Whether or not you've ever had a puppy before I hope this page
of training tips is useful to you.
When training your new puppy, a few important things to
remember:
1: Be consistent!
2: Be patient
3: Baby Steps!
Research some different training methods (primarily, potty training)
and figure out what works best for you and your lifestyle. Once you figure out what the training that you will be using be
consistent with it. Dont go back & forth between different training techniques.
Also, be patient with your new puppy. They have no idea what
you want them to do at first, they dont know what is "right" or "wrong". The only way they know what to do is by your instruction
so lead them down the right path from the get-go.
If your teaching a "sit" command and you've been working with
the puppy for weeks and they still pop up as soon as they sit, reward him/her right when they sit. Try to make them hold it
for a little bit longer each time. If you get to far ahead then go back to the beginning. Don't try to incorporate to many
things at once, it will only confuse the puppy and make you crazy!
I recommend outdoor potty training. It may be old-fashioned and
cliche' but it works! That's whats important.
When you teach your puppy to potty on pee wee pads or newspaper
you are temporarily teaching them to go potty inside the house and that is a difficult habbit to break.
Weaning:
On the first day of change, you should have plenty of the old
dog food left. Add three quarters of their old food, and one quarter of the new food. You should do this for at least two
days. After two days or so, add in another quarter, so you have half old food, half new food. Again, keep it at this level
for another two days or so. Then add in a third quarter (one quarter old, three quarters new), and finally you can phase out
the old food completely.
Feeding Instructions:
As far as feeding instructions check with your veterinarian and
see what they suggest for that particular breed. You can also check with the back of the bag, each food is a little bit different.
Food suggestions:
Royal Canin
Castor & Pollux (All Natural, also, organic)
Eukanuba
Blue (All Natural)
Nutro
You dont want a food with a lot of corn, wheat gluten or by-products,
etc.
Water:
Free access to fresh water at all times is essential for dogs.
A dog can get ill and die quickly from dehydration if access is denied. High temperatures, exercise and conditions such as
lactation, diarrhea and certain diseases dramatically increase the dog's water requirement. A rough estimate of the maintenance
requirement for the dog is approximately 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. An otherwise healthy-appearing
dog that is drinking three or more times this amount of water may have a disease, such as diabetes or kidney failure, and
should be examined by a veterinarian.
Your new puppy should have a series of vaccines. The first vaccine
(puppy shot or 5-way vaccine) should be given at 6 weeks, the second (same thing as the first) given at 10 weeks and then
the third, which is also when you will get the rabies vaccine.
You will want to get your puppy started on heartworm tablets
as soon as possible. They are given once a month. I would suggest www.petmeds.com to save some money.
I will periodically add more information to this page so please
check back here and there.
