IDEAS OF RAISING A PUPPY

Raising a Puppy: Things to Consider

Puppies are little bundles of energy who are often intensely curious about their surroundings. Life with a puppy is not that different from life with a human toddler—you'll need a lot of patience as you watch over your pup to keep him out of trouble, instruct him in appropriate behavior and safely teach him about the world.

The good news is that puppies sleep a lot, although they don't always sleep through the night, and your pup may wake the household whining and barking to express his displeasure at being left alone. Puppies are also driven to chew a lot as their adult teeth come in, and may see the doggie version of a teething ring in the living room rug, the couch, your favorite pair of shoes and even your hand. If you become frustrated with your new pet, it's important to remember that the task of raising a puppy is temporary. He'll be all grown up by his first birthday, and he'll leave most of his puppy tendencies behind as he settles into adulthood.

If you just got a puppy or are getting ready to go pick up your little bundle of joy, you need to be prepared for the new responsibility that is another life. This means taking time out of your busy schedule to tend to his needs. So, if you are planning on getting a puppy, it is a good idea to do so when you can take time off work, or work from home, to spend with him. This will allow you to let him out to do his business frequently, as well as monitor behaviors that he might try to engage in when you're away from the home.

Puppy-proofing Your Home

It's impossible to provide constant supervision for your energetic, curious pup, so it's important to prepare your home before letting him loose in it. Secure electrical cords and move potentially toxic plants or substances, such as cleaning supplies and insecticides, out of reach. It's a good idea to crawl through your home to get a puppy's-eye view of his surroundings. Remove anything he might be tempted to chew or swallow, and close off vents, pet doors or any other openings that might allow him to become lost or stuck. Not only will this help keep him safe, it will also ease your anxiety that your new pup is lost.

You'll need to be ready to start house training your pup as soon as you bring him home. If you plan to crate train him, have the crate ready. Make it comfortable by lining it with blankets or a dog bed, but make sure it's large enough that he'll have plenty of room to stand up, turn around, and lie down. Slowly introduce him to the crate by leaving the door open and letting him explore it on his own. You can help tempt him to go in by throwing in a toy or a couple of pieces of food. The more comfortable he is with going into the crate, the easier it will be on both of you during training.

If you're forgoing a crate, prepare a small area, such as a powder room or a corner of a kitchen or laundry room, where he can be confined and kept away from other pets and small children. Be sure to provide some puppy training pads to catch any accidents, and include a dog bed, his food and water dishes and a toy or two. This area will serve as home base, a safe space from which he can slowly be introduced to the other members of your household and that provides a retreat when he becomes overwhelmed or needs a time out.

Supplies You'll Need

You'll need to stock up on a number of supplies to keep your puppy happy and healthy.

• Food and water dishes; typical kitchen bowls are not safe for rambunctious puppies
• High quality puppy food and healthy dog treats
• Fresh, clean water
• A collar with ID
• A leash and possibly a dog harness for walking him (this comes in handy when leash training your pup)
• A crate or dog carrier
• A dog bed
• A dog brush or comb
• Puppy-safe shampoo
• Nail trimmers
• Dog toothbrush and dog-safe toothpaste
• Puppy-safe toys
• Poop bags (you can also recycle used grocery bags or sandwich bags)
• Travel bag to keep his necessities when you travel
• Pet-safe home cleaner (unless you're the very first puppy parent to never experience an accident in the home; congrats if that is true!)

 

Puppy Nutrition

Puppies have different nutrient and energy requirements than adult dogs. Look for a high quality puppy food that is specially formulated to support puppy development and growth. The proper quantity of food depends on factors like age, size, and breed. It's a good idea to consult your vet about how much and how often to feed your pup.

For some small breeds, it can be best to free feed young pups to ensure they receive adequate nutrition. Toy and small breed dogs reach physical maturity faster than larger breeds, and can be switched over to adult dog food and adult-sized portions between nine and twelve months of age.

Larger breeds can take a full two years to reach physical maturity, and should stick with a puppy formula during that time. They should also be fed multiple meals each day with controlled portions to prevent complications, such as stomach bloat and buildup of excess protein or calcium, which could lead to conditions like hip dysplasia. A structured feeding schedule for your larger breed pup could look something like this:

• Six to twelve weeks old: Four meals per day
• Three to six months old: Three meals per day
• Six months and up: Two meals per day

Training and Socialization

You'll want to begin house training right away. Dogs instinctively try to avoid soiling their bed and the area around it, so keeping him confined to a small area or crate as he gets used to going outside will be key, says Dog Star Daily. Establish a potty routine, keeping in mind that young puppies will typically need to go out once every couple of hours. Until he's had all his vaccinations, take him to a section of the yard where he won't be exposed to other animals. When he successfully relieves himself outdoors, be sure to lavish him with praise and reward him with a treat.

When it comes to both house training and establishing the rules of appropriate conduct, it's important to be patient with your pup and use positive reinforcement to build happy associations with correct behavior. It's generally best to ignore unwanted behavior, or correct your pup with a simple but firm "no." Never hit or yell at your pup—this will only confuse him and cause him to feel anxious and fearful. When he engages in negative behavior try and direct him back to something positive. For instance, if he is chewing on something he shouldn't be, direct him back to one of his toys. As soon as he's old enough, consider enrolling him in an obedience class. This will not only teach him how to behave, but will also help promote socialization and provide you with the skills to properly train him.

Proper socialization is a key element of successfully raising a puppy. In order for him to grow up into a well-adjusted dog, he needs to be exposed to as many new people, places, experiences and situations as possible. While you should wait until he's had all his vaccinations before taking him out in public or letting him get close to other animals, you can start socializing your pup right away by simply playing with him and introducing him to new people, sights, sounds, smells, and textures.