immunization

by Frank Chavez
(Brooklyn, NY)

Daisy

HI I have an 8 wk old Schnauzer Daisy. She hasn't had her first shots yet and a neighborhood acquaintance said I shouldn't take her out. Actually said she shouldn't go out till she's at least 10 wks.

I'm a little confused because the breeders where she came from Upstate NY, Daisy was used to going out to do her thing. I understand that it's a big difference between Brooklyn & the country. Just wondering it's not like I've taken her to any dog runs or anything where she would be exposed to a large numbers of dogs just around the block and she's had minimal contact w/other dogs.

AM getting her 1st set of shots this week. but wanted to know.



Hi Frank
Daisy is adorable. She looks like a smart little girl :o)

Your neighbor is correct, as it's definitely not a good idea to allow a pup who hasn't had all of her puppy shots (and that's not just the first set, but all 3 sets preferably) to be anywhere that other, possibly unvaccinated, dogs have been.

Your own, fenced, back yard is fine, so are the homes of other FULLY VACCINATED dogs, but streets, parks, open areas, even grass verges, are dangerous for her. It only takes her coming into contact with an area where one sick dog has been to put her at risk I'm afraid. Some of the most contagious dog illnesses that puppies are vulnerable to are extremely dangerous, and often fatal for puppies.

Normally you start vaccinations at 7 - 8 weeks of age and the 3 sets are done by 13 - 14 weeks, then it's safe for the pup to be around other dogs. Unfortunately just one or two sets aren't enough to be sure of protection and I'd definitely recommend that you get Daisys' shots started right away.

I know it's a bit difficult to keep a pup entertained at home during these early days, but it's for their own protection. If Daisy is small enough to take out and about in a doggie carrier, you can get her socialization started that way - just don't put her down on the ground.

Hope this clears up any confusion. I wish you the best of luck with Daisy.

I Have a 5 week old Basset hound pupp whose legs are buckling.

by Jane
(Virginia)

I have a five week old Bassett hound puppy and his legs started buckling about 3 days ago.

We started feeding him Alpo puppy food, could this have caused his problem. Or could the worming medicine we gave him be the problem.

Please help I am really worried about him.

thank you



Hi Jane
I'm afraid I'm not a veterinarian and I can't say what's causing your pup to have this problem, but personally I doubt it's got anything to do with the food, or the puppy de-wormer.

Although Alpo isn't a good food and doesn't contain the sort of nutrients your pup needs, it shouldn't cause side effects like this. If you used an over-the-counter de-wormer these can sometimes cause health issues, but I'm not aware of this particular problem.

Basset Hounds are very long dogs, with short legs, and breeds like this can have spinal problems at times. I'd recommend that you have your veterinarian take a look at him to make sure that everything is okay structurally. It could be something simple, but only your vet can make that diagnosis so please have your pup checked out asap.

I wish you the best of luck and hope that he's doing much better soon.


Have a niggling worry, or a non-emergency health question about your dog? Want a professional, veterinary opinion without the cost of a vet visit? You can Ask A Veterinarian right now!

how long does it take for a puppy and adult to be come friends

by Karine
(Canada)

Hi just got a puppy after losing my three year old female who died 2 months ago. I also have a three year old male dog and now just a got a 6 week old male puppy.

MY question for you is how long will it take for my three year old dog to get along with my new puppy? can you please tell me as I am new to this whole puppy stage again.




Hi Karine
It can take several weeks for an older, resident dog, to accept and get familiar with a new puppy. Especially if they've had another companion for some time who is no longer there.

But in general, unless the resident dog is extremely territorial or generally unfriendly with other dogs, they do learn to be friends.

I'd recommend that you read my Introducing A New Puppy page, as it has lots of tips and advice to help you make this transition phase run a lot more smoothly.

Best of luck with your dogs.

Is my Puppy Blind?

by Tara
(Worcester)

I picked up my puppy last night, it is a Bichon Frise. When I took a photo of my daughter holding our new ball of fluff my daughter had 'red eye' and the puppy reflected 'blue eye' in the eye lens.

He probably isn't blind but I just wanted to check this isn't a sign that he is.

Tara



Hi Tara
Don't panic, young puppies eyes often look gray/white/milky in photos, it's perfectly normal and doesn't mean that your puppy is blind.

When pups first open their eyes at 2 weeks of age, their eyes are milky looking, but they soon start to change color. As long as your pups' eyes look normal when you're looking at him (not through the camera or in a photo), and you don't notice him walking into things or not looking at you etc., then I wouldn't worry about it.

If there are any other signs that make you think he has vision problems, then I'd have your vet take a look at his eyes. But otherwise don't be concerned.

Best of luck with your pup.

my 7 week GSD pup has become too lazy after recovering from a mild fever

by shailesh
(india)

Hi,
My 7 week GSD pup was so very active and playful when I brought him home 10 days back, due to some reason he caught a mild fever and received some shots that cured him well, but since, he has become too lazy.. He only eats, drinks and sleeps. He doesn't play at all and has lost all his activeness, may be it's because of the antibiotics or the pain.

I don't know, am worried a lot about him.



Hi Shailesh
Puppies are prone to catching all kinds of dog illnesses before they've had all their puppy shots.

As long as your pup isn't having puppy diarrhea or vomiting, and is eating and drinking normally, I wouldn't panic at this point. It could be that he is just using all his energy to recover. Serious canine illnesses such as Canine Parvovirus can have several weeks of recovery time after the acute phase has passed.

However, if he's not getting better at all, has any other symptoms of illness such as the diarrhea and vomiting mentioned above, and isn't eating or drinking properly, then he needs to go back to your veterinarian immediately. He could need more, or a different, medication or other form of treatment.

With puppies it's always better to be safe than sorry, so if you're concerned, take him back to your vet right away.

I wish you the very best of luck with your pup and hope he makes a full recovery.

Puppy eating lady bugs!

I have a 15 week old puppy and I am concerned because he finds and eats lady bugs on our floor.

It concerns me because our home is sprayed for bugs and I do not want him to get the poison when he eats the bugs.

I try to keep them swept up but he still seems to find one. Please help

Thanks




Hi
There's really not an awful lot you can do here except to keep picking up any ladybugs that you can see, and keep your pup contained (using a puppy play-pen/crate when you can't be watching him.

I'd also check with your pest control company to see how toxic the chemicals they use are, and what to do if your pup should get sick. It's always a good idea to have the phone numbers for the local poison control center and a 24 hour emergency animal hospital handy. Check out my Dog Poisoning page to learn more about what to do in an emergency.

We have our house and yard sprayed too, and the company we have doesn't use toxic chemicals, so perhaps yours doesn't either.

Best of luck, hope you can keep your pup away from those little bugs!

Glucose addiction in puppy??

by Becky

Hi, I've had to take my puppy back to the breeder today, as she was really unwell. She was 8 weeks old and a miniature yorkie. In a physical examination, my vet couldn't find anything wrong with her, but he did say she just didn't look right.

Through the night, she woke me up whimpering and moving all her paws and tail, at first i thought she was dreaming, as she was laid flat out, but i noticed her eyes were open. I picked her up and she was all floppy and really limp, and she kept leaning to one side. She had gone floppy like this a few times before, and the breeder told me i needed to give her some glucose. After i gave her about half a teaspoon of the glucose powder, she seemed much better and even was walking around. As time went on, she kept going limp like this more and more rapidly, and i started having to give her the glucose powder every two hours to keep her alive.

I was wondering if toy breed puppies like this need to be given glucose, and can they get addicted to it??
(The lady who i bought her off hasn't given me my money back, however she is giving me a replacement puppy in may from another litter, and at 10 weeks old so she is already given her vaccinations)

I'm worried in case it's an hereditary problem as i think she will have used the same stud dog.
Thanks, Becky.




Hi Becky
I'm so sorry that you had to lose your puppy, but it definitely sounds as though there was something pretty seriously wrong with her.

What you describe almost sounds as though it could have been a seizure, and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can cause these sort of symptoms. Hypoglycemia is not terribly unusual in tiny/toy breed pups as they have very fast metabolisms and can have trouble keeping their blood sugar levels steady.

A little glucose or corn syrup often remedies the problem, but it shouldn't happen on a regular basis the way you describe. That is extreme and personally I think there's more to it than just low blood sugar.

There is one condition that I know of called Portosystemic Shunt (PSS) which is a congenital (hereditary) condition and is most often seen Yorkshire Terriers, but also affects Poodles, Maltese, Shih Tzu, JRT's and other mostly small breeds.

It's basically a problem associated with the liver and it's blood supply. You can read more about it here Polystemic Shunt Surgery can often fix the problem.

Of course, I'm not a vet and this is only one possible cause for your little puppys' problems. Hypoglycemia isn't 'hereditary' as such, but is most commonly seen in tiny dog breeds. If you get another pup from this breeder I would personally suggest that you get a good health contract with the stipulation that if the same symptoms, or the same condition appear in the second pup that you get a full refund. Even in most hereditary conditions, many puppies won't show or develop a particular condition, but they still may pass it on, so you shouldn't breed from dogs who are affected or carry the gene.

As I said though, it's impossible for me to say what was behind your little puppys' problems, but make sure that your new pup gets a clean bill of health from your own vet before accepting it. I wish you the best of luck with your new pup.


Have a niggling worry, or a non-emergency health question about your dog? Want a professional, veterinary opinion without the cost of a vet visit? You can Ask A Veterinarian right now!

Any tips for bottle-feeding stubborn puppies?

We picked up a chihuahua that turned out to be pregnant. She delivered 5 puppies 3.5 weeks ago. A couple of days ago we had to take her to the emergency vet, long story short she had eclampsia, basically severe calcium deficiency from nursing her large litter. Now in addition to giving her supplements we were told to limit her nursing to once a day and to bottle feed the puppies to prevent them from draining her again.

But they are not taking to the bottle AT ALL. They refuse to suck. At times I have managed to get them to take some only by squeezing the milk slowly right in front of their mouths, they will start licking & drinking it. But even then not always. Puppies who will take the milk this way eagerly one time can absolutely refuse to do it again at the next feeding. I do warm up the milk & the nipple beforehand. I usually rest them on my chest and cradle them with my hand. Right now all the puppies are healthy, plump and active. They sleep soundly most of the time and are not fussy.

But I am concerned about not being able to feed them enough. The mother is in good shape now and wants to nurse (she never had a problem producing enough milk) but in keeping with vet's instructions we keep them mostly apart. My question is, can you offer any tips that I might use to encourage the puppies to take in more of the bottle milk.


Hi
This can definitely be tricky, as it's very difficult to MAKE puppies suck from the bottle!

If this situation doesn't improve within a day or so, I'd recommend talking to your vet about tube feeding rather than bottle feeding - at least for a couple of feeds a day. You'll need to be shown how to do this correctly, and get the equipment from your vet, but once you've done it a few times it gets easier.

The advantage of tube feeding is that you get the right amount of milk delivered directly into those little tummies quickly. However, there are risks as if you don't get the tube in their esophagus properly, you run the risk of getting milk into their lungs, which is obviously very dangerous. That's why you will need someone to show you how to do it at first.

I'd also recommend that you get some Nutri Cal Supplementas it helps make sure they get all the nutrients they need.

If you haven't already read it, check out my New Born Puppies page for more information and advice on raising pups.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your puppies.

how many times a day 4 weeks old puppy pittbull must eat

by farah
(tunis)

how many times a day a 4 weeks old puppy pitbull must eat?

Hi Farah
At 4 weeks old, your pup should be just getting weaned, and should be eating puppy food 3 times a day. His momma may also still allow him to nurse once a day or more.

You can soak his puppy food in warm water to make it a bit easier for him to eat and help him get enough fluids. See my Puppy Kibble page for more info. on feeding puppies.

Best of luck with your pup.

Puppy smells.

by John
(Essex. England.)

I have just got a 12 week old jack Russell puppy that had been reared in a stable and it's coat smells of horse manure.

I have tried wiping her with a baby wipes and a slightly moist cloth but the smell is still there.

Any advice please?



Hi John
You're going to need to give her a proper bath to get rid of that smell, maybe even two baths (not right after each other) depending on how ingrained the odor is.

Anytime after 8 weeks of age it's okay to bathe a puppy, as long as you make sure to keep her nice and warm, and only use gentle products.

You'll find all the tips and advice you need on how to bathe her on my Bathing A Puppy page.

Best of luck with her.

Dog hit by car, few weeks later won't eat

by Jade
(MAryland)

A few weeks back my dog was hit by a car, i took him to the vet and got him taken care of. At first he still had a appetite, now in the last few weeks he won't eat anything.

I tried switching his food but he still wont eat. He will only drink water. He has lost a tremendous amount of weight, to the point where his ribs are showing. I don't have a lot of money to pay sky-high vet bills. What to do?



Hi Jade
I'm sorry to hear what happened to your dog. I'm afraid that the only option here is to take him back to your veterinarian though.

I don't know what the original veterinary diagnosis was, or how badly your dog was injured, but clearly there is still something wrong. For him to have lost all appetite and to have lost so much weight, there has to be a reason. Possibly some internal injury that wasn't apparent at first, or perhaps an infection has started up.

I do understand how expensive vet bills can be, but your dog needs help and is quite probably in pain or discomfort. I doubt that he is going to improve without treatment, and the earlier you treat a problem the less expensive it usually is.

I'm sorry I can't help more, but I really hope you manage to get your dog the help he needs and that he makes a full, and speedy recovery. Best of luck.

7 week old puppy not eating

We got a 7 week old fox hound on Thursday (3 days ago). They told me at the animal shelter that she was weaned off her mom last week. We can not get her to eat. We have tried dry food, canned food (different flavors), adding water to that, milk in a bowl, milk through a dropper. Nothing, she won't even open her mouth to try it.

She does drink a little water but only if we put her in the bathtub and turn the faucet on. She goes to the bathroom pretty regularly but her stool is just brown liquid.

We are very worried about her and since she is new we don't have a vet yet.




Hi
Quite often a puppy loses his/her appetite for a few days after coming into a new home, it's down to the stress of the changes. However, the 'brown liquid' poop concerns me.

Puppy diarrhea like that can be a symptom of dog illnesses and disease. As this little pup has diarrhea and won't eat I'd strongly recommend that you get her to a veterinarian right away. She could be sick and getting her veterinary attention quickly is very important.

If your vet says she is healthy, then the loss of appetite could simply be stress and I'd suggest that you take a look at my ,a href="http://www.the-puppy-dog-place.com/bringing-home-a-new-puppy.html">Bringing Home A New Puppy page for tips and advice on dealing with this.

Bottom line is that you need to have this little girl examined by a vet asap to rule out any health issues. I wish you the best of luck with her and hope she's doing much better soon.

Advice needed on typical behaviour of toy breed puppies at 7-10 weeks old?

by Becky
(North Yorkshire, UK)

Hello again, just like to say i love your site and it's being a real life-saver.
But on to the question;
I have posted questions before relating to a miniature yorkie puppy whom i had to return as she was severely ill. I'm getting a replacement puppy in may and am severally worried that my next puppy will be the same as my last little baby was and i'll end up losing her.

My last puppy suffered from many symptoms that i have to conclude were due to a underlying illness. However one of the symptoms was that she was very lethargic all the time. My parents are very familiar with larger breed puppies, and they think that when i go and get my new puppy, she should be inquisitive and active/playful. I'm worried in case tiny breed puppies don't act like larger breed puppies and so my question basically is 'What should I expect when i go to visit her at 7 weeks old, and again when i pick her up at 10 weeks?'

Also, with my last puppy one of the things i had to do was give her glucose at regular intervals or she would go floppy and limp (in some cases even seizure) and i'm now wondering if it is necessary to feed my new puppy glucose powder too? And if so how much and how often?

Comments from toy breed owners appreciated :)
Thanks, i realise it's slightly lengthy
Regards, Becky :)




Hi Becky
I think that your pup was definitely sick and that was what caused most of her symptoms, I elaborated on this in an earlier answer posted here. I can totally understand why you are so worried about your new pup, but the chances of it being sick in the same way are pretty slim I would imagine.

Whether small or large breeds, puppies are all different and it's impossible to say for sure how a pup will act during the first week or so. Many puppies (big and small) seem lethargic, don't have much of an appetite and may even act sad or depressed. This is normal, but it can sometimes be difficult to tell whether it's nerves and homesickness that's causing these symptoms, or illness. Check out my Bringing Home A New Puppy page for more info. on this.

As I said in a previous post, I'd strongly recommend that you have a vet (YOUR vet) give the new pup a thorough check-up before you accept it. If you get to see the pup at 7 weeks, I'd insist that the breeder lets you have it evaluated by your own vet and only pick it up at 10 weeks if it's got a clean bill of health.

Anyway, best of luck with your new pup, I hope it all turns out well.

how many parvo shots do puppies need?

My puppy has gotten 3 sets of the DHPP shot, and now my vet has us scheduled for 2 more Parvo shots and a Rabies shot, over the next 6 weeks, which I believe will make it a total of 5 Parvo shots (since 3 were included in the DHPP).

Could this be right? It just doesn't sound right to me.




Hi
Three Parvo shots plus the Rabies is what is normally given, but depending on your puppys' breed, and what is happening in your area, more could be needed.

Rottweilers and other breeds that are particularly susceptible to Canine Parvovirus should have at least one more (a fourth) Parvo vaccination.

The same applies if you live in an area where there have been numerous cases of Parvo, or during the Springtime when it tends to be more prevalent.

If your pup isn't a 'high risk' breed, and there haven't been numerous outbreaks of Parvo, 3 sets of shots will probably be enough. BUT aren't a guarantee that your pup won't catch the disease. If I were you I would discuss this further with your vet and find out why he thinks 2 more sets of puppy shots are necessary.

He is the expert and I would always recommend that you follow his advice.

Hope this helps. Best of luck with your pup.

Puppy vomiting & been to the vet w/ no clear answers

by Orsola
(Mobile, AL)

My 4 m.o. husky/boston terrier mix has been throwing up and according to the vet has runny bloody poops. I haven't witnessed nor seen signs of runny bloody poop. They ran a parvo test and he tested negative. I knew it would be negative b/c parvo doesn't pick and choose the dogs it effects. We have 3 including the puppy.

He's very lethargic but will move about especially to get water. He seems to only want toilet water now, which is fine, b/c the toilet doesn't have an auto cleaner nor has it been scrubbed recently (been over a week). I'm trying to find out what it could be causing his vomiting? This just started yesterday and we have been giving him a child's dose of pepto every hour to ease his tummy.

I can't afford to take him to a different vet for a 2nd opinion. In fact I had a hard enough time paying for this visit. If you know of any reasonable vets in my area that would be helpful as well.

Any insight from puppy-dog place or your patrons would be helpful.

Thanks,
Orsola




Hi Orsola
It's very difficult for me to help in this sort of situation as there are so many possibilities when it comes to vomiting and diarrhea in puppies.

If you haven't noticed any bloody stools, or diarrhea, then I would imagine that's not an issue right now.

Vomiting can be caused by all sorts of things, from eating something he shouldn't to serious dog illnesses such as the Parvo your vet checked for.

Although you're right in the fact that Parvo an affect all dogs, it's more prevalent in pups due to their immature immune systems, plus if your older dogs are fully vaccinated, and the pup hasn't had all his puppy shots, then it's possible only he would be affected.

Lethargy is a common sign of illness of any sort, and drinking water is important as he's dehydrated from the vomiting (and diarrhea if it exists). You can try adding Gatorade or Pedialyte to his water as it can help replace the minerals and salts he's losing along with the water.

I'd recommend that you check out both my Puppy Vomiting and Puppy Diarrhea pages as they can give you lots of tips and advice on dealing with mild bouts.

If it's simply vomiting that occurs a few times, and your dog can keep down water, and isn't having severe diarrhea as well, then a 24 hour 'fast' sometimes helps. Obviously he still needs lots of water though. However, if it's more serious than this, only a vet can help and I'd recommend that you call around to vets in your area and check out their charges - they can vary a lot from practice to practice.

Unfortunately I don't have any info. on veterinary charges/practices etc, but possibly one of my visitors reading this will be able to help there. In cases of serious vomiting and/or diarrhea, IV fluids, antibiotics and other treatments are often necessary.

I wish I could help more, but I hope this is just a case of 'dietary indiscretion' and that your pup is feeling much better soon.

If you want a more professional opinion, you can always try asking an online veterinarian. You can usually get an answer for between $12 and $15, which is very reasonable. If you want to try that, just click on this link... Ask A Veterinarian

I wish you the very best of luck and hope that your pup makes a full recovery.

puppy behavior

by natasha fox
(norwich)

this is ruby

hi i have a staffordshire bull terrier x she is now 8 months old and is really good with other dogs except my sisters.

she has a 9 month old springer x labrador and every time they are together they fight and my dog ruby always seems to get a little vicious. is this normal? x



Hi Natasha
Dogs are like people and can have 'personality conflicts' with other dogs, and if Ruby is generally good with other dogs it could be that these two simply don't 'get along'.

The fact that they're both around the same age (adolescent) and of the same sex, increases the chances of them squabbling.... even more so if one, or both of them, hasn't been spayed.

Also, Pitbull Terriers and Staffys' are very people friendly dogs and make wonderful pets, but they do have a natural tendency towards being dog-aggressive, or at the very least 'playing rough'. This is a breed-specific trait and it's important to make sure that these dogs get plenty of socialization experiences. Always supervised. And it's never a good idea to let these breeds off leash in a dog park.

The good news is that Ruby is usually okay with other dogs, so I'd concentrate on giving her as much socialization as possible, to help keep her generally dog-friendly. With your sisters' dog you will always need to supervise them together and correct Ruby if she gets too rough or starts to act 'aggressively'. Tell her "NO" firmly and then take her out of the interaction for a sort of 'time-out'. If she's not been spayed yet, I'd also recommend getting that done asap.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your pup.

my new pup was just spayed

When is it ok to bathe her - she still has her stitches, she is a rescue dog and I just picked her up a day ago.

She is already spayed..just a little on the dirty side.



Hi
I think it's best to wait somewhere between 10 and 14 days after the surgery before bathing a pup/dog... and definitely until the stitches are removed (or have dissolved?).

If she's very dirty you could try the special doggie wipes or dry shampoos that are available, but avoid the incision area.

I'd also suggest that you check this with your vet to be absolutely sure. Best of luck with your new pup.

my puppy has been vomiting, is really tired, and has a really dry nose.

by amanda sembach
(bellefontaine ohio)

My puppy Marley is 3 months old, she is up to date with her shots that i am aware of. she just started puking out of no where, she played, laid down and slept for a little while and woke up puking. she hasn't went to the bathroom for me to notice if she has diarrhea. she seems really tired when i took her outside she just sat there and gave me her puppy eyes. her nose is wet at times but dry and hot most of the time.

I took her food and water away for the next 6 hrs like the vet told me and now she hasn't gotten sick for about an hour but she hasn't had anything, everytime she would drink water, and i had to kind of get her to drink it, she would get sick. she doesn't want anything to do with her food. I'm just worried and don't really know what to do to help her and i don't know what this illness could be so if you could help me help her that would be great, thanks for your time.



Hi Amanda
If your pup is up to date on all her puppy shots, then hopefully her vomiting isn't being caused by one of the more common, serious dog illnesses that puppies are prone to catching.

It could be that she simply ate something she shouldn't have and it's upset her stomach. Puppies have a way of getting into lots of stuff that they shouldn't, and tend to eat everything they find.

If she's been vomiting, she could get dehydrated, so I'd try to let her have some water, don't worry about the food though. If she doesn't want it, it's better she doesn't eat.

If she continues to vomit after drinking though, I'd definitely take her to your veterinarian for a check up so that you can make sure there's no underlying health problem here.

Best of luck, hope she's doing much better soon.

Worms?

We just got a new puppy. Could my daughter catch worms from her new puppy?



Hi
Most puppies have worms, particularly roundworms, but regular deworming by your vet will take care of this very quickly.

It is possible for these to be transmitted to humans if they actually ingest the eggs. In most cases this isn't going to happen, but as small children tend to put their hands in their mouths a lot, and aren't great about washing them regularly, it can happen.

I'd just recommend making sure that your daughter always washes her hands well after playing with the pup, also if she's a toddler or very young, discourage her from putting her hands near her mouth whenever she's with the him.

My puppy is crying and foaming at the mouth

by Leah Deal
(Mount Pleasant NC)

I need to know whats wrong with him. He's running around into things, foaming at the mouth, and crying non stop.

He does have worms and we just got him yesterday. What's wrong with him?



Hi Leah
This is not worms, I can't tell you what the problem is I'm afraid but your puppy needs to get to a veterinarian immediately!

If your vet is closed, take him to a 24 hour pet hospital or animal emergency clinic. He could be very sick, could have ingested something toxic.... I just can't tell, but I can tell you this isn't normal and in my opinion is an emergency situation.

Best of luck, I hope you can get him the help he needs quickly so that he makes a full recovery.

puppy using litter pan problems

I have a 10 month old corgi and I've trained her to use a litter pan. Most of the time she goes to her litter pan to pee and poop. Every so often, she would be really bad at it for a couple of days and just pee and poop all over the house, then she would go back to being good, peeing and pooping in the litter pan.

I just don't know what is wrong. She knows that's where she need to go potty but she keep having these set backs. I would like to know what I can do to stop her from potty all over the house.



Hi
At 10 months old, your pup should be pretty good about eliminating in the right place.

The only way to prevent her from doing this would be to prevent her from having free run of the house (unless you are supervising her closely) until she is totally reliable in her housetraining.

You could use a crate (see my Crate Training A Puppy page to learn about this), or simply confine her to one room with her litter box.

Puppies are creatures of habit and once they build a solid habit they generally stick with it. Right now your pup isn't totally committed to the idea of using her litter tray. You need to prevent her from having the chance to make a mistake (and thereby reinforcing a 'bad' habit) until the correct behavior is hard-wired into her little brain.

Best of luck with your pup.

are my puppies constipated?

by shrea
(mississippi)

Our lemon walker hound dog had 9 puppies, 2 were born dead and one of them froze to death. she got sick the day after she had them, we found her in a corner nearly dead and the 6 puppies that were still alive nearly froze to death.

We have been bottle feeding them now for 2 1/2 weeks with a mixture of pet milk, egg, corn syrup, and water. they love it and have put on good weight, they seem healthy and happy steadily growing every day. i am worried b/c in the past few days they haven't pooped as much as normal. they pee a lot but i am afraid they are having problems pooping. when they do go it is a yellow color and it is soft, but not runny which after reading info on the computer i believe is about right.

But now i am wondering if they are becoming constipated, they still eat good but they don't poop afterward or in the night. i have rubbed them with a warm cloth and that seems to help with some of the pups but not all of them. should i be worried and what should i do, i don't want to lose any of them. i would appreciate and info you might have.




Hi Shrea
I'm sorry about what happened with your dog and these puppies, it must have been very sad for you. However, it sounds as though you're doing a great job with the remaining puppies and that they're thriving.

If their bowel movements are soft, chances are they're not constipated, but simply going less often as they are getting bigger, and you are probably feeding them less often than you did in the earlier days. Somewhere between 3 and 4 weeks of age you can begin to introduce 'solid' puppy food (puppy kibble soaked in water) as this would be the right age to begin weaning them.

Stimulating the pups by rubbing their bellies and genital area with a warm, damp cloth is the best way to encourage them to pee and poop because they don't have the necessary nerve control to do that themselves yet. I'd recommend doing that for every pup, after every feeding.

In such young puppies, constipation would probably also be accompanied by a distended belly, and crying or obvious discomfort, and if you notice these symptoms, or one (or more of your pups) doesn't poop at least twice in 24 hours, then take them to the vet for a check up. If necessary your vet can do an enema to empty the bowels.

You'll find lots of tips and advice on raising newborn pups on my New Born Puppies page, so I'd recommend checking it out. If you have any worries or concerns about your pups, it's always best to consult your vet for a professional opinion. Better to be safe than sorry.

I wish you the best of luck with your pups and hope that they all grow up big and healthy.

is my puppy old enough to have peanut butter in a kong toy?

by Andrew
(Ohio)

My basset hound puppy that i just brought home is about 7 weeks old, is he old enough to give peanut butter in one of those kong toys?


Hi Andrew
Yes he is, but don't overdo it as he could end up getting a 'funny tummy' if he eats too much peanut butter!

A good tip is to fill the Kong and then put it in the freezer overnight or for a couple of hours, that way it has a lot more 'play value' and lasts a lot longer too.

Best of luck with your pup.

i have a 2 day old puppy

by kayla
(nc)

my dog had puppies 2 days ago and the runt of the litter has a odd smell to her and she's very limp and our dog keeps pushing her away and bit the puppy earlier.

i got scared and took the puppy away from her and i don't know if i can try to wet the puppy to see if i can get the smell to go away i don't want to do anything that will hurt the puppy.



Hi Kayla
Sometimes the 'runt' or smallest puppy in the litter has underlying health issues (such as heart problems for example) that aren't visible, but often they are simply smaller and weaker than the others.

Nature tends to support the 'survival of the fittest' mantra, and your dog is doing what nature urges her to do, push away the weak/sick pup so that it will die. She is following her instincts and doesn't think about this the way we do.

If you can possibly get your dog to nurse this pup (you may need to help it get to a nipple and to 'latch on' as it will probably be pushed out of the way by the stronger pups), then this is the best thing. You can keep an eye on the momma and try to protect this little pup as best you can. I've had to do this, and within a couple of weeks the tiny pup has gotten stronger and is able to compete with the others and has grown up healthy and strong.

However, I'd also recommend that you have your vet examine this pup to see if it's healthy or not. If it is, and you can't get the momma to nurse or take care of it safely, then your vet can tell you how to bottle feed or tube feed it. This can be a bit tricky, but most puppies learn how to drink from the bottle and it can save their lives.

You can find out all about taking care of newborn pups on my New Born Puppies page. But, do have your vet check this pup over.

I'd advise against bathing this little one, as young puppies can't regulate their body temperature properly and can get too cold very quickly. If they get too cold, they get lethargic and too weak to feed and can die.

I know it's difficult, and sad, to see a little puppy struggling like this, but you obviously want to help and are doing the right thing, so get some help and just do the best that you can.

Best of luck, I hope this little pup makes it through.

Sick puppy? :'(

by Becky
(North Yorkshire)

Hello, I bought a miniature yorkshire terrier puppy two days ago. I'm incredibly worried and im not sure what to do:

The breeder who i bought her off said she is the smallest of the litter, and just homesick. But my parents have arranged to take her back on saturday if she doesn't improve :'(
I can't get her to eat (or drink) anything but some puppy milk (and even that she only drinks a tiny bit!). She sleeps all the time, and when i wake her up to feed her, she usually just sits and i have to open her mouth and smear some food in, and then she tries to spit it out.

If i sit her on the floor she generally just walks over to me and tries to climb onto my lap.
One of her eyes keeps clogging up and closing.
She does at sometimes play for 5 minutes when she's awake, but she's mostly very lethargic.
Ive taken her to my vet, and asked another separate one about her. One said to take her back to the breeder, and thinks she should be more lively, but can't detect anything on the examination he did (except he said her eyes are slightly inflamed behind). One said she's just homesick, and she should liven up soon.

I'm incredibly attached to her already and i really don't know what to do.
Please can you share some insight, I only have until saturday :'(
(I've tried the following foods: 3 types of puppy food, cooked chicken, scrambled eggs, and baby food.)

Thanks, Becky.




Hi Becky
I'm sorry you're having so much trouble with this little pup. It could be that she's sick or homesick, or both, and without being able to see her and spend time with her, it's impossible for me to say for sure.... but I'll try to help as best I can.

First of all, I'm not sure how old your pup is, but she's a miniature breed and even at 8 weeks old these tiny dogs are often immature for their age. It's very common for pups to be homesick, scared and lonely for the first few days in a new home, and if she's younger than 8 weeks old then the symptoms of this are usually more extreme. I'd recommend that you read my Bringing Home A New Puppy page as it will help you understand what you may see at this time. Perhaps it will help you to decide whether this is what is going on or if it's more serious.

I'm concerned about her eye though. A healthy pup shouldn't have discharge around the eyes that make it close up, and your vet mentioned some inflammation. Both these things make me think that there may be some infection there. It could be a localized infection of the eye (conjunctivitis), or it could be that she has an upper respiratory tract infection (sort of like the common cold in humans), or she could have another, more serious dog illness.

I'm assuming she's had some puppy shots as she's already been to the vet, so that may be helpful. If this were my puppy though I would definitely be taking her back to the veterinarian and asking for another exam and a diagnosis about her eye issues. As her first exam seemed to indicate she is generally healthy, hopefully this is something minor that a round of antibiotics will clear up.

Not eating much can be a problem for tiny pups like this as they have difficulty regulating their blood sugar levels and can become hypoglycemic. I'd recommend having some Karo syrup (corn syrup) or something similar handy and smearing a little of that in her mouth at mealtimes to help with this. If she's not eating even after you've tried several things, just soak some of her dry puppy food in warm water and try to encourage her to eat that. If you keep changing her diet she could get a tummy upset and she needs to get familiar with one food, so pick the best puppy food you have and give her that.

It's important that she drinks, so encourage her to lap some water, you can even add some Pedialyte or Gatorade to it if she'll drink it that way. The puppy milk formula is good, but also give her water if you can or add extra water to the formula. She needs the fluids.

If the breeder she came from doesn't care enough to help you with her health issues, or your worries, then I personally wouldn't be giving her back to them. They don't have her best interests at heart. Unless you have a good sales contract and can get veterinary proof that she's sick, you likely won't get any money back either.

My advice would be to get her back to a vet and insist on a diagnosis for the eye, and a fecal test at least to rule out diseases such as Parvo. Then if all is well, give her time to adjust to her new home and environment - most pups come out of their shells within a week or so and their true personality becomes clear.

I hope this helps some, and I wish you the very best of luck with this puppy and that she makes a full recovery and is happy and healthy soon.

how old must puppies be to get a bath

by tata
(phil)

how old can i take my puppies a bath?


Hi Tata
Unless it's absolutely necessary, I wouldn't advise bathing a puppy until he/she is at least 7 weeks old. Young puppies can't regulate their body temperature very well and get chilled easily.

After 7 or 8 weeks it is easier for them and as long as you keep them nice and warm until thoroughly dry they should be fine.

Check out my Bathing A Puppy page for all the tips and advice you need.

Best of luck!

chocolate brownies

by Jessica
(California)

What happens if a 3lbs. chihuahua mix ate a 1x1 inch chocolate brownie?



Hi Jessica
Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and chihuahuas are very tiny. I'd recommend that you call your veterinarian or the local poison control hotline and ask their advice.

You can find out more about common human foods that are poisonous, or dangerous, for dogs on my Poisonous Foods page and tips and advice on what to do if your dog does ingest something toxic on my Dog Poisoning page.

It's always better to be safe than sorry so please check with a veterinary professional asap. Best of luck, hope your pup is doing just fine.

humping

by jay
(rushden, northants)

please help, i am having problems with my 7 week old staffy and him humping me, how do i stop this, and the biting that cums with it?



Hi Jay
Biting is a very natural puppy behavior, and I'd recommend that you check out my Puppy Biting page for lots of tips and advice on how to deal with this.

As for his 'humping', at this age it's more of a dominant behavior than a sexual one, and it's best to correct him verbally with a firm "NO", and then distract him with a toy or game. Do this consistently and he will soon get the message.

Staffys are very loving and loyal dogs, and positive reward-based training (plenty of praise and/or treats) is the best way to help them learn the right behavior. I wish you the best of luck with your pup and hope this helps some.

puppy health - drop of blood after pooping?

by Amanda
(CT)

My puppy was born on nov.1, 2009 she is up to date with her shots.

She has 1 drop of blood after she poops it's not in her poop it's after, what would cause this?


Hi Amanda
If your puppy seems healthy, happy and active and is eating, drinking and eliminating normally (apart from the problem above), chances are this isn't anything too serious.

Seeing a little blood after a puppy or dog has had a bowel movement usually means that it is coming either from the rectum/anal area, or towards the end of her colon.

It could be due to some irritation or inflammation of the colon, sometimes this is caused by a food sensitivity, a previous bout of diarrhea or vomiting, certain medications and so on. Constipation in puppies can also cause you to see a little blood after a bowel movement.

I'd recommend following the tips in the puppy constipation article I've linked to above to make sure that this isn't the problem. If after that, or if her bowel movements are normal and she isn't constipated, I'd recommend discussing it with your vet.

He should be able to advise you. Occasionally anti-inflammatory medications are used, or it may be that a diet change is in order.... your vet is the best person to figure out what's going on and what to do about it.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your pup.

can you run a puggle puppy a few miles?

by Lori
(PA)

I have a female puggle puppy 6 mths old,and we have been running her for 1.5 miles a day, along with 2 short walk of a mile. Is this to much?



Hi Lori
For a young pup of this breed I would personally think this is too much.

She's a hybrid, so a lot of her abilities and capabilities will depend on exactly what combination of pug and beagle she is. Beagles can walk/run fairly long distances are are active, Pugs can have difficulty with their breathing (due to facial configuration) and aren't generally that athletic. Your own pup will fall somewhere in between.

Generally puppies shouldn't exercise excessively as they can damage their growing joints, this is more important in large and extra large breed dogs, but does still apply to medium and smaller dogs too.

A couple of walks a day is enough at this point, and the jogging shouldn't be done until she's mature. At that point, you can add a jog to the daily walk, but all 3 that you mention seems excessive to me.

However, I don't have personal experience of owning Puggles, or either breed that makes up this hybrid, my dogs are much bigger. If anyone has experience with these dogs and can add some advice, or comments, for Lori please go ahead and do so. We would appreciate all input :o)

Best of luck with your pup.

Use portable crate as an every day crate

by Tracy
(Virginia)

I've been using a fiberglass crate for my 5-month old puppy, but he's quickly out growing it.

A family member recently gave me a portable crate. My puppy has taken a liking for the crate and I'm thinking of swapping out the fiberglass crate and use the portable one as his every day crate. The crate is made out of a canvas-like material and the door is made out of plastic-like mesh. The metal bar support is located in the inside of the crate.

I have a Maltese and I don't believe he can chew his way out, but am still reluctant as I don't know how safe it is to leave him in there for 8-9 hours during the day.


Hi Tracy
I wouldn't leave your pup in a canvas crate for long periods, unless you are ABSOLUTELY SURE that she can't/won't try to chew her way out of it.

At 5 months old, she may be past the worst of the chewing/teething stage, but if a pup gets bored, it's first instinct is often to chew!

Apart from the danger of her ingesting something that will hurt her, there are many potential risks if she starts to dismantle her crate.... and then there are the risks of what will happen if she manages to get out unscathed but has free run of your home etc.

Personally, I'd recommend getting a larger fiberglass or wire crate for use when you're at work, and keep the other one for when you are at home, or for traveling.

Best of luck!

puppy has red spots and bald spots

puppy has red spots and bald spots...


Hi
It's not possible for me to say what is causing these spots, especially as I've no idea how big they are, where they're located or what they look like.

In puppies, a red rash on the belly, in 'armpits', or around the genital area can be caused by a staph infection. This usually happens if the pup spends much time on a non-absorbent surface, or in less-than-clean conditions. Keeping the area clean (using antibacterial soap) and dry often helps. If it doesn't clear up then a vet visit is necessary, and antibiotics may be prescribed.

If these spots started on the muzzle/head, forelegs, or chest and are accompanied by itching and/or hair loss, it's possible that a skin condition such as Mange is the problem. Your vet can diagnose this condition, and treatment is generally by way of special shampoos or dips.

I can only recommend that you take your pup to your vet as soon as possible so that you can get a definitive diagnosis and any treatment necessary.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you get this taken care of soon.

barking and growling at my husband

My 6 month old pomapoo started barking and growling at my husband about 2 months ago. We have tried having him pick her up and sitting her on his lap when she does this but after several weeks there was no change other then her being afraid of him.

We tried his feeding her treats, and my putting her down and staying with her when he plays with out other dog until she started playing with them on her own, and my sitting close to him with her on my lap until she started going close to him and sitting with him licking him on her own and that seemed to work for awhile but now she is barking and growling at him again. He is at the point now where he's ready to just ignore her.

I suffer from anxiety/panic disorder and agoraphobia. When my charlie ( little dog of 15 years age 18) died 2 years ago I lost ground and I am trying to train her to stay with me so I can start driving a bit and going to some familiar places in my safety zone. I visit family and will taking her walking to the park this summer.

She'll have to stay in the car because I have hit dead ends as far as getting a dog registered as a support dog. I've been looking in to this for years. Any suggestions as to how to make the car more comfortable for sheba would be a big help. I've looked in truck stops trying to find independent heaters and air for the car with no luck either. Thank you.



Hi
I'm afraid that a lot of your question is outside my area of experience, but I will try to help wherever I can.

Your pup may be growling at your husband out of fear, or it could be an attempt at domination (she doesn't see him as an authority figure), or it could be that she's picking up on your general anxiety and doesn't understand what you're anxious about. Therefore she's acting nervous and defensive. It's impossible for me to tell which it is... or if it's something totally different.

I'd recommend that rather than just have your husband involved in petting/playing with her, that you have him take care of her needs ie. feeding her, exercising/walking her, training her etc. He doesn't have to do ALL of it, just at least 50% so that your pup recognizes that he is above her in the 'pecking' order. Once she needs to rely on him for her 'resources', she will respect him more and should stop her barking and growling.

As for the problem with her having to be left in the car when you go out to visit etc., I'm afraid I really don't have any experience there. I know that it's not safe to leave her inside a car in either very hot, or very cold weather. And even in temperate conditions it's not advisable.

If you need to take her out in the car with you I would suggest that you don't leave her in the car by herself, perhaps you could have someone else go with you both if you need to go somewhere that dogs are not allowed... and only visit the park, petsmart, a relative or friends' house or similar if you and your pup are by yourselves.

I am very sorry for the difficulties that you're having and I wish that I could give you some info. or advice, but I'm afraid it's an area I know nothing about. I do hope that you manage to work this out though and wish you the best of luck.

How often should a 6 week old Chihuahua puppy poop?

by Gilly
(Arizona)

My 6 week old Chihuahua puppy has only pooped once since yesterday, and it wasn't much.

Is that normal? If not, how often should she be having a bowl movement?

Thanks!



Hi Gilly
Normally, a 6 week old pup will poop several times a day, and urinate even more frequently!

However, if you've only just brought your little girl home then this isn't unusual. Often a pup will 'hold it' (I think this is involuntary and not done intentionally), sometimes not pooping for 24 hours or so.

This is usually a reaction to the stress of leaving their momma, often coupled with a change in diet, and is sometimes followed by a day or so of puppy diarrhea. As long as your little girl is eating and drinking normally, isn't vomiting,a and seems happy and active, then I doubt it's anything to worry about right now.

However, if she doesn't eliminate for 24 hours or more, it's possible that she is a little constipated. This is also fairly common in tiny and toy breed pups, and you can find out more about this and how to handle it on my A Constipated Puppy page.

There is a range of reactions that a pup may show during the adjustment period (the first few days to a week or so) in a new home, and it's a good idea to know what to expect. Check out my Bringing Home A New Puppy page for all the information you need.

If you're ever in doubt about your pups' health, it's always best to talk to your veterinarian. Better safe than sorry :o) To learn about the special needs of tiny breed pups like Chihuahuas, you can visit my Chihuahua Puppy Care page too.

Your little girl is adorable, and I wish you the best of luck with her.

DID I PICK THE WRONG DOG????

by Winter kelly
(SI,NY)

HI my doggie friends HELP!

I 2/16 adopted a new catahoula Leopard dog mix from the NORTH Shore animal league, he is 2 months old

I'm worried because kept barking at the cats every-time they [passed his crate...and growling So I did some research and now I have a knot in my stomach, not only does it say the the chase and seize cats ..even kill small animals : (( Also it said they are not great with kids. I feel sick also it said just a whole lot of not great stuff ...DID I PICK THE WRONG DOG?????????

She is a mix but I have no idea what she is mixed with .... I don't know why the shelter would let me adopt her if she wasn't good with kids and cats?? I gave them all my history and told them I had concern about my daughter and the cats. I'm crying now because I don't know what to do. I just don't ever want anything bad to happen.

I am a first time dog owner and I'm now truly freaked out and feel nervous and overwhelmed, Please what should I do?

I would hate to have to return her but I don't want her to ruin the peace in my home and possibly cause harm to my loving home...HEEELPPPPPP





Hi Winter
Okay, first off.... take a deep breath and stop panicking, your thoughts are running ahead of you and I don't think you need to be so worried at this point.

I don't have personal experience with Catahoulas, but I know that they are working dogs, used to herd and track, and that they are high energy dogs who need firm handling and lots of love and attention. This of course, applies to many other breeds, and the description of character will be most accurate when applied to a full-blood, working Catahoula Leopard Dog - which your pup isn't.

She's a mixed breed, and unless the shelter actually knows for certain that one of her parents was a purebred Catahoula, she can't even be considered 50% CLD. Some of a dogs instincts and attitudes are obviously genetically influenced, but a lot of them are environmental and depend on the way a pup is raised, how it's treated, and whether or not it learns the 'rules' of living with people.

Your little puppy girl is only 8 weeks old, she's a tiny baby, and it is entirely up to you to teach her what you expect from her and how she should behave. You and your family are now her 'pack' and she will love you unconditionally, and look to you for guidance, discipline and love. Don't be too quick to 'brand' her as an aggressive, difficult dog, or a 'bad' choice, based on a vague idea of her ancestry.

As you're a first time dog owner and mom, I can understand why you feel so worried, but I think a little logic is needed to counteract the emotions here. Raising any puppy can be a challenge, but it's a very similar process to that of raising children as pups have the same basic needs. I have several pages on my site that should help you with all the basics of puppy care, and I'd recommend that you read my New Puppy Care page and all the pages that it links to as that way you'll get a clearer idea of what's involved.

I want to mention the growling at the cats from her crate as this really is a pretty normal reaction, especially if she's never been around cats before. Most puppies and dogs will react defensively to something new, strange or scary, when they're in their crates (similar to the way they would react if tied up or cornered), it's because they feel at a disadvantage and unable to defend themselves if necessary. Your pup will be a lot less likely to growl at the cats when she's free to run around.

Of course, she is probably going to chase after them and 'bug' them, most pups do at first, but cats are generally very good at defending themselves. I'd recommend that you use baby-gates to contain your pup in one or two rooms as this will allow the cats to come and go as they please, and they can all get used to each other. Chances are good that she will accept the cats given time to get used to them, and that harmony (or at least tolerance) will eventually prevail.

As for your kids, if your pup is raised with them, she will love and protect them just the way any breed will. It's also very important that they learn to treat her properly, gently and with love, and that they are involved in her daily care.. feeding, grooming, training etc. Many breeds, including 'MY' breed of Rottweilers, are aloof and wary of strange people and dogs, but plenty of early and ongoing socialization ensures that they grow up calm, confident and non-combative. Enrolling your pup in dog obedience classes as soon as she's had her first puppy shots is highly recommended.

It's impossible for you (or anyone else, including me!) to tell at this point whether or not there are any grounds for your fears and anxieties, so I suggest that you spend several weeks loving, training, spending time with and getting to know, this puppy. I think it will be a lot less traumatic than you think :o)

Obviously, if after some time you find that she is not a good 'fit' for your family, then she'll still be young enough for you to find her a good loving home with a more suitable environment, but personally I doubt that is going to be necessary. Don't judge her yet, give her some time and have some confidence in yourself and your ability to raise her and I think everything will work out just fine.

I wish you the very best of luck. If you ever need any more help or advice, feel free to submit another question or contact me through my Contact Me page.

Baxter's Problem Cont.

by Gina
(Woodridge, IL)

Well, we did what you recommended and ordered a Puppy Patch and waiting for it to arrive. It is the kind of pottying area that has fake grass. We also bought the Nature's Miracle you suggested. But recently it seemed that Baxter's condition has gotten worse.

Now he pees either right in front of us on the bed, couch, dining room chair cushions and even in between us while we are laying on the bed. We have noticed that he seems to do this more when he is "angry" or not getting the instant attention he wants. After we say "No" or don't give him instant attention, he looks at us and squats. Is it possible he is doing this out of spite?

He turns one year old in a few weeks and I know you mentioned something about this being his adolescent and rebellious stage, but will time stop him from doing this or is there something we need to change?





Hi Gina
I'm sorry to hear that Baxter seems to be getting worse rather than better, and I must say it's a confusing issue.

Have you had him checked out by your vet in case he has a urinary tract infection, or some sort of bladder issue that is causing him to urinate so often? It's always a possibility.

Dogs don't have the ability to behave 'spitefully' or to do something just to annoy us, but they can 'read' our emotions very well, and are experts at pushing our buttons to get what they want.

If his squatting and peeing results in him getting attention (and just like with human children, negative attention is still attention and is preferable to being ignored!), then it's perfectly possible that he has figured that out and is using this behavior to manipulate you to some degree.

If this is what's happening, you're going to need to use his crate a lot more to break this habit. He can't have free run of the house and you will need to supervise him whenever he's not crated for now. It will take time and a lot of patience to reshape his behavior but it is possible.

If I were in your position, this is what I would do...


Correct him verbally with a firm "NO" if he pees somewhere he shouldn't and immediately remove him from your presence and put him somewhere safe as a sort of 'time out'. You don't want to use his crate as a punishment, so I would suggest setting up a puppy playpen, or use a baby gate to keep him in the laundry room or kitchen, and use that area as his 'time out'.

Try to give him lots of love and attention, but on your terms, when you decide, not when he demands it. Praise and love on him when he's being good, but simply correct him (in as unemotional way as possible) and give him a 'time out' if he urinates on the bed etc. You will need to harden your hearts to do this, but it's important that he learns that his behavior can't influence your rules.

Between this, crating, and supervision you should be able to reduce the number of times he pees where he shouldn't quite significantly. I would also recommend that you talk to your vet about Baxters' behavior though, and ask him if he could recommend a dog behavioral specialist who could evaluate your puppys' behavior. An individual, hands-on evaluation by an experienced behaviorist may turn up issues or attitudes that aren't clear otherwise.

There are 'belly bands' that you could use on Baxter (sort of like doggy diapers) and these would help to protect your home and furnishings. The drawback of using them is that it's not always clear if he's urinating so a correction can be mis-times. However, if he clearly squats, or gets a certain expression or body language when he's peeing, you should still be able to correct him and follow the procedures above.

I really hope that this helps you to get Baxters' behavior under control as it must be very frustrating for everyone. Do remember though that your puppy is acting out of instinct, and whatever his motivations are they're not to make you angry and he's not being deliberately 'bad'. If he's figured out that this behavior gets your attention, then he may be doing it to get more of your attention because he loves you, not because he wants to upset you.

Lots of time, love and patience are needed here, but it will be worth it in the end. I wish you the very best of luck.

Putting a puppy outdoors

by Ana
(USA)

At what age can I start letting puppies go outside.

They are 5 weeks old and want to know if they are old enough to be outside yet.



Hi Ana
A lot depends on what breed they are, where you live and what the weather conditions are.

Young puppies don't regulate their body temperatures as well as older pups and dogs. If it's very cold, or very hot, they are at risk. Smaller breeds and short-nosed breeds such as Bulldogs have even less tolerance for temperature extremes.

If you have a fenced-in or private yard that they can go into for short periods to play/eliminate and the weather is reasonable, that should be fine.

At this age puppies are at risk of catching the most common, contagious dog illnesses and shouldn't come in contact with areas where other unvaccinated dogs may have been. So don't let them out in any common/shared/unfenced areas.

Also, don't leave pups of this age outside for any length of time and make sure the area they are in is safe ie. no poisonous plants/chemicals etc., no barbed wire or small things they could ingest. Using a puppy play pen or wire exercise pen is a good way to contain them safely.

Also provide water and shelter even if they're only outside for 15 - 30 minutes.

Brandy...doesn't "heat" up.

by gigi
(mohave valley, az.)

Hello again. First of all "I love you guys". You are such a big part of my daily life. Thank you.

Now, I need to know if this is normal. My little girl Brandy is 2 and a half years old. When she was a year she went into heat but she has never gone into heat since. We don't particularly want her to have pups (not sure).

But does this mean she is unable to concieve? Thank You...gigi




Hi Gigi
The length of time between heat cycles is usually around 6 months, but in some breeds (and even in some individual dogs of the same breed), it can be anywhere from 4 months, to a year.

Also, some dogs show very little signs of being in heat, and others can have a 'silent heat' cycle where they show no signs of being in season. Either of these are possibilities.

However, there are medical conditions that can suppress 'seasons' and alter the reproductive cycle. These include thyroid problems, andrenal gland problems, diabetes and more.

I'd recommend that you take Brandy to your veterinarian and tell him your concerns, he can check to make sure there are no underlying health conditions and correct them if there are.

I hope this helps. Thanks for visiting my site, I'm so happy that you enjoy it :o) Best of luck with Brandy

4 month puppy vs. 8-10 week golden retriever

I am planning to buy a golden retriever (american) and saw one that was 4 months old...I think she is a beauty but some people have told me it's better to buy an 8-10 week year old puppy golden versus this 4 month old...

the sales person in the pet store said that this 4 month year old has had all its shots, and can be taken outside from the get go, and will be much easier to train than a 8-10 week year old. His position was that its easier to train a toddler than an infant.


Thus, i was hoping you could share some of the pro's and con's or tradeoff's of buying at each age.

i realize that the longer that poor 4 month year old stays in the store, the worse it is for the dog!. yet, my sense is that the younger the dog (of course not younger than 8-10 weeks) the more it will bond w/ me, and the more it won't pick up habits...but maybe i am wrong on that?

my other question and/or concern is that i think it would be hard for me to tell what a 8-10 week year old would look like as it matures, whereas the 4 month year old i think i can have a good sense of what she is going to look like as i think she's nearly there!...but again, maybe i am wrong or maybe there are ways to tell what the 8-10 weeker will look like buy looking at the mom and dad, or is it just the mom?

thank you so much for your feedback!



Hi
There's really no one clear-cut answer to this as all puppies are individuals and there are so many variables involved.

I would always advise caution when buying from a pet store as the pups may come from a 'puppy mill' and may not have had the best start in life in terms of health and care. However, if the older pup is fully vaccinated (and you want PROOF of that), seems friendly and good natured, seems happy and healthy and has the 'look' you want, then she could be just what you're looking for.

The key thing to consider here I think, is whether or not the older puppy has had any sort of basic training.... ie is she allowed to eliminate wherever she is, or does she go outside to do so and is clean in her kennel. AND whether or not she's been around a lot of people and is fairly socialized. The 'up' side of a pet store in this instance would be that I would expect she is pretty social by now, but the elimination habit is something you need to find out about.

Buying a younger puppy does mean that you will need to keep her away from other dogs or outings until she's had all her puppy shots. She will also have immature bladder/bowel control and will need to go outside more often for potty breaks etc. If the older pup is trained to some degree, she would be easier in this respect - but if she's not been trained, it could be more difficult.

As far as bonding goes, there really isn't a whole lot of difference. I've added pups who were 8 weeks old, 4 months old, even adolescent, and we've never had any difficulty bonding. Most pups will love whoever takes care of them and loves them (and Goldens tend to be very loving and affectionate in general, they're not an 'aloof' breed).

The older pup may be a little more focused when it comes to training, but she will also have had time to form habits - not all of which may be good. Luckily, Goldens are very intelligent and eager to please, and so unless there are any real 'biggies' in terms of behavior problems it shouldn't be a major issue.

The point about looks is also a bit tricky, as unless you're very familiar with the breed and experienced at evaluating pups, it's difficult to tell what an 8 week pup is going to look like. A four month old is more of a 'finished product' but obviously still has a long way to go. Most pups at that stage are in the adolescent, awkward stage and tend to be a bit skinny, gangly or out-of-proportion - but the general conformation and bone structure, head type etc. is clearer.

I'm afraid I may have confused you more than helped you, but as I said earlier, there are so many variables, that it's really just a personal choice as to which way to go. I don't necessarily recommend going with 'gut instincts' when choosing a pup as those puppy-dog eyes can get you every time, but in this case if you have a pull to go one way or the other, then I'd follow that.

I wish you the very best of luck with whichever pup you choose. Enjoy her.

11 Month Old Yorkie-Poo Urinates on Couch and Bed Daily

by Gina
(Woodridge, IL)

For a while Baxter was potty trained with his potty pad. He was using it up until a few weeks ago. He began urinating only on the couch or the bed.

We live on the 3rd floor of an apartment so we take him for a walk a few days a week and he's always been good about using his puppy pad. He still poops on it but has been urinating on the couch or bed daily for the past few weeks. We talked to our vet and they gathered a urine sample and found no indication of a UTI.

Why would our puppy all of a sudden stop using his puppy pad? We have continuously rewarded him with a treat if he used the puppy pad to poop or urinate. We aren't sure what to do anymore and he is beginning to ruin our couch and bed. We are becoming very frustrated with having to wash the bed sheets, comforter or couch cover daily.

We have also been trying to take him to puppy day care once a week. What should we do??



Hi Gina
I know how frustrating this can be, but it's actually not too unusual for a pup to go through some sort of 'regression', especially during adolescence, or if there has been a change at home (family situation, house move, new pet etc.).

Pee pee pads are okay, but I really don't ever recommend using them as pups often use them as toys, or refuse to use them at all. There are a few things that I recommend....

First of all, get a crate and begin using it to contain Baxter when you can't supervise him. Half the battle is preventing him from having the opportunity to wee somewhere inappropriate! Crating him will help with this. Check out my Crate Training A Puppy page for lots of advice and help with this.

Secondly, I'd recommend getting a doggie litter box or portable potty, and encouraging him to use that rather than the pee pads. You can put his pee pad INSIDE the litter box to begin with to help him make the correct associations though. If you can put this litterbox outside on a balcony that would be even better as it will help him break the connection between eliminating and the indoors.

One of the best choices for an indoor potty is theMini Pee Wee indoor portable dog potty. It has 'fake' grass and high sides, and is especially made for tiny breeds. In my experience, dogs are more likely to use this sort of tray than the pads alone.

Also, make sure that you use an enzymatic cleaner such as Natures' Miracle to clean your bedding and sofa so that you remove as much of the odor as possible. That's what is attracting Baxter back to the same spots to eliminate.

It will take consistency, patience and a lot of supervision to break this bad habit he's got into, but I'm sure you can do it if you follow the suggestions above. I wish you the very best of luck with this.