surchinmy
Ultra ALPHA
Dec 18, 2003, 10:17 PM
Post #3 of 21
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Re: [a_evie] shalom came home and....
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Hello ... Glad to hear Shalom is safely home ... Vaccination protocol: It's time to start your puppy's vaccination schedule. The breeder should have provided you with the pup's medical history and veterinary card, that details medication & treatment record (including earlier vaccinations, if any). The basic protocol may be found in these sites. There is some variation, but your vet will be able to advice: http://www.petsmart.com/...s/article_3367.shtml http://www.kerryblues.org/KB/DODDS.HTML Please commence vaccinations before taking pup outdoors, check with vet as to when its safe to take pup outdoors & for socialisation with other dogs. House training (pee & poop training): You already have a training manual, and there are many threads offering advice on this issue ... So, just 3 points: (a) The key to training (for anything, including house training, whether paper or spot training) is CONSISTENCY. The more consistent you are - the faster your results. In other words, the more regularly you show your pup where to pee & poop the faster the correct habit is reinforced. (b) Remember, puppies pee & poop quite often and there is no way to regulate or minimise that with pups. At this age, your house training must provide and allow pup to pee & poop in the designated place at night when everyone else is asleep. Do not force (or have an arrangement that forces) your pup pee or poop where it sleeps!!! ... this can lead to many complications. (c) Physical or verbal punishment merely confuses the pup and complicates house training (check threads for reasons) Carried out consistently, your pup should be reasonably house trained by the end of 7days to 2weeks. Diet: Plenty of threads on this issue. Proper nutrition for a pup is critical, do not confuse quantity with quality ... I would rather a dog eat less but eat well, namely - eat good proper food ... A good quality kibble supplemented by freshly prepared food is always a good idea. If the pup finds kibble dry, add a little warm water to soften the kibble. Please read up & reseach puppy nutrition. Being well-intentioned is insufficient, knowledge is the answer. Fear Periods: Do a search on "fear periods" in the forum ... and once again - good intentions are insufficient. Puppies go through various fear periods, this is part of a dog's mental & instinctive make-up that was necessary for survival when dogs were wild ... Today, for domestic dogs, it's the owner's responsibility to understand and manage "fear periods" ... Properly handling fear periods will allow your pup to grow into a steady and confident adult. Your training manual should also have some information on this issue. Over cuddling and pampering may satisfy our personal emotions but may not necessarily be good for the pup in the long run. But on the other hand, exposing the pup to more new sensations than the pup can reasonably cope with may be equally detrimental. The key is - learning about your canine friend and finding the "balance" required by YOUR SPECIFIC & INDIVIDUAL pup ... Move gradually but consistently towards your goals for yourself and your pup. The speed must be determined by your pup's temperament, and not your temperament! Consistency also means that you should not allow your pup to do anything you would not want it to do as an adult dog ... For example: If you do not want your dog to chew shoes or furniture - then don't let the dog do it as a pup, not even old shoes (dogs cannot tell the difference) ... If you do not want an adult dog on your bed or bedroom, then the pup must be taught now ... If you do not want your dog to beg at the table, then do not give treats your pup from the table. If you make exceptions, you confuse your dog, and then it's not the dog's fault ... and you can make training that much harder. All the best
(This post was edited by surchinmy on Dec 18, 2003, 10:19 PM)
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