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| Puppy
proof |
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It's
time to puppy proof! Before you bring the new puppy
home you should remove all items that your puppy
can chew on. You should take the same safety precautions
with your new puppy as you would take with a new
baby.
Remove plants. Make sure electrical cords are out
of reach. Pick up shoes and socks, and make sure
there are no poisons or chemicals that your puppy
can get his mouth on. Remove any object the puppy
could put in his mouth.
Closely watch your puppy. Puppies chew on whatever
they can get their mouths on - for many reasons.
Mainly, they are curious - and much like human babies,
this is how they explore and learn about their world.
They also chew because they are teething or because
they are bored.
Make sure you provide plenty of chew toys. Give
him a variety of toys to choose from so that when
he chews on a forbidden object you can say "NO!"
with a firm matter-of-fact voice and give him a
toy. When he chews on his toys, praise him. If he
continues to chew on… say… your favorite
pair of leather shoes, treat it with a bitter tasting
product such as "Bitter Apple" (available
at pet stores).
Chewing is important for the health of your puppy's
teeth and gums.
Tempt him. After you have taught him what he can
chew and what he can't chew, it is time to put him
to the test. Place tempting no-no 's near his okay-to-chew
toys. Pretend you are not watching him. When he
begins to put a forbidden object in his mouth, tell
him "no" in your firm voice. You then
need to leave the room, but watch him from around
the corner. If you see him put the forbidden object
in his mouth again, quickly correct him. Offer him
his toy and if he accepts it, praise him and tell
him "go get your toy, good boy/girl."
Later that will translate into another form of communication
with your pet: Saying "go get your toy"
when it is playtime will tell him to retrieve his
toy and bring it to you, or at least into your vicinity.
Make certain your puppy gets plenty of exercise
to burn off energy.
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| I am your puppy |
I am your Puppy, and I will
love you until the end of the Earth, but please
know a few things about me.
I am a Puppy, this means that my intelligence
and capacity for learning are the same as
an 8-month-old child. I am a Puppy; I will
chew EVERYTHING I can get my teeth on. This
is how I explore and learn about the world.
Even HUMAN children put things in their mouths.
It's up to you to guide me to what is mine
to chew and what is not.
I am a Puppy; I cannot hold my bladder for
longer than 1 - 2 hours. I cannot "feel"
that I need to poop until it is actually beginning
to come out. I cannot vocalize nor tell you
that I need to go, and I cannot have "bladder
and bowel control" until 6 - 9 months.
Do not punish me if you have not let me out
for 3 hours and I tinkle. It is your fault.
As a Puppy, it is wise to remember that I
NEED to go potty after: Eating, Sleeping,
playing, Drinking and around every 2 - 3 hours
in addition. If you want me to sleep through
the night, then do not give me water after
8 p.m. A crate will help me learn to housebreak
easier, and will avoid you being mad at me.
I am a Puppy, accidents WILL happen, please
be patient with me! In time I will learn.
I am a Puppy, I like to play. I will run around,
and chase imaginary monsters, and chase your
feet and your toes and 'attack' you, and chase
fuzz balls, other pets, and small kids. It
is play; it's what I do. Do not be mad at
me or expect me to be sedate, mellow and sleep
all day. If my high energy level is too much
for you, maybe you could consider an older
rescue from a shelter or Rescue group. My
play is beneficial, use your wisdom to guide
me in my play with appropriate toys, and activities
like chasing a rolling ball, or gentle tug
games, or plenty of chew toys for me. If I
nip you too hard, talk to me in "dog
talk", by giving a loud YELP, I will
usually get the message, as this is how dogs
communicate with one another. If I get too
rough, simply ignore me for a few moments,
or put me in my crate with an appropriate
chew toy.
I am a Puppy; hopefully you would not yell,
hit, strike, kick or beat a 6-month-old human
infant, so please do not do the same to me.
I am delicate, and also very impressionable.
If you treat me harshly now, I will grow up
learning to fear being hit, spanked, kicked
or beat. Instead, please guide me with encouragement
and wisdom. For instance, if I am chewing
something wrong, say, "No chew!"
and hand me a toy I CAN chew. Better yet,
pick up ANYTHING that you do not want me to
get into. I can't tell the difference between
your old sock and your new sock, or an old
sneaker and your $200 Nikes.
I am a Puppy, and I am a creature with feelings
and drives much like your own, but yet also
very different. Although I am NOT a human
in a dog suit, neither am I an unfeeling robot
who can instantly obey your every whim. I
truly DO want to please you, and be a part
of your family, and your life. You got me
(I hope) because you want a loving partner
and companion, so do not relegate me to the
backyard when I get bigger, do not judge me
harshly but instead mold me with gentleness
and guidelines and training into the kind
of family member you want me to be here.
I am a Puppy and I am not perfect, and I know
you are not perfect either. I love you anyway.
So please, learn all you can about training,
and puppy behaviors and caring for me from
your Veterinarian, books on dog care and even
researching on the computer! Learn about my
particular breed and it's "characteristics",
it will give you understanding and insight
into WHY I do all the things I do. Please
teach me with love, patience, the right way
to behave and socialize me with training in
a puppy class or obedience class, we will
BOTH have a lot of fun together.
I am a Puppy and I want more than anything
to love you, to be with you, and to please
you. Won't you please take time to understand
how I work? We are the same you and I, in
that we both feel hunger, pain, thirst, discomfort,
fear, but yet we are also very different and
must work to understand one another's language,
body signals, wants and needs. Some day I
will be a handsome dog, hopefully one you
can be proud of and one that you will love
as much as I love you.
Love, Your Puppy
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Puppy
Care
