INTRODUCING YOUR NEW PUPPY
Dogs
have been selectively breed for thousands of years, sometimes by inbreeding dogs
from the same ancestral lines, sometimes by mixing dogs from very different
lines.The process continues today, resulting in a wide variety of breeds,
hybrids and types of dog. Dogs are the only animal with such a wide variation in
appearance without speciation, "from the Chihuahua to the Great
Dane".
The
following list uses a wide interpretation of "breed". Breeds are usually
categorized by the functional type from which the breed was developed. The basic
types are companion dogs, guard dogs, hunting dogs, herding dogs, and working
dogs, although there are many other types and subtypes. Breeds listed here may
be traditional breeds with long histories as registered breeds, rare breeds with
their own registries, or new breeds that may still be under
development.
INTRODUCING YOUR NEW PUPPY INTO THE FAMILY – BLENDING
THE PACK
Bringing a new puppy home is a fun time for all. The
kids are thrilled to have such a fun, furry friend and the parents are excited
to have a playmate for the family. Then reality hits. Soon, it becomes clear
that puppies and kids don’t always mix.
Don’t stress. You can help the kids and the new puppy
become friends, but first you must learn how the pack relates. Yes, there is a
‘pack’ now in your family.
THE LEADER
In most cases, one of the parents will become the
dominant ‘leader’ of the pack according to your puppy. You will be seen as the
boss and puppy will look to you for commands. You will use this to your
advantage during training and positioning the pack.
THE
SIBLINGS
As for the kids, to your puppy they are equals, and
puppy may feel they have some control over their ‘equals.’ This means the puppy
will most likely treat them like he or she would other puppies. In other words,
your puppy will treat the kids in the family as siblings. There will be little
respect, some fighting (biting), some yelling (barking), and probably jealousy
when it comes to attention of the parents.
THE COMPETITION
Most kids will be very excited around puppies. The
puppy will see this as a sign of weakness. Just like they will see you as the
leader of the pack, they will take this excitement as an indication that the
kids are beneath them in rank and treat them as such. Playful behavior is
expected, but uncontrolled excited behavior will confuse the puppy. This
behavior needs to be corrected as quickly as possible.
THE CHAIN OF COMMEND
Your puppy needs to learn that they are not in charge
of the kids. They are at the bottom of the chain of command. It could become
dangerous if this isn’t corrected as the dog will see the kids as their property
and may try to protect them from other kids or people.
Puppy may also turn on your child if certain behavior
is seen as unacceptable and may try to reprimand the child by nipping or biting.
Puppy needs to learn that your children are NOT siblings and that you are in
charge of everyone’s discipline. This is a good time to tell your kids what you
expect them to do:
Stand
your ground – If your
child is old enough, teach him or her to stand their ground when it comes to the
puppy. If the puppy jumps they must not back up, crouch, or run away. They need
to stand up tall, turning their back to show disapproval as well as protect
their body, and showing they are actually in control and in charge.
Never
position yourself below or behind puppy – Laying on
the floor with the puppy may seem fun, but it sets up the belief within the
puppy’s realm of understanding that they are ‘above’ the child. The same
situation occurs when entering the house. The ‘pack’ leaders and elders always
enter the den first. When it’s time to come inside from playing, it’s parents,
then child, then puppy.
Tame
your excitement –
Puppy sees excitement as a sign of weakness. They can sense a human’s
emotions and will immediately react in the way they feel is appropriate. You
need to train your child to remain calm and in control. This will make a huge
difference in your puppies behavior towards the child. That doesn’t mean your
child can’t play with the puppy. It means your child must have a calm voice and
controlled movements to remain in charge.
Hold back affection – If there is a problem, your child should not be showing puppy any affection until the problem is solved. This is very important as your child needs to show authority and dominance. If your child shows affection too soon, it will again be seen as a sign of weakness and you’ll have to start all over again.
This will be a good start, but this complicated
training principle can’t be placed solely on the shoulders of the kids. The
parents need to get involved and show the puppy that the children are not at the
bottom of the pack. The parents need to watch for this pack behavior and make
sure the puppy knows what’s acceptable and what’s not acceptable.
Understanding, and living, the pack mentality can be a
lot of work. I won’t kid you, it is. Raising a puppy takes work, time, and
patience. No one can deny the value of this training when you have a happy,
well-adjusted adult dog that respects both you and your kids. This is a dog to
enjoy!
Choosing your puppy
Owning a dog is a great source of joy and delight. It is
however important to take time before deciding the type of puppy you should
bring home. Some of the key points to keep in mind are:
It's advisable to choose a breed that best suits your lifestyle.
Large dogs need plenty of space and also require plenty of exercise.
If you don't have much time for grooming our dog, then opt for a short-haired, smooth coated dog.
The best age to receive your new puppy is about 8 to 12 weeks.
While choosing a puppy check that the eyes, ears and nostrils are clean and free of discharge. Check his skin and coat for itches, sores and bare patches.
It's important to ask which vaccinations your puppy has had and which ones he still needs.
Make sure you check what the puppy's feeding routine is and follow it for the first week or so. It'll help avoid any stress to the digestive system at the same time as moving to a new home.
It's advisable to choose a breed that best suits your lifestyle.
Large dogs need plenty of space and also require plenty of exercise.
If you don't have much time for grooming our dog, then opt for a short-haired, smooth coated dog.
The best age to receive your new puppy is about 8 to 12 weeks.
While choosing a puppy check that the eyes, ears and nostrils are clean and free of discharge. Check his skin and coat for itches, sores and bare patches.
It's important to ask which vaccinations your puppy has had and which ones he still needs.
Make sure you check what the puppy's feeding routine is and follow it for the first week or so. It'll help avoid any stress to the digestive system at the same time as moving to a new home.
Vaccination
The best advice is to call your
veterinarian before you pick up that new member of the family and ask to have
the puppy examined as soon as you become the owner. During the examination the
veterinarian the veterinarian will look at the puppy's medical/vaccination
history. If the breeder has given vaccinations just recently, and your
veterinarian is confident that it was done properly, a recommendation will be
made regarding when to come in for the next "booster" injection of
vaccine. If the puppy is healthy and unvaccinated, your veterinarian will
suggest vaccinating right away. One or more of the vaccines listed in the table
will be administered and a suggestion made as to when the next visit should be
scheduled.
Vaccination Schedule |
|
| 6 to 7 weeks of age | First combination vaccine. For Distemper Hepatitis & Parvovirus |
| 7 to 8 weeks of age | Corona virus |
| 9 weeks of age | second combination vaccine. |
| 9 weeks of age | Booster of corona virus |
| 16 weeks of age | last combination vaccine. |
| 12 to 16 weeks of age | Rabies vaccine. |
| Deworming | is required every Fifteen days from 21 days to 3 months, and every month. |
| From 3 to 6 month | once in every three month throughout the life. |
Feeding your puppy
As the owner of a new puppy, you will want to provide him with all
the nutrients needed for a healthy growth. Correct nutrition is one of the main
contributors to your new dog leading a happy and healthy life. Your puppy must
receive the correct diet to give him the best possible start in life. When you
pick up your new puppy from the breeder, take the time to discuss his feeding
regime. Ask your breeder for a diet chart that will give details of the types
of food, quantities and feeding routine. You should not be in a hurry to alter
your puppy's diet, as the change of home is a stressful time for a puppy and
continuity in feeding is important.
Weaning
Your puppy should have already been weaned by the breeder at about three to
four weeks. If your need to wean your puppy yourself, introduce him to puppy
food at about one month. Begin gradually, with three or four small meals a day.
Once he is weaned, you can reduce this gradually, so that by six months you can
feed your puppy twice a day.
Grooming and bathing
The type of breed you have will dictate the amount of time you'll need to spend grooming your pet. Long-haired types will probably need brushing every day, and short-haired breeds less frequently. Your dog's may also ned to be trimmed to keep it neat and in good condition.The most important thing about bathing and grooming your puppy is to be patient and gentle with him. If the puppy remembers the bathing as an unpleasant experience, he will become more difficult to bathe as he gets older. A dog's coat has natural oils, which keep it waterproof and shining with good health. Too much bathing can remove these oils and make it dull, so only bathe your dog if he is really dirty, or as part of a flea treatment. Human shampoo can be too harsh and will dry his skin, so stick to a shampoo specially prepared for dogs. Do not wet ears and head, only wipe them with a wet towel. You can get the puppy used to being groomed, handled and accustomed. Puppies may need to be groomed once a week depending on the condition of their coat. A comb and a soft-bristled brush will be needed which you should keep specially for your puppy. Groom the dead hair out using the comb. Start front the head and work down the body, tail and legs. Pay particular attention to the thick hair around the neck, especially, with breeds such as Labrador. Once you have groomed the coat thoroughly, use the soft-bristled brush to remove any loose hairs. Grooming and brushing improves skin and blood circulation, which helps keep the skin and coat in a healthy condition.
Health and Hygiene Dental Care
All your dog's adult teeth should have come through by the time he
is seven months old, so it's very important that you care for his teeth,
particularly at this stage of his life. Dental problems can start easily when
he is young, so try to get him used to being checked. Use the following points
to help when you check your dog's teeth.
- Train your dog from an early age to let you look in his mouth.
- Gums should be healthy with no redness or bleeding.
- Teeth should be smooth and white with no yellowing or dullness.
- Brush his teeth regularly.
- Take him for regular dental check-ups.
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