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Bringing a new
puppy into your
home is always
an exciting
time! If you
make proper
preparations
beforehand, you
will make the
homecoming easy
for yourself and
your new family
member. Think of
bringing an
adopted two year
old into your
home. It would
be pretty
chaotic if you
brought the
child home with
nothing done to
provide for his
needs or safety!
Imagine the
child exploring
your home
without any
supervision!
Think of him
taking care of
and making
decisions for
himself. Wow,
you can just
imagine the
consequences!
Now picture this
same child being
well-tended.
Being taught
what is right
and wrong
consistently.
Praising and
talking to him,
yet firm when
something needs
corrected. Being
fed quality food
and vitamins in
a scheduled way
and taking care
of his physical
needs by
providing needed
vaccinations and
doctor visits.
If you think of
your new puppy
in this same
way, you will be
taking a step in
the right
direction
towards
developing a
super family
companion!
The first thing
to consider will
be safe-proofing
your home from
exploring
mouths! Take a
close look
around the house
and remove
anything that
you don't want
to be chewed on.
Many things can
actually be a
choking hazard,
so pay close
attention to
removing small
items such as
socks,
children's toys,
etc. Move
magazines and
books to a
higher spot and
check to make
sure that all
electrical cords
are out of
reach. Some
plants can
actually be
poisonous, know
what type of
plants that you
own and remove
those that will
be a danger. It
might help to
actually get
down on your
hands and knees
to check out
what would be
the puppy's
point of view.
Taking these
precautions will
not only protect
your new puppy
and keep him
safe, but will
also help
protect those
things that you
don't want
destroyed!
Check out our
link about
"Common Dog
Toxins"
to become
familiar with
what will be a
danger to your
new puppy.
Safety inside
the home is
another point to
consider. Remove
rocking chairs
to another room
where puppy will
not be. These
can be extremely
dangerous and
cause
irreversible
damage and even
death! An
expandable gate
will work well
to protect your
new family
member from
going where he
shouldn't be,
and protect him
from falling
down a long
flights of
stairs. If you
have mouse or
rat bait, weed
killer,
anti-freeze or
coolant around,
take extra
precaution to
store these in a
place that
cannot be
accessed by your
children or your
new puppy, these
are deadly!
One of the
greatest tools
for training
will be your
puppy's crate.
This will be his
"safe" spot when
you aren't able
to watch him
closely and
where he will be
sleeping at
night. Eventually
this will also become his den
when he needs a
break. Keep his
favorite toys in
there, this will
be a reward for
him when you
have to put him
in for a while
during the day,
and at night
while you are
sleeping.
(Because puppies
get bored
easily, make
sure that he has
plenty of his
own toys to play
with. Avoid toys
that can be
chewed and
ingested. I
don't know how
many owners have
warned me about
their puppy
ingesting soft
material (one
puppy had
swallowed two
socks!) and
having to have
surgery to
remove it. There
are many types
of great toys
available, just
watch closely to
see what toys
work best for
your puppy!) You
can train your
pup to "kennel
up" by offering
a small treat
when he goes
inside and
saying the words
at the same time
he is walking
in. If used
consistently,
this will be an
excellent help
in housebreaking
your new puppy.
Outdoor safety
also needs to be
considered.
Secure fencing
will be top
priority in
keeping your new
puppy safe. Make
sure that it is
tall enough for
your adult dog
and close enough
to the ground
that he can't
squirm under.
Unfortunately,
some dogs like
to dig their way
out. We have
found that
installing a 1
1/2 foot wide
piece of fencing
on the ground
around the fence
line and under
the gate will
take care of
that problem.
Some dogs also
like to jump
over. We
have found that
using an
electric fence
charger with a
live wire around
the top of the
fence actually
trains your dog
to not jump
over, if started
right away. Now, take a
close look
around your yard
and look at
things in the
puppy's point of
view. Is there
anything around
that he would
like to chew on?
Remove these
things and
provide lots of
toys in his
outdoor area. He
will
automatically
establish the
habit of chewing
on his toys.
When he is more
mature, you can
start returning
things one by
one, letting him
know that they
are off limits.
Next, are the
plants in your
yard safe? Make
it a point to
check out what
plants you have
and remove those
that are toxic
to animals.
The
last thing that
we will discuss
is pool safety.
If your puppy
will have access
to your pool,
make sure that
he knows where
the steps are.
Although puppies
can swim for a
short while,
they get
exhausted and
can drown
quickly. Train
your puppy by
taking him into
the pool with
you and teach
him how to swim
to the steps.
After he knows
where to swim
to, try getting
out of the pool
and have your
puppy do this on
his own. If your
pool area is not
secure, never
leave a puppy
alone outside
until he is
mature and able
to consistently
climb out on his
own.
Before receiving
your new puppy,
check with your
breeder to see
what brand of
food he has been
eating and have
some on hand for
his homecoming.
If you choose to
use a different
brand of food,
be sure to
change to the
new food slowly.
Mix about 2/3 of
what he has been
eating with 1/3
of what you want
him to have. Use
this blend for a
day or two, then
over the course
of the next week
or so, slowly
start adding in
the new food
until it is
completely
replacing the
original. This
will help
prevent an upset
stomach and
possible
diarrhea. Always
use a food
specially
formulated for
puppies and look
for quality
brands that do
not contain
artificial
flavors, colors,
preservatives
and additives.
We recommend
feeding your
puppy free
choice from
morning until
around 7:00.
Remove the food
and water at
that time to
help with
housebreaking
during the
night. You
should be able
to feel a nice
layer of fat
over the ribs.
If it seems like
your new puppy
needs a bit of
weight, you can
add in some
canned food with
some dry,
morning and
evening to
encourage a
healthy
appetite.
Expect to drop
to three
feedings, then
two feedings a
day over the
course of the
first year.
Keep an eye on
their weight,
it's best to be
a little bit on
the lean side to
encourage
healthy joint
growth.
By keeping these
tips in mind,
you will begin a
successful start
with your new
family member.
Good luck and
enjoy your new
puppy! |
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