few hours and expect miracles! He has to learn to control his bladder and bowels over time, and getting the crate size right is vital.

  Choose a crate that is just big enough for him to stand up, sit down, turn around and lie down in - without touching the sides. That's it. No bigger. If you give him a spacious crate, he will decide that there's more than enough room for a 'bedroom' and a 'toilet', totally defeating the purpose of the crate!

  Of course, this means you will either need to buy one of the crate styles that have a divider that you can use to portion off a smaller part of the crate at first, or you'll need to buy him a bigger crate as he grows. Either way, it's worth it. An 8 week old puppy needs a potty break every 30 mins to an hour, and can probably 'hold it' in his crate for the same amount of time. Don't force him to wait longer than he can, otherwise he will probably eliminate in his crate, setting your training back considerably.

  My Crate Training A Puppy page has all the tips, advice and information you need and you'll also find lots of great potty training advice on my Potty Training page.

Of course, even if you're totally consistent with your potty training, and your pup is a 'whiz kid', there may still be accidents. If your pup does pee or poop inside, be sure to clean the area thoroughly using an enzymatic cleaner specifically designed for this purpose. Regular household cleaners just aren't up to the job. Check out the best products on the market, and learn how to use them effectively, on my Dog Urine Cleaning Products and Cleaning Dog Urine pages.

There are some other puppy behaviors that can cause problems, you can find out more about dealing with things such as chewing, jumping, barking and so on by visiting my Puppy Behavior page.

Here's to good health!

• Vaccinations
  Making sure your puppy gets ALL his vaccinations, on schedule, is vital to his future health and wellbeing. There are several very serious, and often fatal, dog illnesses that an unvaccinated puppy is vulnerable to. Individual states, and countries, have slightly different laws and requirements, but your veterinarian will be able to recommend the shots that your puppy needs. Don't neglect this, please, it's very important. And, don't let your puppy have access to any areas where unvaccinated dogs may have been UNTIL he's fully vaccinated. Places like city streets, public parks, highway rest areas, or beaches are all potential hazards to your pup.


• Worms and Parasites
  A lot of owners don't realize that most puppies have worms to begin with. A responsible breeder will have treated your pup for these before you get him, but he will still need to be dewormed by your vet when he gets his vaccinations. A few worms don't generally cause any real problems in the short term, but if left untreated a worm infestation can make your puppy very, very sick indeed. Fleas are another parasite that can cause your puppy all kinds of trouble. The best thing to do is to use a good, topical, flea/tick preventative like Frontline Plus on a regular basis. However, this is too strong to use on a young puppy and you'll need to check with your vet to see when you can begin treatment. Ticks are also a risk to your puppy's health, and if you find one on your pup it should be removed carefully. Frontline Plus will deal with these too. In some states/areas, you may only need to treat for fleas and ticks for a few months of the year, in others it's a year-round necessity. Heartworms are a very serious threat to any dog, and in this case PREVENTION is the key. Get your puppy started on a heartworm preventative as soon as possible, discuss it with your vet on your first visit.


• Choosing A Food
  It's important to realize that the food you choose to feed your puppy has an immense impact on his overall health. Puppies (especially the large/giant breeds) can grow at an incredible rate. Their healthy development depends on getting the maximum nutrition possible. Always choose a high quality puppy food with a good source of protein as it's first ingredient. Avoid generic/own-brand foods or those with lots of additives, chemicals, fillers and so on. There is no financial benefit in feeding a poor quality food for several reasons. Firstly, your puppy will eat a lot more of a low quality food than a premium food, because he gets a lot less nutrition per cup. Secondly, he will poop a lot more if he eats a food that's full of fillers and 'junk', because his body can't digest these ingredients and they just go 'straight through him'. Thirdly, a growing puppy needs excellent nutrition to help his bones, joints, muscles, organs etc. develop properly. Poor nutrition leads to poor overall health, which leads to a lot of veterinary visits - and we all know those don't come cheap! Check out my Dog Food page for lots of information and advice on choosing a food, and links to many other relevant articles/pages

To avoid having to empty your savings account if an emergency situation arises, it's a good idea to invest in some pet health insurance while your puppy is young and in good health. There are a bunch of options to choose from, and it's important to do your research before making a decision. My Pet Dog Insurance page has lots of tips and advice to help you out here, even a list of questions you need to ask prospective insurers.

It's always better to be safe than sorry, and knowing that you have all eventualities covered is worth its' weight in gold!

Help Guides

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

New Additions....

I get a lot of questions from people who's dog has had puppies, or who are trying to take care of abandoned/rejected/orphaned pups. This can be tricky, and a bit scary if you've never done it before.

So, I now have a page that has lots of information, tips and advice on raising new born puppies. It covers things like replacement feeding, hygiene, development and more. Find it at New Born Puppies

On my Puppy Questions page, I also get many questions which are health related, some are quite serious. As I don't have any veterinary training or professional qualifications, I always make sure the person who submitted the question knows that I'm giving a personal opinion, that's all. Advice to follow up with their vet is always recommended.

But, sometimes the health issue is ambiguous, or minor in nature, while it could still benefit from a veterinary opinion. So, to take care of those queries, I have added a page where you can submit your question to an expert, professional veterinarian online. There is a small charge for this (usually under $10), but it's far, far lower than the cost of a clinic visit. You can find this service on my Ask A Vet page.

Of course, it goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway), if your puppy seems to be ill, is showing symptoms of disease, or is distressed or injured, you need to take him to a real-life, in-the-flesh veterinarian instead!

Cute Puppy Alert!

September Puppy Photo Contest?

You can take a look at previous months entries, and see our slide show of winners here

Feel free to email us at Editor.PuppyPawprints@the-puppy-dog-place.com or go to our Contact Us Page

Our site is designed especially for puppy parents and is full of FUN, FRIENDLY and FREE information and resources on all aspects of puppycare.

Please visit us at The Puppy Dog Place soon!

If you enjoy our site, why not let your other dog-loving friends know about us? There's a simple way to spread the word and it'll only take a minute..just go to our Share This Site page and see what I mean.

Well, that's all for this month. Watch out for our next Issue of Puppy Pawprints... coming to your Inbox in October!