Puppies need to fit into families and learn to get on well with new people as well as other dogs and cats.
They need to feel confident about visiting your friends and their companions. Off-leash park visits should be fun not frantic, and games on the beach shouldn’t mean rough play with other dogs. But first they need to learn how.
If a puppy comes into your family at between eight and nine weeks old, he has just left his dog family and needs to taught how to fit in with his human pack.
For the first time ever, he will be away from the comfort of his mother. Make sure this change is not too stressful by first making sure he has a warm dog coat for the cooler months, a suitable soft new dog bed with warm rugs and that he sleeps where he can have his own space. Crate Training is also useful for some new puppies.
Good quality puppy food is essential to the wellbeing of a healthy growing puppy. He will need several feeds a day followed by rest and then play time. When he is well fed and rested, start thinking about educating and socialising him.
Before introducing your puppy to the big wide world ensure you are up to date with all his vaccinations. C3 – canine parvovirus, canine distemper and canine hepatitis are essential and vaccination against kennel cough is necessary for acceptance to puppy school.
Puppy pre-school, puppy school and dog training courses are as necessary to a puppy’s wellbeing as kindergarten, preschool and school are to a child.
A well socialised puppy develops the necessary skills and confidence to interact with people and dogs. He will also meet new playmates at puppy school and will soon become part of the human/dog community. You will also meet people with similar interests.
However, just as young children become overwhelmed by too much too soon, puppies too can only spend a short period of time in education and social learning situations. Make the regime too demanding and it’s no longer fun, and learning turns into a stressful situation that is likely to instil fear. A fearful pup is a lonely pup.
Some puppies, like people, are naturally shy and a small amount of education and socialisation goes a long way. These types of pups are often happier in a small family circle with visits from familiar people. Others can never get enough play and interaction with new people and other animals. Be aware that the pup you are now living with has his or her own personality, just like you and other members of your family
About Toby
Recent Comments