Puppy Proofing Your Home
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. A good rule to follow is that anything that is not safe for children is not safe for pets.
Crate Training
Crate training is not putting your dog/puppy in a "cage" or
"jail", and you a
re not being cruel if you follow these tips. Dogs feel secure in small, enclosed spaces, like a den. Dog crates make excellent
dens. A crate offers your dog security, a den with a roof, and a place to call his very own where he can go to
get away from it all. It is also a safe place for him to stay when you're away or when you cannot watch him.
There are basically just a few steps in crate training
and they are as follows:
1. Choose a crate the same size as your puppy/dog. He should only have enough room to stand up, turn
around and lie down. His crate is for sleeping or for a safe place to be when you cannot be with him.
2. Use a single-word
command for your dog to enter his crate and throw in a treat or piece of kibble. When he enters, praise him and close the
crate door. Gradually increase the time he spends in the crate before you let him out. Remember, your dog still needs time
to play and eliminate. Maintain a regular schedule of trips outdoors so as not to confine him too long.
3. As a general guide,
your puppy can stay in his crate comfortably for several hours, depending on his age. Take his age in months, add 1, and that's
how many hours he should be able to stay in his crate (up to about 8 hours). For example, a 2-month old puppy should be comfortable
in his crate for about 3 hours.
4.
Providing your dog or puppy with a crate
that is way too large may allow him to relieve himself in one end and sleep in the other. Placing food or water in his crate
will allow him to fill up his bladder and bowel and he will have no choice but to relieve himself in his crate. Make sure
you take your dog or puppy outdoors to eliminate on a regular schedule and especially prior to being left for prolonged periods
of time. Always take your dog outside on a leash to the same area in your backyard to eliminate so you can praise him when
his job is finished. This will take the guesswork out of his visits to the backyard.
Feeding
Your Puppy
Some dog own
ers forget that humans require a variety of foods to ensure the consumption of nutritionally balanced meals. A quality dog
food
has a proper balance of all the nutrients a dog requires together with a high level of palatability.
Adding human
food to a nutritionally balanced commercial dog food may upset the nutrient balance of your dog’s diet. Ideally, table
scraps should not be fed. You may also be creating behavior problems. Your dog may begin to steal food from the table or the
food preparation area. Try feeding your dog at regularly scheduled times, such as when the family is having breakfast or dinner.
Feed only enough to maintain your dog in good body condition. Ignore its coaxing for additional food, or give hugs instead.
