how do I train my chihuahua puppy who does not have all her shots

My husband brought home a 9 week old chihuahua puppy. She is adorable. The previous owner (my husband's son) was using wee wee pads but stopped. For the past week he has been taking her out a few times on the grass with her mom and dad chihuahua to start to train her.

We have only had her 3 days. We have been taking her out in our yard to try to train her as well. Also, I took her out on the street in front of my house twice in the evening just for 5 minutes.

I feel terrible! Today I went to the vet and she received her first vaccination. The vet said I should not have taken her out on the street at all. Also, the vet said not to let her out where there might be other dogs or animals.

I am not sure what to do. Should I be using wee wee pads until she is fully vaccinated? I live in a townhouse development and my yard is not fenced in. We have only been going out in the yard with her when no other cats or dogs are out there but I am really confused as to what I am suppose to be doing. I am afraid now that I have done the wrong thing and she might get sick.

She is so beautiful I just want to protect her and care for her the right way. I feel horribly guilty that I took her out on the street.

Can you help me with some great advice?


Hi
I'll do my best :o)....

Firstly, don't feel so bad, you obviously love your puppy very much and are trying to do the best thing for her. We all make mistakes sometimes, and there's a lot to learn when you're a brand new puppy parent!

If you live in a development, and the dogs/cats around you are likely to have been vaccinated, the chances are that you haven't exposed her to anything terrible. But, it's definitely not a good idea to let her come in contact with any areas other dogs frequent until she's fully vaccinated.

Just to be on the safe side, check out my dog illnesses and my Parvo pages. Don't panic about it, I just want you to be aware of the symptoms of the most common illnesses so that you can recognize any potential problems IF they should happen.

As for the potty training. Wee wee pads are tricky as many dogs just want to play with them, and if you train your dog to go inside (even on pads) you will have to retrain her later to go outside, and she may always have a vague feeling that inside is okay!

Most pups don't like the crate at first, but they soon adjust to it. It's really by far the easiest and quickest way to house break a puppy, and I'd really recommend that you give it a try. You'll find tons of information, tips and advice on my < ahref="http://www.the-puppy-dog-place.com/crate-training-a-puppy.html">Crate Training page.

Because your back yard is a shared one, you really want to try and fence off an small area that's only for your puppy to use. You could buy a metal/plastic puppy exercise/play-pen and always put your puppy down in that fenced-in area when you take her out to potty. If you want to be super-careful, you could spray the area of grass within the pen with a 1:5 solution of bleach and water. It kills the majority of germs, bacteria and viruses, including Parvo.

As you're new to puppy parenting, you may also find my New Puppy Care page helpful.

Best of luck with your little girl!

My Bichon/Shitzu puppy...

Blossom

Hi!I have a 7 month old Bichon/shitzu. She was the runt of the litter..I have her brothers and sisters also and they are bigger than her.

It seems she hasn't grown much in the last 2 or 3 months. You can feel her ribs and to me she feels a little to skinny. She does eat normally and has lots of energy like the other pups..So should i be worried?

~Jamie


Hi Jamie
She's adorable! If she is eating well, seems to be happy and full of energy, and has normal bowels etc. then I really don't think you have anything much to worry about right now.

The 'runt' or smallest in the litter sometimes stays that way, but can surprise you as they mature and even end up bigger than the others. However, if her bones and frame are smaller and lighter, that's just how she's meant to be.

As long as you're feeding her a high quality food, she should be getting enough nutrition. At this adolescent stage, many puppies seem a little underweight/scrawny or just 'out of proportion', it improves as they mature.

If you're really worried, you can visit your vet and talk it over with them, they could also take a look at your pup and make sure there aren't any health issues there. Otherwise, I'd say just keep an eye on her and try not to worry :o)

Good luck!

bath

by casey
(texas)

How old does a puppy have to be to be bathed?


Hi Casey
It's best not to bathe a puppy before it's 7 or 8 weeks old if possible, because tiny puppies get chilled easily. However if you have a little pup who is really dirty/smelly you can either sponge them clean or give them a quick 'top and tail' in the sink and then dry them off really quickly. Be sure to keep them really nice and warm until they're totally dry.

Once your puppy is over 8 weeks, you can bathe them if necessary. But again, unless they're really dirty it's best to keep bathing to a minimum, it dries out their skin and can cause irritation.

There are a lot of tips, advice and information on giving a puppy a bath on my Bathing A Puppy page. I think it will get you on the right track.

best of luck and have fun!

Puppy and older dog

by Richard
(Belfast)

We have a 2year old Male shihtzu dog and have now recently brought home a 10 week puppy male shihtzu.

The puppy and dog begin playing okay and then it turns aggressive mostly from the puppy. Any advice how to deal with this


Hi Richard
That's pretty normal behavior! Puppies can annoy the heck out of an older dog and their energy and enthusiasm can get a bit out of hand.

Usually an older dog makes allowances for the puppy, and will just growl a warning (or maybe snap if the pup doesn't pay attention) when a line is crossed. The puppy will understand this.

It's best to let them sort out the 'pecking order' for themselves, only get involved if you're seriously concerned someone will get hurt. It often sounds much more aggressive than it actually is, and unless blood is drawn I really wouldn't worry too much.

you can find more tips and advice on introducing a new puppy to your older dog on my Introducing A New Puppy page.

Best of luck with the two of them.

diarrhia

by sinbad
(wanup)

Golden doodle has diarrhea for 2 days. I'm not sure if he ate something from out in the yard. Spring is here and he has been chasing dead leaves and eating dead grass.

How long will this go on? It seems to have a mustard yellow colour.

His appetite is good and drinking normal. No vomiting.



Hi Sinbad
It does sound as though your pup could have been snacking on something he shouldn't! The fact that he's eating, drinking and acting normally are good signs and I doubt it's anything serious at this point.

Usually this kind of upset rights itself within 2 or 3 days, but you can help speed it up a bit. I'd recommend that you withhold food for 24 hours (but e sure that he has access to plenty of fresh water), this gives his digestive system a chance to settle down.

After 24 hours you can give him some plain, white boiled rice with a little bit of chicken broth at mealtimes. The following day, gradually re-introduce his regular food.

You should find this helps him get back on track. However, if after this you find he's still having diarrhea, I'd strongly suggest that you contact your veterinarian. There's always the possibility of a bacterial/viral infection, parasites and so on, and it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Same applies if he starts to vomit, seems tired, loses his appetite or generally seems unwell.

You can check out my Puppy Diarrhea page for more information on dealing with this common puppy complaint.

Best of luck, hope he's doing better soon.

To deworm or not to deworm

by N.H.
(Sacramento, CA)

My puppy is 8 weeks old, he is a Chihuahua mixed with Chinese Crested.

I will be getting his 1st set of vaccinations this Saturday, but I'm not sure if he needs to be dewormed. He doesn't have worms in his stool. Is it necessary for him to be dewormed in this case?

And if he doesn't have worms and gets dewormed anyways will that affect him in a negative way?


Hi
Many breeders begin a deworming program before the puppies go to their new homes, and it's possible your pup has been dewormed once already.

However, you usually need this done about 3 times. Many puppies have worms, and you don't necessarily need to be able to see the worms for him to have them. Only in fairly serious infestations are they very obvious.

It's definitely recommended to have the initial course of deworming completed, as it protects him from any future problems. It will also probably be done annually with his yearly vaccinations as a precaution.

Your veterinarian can do a fecal test, that is take a stool sample from your pup and test it for worms. That way you know what kinds he has and how to treat it. It may be that it comes back negative, and then it's up to your vet's advice as to whether you want to deworm him. I would recommend doing so anyway as the fecal sample may not have contained worms/eggs/larva, but if he has a mild case, there still could be some that simply didn't show up in that tiny sample.

There are sometimes mild side effects such as loss of appetite, diarrhea etc. when a puppy is dewormed. But this is far less likely to be a problem when the medication is one given/prescribed by a vet. The over-the-counter ones are much less effective, and far more likely to cause unwanted side effects.

Having your vet deworm him, even if he doesn't have any worms, will not hurt him.

You can read more about worms on my Puppy Worms page.

Best of luck!

I found a puppy dog

by Belinda Olivares
(Salinas,Ca. USA)

before photo of buddy

I am so upset cuz i found this cute male white with some black i think he is maltese/poodle don't know his age friendly but was very matted with stickers and smells.

I have done the best i can. I wanted to know what else can i do to clean him up. I won't consider taking him to the shelters cuz who knows what will happen to him. I am on disability and money is tight.I want to do what is best for him. I am looking for his owners or find him a loving home where he will be loved and not neglected. Any suggestions from anybody would be appreciated.

Also he has been humping a blanket and has tried to hump my girl which unfortunatley not neutered and in no way do i want them to have puppies to many already in this world that are suffering. so my other question is can dogs get pregnant when the girls are not in heat even though i keep them apart.

I need any info on where can i post up for a lost and found or looking for a loving home. Thank you for your time and info. I would like to post up a before and after photo of my buddy. buddy is the name i will call him. thank you again.I literally cry when i saw him like in the photo. his face was matted and he has beautiful light eyes.


Hi Belinda
Your poor little 'Buddy'! You're an angel to these dogs.

He certainly looks in a terrible state poor baby, if you've bathed him the only other thing you can do is to try to cut out the matts in his fur. But if they're really bad, and down to the skin, it can be impossible to get them all out. A groomer or your vet could do it for you but of course that would cost you.

As for finding him a new home. Have you looked to see if there are no-kill shelters in your area? Some private shelters have a no-kill policy and any animal surrendered to them will stay with them until re-homed, or indefinitely if no one adopts them.

You could also try advertising for a new home for him on Craigslist.com - it's free to list pets that are 'free to good home' and Craigslist is very popular. Just be very careful when letting him go to someone for free, make sure they will give him a good home.

Maybe try making some posters and putting them up locally. You could ask for his owners to claim him, or someone to adopt him.

In answer to your question about your dogs getting pregnant - NO a dog can't get pregnant if she's not in season. But, as it's possible for a female to come in season and get pregnant before you realize it's 'that time', I'd be very careful about keeping them apart.

When you get an 'after photo' of him, please submit it and let us know if you find him a home.
Best of luck!

How often should I give my aussie shepherd water?

I'm torn between what i've been reading in all these puppy training books and such, but I need to find a way to control my puppy's peeing.


Is there a schedule on when are good times to give puppies water aside from "giving them access to it all the time"?


Hi
Puppies really need access to fresh water at all times. They can get dehydrated pretty easily, especially in warm/hot weather.

I know this means that they need to pee a lot, but that's just something they need to do. The exception to this is at night. It's best to pick up their water bowl around 7 - 7:30pm and not put it back down until the next morning.

Young pups have very little bladder/bowel control and do need to 'go' every 30 mins to an hour at first. As they grow and mature this improves! Crate training is the simplest and quickest way to housebreak a puppy and does help them to learn to control their bladder/bowels over time.

Best of luck!

Bathing a young pup

by Beth
(Illinois)

My Dog recently had puppies (1 week ago) and some of them had poop crusted in their fur...I rinsed them off with warm water and dried them well and put a heat lamp next to them. Now they are snuggling with Momma.

Did I make a bad decision? Its just that the father is a rottweiler and when he was 10 weeks old I had him treated for Parvo. I want to do all that I can to ensure the puppies health. They mean everything to us!

Please tell me I haven't been a bad "grand" parent!


Hi Beth
No, you most definitely haven't been a bad doggie grandparent, and you obviously care a lot about these little puppies!

It's best not to bathe a tiny puppy if you can help it, the momma should keep them clean enough. But if you feel it's necessary, what you did is okay. Keeping them warm is the most important thing.

I own and breed Rottweilers myself, and have had an experience with Parvo too, so I know exactly how you feel.

If your dog had Parvo at the home you're living in now, you need to be very, very careful with these new puppies. Parvo can live pretty much indefinitely in the soil (unaffected by any types of weather etc.). It's vital that your new puppies don't come in contact with any residual virus.

A solution of bleach in water is about the only thing that kills Parvo, so be sure that all the areas where the virus may be are cleaned/treated with this. Also, be careful about tracking the virus indoors on your shoes, hands etc. Vaccinate the puppies as soon as they're old enough too.

You can find out more about Parvo on my Canine Parvovirus page. You may also be interested in my article on Puppy Development.

Best of luck with your new 'babies'!

Bath puppy

when to give my lab puppy her 1st bath?


Hi
It's best to wait until your puppy is at least 6 or 7 weeks old before giving her a bath. Very young puppies don't regulate their temperature very well and can get chilled easily.

If your pup is very dirty or smelly, or is over 7 weeks, you can give her a bath whenever you're ready.

It's important to use a very gentle puppy shampoo (don't use a flea shampoo though, they're dangerous for young pups) and to keep your puppy nice and warm until she's totally dry.

You can find lots of tips and advice on giving your puppy her first bath on my Bathing A Puppy page.

Have fun!

2nd puppy

by Sylvia
(Aberdeen)

I have a 4 month old rottweiler who loves to run with other dogs and play. However when she is on her own she will not run around and can be very demanding in the house.

I am thinking of getting another puppy (collie) as company for her.

However I am concerned she may be to young to cope with another pup in her space so soon.




Hi Sylvia
Rottweilers bond very closely with their owners, they love to be 'in the thick of things' and can be demanding in that way. It's important to them to be close to the people they love, but that doesn't mean you have to cater to her every whim 24/7

I wouldn't recommend getting another pup just yet, as at 4 months your rottie is still a baby. Two puppies will soon bond closely with each other and that can interfere with their individual relationships with you. Two will take up MUCH more time than one and you will need to spend quite a bit of one-on-one time with each. I would suggest that you concentrate on your rottie girl for now, and then when she's a bit older, maybe around a year - 18 months or so, then add another puppy if YOU want one. She will be happier (now and in the future) with having you all to herself.

Pups like this, with a strong need to be close to their owners are at possible risk for separation anxiety later on. Although it's a good thing to have a close relationship with your pup, you also need to encourage her to learn how to be content by herself for short periods (for both your sakes). Start to let her spend 'alone time' time in her crate (an hour or so at first) with just a couple of her favorite toys. I'd advise putting her crate in a separate room from where you are to begin with, then leave her in her crate while you go out for a short while. Make sure she's had a potty break before you crate her, then just ignore her complaints, it's important she learn to accept this.

Although Rottweilers are large dogs, they're not particularly high energy (especially when adult) , a couple of good walks per day, plus a play session in the yard and a couple of short training sessions should keep her healthy and happy. As she enjoys the company of other dogs, be sure to give her opportunity to have 'play dates' with friends'/relatives' dogs and the dog park is also fun. A good Puppy Obedience Class would probably be beneficial and fun for both of you.

Best of luck with her.

Train-Um Puppy Aid

Hi there! I was looking through your website, which by the way was very helpful, & I noticed that you recommended a training aid product called Train-Um. I just wanted to let you know that this product is not safe for puppies, or even humans for that matter.

It contains an ingredient (or chemical) called "trimethyl pentane" which is not only highly flammable, but is also harmful if inhaled or ingested. It may be harmful through skin contact. It is also an eye, respiratory and skin irritant. I just thought I would point this out, as it probably is not a good idea to recommend this product to visitors. Some people may not take the time to research the product & may end up harming their pups. Thank you.

P.S. Your website is AWESOME!!


Hi
This product is one that I have used myself, and as it's readily available from reputable resources, I never questioned it's safety.

However, I did some research after reading your submission, and have found that there are no 'recognized' or confirmed health hazards to humans. However, this chemical is suspected of causing kidney damage and having some toxicity to rats when inhaled or ingested in large quantities.

I'm not prepared to say whether or not it's dangerous to puppies, or their owners, but would suggest people do some research of their own.

Thanks for your submission. Glad you're enjoying my site :o)

worming my puppy

by Ashley
(everett, wa)

I just gave my puppy the worming medicine from the vet, how long will it be now before he starts to poop them out?

Hi Ashley
That should happen pretty soon, usually within 12 - 24 hours.

Of course, whether or not you notice them depends on whether or not she had a bad case of worms, or just a few!

Overdose of albon in 4 week old puppy...help plz!

i just brought a 4 week old pitbull puppy and she has been on albon for little over a week now...i went to give her her dose but a little more came out than was suppose too...what should i do?




Hi
First of all, don't panic! If you just gave her a tiny bit more than she's supposed to have, chances are it won't be enough to cause any problems. If it was more than a little 'overdose' though, it's important to call your vet and let them know.

It's important for your pup to drink lots of water when taking Albon, so encourage her to drink as much as you can.

The side effects of an overdose would include vomiting, diarrhea and hyper-activity. If you notice any of these in your puppy, do call your veterinarian right away and tell them what happened, they will advise you on what to do.

Measuring out tiny amounts of medicine is always tricky, just be extra-careful next time. If you're still worried about your pup, you gave her a lot too much, or she shows any of the symptoms above, I would recommend that you call your vet so that they can put your mind at rest.

Best of luck with her!

FIRST PUPPY BATH

by Abby
(west covina CA )

I'm just asking why do we have to take a puppy a bath after six weeks.




Hi Abby
You don't HAVE to give a puppy a bath after 6 weeks! It's best not to bathe a puppy before he's 7 or 8 weeks old as they can get chilled very easily.

If your puppy is older than 8 weeks and is particularly dirty or smelly then it's okay to bathe him. If he doesn't need a bath, you certainly don't need to give him one though :o)

Too much bathing can lead to dry skin and other problems, and it's important only to use a very mild shampoo (no flea/medicated shampoos) and to keep the puppy very nice and warm until he's completely dry.

You can check out my bathing a puppy page for tips and advice on giving your puppy a bath whenever you think he's ready for one.

Good luck!

Why does my puppy hate water?

by Isabella,

Hi there,

A few days ago I purchased a 9 week old yellow labrador retriever puppy( her name is puddles). Well I gave her a bath with warm water, gently massaging her with puppy tearless shampoo. She seemed very scared, she was whining the whole time.She tried to escape.

I don't know if she'd had a bad experience with water before. Also, I thought labradors are supposed to love water, will my puppy be a water hater for the rest of her life?


Hi Isabella
No, I doubt your puppy will be a water-hater! She's a little baby, and probably has never had a bath before, it's natural for her to be nervous or even scared.

It will take a few baths before she's feeling comfortable with the whole thing You can find tips and advice on bathing your puppy on my Bathing A Puppy page.

Best of luck with your new pup!

my puppies seem to be ill

by loraine
(england)

My 2 week old puppies have just been wormed, now 2 of them wont suckle. They are twitching also, what could be wrong?


Hi Loraine
It's not that unusual for a puppy to have a reaction to a worming medication, but the ones prescribed by the vet are usually safer overall.

In a slightly older puppy it's not usually a great concern, but given how young yours are I would definitely recommend that you call the veterinarian and tell them what's happened. They may want to see the pups, or at least be able to give you some advice. Chances are that your puppies will be fine shortly, but it's always better to be safe than sorry, especially with such tiny ones.

I would be careful next time you worm them, if it was an over-the-counter medication, don't use it again, let your vet worm them. If it was one the vet gave you, make sure you let them know that the puppies reacted badly to it and ask for a different type of dewormer next time.

Best of luck, hope your 'babies' are fine soon.

should i give my puppy more medicine ???

by cythia
(san antonio texas usa)

My puppy is six weeks old and weights 5 pounds. i dewormed him four days ago and there are nine other puppy's so i don't know if he has pooped out the worms yet, and today he hasn't been active at all and he's ownly pooped once and it looked hard and had no worms or blood.

Does he still have worms? And if so would it be safe to give more worm medicine ?????

please help !!!!!!


Hi Cythia
I'm not sure what kind of deworming medecine you've used to treat your puppy. Over-the-counter products bought at petstores etc. are rarely effective and can unwanted side effects. They're generally only available to treat roundworms (the most common kind).

In order to treat your puppy properly and make sure that you get rid of the worms without harming him, you need to take him to your veterinarian. He can do a fecal test (take a sample of your puppy's feces and test for worms). That way he knows exactly what kinds of worms your puppy has and what kind of medication to give him in order for it to be effective.

Depending on how bad the worm infestation is, it may be necessary to treat your pup more than once, but this should only be done by a vet who knows exactly what worms he's treating.

I strongly suggest that you don't give your pup anymore medicine until he sees a vet. It's easy to overdose him and cause problems.

You can find lots of tips and advice on dealing with worms in puppies on my Puppy Worms page.

Best of luck

Hello

by Nicole
(Oklahoma )

I have a puppy, she was a rescue and she's losing her teeth right now so I was wondering what age category that would put her in and also how large will she get?

Like if she's about 6 months old will she double her size how does that work?


Hi Nicole
Most puppies start to lose their baby teeth at around 3 months old or so. They will also most likely have grown their last adult tooth (the canines) by six months of age.

If your pup is currently losing her teeth, I would guess she's between 3 and 6 months old right now. The rescue center should have been able to give you a 'guess-timate' of her age though.

How much and how fast she'll grow depends on some variables. Things like her breed (or mix of breeds), her nutrition, and her general health can all affect her growth patterns.

Small breed dogs mature faster than large breed ones. Generally a small, tiny or toy breed is considered adult/mature by one year of age. Large and giant breeds can take 18 months to 2 years before they reach adulthood.

So there's no hard-and-fast rule about weight gain or growth I'm afraid. A puppy's paws can be a good indication of how large they're going to be. If your pup still has enormous paws and big, knobbly joints on her front legs, chances are good she'll be a big girl. Pups generally get their height first, and then slowly start to 'fill out' in the weight department, so she may look kind of skinny and out-of-proportion as she goes through the 'adolescent' stage.

You might find my Puppy Development page helpful.

Best of luck with your puppy - enjoy her!

yellow stools and worms

My 8 week old puggle puppy has a worm infestation. We brought her to the vet because she was throwing up and pooping out worms. They gave her deworming medication on saturday afternoon after x-raying her and saying there was a large bud in her stomach.

Between then and now she has had yellow diarahea with worms mixed in that were about 3-4 inches long. Now this morning they are solid yellow stools with NO worms.

Is this a good thing and she is getting better? Or does this mean that there are still worms in her? Any ideas would be helpful its our first puppy!


Hi
The fact that you're not seeing any worms is a good thing, hopefully she has eliminated most of them. However, don't worry if you do still see some in her stools, that's normal.

If the infestation was bad, then they may need to give her more than one dose of medicine, and may deworm her again in a couple of weeks.

You can find more information on worms on my Puppy Worms page.

As this is your first puppy, you may also find my New Puppy Care page helpful. Best of luck with her!

Pomeranian feeding schedule

by Gwen
(Oklahoma)

How often and how much do I need to feed my 8 week old pomeranian puppy?



Hi Gwen
I always suggest that you start with the guidelines on the food bag. They usually go by weight/age and are a good jumping-off point.

Of course, puppies are all individuals and some eat more than others. Don't free-feed (ie leave the food bowls down at all times). Instead, offer meals 3 times a day at the same time each day, and allow your puppy about 15 mins to eat.

If he gobbles it all down in 3 mins flat, offer him some more at the next meal, if he leaves some in his bowl and wanders off, give him a bit less next time.

Small breed puppies have very tiny tummies, and fast metabolisms so their little bodies use up their food quickly. Even as adults they often need to eat twice a day so that their blood sugars levels stay on an even keel.

You can find out more about feeding your puppy on my puppy kibble page.

Good luck.

My puppies ate a kitten.

by Lupita
(Texas)

My female husky had puppies, they are 7 weeks old. Today she found a stray kitten and she ate it or swallowed it, I don't know.

Well, when we put her back inside with the puppies she regurgitated the kitten and the pups ate it. Now they are throwing it up bit by bit; will they get sick with anything the kitten may have had?

They already have their first vaccine, but should I worry any ways?

Hi Lupita
Oh my goodness, poor little kitty! To be honest, I'm not certain whether or not the puppies will suffer any ill-effects (apart from the vomiting) from having eaten this. It's impossible to tell whether or not the kitten was sick etc.

It's normal for a momma dog to regurgitate her food for her puppies, it's her way of weaning them. I would recommend checking with your veterinarian on this one as he/she would be able to give you more accurate information on the health hazard aspects.

Best of luck!

Sick puppies

by Vanessa
(Guyana)

I have seven puppies they are 5 weeks old. They were born healthy and normal. About 2 weeks ago I noticed a few of my puppies were unable to stand on rear legs, not eating or drinking and their rear legs shaking.

One died due to this. Please, can you tell me whats wrong with them. I am so afraid they will all die.


Hi Vanessa
I'm so sorry to hear about your puppies, I know how heartbreaking it is to lose one of your 'babies'.

I really can't say for sure what the problem is with this litter, especially as up until now they've seemed perfectly normal. Leg problems can often be attributed to nerve, spinal or neurological problems but these would most likely have shown up earlier.

Is it possible that your pups got into something they shouldn't and ingested something potentially dangerous or toxic? Have you treated them with any kind of medication or product?

I would strongly recommend that you take them to your veterinarian for a thorough check up. He should be able to give you some idea of what's wrong, and what needs to be done. I think this is the only way to get to the bottom of this problem.

I wish you the best of luck and really hope the remaining puppies recover well.

puppy walking

We just adopted a 2 month old lab mix puppy that hasn't had all of his shots.

When can we start walking him outside on a leash and when would it be safe to take him to Petco or Petsmart with us.



Hi
Unvaccinated puppies are very at risk of catching one of several nasty so you definitely shouldn't walk your pup anywhere that other unvaccinated dogs may have been until he's had his full set of puppy shots.

Parks, city streets, beaches etc. are all risky places. Petsmart or Petco can be okay as most people taking their dogs there are responsible pet owners who vaccinate their dogs. HOWEVER, I would suggest that you not allow your pup to walk on the ground outside or inside the store. Carry him inside and then put a blanket or towel in the cart and push him around in that. Of course, be careful to watch him so he doesn't try to jump out!

Once he's had all his shots, you can start to socialize him properly. Check out my socialization page for lots of tips and ideas.

Best of luck and have fun!

What is he???

by Moo's Mom
(Atlanta, GA )

I have a 13 week old puppy (his name is Moo) that I've had since he was about 8 weeks old. He was sold to me as a Border Collie/Lab Mix. I was a little doubtful because of his markings, but thought it wasn't impossible. He has the tenacious stubborn nature of a Border Collie or at least that's what I chalked all them up to based on my research of the breed.

Looking at other breeds online, however I think he looks much more like an English Pointer...the spots and their placements are what clued me in.

Can you tell me what you think he might be?
He is definitely bossy (not aggressive) but the puppy biting is a big challenge for us.


Hi
Moo is absolutely adorable, whatever his ancestry is :o)

It's always pretty difficult to guess at a mixed breed pups genetics, especially as his looks will probably change quite a bit as he grows. When he's adult you'll probably be able to take a more accurate guess.

If you ignore his markings, he definitely looks like a Lab cross, so I'd think that part is a pretty safe bet. The markings though could be Border Collie (the face markings would support that) but a Pointer is also a possibility. It looks as though he has 'freckles' or spotting on his legs, that's pretty characteristic of many pointers/gun dogs.

Collies, Pointers and Labs are all pretty 'mouthy' breeds, due in a large way to their original purposes as herders/gun dogs/retrievers. Luckily they're also very intelligent breeds, very trainable and responsive too. Albeit a bit on the energetic side!

Biting is a very common puppy behavior, but it does need to be stopped. I'd recommend reading my Puppy Biting page for lots of tips and advice on dealing with this behavior.

Best of luck with Moo, he's a cutie!

umbilical hernia

If a puppy goes to get its first vet check and it has a umbilical hernia does it still pass the vet check or does it fail?




Hi
It's not really a case of 'passing or failing', and I'm not sure whether you're buying or selling the puppy.

From a buyers point of view, if the puppy has an umbilical hernia it's generally not a big deal.

True hernias are very rare, and they usually involve a malformation of the abdomen and even chest wall and can have serious complications. It often has a genetic component and a dog with this condition shouldn't be bred.

The more common 'hernia' seen in puppies is actually a 'delayed closure' of the abdominal muscles. It's fairly common in puppies and quite often it 'fixes itself' as the muscle walls close up naturally as the puppy develops.

If this natural closure doesn't happen, your veterinarian can do a simple surgery to fix it if he feels that is necessary.

Occasionally a small loop of the intestine can get trapped between the muscle walls and if this happens you would need to take your puppy to a vet quickly as it can be serious. You would know something was wrong as the puppy would be in pain, the 'hernia' wouldn't be able to be pushed back through the opening, and your pup would probably cry, pant, whine, pace etc.

If you're selling a puppy with a hernia, it's important to let the new buyer know about it. That way they're prepared for the above eventuality should it happen. It's also not advisable to breed from a female with a hernia, because the pregnancy will put extra strain on the abdominal wall and could cause complications.

I'm sure your vet will advise you further on what to look for and put your mind at rest. Having one of the common 'delayed-closure' hernias isn't going to affect your pup's health and he will still 'pass' with flying colors I'm sure.

Best of luck!

leaves water from mouth

by Gagan
(Chandigarh)

My german shepherd puppy of 2 months age leaves water from mouth. The water smells very badly, please suggest me what i do!


Hi Gagan
I'm not exactly certain what it is that your pup is doing, but I'll try to help.

Is he vomiting? Bringing back up his food, water etc? If this is happening, he may be suffering from a contagious dog illness, and you really need to take him to see a veterinarian so that you can get a diagnosis. Vomiting, diarrhea and extreme fatigue are all common symptoms of illness in puppies.

If he's drooling (this is kind of dribbling, with saliva dripping from his mouth), he could have a problem with his teeth, a gum/tooth infection, or something stuck in his gums or throat (a stick, piece of bone etc.). I'd suggest taking a look in his mouth to see if there's anything obvious that you can remove. If you can't see anything, or his gums, throat, mouth etc. seem red or inflamed, take him to your vet so that they can find out what is bothering him.

I hope this helps. If not, resubmit with a bit more information and I'll try again! Best of luck with your puppy.

Yorkshire Terriers

by Beverly
(England)

I have a 16 week old yorkie puppy that seems to be losing some of the fur on his belly, is this usual?


Hi Beverly
I wouldn't say that's normal, but without a bit more information it's a bit difficult to tell what's going on.

Does he lick, scratch or bite at his tummy? Is it red, sore or have a rash?

This could be a sign of allergies. These are actually a lot more common in dogs than people think, and the tummy, tail area, legs and feet are the places where itching and discomfort are most likely to show up.

If he's getting his tummy wet (in puddles?) or moist (sleeping on tile?) etc., it could be just irritation from that. Keeping the are dry, maybe with a dusting of unscented, or medicated, talc too, may help.

If it's allergies it could be a contact allergy, for example he could be allergic to the detergent you wash his bedding in, or it could be a reaction to a food ingredient or even inhalant/seasonal allergies.

Regardless of the 'trigger', most allergies result in skin irritation. There are several products on the market that you could use to help your pup, the ones containing hydrocortisone are very effective. You can see some of these products on my Canine Skin Allergies page.

If the irritation or hair loss gets worse, and you don't think an allergy is to blame, I'd suggest you take your pup to the vet and let them have a look.

Best of luck!

How early is too early for my Boston Terrier to whelp her puppies?

My dog (a Boston Terrier) is pregnant with her 3rd litter of pups. The first litter, she was only bred once, had 2 pups and one died, the second litter, she was bred twice and six pups, and this time she was bred 5 times (this will be her last litter). I know that they go between 60 and 63 days usually, she will be at 60 days on 7/5, but I believe she's already in the early stages of labor. Diarreah, laying around, won't jump over the baby gates (we have 2 small children), won't eat (did eat yesterday and is still drinking), and her stomach is very tight! Is it too early for her to start whelping, or is this ok? Do you think it might be too early?


Hi
The average length of a dogs pregnancy is 63 days, give or take a couple of days either side. If a dog goes into labor and delivers her puppies much before 61 days, the puppies could well be in trouble.

however, in a healthy female, this is unlikely to happen. It may just be that your dog is feeling very tired and uncomfortable, and it's not unusual for a dog in the late stages of pregnancy to lie around, not eat much etc.

I would recommend taking her to see your veterinarian though, just to make sure there's no health problems you're not aware of. If everything checks out okay I don't think you have much to worry about.

Just give her plenty of rest, access to food and water and some peace and quiet. Good luck with this litter.

what can a 5 week old Pitbull eat

by israel
(landenber )

what can a 5 week old pitbull eat and drink?

Hi Israel
At 5 weeks old your pup can eat regular puppy food and drink water.

A quality food with a good source of protein as a first ingredient is necessary healthy growth and development. For a week or so you can soak it in warm water for about 15 minutes to soften it. This makes it a bit easier for your puppy to eat.

He doesn't need milk or formula, just water.

Remember to get his vaccination schedule started at around 7 weeks of age. Young puppies are very at risk for many dog illnesses and Pitbulls are one of the breeds especially prone to Parvo which can kill very quickly.

Best of luck with him.

Puppies nursing from bitch with mastitis ok?

by November Ryan
(N.B. Canada)

Hi there. I recently took in a pregnant abandoned shepherd mix, and her puppies are now one week old.

I recognize mastitis when I see it, having worked at a vet clinic for a number of years. I used poultices and massage, and the mastitis has cleared up visibly. (I was just not in a finacial situation to have her see the vet,and before you condemn me for being irresponsible,I will say she would have been put down if I hadn't taken her, and she's only about 2 years and a total sweetie. Here she has love and comfort)

The puppies are growing well and seem healthy, mama seems energetic and healthy. My question is, could the pups nursing from her contract a serious illness that would have only one symptom, being light colored, odd smelling feces? Or is it normal for nursing pups to have stools like this?

Thank you very much.

-November




Hi November
It sounds as though you've managed to control the mastitis, at least for now. The only problem being that she may well need antibiotics to actually clear up the infection. If this is the case there really isn't any other option as without them she could get very sick.

I understand your position and I know how expensive vet treatment can be! This is a lucky dog to have found you, but in the case of an ongoing infection she would need antibiotics. That is something that time will tell, as she will get sicker and you will definitely know there's a problem.

Continuing to feed the puppies is good for her, it helps to keep the milk flowing and that helps to prevent the bacteria building up in a blocked duct (cause of mastitis!). It shouldn't do the puppies any harm either.

Tiny pups generally have very liquid, mustard/yellow colored feces, and yes, they do smell quite different to an older pups stools.

If the puppies are eating properly, gaining weight, and seem warm, satisfied and sleepy, then they're most likely getting enough food and are doing fine. If a puppy is hungry, or sick, it will wriggle and cry a lot, and can become chilled. That would also warrant a trip to the vets office!

I'm not a vet and can't actually see the puppies, so if you're in any doubt about their health (or that of the momma dog) I would suggest you at least call your vet for advice. However, from what you say, I think that you seem to be in the clear for now at least.

Best of luck with your little family!
-November




Hi November
It sounds as though you may have the mastitis under control, hopefully you recognized it quickly enough to prevent the need for antibiotics. I know how expensive vet bills can be and do understand your situation, but keep an eye on her and if the nipple and surrounding area remains hot and inflamed, and if the momma dog doesn't seem to be feeling well, please take her to your vet for some antibiotics.

Continuing to nurse her puppies is actually good for the mastitis and keeps the milk flowing. It shouldn't hurt the puppies either.

Little puppies generally have very soft, mustard/yellow colored feces, and yes they do smell quite different to an older puppy's stools.

If the pups are warm, content, gaining weight, sleeping between feeds, the chances are good that they're fine and healthy. If a puppy is sick, it will cry a lot, wriggle and squirm around and often get chilled. If this happens you will again need some help from your vet.

From what you've told me, I think you're doing okay for now and everything is going along as it should. However, I'm not a veterinarian and can't see the puppies, so if you have any worries or concerns, please call your vet and ask their advice.

Kudos to you for helping this dog, she's a lucky girl - and so are her puppies. Best of luck with your little family.

puppy shots now diarreha

My 4 month old shitzu got her distemper shots & parvo shot now she has had diarrhea for 3 days. Whats the problem?




Hi
It's not unusual for a puppy to have a reaction to vaccinations, they can include an upset tummy, loss of appetite, being extra sleepy or running a low grade fever. You can read more about puppy vaccinations (and potential reactions) on my Puppy Shots page.

Sometimes they also develop some swelling or a lump at the site of the shot itself.

I wouldn't worry too much about this as long as your puppy seems well in every other way. Usually these reactions only last a couple of days. Just make sure she's getting lots of water to drink so that she doesn't get dehydrated.

However, if the diarrhea doesn't improve within the next 24 hours, if it gets worse, or if she seems to be unwell (vomiting, excessive lethargy etc.), take her to your vet right away. Diarrhea is often one of the first symptoms of common Dog Illnesses.

Best of luck with her, hope she's feeling better soon!

Dogs best with children

by Julie
(TN)

Samson

I saw your list of dogs best with children and wondered why Old English Sheepdogs are not on the list.

My sheepdogs are wonderful with children and adore them. They watch over them and they make sure that no harm comes to them. They are calm and love to hug and be used as pillows.

Does anyone else have a breed out there that is great with kids that wasn't on the list?



Hi Julie
Great call! Your Old English Sheepdog sounds like the perfect best friend.

You're correct that they do make great house dogs and family pets, given their easy going disposition. The only disadvantage would be the shedding!

I'm certain there are many other breeds that are not on my list, as it really only consists of the more common breeds. However, I'm going to add the Old English Sheepdog and would love to hear from other people who have breeds that they think should make the list.

Of course, every dog is unique, and just because an individual dog is a good pet it doesn't always mean that applies to the breed as a whole.

Thanks for your input.

Kennel cough

by Bets
(Korea )

I just bought a German Shepherd puppy from a vet clinic here in Korea.. (army) But they say she is 3 months old. I took her to the vet because she lost her appetite and wasn't drinking much water.. she had diarrhea and vomited a little bit of clear liquid.

He gave her an IV to help get her hydrated. (He said it was a bacterial infection) She stayed in for 3 days and now that I have her back.. she has a cough. I am assuming it's kennel cough.. This morning I was sitting on the cough with her and she got up to cough and while coughing she peed on herself.. Can this be hurting her insides?? How bad is this??


Hi Bets
I'm sorry your pup is having problems. I'm not sure whether she has kennel cough, or possibly a respiratory tract infection. Only a vet could make an accurate diagnosis.

I strongly recommend that you take her back to the vet and have him run some tests. Kennel cough isn't usually an extremely serious condition, it's kind of like a human getting a bad cold and bronchitis.

It's important that your vet monitor her though, so that if symptoms get worse or she develops any complications she can be treated with the right medication immediately.

A respiratory infection may require anti-biotics and definitely also needs monitoring.

As for her peeing when she coughed, it's not damaging her insides but is putting pressure on her bladder/abdominal muscles and that caused her to pee. In a dog with normal muscle function and a bladder that's not overfull, I wouldn't have expected it to cause urination. But it depends on how severe the cough, how full her bladder, and how effective her muscles. I'd also mention this to your vet.

I wish you the best of luck with her and hope that she's feeling much better soon.

HELP puppys moms milk has dried up

(WV)

I have two pom puppies that are 12 days old and had to be put on a surrogate dog because their mom died during whelping.

Now the surrogate moms milk has dried up and I need to know what to do??


Hi WW
If the surrogate mom has no more milk you will need to hand feed these babies yourself.

You can buy special supplement formula for puppies, and also bottles to use to feed them.

It's important to be very careful that the milk doesn't flow too fast when feeding them from a bottle, as they could inhale it and develop pneumonia.

Tube feeding is less risky when done correctly, but you will need to have your veterinarian show you exactly how this is done and give you the necessary equipment.

If the surrogate mom will stay with the puppies for warmth etc. that is a plus, even if she doesn't have any milk left.

I'd strongly suggest asking your vet for advice and support so that you can give these puppies the best possible chance.

Good luck, I hope it works out well for you.

Walking on a leash

by Jackie
(Boston, MA)

Ranger

I have an 11-week old Yellow Lab. He is absolutely fabulous and really a great dog. I'm having a problem getting him to walk on the leash. It seems like he doesn't want to leave the yard of our house.

I can get him to walk nicely on the leash without biting and being wild, but its only after i pick him up and take him around the corner so he can't see our house anymore. I need to break him of this habit very soon, especially since he is growing so fast!

Is this normal behavior for a pup? I think it's great that he already knows where home is and doesn't want to wander off. We both really enjoy the walks once we get started, but I'm afraid that very soon we won't be able to take these walks unless I can get him to walk away from the house on his own!

hanks for your help,

JR


Hi Jackie
That's a beautiful puppy you have there, he's a doll!

The leash walking behavior isn't that unusual, some puppies fight the leash, others sit down and refuse to move their little behinds, others act the way your pup does. It's frustrating, but he will grow out of it as he gets more used to the leash.

One thing that can help with leash walking, is to practice around the house fairly often. Although he walks fine when out of sight of home, the more accustomed he becomes to being leashed, the more relaxed he'll be about it.

I would suggest taking some treats with you on your walks, and as soon as you're ready to step out the front door, show him a treat. Then walk briskly with the treat visible in your hand, encourage him to come with you by using a happy voice. The idea is to have him focus on the treat so that he forgets that he's his home turf.

If you still have problems, try using a longer leash and this method.... if he sits down and refuses to budge, hold the leash at it's full length and go back BEHIND him, then calling him in a happy voice, jog or run slowly past him and keep going. Chances are good he will be intrigued and follow you.

Usually these tricks will work, and once he's left home a couple of times without incident it will start to become a habit.

Best of luck!

puppy got first shots should he be sore?

by amy
(ohio)

Rusty my puppy just got his first shot and is sleeping a lot and seems very sore is this normal?


Hi Amy
It's not unusual for a puppy to have some sort of reaction to vaccinations.

A lump, or pain at the site of the injection, a low-grade fever, loss of appetite, and sleeping more than normal are all mild reactions and should disappear within a day or two.

More severe reactions include swelling of the face/head, hives, or difficulty breathing. These can require emergency vet care, but normally happen within a few minutes of the shots being given when the pup is still at the vets office, or close by.

I expect Rusty will be back to normal in a day or so, but if you're worried it's always okay to call your vet and discuss it with him.

Best of luck with Rusty, he's adorable!

how to tell if your shi tzu is sick?

by cassie
(hamilton.on)

Our new puppy is 8 weeks old and he is active, he is trying to eat plants around the house and we have since put them up because we are unsure if this is safe for him to eat.

He is now sleeping all day with little bursts of energy to play then right back to laying down
his nose is dry and his bm's are runny and smell worse then the normal poo? is this normal?


Hi Cassie
There are lots of household plants that are toxic to dogs, and it's always best to move anything small, fragile or potentially dangerous to a young puppy. That includes at least 50% of the 'stuff' in an average living room :o)

Puppies do sleep a lot, and generally take a nap in between every activity. However, if he seems less alert and happy than he was, if he's off his food and is suffering from diarrhea, then he's not feeling too well.

This could simply be a result of a change in diet, or eating something he shouldn't, or it could signal the early stages of one of the common, contagious dog illnesses that puppies are prone catching.

You can probably give him 24 hours to 'wait and see' if he perks up, and I would suggest witholding food for that period. Do make sure he has access to plenty of fresh water though.

After 24 hours you can feed him some plain, white boiled rice with a little chicken broth, then gradually return to his regular diet. If it's a simple upset tummy this should help.

However, if the diarrhea continues or gets worse, if he vomits or seems to get progressively more lethargic, don't wait - take him to a veterinarian immediately. If he's truly sick, early and aggressive treatment can really improve his chances of survival.

I hope this turns out well for you, best of luck!

bath

by Brandy
(Aurora, IL USA)

I have a 6 in a half week old puppy, can i bathe her?




Hi Brandy
It's best to wait until a puppy is 7 or 8 weeks old before giving them a bath, especially with the small breeds, as they don't regulate their temperature very well and can get chilled easily.

However, if your puppy is dirty or smelly, it's okay to bathe her, just be very careful to use a mild shampoo (no medicated, flea-type shampoos) and to keep her nice and warm until she's fully dry.

You can find lots of tips and advice on giving your puppy a bath on my Bathing A Puppy page.

Best of luck with your new puppy!

Potty Training

My 4 month old labradoodle had a UTI. I noticed this because he was drizzling when he had to go out...then he would go a little and it seemed like he didn't even know ...i would take him out and he would go.

How do i know if the UTI is gone? He is really trying to potty train...but he is still drizzling before he goes ... and shows no sign of having to go out...he just goes ... then i take him out and he goes again.




Hi
It sounds as though he may still be having a problem. Has he had anti-biotics from the veterinarian to clear this up? If so, and he's finished the course and isn't better I would definitely take him back. He may need a different medication or another course.

If you've not had him seen by the vet and been prescribed medication for the UTI, I strongly suggest you take him right away. It's very important to treat these problems or they could result in kidney damage or worse.

House training a puppy with a UTI is very challenging as he really has no control over what his body is doing. He may try really hard to do what you want but if he has to 'go', he has to 'go'!

I would just do the best you can until the UTI is all taken care of and then get back to potty training in earnest.

Best of luck, hope your little guy is all better soon!

beagle -what to give it to drink.

I just got a 8 week old male Beagle puppy April 2 2008 and was wondering what should I give it to drink can it have regular human milk?




Hi
A puppy starts being weaned from his mom's milk at around 3 - 4 weeks old, by 8 weeks he's drinking water and eating puppy food without any problems.

It's not advisable to give puppies milk as it's really not necessary and they don't digest cows milk very well and often end up with diarrhea and an upset tummy.

Just giving him water is fine. Make sure he's eating a good quality puppy food and he'll get all the nutrition he needs from that.

Best of luck with your puppy!

Puppy Shots

Our new puppy just got his first shots a couple of days ago. How long do we have to wait before we give him the next shot and so on?

In how short of time can you give the puppy all three shots before he can go out?



Hi
Your puppy needs three sets of the combination vaccine, given at three week intervals.

Normally a pup will start getting these shots somewhere around 7 weeks of age, and finish at around 13 weeks.

To get the maximum benefits and ensure your pups immunity to nasty dog illnesses such as ,a href="http://www.the-puppy-dog-place.com/canine-parvovirus.html">Parvo it's important to follow this schedule.

You can find lots of information on vaccination on my Puppy Shots page.

Good luck with your puppy.

5 week old puppies...

by Stephanie
(Tx)

I have 4 puppies that are 5 weeks old. Mom got out of her pen and was ran over.

2 of the puppies are already eating puppy food but 2 are not. How many times a day should i feed them and how much...

Also how long should i feed them formula?



Hi Stephanie
I'm so sorry about your dog, that's heartbreaking.

Luckily the puppies are really old enough to be eating and drinking independently. Even the two that aren't doing so yet should be perfectly capable. I would suggest that you stop giving them formula, at 5 weeks they really don't need it, and let them lap water instead.

It may take a few attempts, and they'll get very wet and messy doing it, but they'll soon get the hang of lapping and chewing.

Be sure to feed them a good quality puppy food, and you can soak it in hot water (but remember to allow it to cool to room temperature before giving it to them) for 15 minutes or so. It makes it easier for them to chew and digest. Plus gives them a little extra fluids.

I would feed the two that are having difficulties separately, so that their stronger littermates don't overpower them and get all the food/water. Hungry puppies have very few manners, they're the blue-print for the saying "it's every man for himself"!

I'm sure you'll find that all your puppies will be eating and drinking without problems in no time. However, if by any chance you find those two are still struggling, check with your vet for advice, he may want to take a look at them to make sure everything is okay.

Best of luck with your pups.

shi tzu aggressive behavior after sex

by eva joseph
(flusing ny)

i have a shi tzu 4 years old she finished her period a couple days ago and she had sex for the first time.

Since then her whole behavior changed as apart me. She is very aggressive and upset but only with me - the owner what shall i do to change this?

Hi Eva
Those hormones can be a problem can't they! Your dog may be feeling a bit anxious or stressed due to the mating. If you were involved in setting it up and were present, she may now associate you with the pain/discomfort or fear that she felt.

I wouldn't worry too much about this for now. Give her some 'space' and let her adjust in her own time. I'm pretty sure that she will be back to her old self again fairly soon.

It wouldn't hurt to have your vet check her over just to be sure that there's no injury or infection as a result of the mating. Either of those could explain her behavior as a dog in pain may act aggressively.

Best of luck!

5 month rotti has Diarrhea!

by amanda
(altamonte springs,florida)

She has been to the vet and did fecal and checked her blood work and for worms and she still has Diarrhea! he just gave her the presciption food and it never helped.

she gets Diarrhea every now and then and it had a little blood in it yesterday.the vet said she didn't have anything and he doesn't know why she gets Diarrhea.

do you have any idea why.he x-rayed her and said he couldn't find anything wrong with her.should i change her food again she is eating puppy chow for big breeds? she has also had when we first got her nutro but she had even worse Diarrhea.this food she doesn't have hard poop just a little soft.and sometimes she gets Diarrhea.



Hi Amanda
If your vet has tested her for worms, illness and infections, then it may just be sensitivities or allergies.

It's also possible that the chronic diarrhea has set up a bout of colitis - inflammation of the colon. This can be treated with anti-inflammatory medication, which your vet can prescribe if he thinks it's necessary.

It can take up to a month or more for the effects of a food to be totally 'out of her system', and you should give any new diet at least 6 weeks before deciding whether or not it's helping or making things worse.

Once you've given the current food this kind of trial run, if it's still not helping I'd really suggest that you try one of the foods shown on my Dpg Food Allergies page.

You are free to get a second opinion from another veterinarian if you're not happy with the one you're currently visiting. If he can't find out what's wrong and you're still worried, try another vet. Best of luck!

when can you give the dog a bath?

by andrew vuong
(pearland,tx)

I'm about to get a new puppy in like 40 min. (maybe) and i was wondering when can you give it a bath so we can bue it shampoo and conditioner


also its about to be two months old; born on march 16, 2008


also we have another dog and i'm afraid he might hump the new puppy how can i prevent that?


Hi Andrew
If your puppy needs a bath, you can do it anytime after he's 7 or 8 weeks old (that's now I think!).

It's best not to bathe puppies any more often than necessary, as it can dry out their skin. Small breeds in particular get cold very easily too.

Don't use any kind of medicated shampoos on a young puppy (ie flea/tick shampoos and such), just a gentle puppy shampoo is fine. A conditioner isn't essential, but if your pup has long/thick fur he may benefit from one.

You can find all the tips and advice you need on bathing a puppy on my Bathing A Puppy page.

If your older dog isn't neutered and/or tends to be dominant, he may well try to 'hump' the new puppy, especially if it's a girl. Neutering should decrease his tendency to do this, but apart from that constant correction, and then redirecting his attention to a tasty chew toy or similar, is the only answer.

You might also find my Introducing A New Puppy page helpful as it gives lots of tips, info and advice on how to make the introductions and early days run smoothly.

Best of luck!

my puppy likes to mess with her poo.. help please...

by Michy
(Philippines)

I have a 4 mo.old shihtzu that likes to poo on her crate. There are instances that we don't see her doing that "poo poo thing" and all of a sudden when we visit her on her crate her poo poo is all over the place.

She's been doing this for almost a weeks now and its quite frustating to see her messing with her own poo poo.

i badly need your help on how i can solve this problem.




Hi Michy
Sorry to hear you're having problems, this can definitely be very frustrating to deal with.

My first question would be 'how big is the crate you're using?'. If the crate is too big, your pup won't have any qualms about eliminating in it. You need to use a crate that's just big enough for your pup to stand up, sit down, turn around and lie down without touching the sides. No bigger. Take a look at my Crate Training page for lots of tips and advice on crate training.

Secondly 'how often to you take her outside for a potty break?'. By four months old your pup should be able to go 2 - 3 hours without needing to 'go', but all pups are individual and the smaller the breed, the more often they need to go.

I would suggest that you take her out more often than you're doing right now, so that you have a better chance of catching her when she actually needs to 'go'. Puppies are creatures of habit, and it's important to try to break her current habit of eliminating in the crate. If she doesn't do it for a few weeks, she will 'forget' about that behavior, and relearn the new, correct behavior.

Thirdly, 'what kind of food are you feeding her?'. The cheaper, lower quality foods (such as the grocery store brands) tend to be low on nutritional value and a pup digests a relatively small amount of the ingredients. The rest (fillers, junk, low quality indigestible ingredients) pretty much pass right through, resulting in frequent, large and often extra-smelly bowel movements. A high quality food can help with this. Check out my Dog Food Comparisons page to find out how to rate any dog food according to the quality of it's ingredients.

As for her playing with her poop, lots of puppies mess with and eat their poop. It's disgusting to us, but has a natural origin with the momma dog cleaning the puppies 'nest'. There are food supplements that you can add to your puppy's food that will make her stools taste really nasty and bitter, making her less likely to want to eat them. You can find out more about this habit on my Why Does My Dog Eat Poop? page.

I hope this helps you out some. Best of luck with her. Be patient and this should get resolved.

Newborn Chiwawa Puppies

by Liza
(New York. NY )

The Newborns on Day 1

What is the earliest to take a new born pup away from its mom? She gave birth to three and there are only two left.

I'm afraid she will take out the other two.


HI Liza
Did the momma hurt/kill the third puppy intentionally, or did she crush or smother it by accident?

Accidentally suffocating a puppy happens fairly often, but generally with the larger breeds. Tiny newborn puppies are very difficult to bottle feed and raise, so if at all possible you need to let the momma take care of them for as long as possible.

They need the antibodies in the colostrum (the liquid she feeds them before her milk comes in), her milk and her warmth.

Try to keep her as calm and undisturbed as possible for the first few days, and handle the pups as little as you can. Once she feels more secure and comfortable with them you can get more involved.

If she rejects or tries to hurt the remaining two pups I would suggest that you contact your vet to ask for advice. You can bottle feed puppies, but it's tricky. Tube-feeding is better but you need to be shown how to do this, and it also has it's drawbacks. Keeping them warm and hydrated is vital.

They need to stay with their mom for 8 weeks if at all possible. They will start to be weaned naturally by their mom at around 3 weeks or so, and will be fully weaned by 5 or 6 weeks old.

I wish you the best of luck with them.

best age for gettin a puppy!

by lee brown
(tamworth)

i am lookin at getting my girlfriend a puppy an she loves jackhuahua puppys so wondering what kind of age would b the best age to get 1 because she won't have that much spare time to house train it as she has a 3 year old daughter.


Hi Lee
If your girlfriend really doesn't have much time to spend housebreaking and training a puppy, I would strongly suggest that you don't get her one just yet!

Raising a puppy is like raising a child, it takes a lot of time, effort, patience and love.... and it sounds as though your girlfriend already has her hands full raising her daughter.

There are two options I would suggest. One is to wait 6 months or a year (or more), until her daughter is a little older, and she'll have a bit more time to devote to the puppy. Two is to consider a mature, adult dog that is already house trained and will be less demanding than a puppy.

The shelters and pounds are full of homeless dogs who are desperate for loving homes, and I'm sure your girlfriend could provide one.

Best of luck with whatever you choose.

bathing my daughter's puppy

by Maly
(Detroit, MI, USA)

Summer and peanut

Hello my name is Maly and I am wondering how old does my puppy have to be for me to be able to give him a bath?

My puppy is a American Fiest and he is 11 week old and another question how big is my puppy going to get?



Hi Maly
It's best to wait until a puppy is 7 or 8 weeks old before bathing him if possible. As your pup is 11 weeks old you shouldn't have any problems.

For tips and advice on bathing your pup you can go to my Bathing A Puppy page. It will make that first bath time a bit easier for all of you!

As for how big your puppy will get, I'm not exactly sure what breed he is - I don't recognize the name and can't tell for sure from looking.

How much does he weigh now at 11 weeks old? If you can confirm the breed, and maybe you know how big his parents were I can take a guess!

He's a cutie - and so is your daughter! Best of luck with him.

vomiting and diarrhea

by Brandy
(Calgary, AB, Canada)

My Shar-pei shepherd cross who is 9 months old spent 3 days at an "open-concept" kennel (he was not caged).

We picked him up on thursday, and he has had diarrhea since then (not bloody), and early this morning (sunday) he vomited what seemed like quite a bit (not bloody).

His appetite has gone down, and he seems lethargic too. Could this be because of changing his food and/or feeding times? He has no cough, and was vaccinated, so I don't think it is kennel cough.

He is also up to date on all of his other vaccines. Any ideas?


Hi Brandy
It's not unusual for a puppy or a dog to be a little 'out of sorts' for a few days after being kenneled.

It's possible he caught something there, but if it was a reputable kennel they would most likely insist on all dogs being fully vaccinated before they board. Also, your dog is up to date on all his shots, so it's pretty unlikely that he's caught anything major dog illness.

If there was a change in diet, then that could definitely trigger diarrhea, and possibly vomiting. The lethargy is likely a result of his feeling stressed out from being boarded and missing you and his home. Many dogs cope with stress by sleeping it off and shutting out the world for a little while.

I would give it a few days and see if he gets to feeling like his 'old self' again. If you don't see any improvement, or if he gets worse, I would strongly recommend that you visit your veterinarian so that they can take a look and rule out any health problems.

Hope it all turns out well, best of luck!

Puppy buries bones in bed-causing sore on nose

by Maura
(Maine)

Hi- I have an eight month old female golden retriever/irish setter mix puppy who sometimes, when given a biscuit or bone, will bring it to her bed and attempt to "bury" it with her nose, scraping her nose along the fabric repeatedly, nosing the bone.

It has resulted in an open wound, not bleeding, but concerning nonetheless. My questions are two fold: why does she do this, and is there a way to prevent her from doing this? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Also, she has done this for a number of months, and it has continued after her being spayed. It also is not every day.



Hi Maura
Burying things is a left-over trait from their ancestors who ran wild. It's a way of protecting their food from others and is very deep rooted.

Many dogs don't do this, but also many do, it's often seen in dogs who are particularly protective of their food. As it's an ancient and very deeply rooted instinct there's really nothing you can do to stop your dog from doing this I'm afraid.
She doesn't know why she does it, she just feels the strong urge to do it!

I sympathize with you over the worry of her hurting her nose, I have a dog that I can't give treats to outdoors. She will immediately run off and start digging a hole with her nose to bury whatever 'goodie' she's been given. She will sometimes put a treat in a corner, or try to put it under a rug when indoors, but it seems that it's the outdoors that really triggers her desire to bury stuff.

This habit isn't related to anything sexual or reproductive so spaying/neutering won't make a difference. It's something she'll probably always feel compelled to do and some dogs can be quite obsessive about it.

All you can do is try to encourage her to eat her treat, biscuit or whatever or distract her when she makes a beeline for her bed with a tasty morsel in her mouth, but you will probably not be very successful most of the time.

I wish I had a better answer for you, but I'm afraid that's just how it is! Best of luck with her.

Puppy Sleep

by Emily
(milwaukee)

How many hours a day does a puppy sleep?


Hi Emily
I can't give you an exact number of hours, it varies from puppy to puppy, and from day to day, but puppies sleep A LOT!

They're like tiny babies, their day consists of eating, playing and sleeping. While they're asleep their bodies are growing and developing, so sleep is actually an important activity for a puppy :o)

Usually it will go something like this.... eat, potty break, play, SLEEP,potty break, eat, potty break, play SLEEP, potty break, eat, potty break, SLEEP.... you get the picture. For very young puppies, play sessions are short (maybe 15 mins or so) and then they need a nap again.

DE -WORMING A PUPPY

HOW OFTEN DO YOU DE-WORM A PIT BULL PUPPY?

Hi
Usually a puppy has been de-wormed at least once before it leaves the breeder at 8 weeks old.

It should then be de-wormed again, two or three times, by your veterinarian. Often this is done at the same time as the puppy receives it's routine shots.

You can learn more about worms on my Puppy Worms page.

feeding your puppy

by carla
(Saginaw MI)

I have a 6 month old yorkie named Maximillion is a joy to have but he seems to always be hungry!

How often am I suppose to feed him and how much, and what are some healthy snacks that I can give him instead of things that are high in fat?




Hi Carla
Small breed puppies (and dogs) have fast metabolisms and use up the nutrition in their food very quickly. They also have tiny tummies which don't hold a lot!

You can feed your puppy 4 times a day if you feel he needs that. Even as adults small and tiny breeds really do better when fed 2 or 3 times a day, rather than the one meal that larger adult dogs do fine with.

I would suggest that you make sure he's been tested for worms though, just to be on the safe side. Worms can make a dog hungry all the time, but as they absorb all the nutrition from the food the dog (or 'host') doesn't gain weight or feel satisfied.

Also make sure that you're feeding a high quality food with a good source of protein as it's first ingredient. The lower quality and grocery store brand foods have very low nutritional value, and there's far less digestible nutrition per ounce. Therefore your pup has to eat a lot more of it! You can find out how to 'rate' any dog food according to the quality of its ingredients on my Dog Food Comparisons page.

As far as treats go, I would recommend checking out my Natural Dog Food and Products page as it has a link to a store where you can purchase healthy, natural treats for your pup. You can also buy freeze-dried liver treats at many major pet stores and Biljac frozen dog food is also very tasty and nutritious and can be used as treats as well as food.

Best of luck with your little guy!

weening a puppy two weeks early

by Miranda Paterson
(Las Vegas Nevada)

I recently got a puppy and everything is fine but I know he's been seperated from his momma at the least two weeks early.

My question is what do I feed him in order to keep him healthy???


Hi Miranda
If your puppy is less over 5 weeks of age he can eat regular puppy food (soaking it in hot water for 10 mins or so sometimes makes it more attractive and easier to eat for very young puppies).

He can drink water, he really doesn't need milk at this age as his momma would already have weaned him herself. If he's less than 5 weeks old, buy the special puppy milk formula you see in petstores (there's a 'second stage' one that works really well).

The colostrum the mom feeds her pups before her milk comes in, is the source of antibodies etc., and that's why nursing from their momma within the first 24 hours after birth is so important. If your puppy had at least 3 weeks of his moms milk, he got the benefits from it.

Don't forget to get started on his puppy vaccinations as soon as he's 7 weeks old. This is very important for his health.

Best of luck with him!
Thank Otis Briody

My puppy still pees in the house

My puppy is now 1 yr old and he was doing good and peeing outside, now all of a sudden he wants to pee in the house.

I don't know what to do anymore. Please help. He is a Maltese mixed.


Hi
As your pup has been fairly reliably housetrained up until now, perhaps something has changed which has upset his routine or security.

Have you moved house, added a new member (human or animal!)to the family, had him neutered or anything else that could have caused this little speed bump?

When there's a change in circumstances it can sometimes cause a bit of backsliding in areas such as potty training and obedience, but usually it recovers and is made up quite quickly.

If none of the above apply, I would have your vet look for a UTI (urinary tract infection) or any other physical/health problem that could be causing an uncontrollable urge to pee, or more frequent urination.

If everything checks out normally I'd suggest using a crate to contain him whenever you can't be supervising. This will help to get him back into the habit of going outside to do his business and will prevent the opportunity for these 'accidents'. Once he's reverted to a routine of eliminating outdoors and 'forgotten' the bad habits, he should be reliable again.

Best of luck!

selling puppies

by brittany
(ohio)

How much do American Bulldog/Boxer mix puppies sell for?


Hi Brittany
There's no hard and fast rules about that, it can depend on the parents. If they're both exceptional dogs, with great pedigrees and full AKC registration, and they're the result of an 'oops' litter, the puppies could be $100 or so. That's because the puppies will most likely be very healthy and temperamentally and physically sound, well socialized and taken care of.

If the parents aren't registered, and aren't anything special in terms of pedigree etc., then probably $50 or so would be fair. Of course, this is a personal and individual viewpoint, and the true asking prices vary considerably.

Some unscrupulous people take advantage of FREE puppies etc. to resell or worse, also when something is free, human nature sometimes means we don't value them so much or may make an impulsive choice to have one.

To make sure someone really wants that a puppy goes to someone who really wants it, and can afford to care for it, and isn't just taking it because it's FREE, I would always suggest asking at least $25.00

Puppies out side

by Leigh-ann
(Gauteng South Afirca)

Good day. How early can a puppy start to stay outside specially when it is cold?


Hi Leigh-Ann
That depends partly on the breed of dog. However, young puppies are very susceptible to extremes of temperature and can get chilled pretty easily, so it's not advisable to let a puppy of less than 4 - 6 months old stay outdoors for long periods.

Some breeds can tolerate cold weather better than others. For example, northern breeds such as Huskies and Malamutes were bred to work and live in cold climates. Other breeds, especially the small or tiny ones, and those with thin, one-layer coats, can't tolerate the cold.

Most breeds do not handle extremely hot temperatures that well. Short-nosed breeds such as bulldogs, and large, heavy dogs with black coats, or extra-thick dense coats suffer the most.

If you have to leave your dog outside, make sure he has protection from the cold (insulated dog house preferably) or plenty of shade if it's hot. Lots of fresh water also needs to be readily available.

Good luck!

no bark no howl

by kathy
(san antonio tx)

what i do

My puppy Katlin is 10 weeks old on thursday.

My question is will she ever back or howl? It's hard to tell when she needs out she just walks around.

I have heard her bark 2 times and that was during play.

She doesn't back at the doorbell, people in her back yard or etc., is this normal?

Also at night she sleeps with us , she does great but when she needs to pee she attacks our hair lol

She also was real good with housetrainning but she has peed on my roommate for no reason (she was just brought back in from potty time and she peed all over my pillow.

She just won't bark and if we say lets go potty she usually goes, but when we are upstairs she she finds spots and pees no warning!

please help

thank you

we love the site

kathy and katlin



Hi Kathy
Katlin is an absolute cutie, who could resist that look? I'm glad to hear you're enjoying my site and finding it helpful.

Overall, from what you say she's doing pretty well in most areas. At almost 10 weeks old she's still a tiny baby, and is still in the very early stages of learning what is expected of her. To give you an idea of the time frame for housetraining - if you're consistent with training her, you can expect her to be pretty reliable about only going outside by about 6 months of age. That would be a normal time frame.

This may surprise you, as many people think that a puppy will be housebroken in a couple of weeks - not so, except in rare instances. Think how long it takes a human child to be potty trained, well we're pretty much expecting the same thing from our puppies - it takes time!

I would really recommend crate training as it's the quickest and simplest way to house break a puppy. It helps to cut down on the kind of 'accidents' Katlin is having, and helps a pup to learn bladder/bowel control. You can read all about crate-training on my Crate Training page.

As for the barking, it's true some puppies bark when they want to go outside or to get your attention, but they're in the minority really. Puppies aren't generally very vocal, except in play, as you've noticed. Puppies of the guardian breeds may bark at strangers etc. while still puppies but that's also not a 'given' and really shouldn't be encouraged. Right now Katlin loves everyone and everything and sees no reason to bark, or howl.

She's a beagle, (I believe) so she will probably develop a howl as she gets older, but right now I would just be grateful she's pretty quiet. It's perfectly normal and nothing to worry about!

You can try to teach her to ring a bell when she needs to go out, by hanging a small bell on a rope from the door handle. Everytime you take her out to potty, go through that door and ring the bell while saying "Go potty outside" or something like that. She may pick this up herself and start doing it, or she may not. Most of my dogs don't really 'tell' me when they have to go. As puppies I just read the body language and anticipated their needs, as adults they've learned to 'hold it' until I pay attention, or there's an opportunity to go.

While Katlin is young, do make sure that you give her plenty of time to 'do her business' when you take her outside. Puppies often need to go more than once per trip, and they're easily distracted so stay with her, repeat her 'trigger phrase' and make sure she's finished before you bring her back in. Always supervise her when she's indoors and not crated so that you can whisk her outside if she needs to go.

Best of luck with Katlin. We send her a kiss!

poop

My dog is not pooping.


Hi
Dogs rarely get seriously constipated, but if they're not getting enough exercise or water their digestive system can get slow.

Increasing their fluid intake and exercise level usually helps, and you can add a little canned pumpkin (not the pie filling variety though) to their food too.

Sometimes difficulty pooping, especially if it's accompanied by pain, can be the sign of a bowel/intestinal obstruction. This can happen if you have a pup or dog that has a habit of chewing or eating everything that's not nailed down!

Other signs of an intestinal blockage are excessive panting, whining, pacing or a distended belly. If you notice these signs in your dog see veterinary help right away, it can be an emergency.

If your pup doesn't have a bowel movement within a day or so once you've increased the fluids and exercise I would suggest contacting your veterinarian for advice. He may want to prescribe a mild laxative. However, don't give your puppy anything that hasn't been recommended or prescribed by your vet.

bathing and type

by melvin celis
(los angeles,US,CA)

this is muffin

what type of dog is she?
how every often am i suppose to bath her?
what type of shampoo?
at what water temperature?


Hi Melvin
It's difficult to say what kind of mix-breed she is as there are so many variables! But from her coloring I would guess she has German Shepherd in her, maybe Lab or possibly Min-Pin.

I can't really tell how big she is or what her body shape is from the photo, but if she's 6 - 8 weeks old and weighs anywhere upwards of 7lbs right now she's going to be a medium to large size adult.

As for bathing her.... you can bathe her anytime after she's 7 weeks old if she needs it. But don't give her a bath too often as it dries out her skin and can cause itching, flaking or irritation.

You need to use a very gentle puppy shampoo (nothing with flea medication in it). Hypoallergenic or oatmeal based shampoos are also good.

The water should be warm, but not hot. Test it with your elbow as you would for a baby's bath, your elbow is more sensitive than your hands which have built up a tolerance to heat. Be sure to keep her nice and warm until she's totally dry.

I think you'll find my Bathing A Puppy page very helpful. It has tons of tips and advice on giving a puppy a bath.

Best of luck with her, she's a cutie!

Puppy feels hot

by April
(NC)

I have a 8 week old white boxer and he always feels very hot but acts normally.

Hi April
A puppy's normal temperature is between 100F and 102F, so it's quite a bit higher than ours, and puppies quite often feel hot, especially their tummies.

If your pup is acting normally, seems happy, is eating and drinking and playful, I wouldn't worry!

Good luck

Where to put puppy during the day?

by Erica
(Colorado Springs Co)

I just e-mailed you about crate training then I re-read your page on crate training.

I see your time schedule for crate training a puppy. Where do you suggest the puppy stays while I am at work until she is able to be in her crate for a few hours at a time?

Should I put her in a room that is puppy safe? I just really want to be a good mommy. Oh yeah my other e-mail I sent stated the type of dog I have and everything but I will give it to you again. She is a 9wk old min doxie!


Thanks,

Erica




Hi again!
I should have read all my questions before answering them, I didn't realize you had submitted a 'follow up' question - sorry!

As I said in my answer to your first question, I think you're doing fine right now. She's young to be crated for as long as she is, and definitely couldn't go a whole day, but she seems to be handling it well.

As she's managing to keep her crate clean, and is adjusting to spending time in there I think she will be better in her crate than running free in a room.

It's difficult to puppy-proof a room to the extent that it's safe to leave a puppy there unattended for any length of time. Puppies are very 'inventive' with the kind of mischief they can get into! A puppy play-pen may work, but then you would need puppy pads or a litter box, and those can be counterproductive to good potty training.

If she was messing in her crate every day (which you don't mention, so I'm assuming isn't happening), I would say maybe you should re-think the situation. However, as it is, you and she are getting into a routine and she's handling it pretty well, so I wouldn't worry too much.

Obviously, you'll need to spend LOTS of one-on-one time with her when you're not working to help keep her well adjusted and to allow you to bond closely. By thinking things through, researching and looking out for her best interests you are already being a great puppy-mom. I think it will all work out just fine :o)

Best of luck.

new puppy (beagle owner)

by kathy
(san antonio texas)

i have several
1. my puppy katlin is 7 weeks old , is it normal for her not to bark?

2)she does pretty good with potting outside but sometimes i take her out and she does her business then 10 minutes later he pees on the carpet

3) when can they get puppy treats and what kind

4)i want to get out of the house , can i leave her awake in the crate for 2 to 3 hours?
i left once but she was sleeping and i came home when she was still sleeping

5) how long till they sleep thru the night i would be happy with 6 hours lol

6) how to stop her biting us

thank you for any advice you can give

kathy


Hi Kathy
It's very normal to have a bunch of questions when you're a new puppy owner. I will do my best to give you the basic answers and then I'd recommend that you go to my New Puppy Care page, it has tons of tips, advice, information and links to all the relevant articles and pages that cover the questions you have listed........and more :o)

1. Some puppies and some breeds bark more than others. As your pup matures she will bark more, and her protective instincts will develop also - meaning she's more likely to bark when people come to the door etc.


2. Little puppies need to pee and poop A LOT! It's also not unusual for them to need to 'go' more than once on any one potty trip, especially first thing in the morning. Give her plenty of time outside to finish up, if you're not sure she's emptied her bladder/bowels, put her back in the crate when you come back inside and then take her out again 15 mins later to be sure. You always need to supervise a puppy closely when you're potty training and she's not in the crate. You'll soon learn to recognize the 'I need to GO NOW' signs.


3. She can start getting puppy treats now, but don't give her so many that they spoil her appetite for her 'proper' food - remember they have tiny tummies! Try to avoid highly colored or flavored treats, and keep them tiny. You can get small Biljac Liver Treats (which can be cut in half again), or small 'Yogurt Drops'. Freeze-dried liver treats are a bit pricey, but all dogs love them and they're very healthy.


4. At 7 weeks old, 2 hours or so in the crate without a potty break (except at night) is about enough. If her bladder control is pretty good she should be fine.


5. Going 6 hours at night is good at her age. She will gradually be able to go longer, and this stage does end! If you check out my Crate Training page it will give you more information on both this, and the length of time she can spend in the crate.


6. The biting is absolutely normal puppy behavior. ALL puppies do it, some more than others though. However, just because they all do it, that doesn't mean it's okay, and it's important to teach her that this is not allowed. I give detailed info. on how to deal with this behavior on my Puppy Biting page.

dog agility

by hannah

I want to know what equipment to use for dog agility courses


Hi Hannah
Agility is a great sport and lots of fun for both dog and owner!

You can find lots of information, tips and advice on agility at this page Dog Agility Enthusiast, and there is tons of information, photos etc. of dog agility equipment here Agility Dog Training & Equipment.

I think you'll find everything you need. Have fun!

barking dog

by jane
(england)

i have a 6mth old australian shepherd bitch who barks constantly when another dog approaches on a lead while out walking.

we have another aussie bitch 4yr old who isn't like it. what can i do to stop this happening?


Hi Jane
All dogs are different, and some are more prone to barking than others. I'm not sure the motive for your pup's barking, it may be because she's nervous and defensive, it could be that she's trying to protect you and is taking an aggressive stance, or she could be excited and eager to engage other dogs in play or communicate with them.

You may be encouraging this behavior without realizing it. Dogs are very sensitive to their owners body language and emotions. As you know she tends to bark, you may get nervous or tense when you see other dogs approaching. She will 'feel' this through the leash, and could interpret it as fear on your part. She will then feel nervous or protective herself, and will bark accordingly.

If you can try to relax and stay calm when another dog approaches this may help. But as this is now a learned behavior on her part, it could take some time to change.

She may also need more socialization than she's getting. Walks are great, but playtimes with other dogs - at the park, in other dog-owners homes, at a doggie-daycare and so on are invaluable. I would also recommend that you take her to an obedience school where she'll learn basic commands and spend time around other dogs in a controlled setting.

A good school and instructor will also be able to interpret her behavior for you and give you more hands-on help with this problem.

Best of luck!

pitbulls

What causes dryness/crust around eyes on pitbulls?(it looks kinda white and it keeps getting bigger)

Hi
Normal secretions of a dogs eyes are clear to begin with, but turn black/brown after a while. This is normal, although some dogs do tend to have more secretions than others. You can wipe the eyes clean with a cotton pad or kleenex soaked in warm water.

Green/yellow secretions often indicate irritation or infection and should be discussed with a veterinarian.

Red or sore looking eyes could be caused by allergies or infection/injury. Again a vet's opinion is needed.

Pitbulls do have a tendency towards suffering from allergies, so allergy eye symptoms are possible. This breed (and other similar breeds such as Staffordshire Bull Terriers) also tend to suffer from mange, which is caused by mites, and often the first symptoms are tiny 'pimples' or a rash on the face. These areas then start to become bald, and losing hair around the eyes can also be an early symptom. A veterinarian can diagnose and treat mange.

Good luck with your pup.

why does my 7 wk old jack russell puppy have runny poop?

by KENDRA
(HINESVILLE,GA)

I FEED HIM PUPPY CHOW DRY AND HE DRINKS WATER SHOULD HE HAVE RUNNY POOP?


Hi Kendra
Well, normally no, he shouldn't have runny stools or diarrhea.

However, it's not unusual for a puppy to suffer a tummy upset due to a change in diet or the stress of leaving his momma and littermates.

If he seems perfectly happy and playful and healthy in every other way I wouldn't worry too much about the loose stools yet. However, if he is vomiting, the diarrhea continues for more than a day or so or gets worse, if he seems to look and feel ill, please take him to your veterinarian right away.

Puppies are prone to catching some serious dog illnesses before they're fully vaccinated and it's always better to be safe than sorry!

Best of luck with him.

5 week old pup

by Penny
(Chester,SC)

I just recently acquired a 4 or 5 week old female pup. We named her Akiva Raine.

The owners were very neglectful and I do not think this pup was fed or watered properly. She stunk of feces and urine when we took her and she was just overall filthy.

I asked the previous owner what they fed her and they said they mixed wet and dry food but couldn't tell me what brand they used, so I got what I thought was best when I bought her food. In addition to wet and dry puppy food, I also bought milk replacement to mix with her food.

She has been eating like a pig at feeding time, but she now has diarrhea. I am assuming this is because of the food. Should I put her on a rice and chicken broth diet for 24 hours to see if her stool hardens up a bit? She is literally peeing out her butt and constantly.

Her water intake is good, she is alert and playful. No blood in stool.

Is she having a reaction to the food or could it be more serious such as parvo. I don't want to be paranoid, but the poor thing finally has a good home and I would hate to see her die from something that I could have prevented.
Should I worm her yet? Her belly is just bulging. Could the diarrhea be from worms?

I have never cared for a pup this young. I have 4 grown dogs and I am hand raising a kitten. I called my vet, but she has not gotten back to me...Help!


Hi Penny
It sounds as though you have your hands full! This is one lucky little puppy, and I really hope that you can get her all taken care of and healthy soon.

I'll try and answer all your questions as best I can, I also suggest that you take a look at this page on my site - New Puppy Care, it has tons of tips and advice on caring for a new puppy and links to many articles and other pages.

As for the diarrhea, it could be a result of the change in diet, stress, worms or disease/infection etc. The main clues to a serious illness such as Parvo is how the puppy looks and acts. If she's happy, alert, playful and eating and drinking normally in spite of the diarrhea it's likely not to be parvo.

If she's looking totally depressed, her eyes are dull, she seems exhausted and disinterested in anything around her, has no appetite and can't keep water down... then you need a vet immediately!

If she's having chronic diarrhea it's important to keep her hydrated, so encourage her to drink as much as possible. You can even add some warm water to her dry food to increase her fluid intake. It will probably take 5 - 7 days for her body to adjust to the new food, but don't be tempted to change it around as that will only make the situation worse. Adding some plain boiled white rice to her meals could help though.

She looks like a Pitbull or Pitbull mix, and they are one of the breeds that are at high risk of Parvo, I would strongly suggest that you take her to a veterinarian as soon as possible and get her started on her puppy shots .

The distended belly, voracious appetite and diarrhea also indicate a worm infestation. This isn't life-threatening in the short term but is very unpleasant for the puppy, and if left untreated can have serious health implications. Dont' be tempted to try over-the-counter worm treatments, they're ineffective at best and can have unwanted side effects. You need a vet to take a fecal sample to determine what kind of worms she has so that he can prescribe the right medication.

I hope this helps some, I know how many things there are to think about with a new puppy, and this one sounds as though she's desperately in need of some TLC.

I wish you the best of luck with her and hope that her story has a happy ending!

puppy parents

by cameron jhon hall
(uk)

How long do puppies depend on their parents?



Hi Cameron
The puppies are totally dependent on their mom for the first 3 - 4 weeks, as she feeds and cleans them constantly.

When they're about a month old, she starts to wean them by allowing them less time to nurse, and she spends more time away from them so that they learn to be a bit independent of her and interact more.

Once they are eating solid food and drinking/lapping water, they're not physically dependent on their mom for food. But they do still need to learn appropriate behavior from her, and their interaction with her and their siblings is vital to their development.

You shouldn't take a puppy from their litter until they're at least 8 weeks old, otherwise their understanding of correct canine social behavior is a bit limited.

You can find out more about the different stages of puppy development and growth on my Puppy Development page.

beagle pup

At what age can I take a beagle pup from its mom?


Hi
A puppy needs to stay with it's momma for at least 8 weeks. If you take a pup away from it's canine family too early it misses out on a learning a lot of social behavior.

This can lead to problems like excessive biting and being fearful or aggressive. There are also obvious health issues too in removing a puppy too early. They need to be fully weaned and have some bladder/bowel control.

You can find out more about the ages and stages of puppy growth and development on my Puppy Development page.

please help

by erica
(norman, oklahoma)

I just got a 5 wk old puppy and she has fleas is there anything I can do for her now? I was told she is to young to use any kind of flea meds, I have 2 other dogs that have no fleas and would like to keep it that way, is there anything I can do, she scratches at herself and looks miserable.

Also she doesn't drink much, but eats canned puppy food just fine, should i be concerned? And what can I do, if anything, to get her to drink more? I have even went and bought her some puppy milk from the store and she still doesn't drink much. Please help


Hi Erica
Fleas are a bit tricky on a puppy this young as most treatments are too strong to be used at this age.

I would recommend that you go to your veterinarian's office and ask them if they have anything that you could use. There is a flea/tick spray by 'Adams' that my vet said is okay to use on young puppies - although the label does say 12 weeks and older. Your vet may have something similar.

If your other dogs are treated with a flea and tick preventative such as Frontline plus, they won't be too bothered by the fleas. In fact any fleas that jump on them will be killed. However, your home may not be as safe. Fleas can live in carpets and soft furnishings quite happily and they breed very fast! Once your pup is treated you may want to treat your house too.

The stress of moving to her new home, plus the discomfort from the fleas etc., has probably made her lose her appetite a bit. This is pretty common , and once she adjusts to her new environment she will most likely start eating better.

As long as she's drinking water, even if it's not lots, she should be fine. She doesn't need formula and probably would prefer water anyway. Most puppies drink what they need, unless they're sick, so I think she should be fine.

I'd recommend you have your vet check her out to be on the safe side though. He can help you out with the flea problem and take a look to make sure she's not dehydrated. You'll also want to get her started on her shots right away.

Best of luck with her!

puppy diet

When do we start feeding our fresh puppies puppy kibble with goats milk?



Hi
The momma dog usually starts to wean the puppies at around 3 or 4 weeks old. Once she's feeding them less, you can begin to give them some puppy kibble.

I usually soak it in warm water for 15 minutes or so as it makes it easier for them to eat. You can add some goats milk if you would like to, but it's not really necessary. Once they start on puppy kibble, water is enough to drink.

Best of luck.

puppy vomiting and has diarrhea

I have a german shepherd puppy who will be 1 year old on June 22nd. In the last few days he has been vomiting and has very liquid diarrhea. He was outside most of the day earlier in the week when it was over 90 degrees. Was it possible that could have caused a problem. He eats everything in sight, from the stuffing from dog toys to paper, you name it he eats it.

My husband took him for a walk earlier in the week and he wanted to pick up a dead bird but was pulled away. Could he have gotten some type of virus from that?

He is up to date on all his required vaccines.

Any info would be appreciated.



Hi
It certainly sounds as though your pup has some kind of stomach upset, and from what you say it's most likely been caused by eating something he shouldn't!

It is possible to pick up a virus from a dead bird or animal, it's also possible that he could have eaten something toxic or at least something that disagrees with him. The heat, especially if he's not used to it, could have made him feel unwell, but I think it's more likely that he's injested something.

I would suggest that you withhold food for 24 hours, but make sure he has plenty of fresh water to drink. After 24 hours, give him some plain boiled white rice, with a little chicken broth added. Give him that for 2 days and then gradually reintroduce his regular food.

If it's a fairly minor tummy upset, this should settle it down. BUT, if he continues to vomit and have diarrhea, if he can't keep water down and/or he seems to get worse, I'd strongly suggest you seek veterinary help for him. Also, if after the 24 hour fast he's still suffering from vomiting and diarrhea, take him to the vet.

Best of luck, I hope he's feeling better soon.

How old does my puppy have to be before i give him a bath???

my Chihuahua is seven days old, how old does he have to before we give him a bath???


Hi
It's best not to bath a puppy until he's at least 7 or 8 weeks old. Before that they don't regulate their temperature very well and can easily get chilled (especially the small and tiny breeds).

Normally a puppy doesn't get very dirty until he's old enough to be playing in the dirt! Bathing too often can cause skin irritation and problems.

You can find tons of tips and advice on bathing a puppy on my Bathing A Puppy page.

Best of luck with your little guy!

New Puppy

by Annette L. Biggin
(Gays Mills, WI, USA)

1. When are puppy teeth replaced by permanent ones?

2. My pup is reluctant to go into her cage at night to sleep; in fact I have to sit with her and put her back in constantly until she finally settles down. She's great outside the crate, but since she's only 10 weeks old, I'm not going to let her have the run of my bedroom in case of "accidents." Suggestions to make this a smoother part of the day?

3. Is smacking her nose when she bites acceptable with a firm NO accompanying it?

4. How soon can she be left out in the house alone when I'm gone...or is there a specific age?

Thanks,

Annette


Hi Annette

1. A puppy usually starts losing their baby teeth around 3 - 4 months of age and has all their adult teeth by around 6 months.



2. Most puppies don't like their crates that much to begin with. They don't like being separated from you or losing out on attention. BUT it's important that she learns to accept being crated without a fuss. How you handle it depends somewhat on the puppy's personality. If sitting with her until she settles down works for you both, do that. But shorten the amount of time you spend with her each time with the aim of being able to put her in her crate and walk away. It's never a good idea to take a puppy out of the crate for complaining or crying. They're very smart and if they're rewarded for whining, they'll whine more. Although she's young, it's okay for her to cry for a while, as long as she gets plenty of love and attention, play and exercise, being in the crate shouldn't be a hardship for her. You might want to check out my Crate Training page for tips and advice on this.



3. I wouldn't advise smacking her nose for biting. Dogs have very sensitive noses, plus physical punishment is never a good idea. Biting is usually an attention-seeking behavior, and withdrawing your attention is a better way to handle it. There's lots of advice and tips on dealing with this common puppy behavior on my Puppy Biting page.



4. There's really no specific age when she can be left alone with free run of the house, it's more a maturity level. As puppies do tend to chew on everything at least until they're done teething, I wouldn't suggest leaving her un-crated before then. Even at 6 months though pups can be inclined to get into mischief, and it's safer for her (and your home) that she's confined to her crate. As long as she has some safe toys she's okay. Potty training is the other issue with leaving her free run of the house. Most puppies are fairly reliable in their housebreaking by 6 months old, but if she starts having 'accidents' it can quickly become a habit, and ruin months of hard work. All in all, I would say use your best judgement and don't leave her out in the house until you feel she's settled and mature and completely reliable in her potty training.

teacup yorkshire terrier ears cropped

by crychette catanzaro
(margate , fl)

My teacup yorkie is 8 wks, and i have never seen one with such huge ears, do you get them cropped? and when do you get it done?

Hi Crychette
No, I've never heard of cropping a Yorkie's ears, it's certainly not part of the breed standard.

Cropping tails and ears is only really acceptable when you have a dog whose breed standard requires it, and even then unless you're actually intending on showing the dog it's not something you HAVE to do.

A Yorkshire Terriers ears are often fairly large in relation to the size of their tiny bodies, but they usually 'grow into them'. I wouldn't worry about cropping them, just enjoy your puppy!

DOG ALLERGIES?

by INGRID
(BOUNTIFUL, UT)

CAN DOGS HAVE ALLERGIES? WE HAVE A 10-WK OLD MINIATURE SCHNAUZER WHO SNEEZES A LOT, SOUNDS CONGESTED OFF AND ON, AND THROWS UP WHEN WHEN HE BARKS OR CRIES BECAUSE IT GAGS HIM.

HE WAS ON AN ANTIBIOTIC FOR A SUPPOSED SINUS INFECTION BUT OUR VET SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE A SINUS INFECTION AND THREW AWAY THE RX BECAUSE IN HIS OPINION, IT COULD BE MAKING HIM MORE APT TO THROW UP.



Hi Ingrid
Yes, it is possible for dogs to have allergies, and there are several different kinds. My dog allergies page will give you lots of information.

It may be that your pup has seasonal allergies (the sneezing and so on would make this my first guess). Your veterinarian can do some allergy tests to diagnose this, and can prescribe medications if necessary. You can give a dog Benadryl for allergies, but it's important to talk to your vet about that FIRST to make sure you know the correct dosage, and there are no contra-indications in your dog.

I wonder if your pup has been examined and tested for other ailments, such as an upper-respiratory tract infection, or kennel cough. There are several dog illnesses that can cause coughing and sneezing , and I would recommend that you make sure that these have been considered too.

Best of luck, hope he's doing better soon.

puppy ate ran around and vomited

by lori
(nys)

My 6 wk old lab puppy ate, ran around and then vomited.

Is it just because she had just eaten?

Hi Lori
I can't say for certain, but if your puppy seems just fine in every other way, then it was probably just too much activity and excitement on a full tummy!

6 week old pups are tiny babies, and they often just wolf down their food without stopping to chew, or even breathe. If they have an empty tummy, eat like this (and maybe guzzle a lot of water on top of it) then chances are good they're going to vomit it back up!

Check out my page on dog illnesses and Parvo so that you know the warning signs of illness and will be aware when you need to get help.

From what you've told me though, I'm pretty sure you don't have anything too much to worry about right now.

Best of luck with your puppy.

6 MONTH OLD ROTTWEILER PUP

by LAURA
(VICENZA ITALY)

I HAVE A 6 MONTH OLD ROTTWEILER PUPPY THAT WAS VERY ACTIVE AND ALL THE SUDDEN SHE STOPPED POOPING BY HERSELF (THE VET HAD TO ASSIST HER) AND SHE WASN'T EATING OR DRINKING (IS AT THE MOMENT THANK GOODNESS!) AND CAN NOT USE HER BACK RIGHT LEG..

THE VET IN ITALY WHERE I AM CURRENTLY LIVING HAS NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH HER.. CAN YOU HELP?


Hi Laura
Unfortunately I'm not a veterinarian so if your trained vet can't figure it out, I'm not sure I can really help much, but I'll try :o)

The difficulty pooping and the problem with her back leg makes me wonder about a spinal/nerve problem. The nerves/muscles that control both would be fairly close together and maybe both are affected.

If she had a fall/injury or something like that it's possible she's cracked/fractured a bone/vertebrae or pinched/damaged some nerves. Rottweilers can be prone to hip dysplasia and other joint problems, perhaps leg problem could be due to that, and the pooping problem was just a coincidental constipation?

If she were mine I would probably be asking the veterinarian to take some X-rays of her back and hips and leg. That way if there's any bone/joint problems they should show up.

If she was feeling unwell, scared or in pain that would probably account for her not eating and drinking. The fact that she's recovered from that right now is a good sign.

If you're not satisfied with the answers your current vet gives (or can't give), don't be afraid to seek a second opinion. This is a young pup and she has a long life ahead of her, getting this sorted out sooner rather than later is definitely important.

I'm sorry I can't be more help, but I wish you the best of luck and really hope a veterinarian can get to the bottom of this.

Female Shitzu keeps licking female English Bulldog

by Brenda Pollock
(Ewing Kentucky)

We have a female English Bulldog and we just brought home a female Shitzu, and she is constantly licking the Bulldog.


Hi Brenda
Licking is a submissive behavior and your new dog is probably trying to show the resident dog that she recognizes her superior position!

I wouldn't worry about it too much as I think it will probably sort itself out as they adjust to each other.

Bulldogs can be prone to yeast infections due to the number of wrinkles etc. in their skin, it's possible that the new dog senses or smells that and is licking in response. If you notice any red or irritated areas etc. on your bulldog have your vet take a look.

Best of luck!

Worried about mom

by Laura Cogburn
(New Mexico)

I have an American Bulldog and this is her first litter she had 8!

We have lost 3 because she is so big she did not know she smothered them we are keeping a very close eye on them now but she tends to want to pick them up by the tail and just hold them there??

I don't understand it I need some insight on this?

Hi Laura
Smothering the puppies is a fairly common occurrence when the momma is a big dog, they seem totally unaware of their puppies' distress sometimes.

It sounds as though your dog is feeling a bit stressed and worried, that's why she's picking up the puppies. Nature is telling her to put them somewhere safe, but she doesn't know what to do.

Obviously you want to keep the puppies safe, but try to keep an eye on them as unobtrusively as possible, and be very calm and quiet when you're around her and the puppies. Handle them as little as possible until they're a bit bigger and she's feeling a bit more secure.

First time moms are often a bit nervous and confused - hardly surprising really. She will pick up your 'vibes' too, and if you're anxious she will be anxious.

Give the pups another couple of weeks and they'll be pretty much out of danger in terms of being smothered. A whelping box with a 'pig rail' (a wooden 'ledge' that runs all around about half way up the sides of the box) is the safest option. If you plan to breed your dog I would recommend getting one for next time.

Best of luck with your litter!

i have tried in vain to deworm my dog any suggestions

by beverly jones
(charlottesville va)

I can't figure out the best way to deworm my puppy.


Hi Beverly
Many puppies have worms, but they're not necessarily visible to the human eye. It's important for your pup to be examined by your veterinarian who can do a fecal test to figure out what worms, if any, your puppy has.

That way, he can give/prescribe the correct medications. Never use over-the-counter dewormers as they're ineffective at best, and can have unwanted side-effects.

Untreated, worms can cause some serious health problems for your pup so please, take him to your veterinarian and let him get him treated as soon as possible.

You can find out more about dealing with worms in puppies on my Puppy Worms page.

Best of luck with your puppy.

Rescued puppy that is skinny, need a good diet for him

by Ashley
(Meridian, MS)

I got a rescued puppy that looks like he is 7 weeks old. My friend treated the puppy like crap and it's a pitbull.

It was fed bad adult dog food. I feel its bones and see its tiny butt bone. He sleeps a lot and have been trying to feed him puppy food and milk. He looks a lot happier with me and is trying to be playful and still sick looking.

I had him for about 3 days now and looks a little bit better than he did before. Is there a diet that is best for him that I could give. I really want to rescue this puppy into good health and make him happy. Is there a way that this is helped?


Hi Ashley
Well done for rescuing this poor little mite, he's a lucky puppy!

He may look poorly now, but with the right food and medical attention he should do just fine.

The first thing you need to do is to take him to the veterinarian, he may well have worms and they can prevent him from getting any nutrition out of his food. You can read about this on my Puppy Worms page. Don't try OTC worming meds though, they rarely work and can have nasty side effects.

This puppy will also need to be started on a course of puppy vaccinations as he's at risk for some serious diseases. Pitbulls are one of the breeds that are especially prone to catching Parvo which is a very vicious disease and often fatal in puppies.

Choose a good quality puppy food with a good source of protein as a first ingredient, and I would recommend feeding him three times a day right now. You can cut back to twice a day at around 12 - 13 weeks.

There's information and advice on feeding your puppy on these pages Puppy Kibble, and Dog Food Comparisons

Best of luck with that little guy!

barking when out side

by Tracey Senior
(New Zealand)

Hi, w

We have a new puppy three mths old a retodoodle she doesn't like to be outside on her own and barks almost non stop and whines and paws at the door I would like her to be a inside at times.

She is being walked 2x a day any suggestions on how to reduce the barking ?? It's separation anxiety. I do not want a dog that does this and can't be out side some times on her own.


As an example I had just fed her then walked her in the am for 3/4 hour came home and left her out side she has kennel and a yard..She has been whining barking and pawing at the door a for an hour and she appears distressed ??

I have waited for a lull, and have now brought her inside and put her straight in her crate in desperation. ?? This behaviour makes me upset any suggestions?

I don't want to make it worse and would like to know what to do ??? Should i have left her??





Hi Tracey
This is a challenging one! It definitely sounds as though your dog is getting very anxious when she's separated from you, especially when she's outside and you're not.

Obviously it's important that she learns it's okay to be on her own for a short while, but it's going to take time and patience for her to accept this. I think you did exactly the right thing by waiting for a lull in the noise before bringing her in, so that she hopefully won't associate her crying with getting inside.

I would try to make the periods she's left outside pretty short to begin with, maybe 10 minute stretches at first, and then do as you did today. Wait for a short break in the noise, and then bring her in. It may take several weeks for her to feel okay with this, but once she does you can extend the time period by another 10 minutes and so on.

I would make sure she has some really interesting toys outside to keep her mind a little occupied, a Kong stuffed with peanut butter and frozen overnight has a lot of play value! You can find some great toys on my Indestructible DOg Toys page. Maybe also put an old piece of your clothing in her dog house so that your scent will be comforting to her.

I know it's very upsetting, frustrating and worrying for you when she behaves like this, but do try to keep as calm and relaxed as possible. She will 'feed off' your anxiety and if she senses that you're worried when you leave her outside it will make things much worse.

For example, you may be a bit tense or worried because you expect her to start fussing, but she'll sense that tension and interpret it as fear or anxiety and think there's something to be afraid of. See what I mean?

I have several pages on dealing with separation anxiety in dogs, you will probably find them helpful. You may even want to invest in one of the natural 'calming' products I recommend, such as flower essences and see if that will help make her less anxious when combined with the above suggestions.

Separation Anxiety In Your Dog

Dog Separation Anxiety

Dog Training for Separation Anxiety

Best of luck!

rat terrier chiwawa mix puppies

by L
(L)

What do they eat, how large do they grow, and how often do they need shots?


Hi L,/B>
Aaaahhhhh......

Puppies depend entirely on their momma's milk for about 3 to four weeks old. If they're rejected, abandoned or the mom is unable to feed them, you can buy special puppy milk formula from a pet store and bottle feed them.

Once they reach about 4 weeks old they can begin to eat dry puppy food, soaked in hot water for about 15 minutes so it's easier for them to chew/digest. Don't forget to let it cool to room temperature before giving it to them though! They can also start to drink water.

How big they will grow depends on the size of their parents, and their parents before them. Chihuahuas average between 2 and 6lbs when adult, Rat Terriers can be miniature or standard and would reach between 10 and 25lbs depending on which size they are. Your pups will probably mature somewhere between 5 and 15lbs, but that's only a guess, nature can play tricks! There will also likely be a fair range of size between the puppies in the litter.

As for vaccinations, you need to give them their first set of shots at around 7 weeks old. You can find all the info. you need on vaccinations on my Puppy Shots page.

Best of luck with those cuties!