Our New Puppy....
So the day has finally arrived and you will be bringing home your cute and cuddly CC puppy for what we hope is many years of enjoyment and companionship. They are soooooo cute, cuddly warm and fuzzy right? Yes they are, but they are also a lot of work and one must be dedicated to rearing a young puppy and understand that while puppies are extremely cute they can and will test the waters of who is in charge in all aspects of their lives. This applies to manners, potty training, grooming and just over all place in the pack of your homelife and lifestyle.
My website is filled with so much information going over everything from grooming, vet care, proper food and nutrition, references, pet health care and so much more.
When families come to visit we discuss a variety of things, and upon departure the last words out of my mouth to you are:
Less is best (this applies to shots and flea and tick products)
Go with the flow Be firm, but loving Training your new puppy starts today Puppies like babies eventually wake up and start to turn into a little stinker: it is very common for a puppy to
Not Listen to you Bite your feet, toes ankles and hands. This is what puppies do. I have tons of videos talking about this and how they love to chew on my toes while out at play in the yard.
Puppies will get "cranked up" as I call it. This is when you as the Alpha person in its new life, talks calmly to it, picks it up and turns it over on its back in the submissive role while making eye contact to little bundle of joy! I talk about this all the time and my grandchildren even know this drill with the pups.
Wanting to chew on your hands and feet are completely normal and a firm no and tap on the nose along with giving the puppy his own toy is what is called for. Is this going to be corrected after one time? NO.... but over a period of time the puppy will learn not to do this. He will also be getting older and won't be so chew happy on human body parts. Again this is not a reason to be concerned it is just the way it is and is to be expected. Puppy bites can break the skin, they have very sharp little teeth. This behavior does not mean you have a "behavior problem" it is just a fact of puppy life.
Some dogs are more
stubborn than others, they may require a bit more dedication to reigning them in to be submissive. These dogs are usually highly intelligent and will test the waters more often.
A puppy class is always recommended to my families. This helps the puppy learn its place in your home. There are also many books out there to teach new pet owners how to work with their young puppy to be well behaved and social.
Neutering a male puppy is extremely important for a mild mannered companion. Males tend to get pretty frisky with their attitude from about 3 months on. ( some more so than others) I have always told families males need to be neutered between 4 and 6 months old and will continue to give this advice. Neutering a male will take some of that attitude and spunk out of him. Neutering is also healthy for your boy.
Females have their moments as well, they too will see how much they can get away with at this age and start to develop a little bit of a teenage girl attitude. Remember to stay firm, and be the boss. Spaying your girl 6 to 8 months is recommended as well to take the hormone level out of the equation.
Lets talk about age.....
I place pups in families with young children, empty nesters and "retired" homes. Sometimes I think some of my older pet owners forget about the early fun stages of rearing a puppy and the amount of time and effort and yes, sometimes trying times their little bundle of joy gives them. Families with young children need to understand that if they have a child that is timid or submissive the puppy will pick up on that and as a puppy may pick on this person,"because it can" simply stated for no other reason. Children need to be aware that puppies nip, chase and can be a little bit obnoxious and overwhelming to a shy and timid young child. The phase of the puppy will pass as it matures but it is a real issue that a family needs to be aware of and understand that the puppy is acting in a normal puppy way.
For those families who choose to groom their own puppy. I encourage you to do so. However I would also like to say this is a task that is not to be taken lightly. I have been grooming my crew for over 30 years and yes I have had my hands full at times with a puppy, young adult or adult. However my grooming sessions always end one way.... They get groomed whether they like it or not and
I am the ALPHA female of my kennel no ifs ands or buts about it. Grooming an 8 week old puppy is a little bit like the greased pig chase at the local 4H fair! It's arms legs and maybe a little swearing on my part. Some are more difficult than others and the older they get the more difficult they will get if not reigned in at the first grooming session you do. I preach, preach and preach again. Finish what you start. There are no bad dogs, just bad groomers. If you feel you don't have the
"inner alpha" to groom your pet, please don't try to do it. You will ruin them for the professional groomer you end up taking them too. The damage of allowing the puppy or young adult to cry, scream, bite and be obnoxious has been done and the long road of correcting this now problem will be long and stressful.
Potty training.... I have those families whose pups never have an accident and then those that just can seem to get their puppy housebroken. With time and effort your puppy will housebreak. If you don't put in the time or effort your puppy will continue to pee and poop in your house. You have to stick with it and understand puppies pee and poop a lot. The older they get the less they have to relieve themselves. If you feel you need more help and tips, I'm sure there are several puppy help books out there. However my advice.... Take the puppy out often, take them to the same spot, use the same key words, "Go potty" "Go poop" "Hurry up" and most of all "Good boy or girl" and "lets go get our treat!"
If all this information has caused you to second guess bringing in a puppy, not only one of my puppies but any puppy. Well good for me. As I say time and time again. Puppies are sure cute but they are a lot of work. Only those willing to put in the time and dedication to rearing a puppy into a loving family companion will have success. Take the time to look with in and determine what you feel you and your family are capable of.
The most important thing I can say about a new puppy is that it has to understand it's place in the "Pack of your home"
The Alpha Factor please read
