Before bringing your puppy home, you’ll need to “puppy proof” your house. Puppies are like babies: they want to explore every corner of your house, and they want to put everything into their mouths.
Make sure all poisonous household items are securely stored out of the puppy’s reach.
Place all household cleaners, insecticides, fertilizers, mothballs, antifreeze, insect poisons, rat poisons and other items in cabinets or on high shelves. Remember, as your new puppy grows, he will be able to explore higher places and be tempted to jump up on shelves.
Many plants in and around your house can be harmful to your pup. Did you know that the pits of apricots and peaches, as well as spinach and tomato vines, can make your puppy sick and, in large dosages, can even be fatal? For a complete list of plants that are dangerous to dogs, consult your veterinarian.
Get down on all fours and look around. Are there any dangling electric cords, loose nails, plastic bags or other tempting objects that will be in puppy’s reach? If there are, be sure to put them away immediately.
Puppies are often tempted to play in toilet bowl water. This can be a hard habit to break and toilet cleanser may be harmful if swallowed.
• Never leave your puppy unsupervised inside or outside, and keep him off balconies, upper porches and high decks where he can slip through openings and fall.
• Unplug, remove or cover any electrical cords in your puppy’s confinement area. It is also a good idea to cover electrical outlets, when they are not in use.
• Keep buttons, string, sewing needles, pins and other sharp objects out of your puppy’s reach.
• Tying ribbons around your puppy’s neck could choke him if the ribbon gets caught on a fence or other object.
• A good rule to follow is that anything that is not safe for children is not safe for pets.
Once in his new home, remember that your puppy needs to adjust to strange new surroundings and people. Children can become especially excited. Explain to them that their new companion needs time out for naps. Show children how to pet the newcomer and the proper way to pick him up.
A puppy should be closely supervised and taken outside to relieve itself after eating, following naps and play periods.
As soon as possible after you adopt your puppy, take him to your veterinarian. At this time, a schedule can be worked out for needed vaccinations to protect your newcomer from a number of viral and infectious diseases. He should also be examined and treated, if necessary, for external and internal parasites.
Bring any immunization information you may have received when you adopted your puppy to your veterinarian to begin a case history for future reference. It’s a good idea to keep your own medical record. You may need it for reference if your pet’s veterinarian is not available.
Choose a name for your newcomer and use only that name in calling the puppy. In teaching a puppy its name, as in all training matters, 100 percent cooperation of all family members is essential. When a puppy is sent mixed signals, he can become confused and not respond to any of the contradictory signals.
Remember these key words and you’ll enjoy your new friends for years to come: Gentleness. Care. Patience. Consistency. Praise. And most of all Love!
Crate Training your Puppy
A young puppy should have no problem accepting the crate as his place. Crying at first is caused, not by the crate, but by adjusting to an unfamiliar household. Do not reward barking or whining with attention! If you are sure he doesn’t need to eliminate, ignore him until he is quiet, then praise him or take him out of the crate. Do not leave meals in the crate or feed your puppy immediately prior to confining him. Most puppies will spill water left in the crate. Do leave a safe chew toy in the crate for your pet. Close your pet in the crate whenever he must be left alone or can’t be closely supervised by a responsible person.
Never crate your pet longer than you know he can wait to eliminate, and definitely less than 4 hour intervals during the day. If you occasionally must be gone longer than this, place the crate with the door open in an enclosed area such as a bathroom or laundry room. Place newspapers on the floor of the room to facilitate clean-up. Your puppy should soon stop eliminating overnight and then may be crated in his regular place.
Crate training dogs over 6 months old
Often problem behaviors in this age group result from the pet feeling insecure when left alone. A crate can actually help alleviate this anxiety, but it must be introduced gradually and in a positive manner. The dog’s first association with the crate should be pleasant.
First secure the door open so that it can’t suddenly shut and frighten the dog. Encourage your pet to enter voluntarily by tossing a treat into the far end, praising him enthusiastically once he enters, then letting him come right back out. Once he enters the crate confidently, coax him to lie down and relax, using food, if necessary. Shut the door briefly, while you sit beside the crate or when there are people in the room. Again, don’t reward barking or whining, with attention.
When you feel your dog will remain quietly in the crate, leave him alone for 15 – 30 minutes. If all goes well, you can leave him for longer intervals. Eventually, you may no longer need to shut him in the crate, but he will probably appreciate still having access to his special place.
Does the crate always work?
Unfortunately, no. There are some animals (usually adults) that can or will not tolerate this form of confinement. A few will show no desire to keep the crate clean.
Use – don’t abuse!
- Children should be taught that the crate is a special room for the pet and that they should not pester the dog or pup when it is in the crate or use the crate as a playhouse.
- The use of a dog crate is NOT RECOMMENDED for a dog regularly left alone all day, although some individual animals can tolerate it. If it is attempted:
- The pet must be well exercised before and after crating.
- The crate must be equipped with a heavy, non-tip dish of water.
- Your pet should get lots of attention and complete freedom each night.
- If you do not have time to take a puppy or dog outside to eliminate and exercise as recommended here, you should reconsider getting a dog as a pet. Crate or no crate, any dog consistently denied the attention and companionship it craves, may still find ways to express bored anxiety, and stress