ABOUT YOUR PUPPY

HAVING THE PROPER INTERACTION WILL LEAD TO A HAPPY PUPPY

Vitally important is that dog owners start with the proper interaction with their puppy,  and to preserve the bond between the two.   Many times dog owners don’t have the right foundations on which to build the relationship,  that’s where your veterinarian can be a big help.

GETTING OFF TO THE RIGHT START WITH YOUR PUPPY AT HOME

The first visits to the veterinarian are a great time to get proper counselling about puppy home behavior’s.

Supervision,  or confinement if your puppy isn’t being supervised,  are very important in the first few months after the puppy comes home.   If the puppy has to be confined make sure that he isn’t more than four hours at a time.

“Confinement is fine,  but if the puppy is crated for eight hours a day while the owner is at work,  and then again all night for sleep,  that only leaves a few hours in the evening to burn off all his energy,  and that can lead to unwanted behaviors.

More often,  an open playpen-type enclosure is recommended as an alternative to a kennel  (cage).   It doesn’t allow total freedom but does give more space for the puppy to move around and burn off some energy during the day.

Leashes are also encouraged in the house if the dog owner is not actively watching the puppy,  like when you’re on the computer or cooking,  because it keeps the puppy from wandering off and getting into trouble in other parts of the house.

This is really important if there are small children in the home because you want to make sure that all interactions between children and puppies are safe and positive.   You don’t want anything that can damage the relationship between children and their puppy.

Another important part of the home environment is having toys.   Lots and lots of toys will keep your puppy engaged and out of trouble.   Puzzle toys that feed the puppy work wonderfully.

KEEP LEARNING WITH TRIPS TO THE VET

During the first visit,  the veterinarian can teach the pet owner how to get the puppy comfortable with some of the most common handling techniques that it will encounter,  when at the veterinary clinic.

Some techniques are:  play doctor with your puppy,  look in the puppy’s ears and mouth,  handle the paws,  take an object and touch it to the puppy’s chest like it was a stethoscope,  and then run a hand down it’s belly to examine it.

While doing these mock exam techniques at home,  the puppy owner should be giving the puppy treats and positive reinforcement to show that the touch is O.K.   Then when the puppy comes into the clinic,  there is less fear,  anxiety and stress for everyone involved.

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