The New Addition To Your Family

Looking after a puppy can be a very time consuming pastime and can involve a lot of hard work and stress. You obviously need to consider whether you can afford the time and patience to dedicate to a pup before purchasing, but having done this you will no doubt find the task of puppy care involving and rewarding.

Most breeders agree to release their pups at around 8 weeks old. Be aware that the pup is not going to have been away from it's litter mates before, and will probably have been with it's mother full time up to as little as 3 weeks before. So be prepared for some initial nerves and fear when you get home.

Check on the food the breeder is feeding, buy a crate, and Vetbed for inside. Bowls and a lead and collar. May I also suggest toy buy a good whistle. If you start really early with the whistle and follow my puppy recall tips you will have no problems later on in life See PUPPY RECALL

It is very helpful if you have left an unwashed worn tee shirt on your first visit to the breeders so that the puppies will recognise your smell. This will also give the pup more confidence when you finally pick it up, as the pup will immediately detect your smell. It will also have the litter and mothers smell on the old tee shirt which will provide some comfort and security in the first weeks at home.

Check with other dog owners as to the best Vet in your area. If you live near me check on the local links section, as I have recommended what I believe to be the best Vets around here in London, Surrey, Middx etc. When you pick up the pup take a cardboard box with you and line it with newspaper. Take spare newspaper with you as the pup may be sick and will almost certainly urinate and defecate on the journey, especially if it is any distance.

When you get home place the bed or crate near somewhere warm, if you are using a crate, and I heartily endorse them, Cover the crate with a blanket or sheet to make it more den like introduce the puppy to the crate gradually and positively, DO NOT SHUT the crate door overnight until about twelve weeks old. see my article on Toileting With a Crate.

If you have a loud ticking clock put this near the bed or crate. the tick of the clock mimics the mothers heartbeats, leave a radio on in another room, make sure it is tuned into a talk not a music station. 97.3 LBC is my favourite and the one I choose every time. Not sure about what the pup thinks though?

If the puppy continues to get very distressed after a couple of days you can take it into your bedroom, though I would only normally advise this when using a crate/indoor kennel, as you can gradually move this back to the original location gradually over a period of time, once the puppy has settled in. See Puppy Crying at Night

Pups will normally be on four meals a day until twelve weeks old then three afterwards, consisting of an early morning feed, a midday afternoon and an evening feed. This does not always fit in with everyone's lifestyle but do remember it will only be for a short time and any drastic change to the pups routine will only help to upset it more. You MUST make time for the pup.

As the pup reaches 8 weeks it will be ready for it's first inoculation. Some vets vary as to what age they will administer the first jab, so it is a good idea to contact your vet as soon as you purchase the puppy. The vet will give your pup a general examination of health on your first visit and after the second jab is given your pup will be ready to see the big wide world it is about to grow up in.

Important Information
It is EXTREMELY important not to exercise your pup too often during the crucial developing period between 3 to eight months, too much exercise will stop the pups bones from forming properly and thus cause the dog problems such as arthritis in later life,. This is not to say you should not exercise the pup at all, but you will tend to find pups will give themselves plenty of exercise themselves by playing.

I do not recommend allowing the pup upstairs, as this can cause stress on the bone between the wrist and elbow/knee causing the bone to push over the joint. This is generally called overrun and is caused when the dog comes down stairs and puts pressure on those front paws as the weight is transferred forward pushing the soft bone up and over the joint. This can cause early onset arthritis

Your pup will be learning from the very second it sets foot in your home, so it is a good idea to lay the ground rules down as soon as your pup arrives. Puppy training should not be a succession of corrections and telling off. It should all be done in the spirit of puppy play, firm but fair.

The way your puppy develops into and adult depends a great deal on how it is guided through its formative early months as a juvenile, by you, it's owner. The two most important words to remember throughout the life of any dog, be it puppy or adult, are consistency and fairness. see my article on Critical Periods

Rules In The House
You should initially decide on the rules before bringing your puppy home for the first time. Where do you intend to put the pup's bed? Where will he/she stay when you have to go out without it. What times will you feed him? Will he be allowed on the bed or furniture? How will you toilet train? Paper, Crate, or Observation? decide on your methods and read up as much as possible about the breed and it's temperament.

Visualise your expectations but remember, though it grows mentally and physically much faster than a human child, it is still only a puppy. Your responses to the pups behaviour should always take this into account.

My personal belief is your puppy should not be allowed on furniture at this or any other time. Dogs don't understand occasionally, only yes and no. However if you must, only let them on at your command and they must immediately get off when you say so, you have to be firm but fair on this point. Whatever you decide apply the rules from the very start and stick to them. Consistency is the key..

Final Thoughts
Expose your puppy to as much as possible; other animals, visitors, children, traveling, hoovering, bangs, clatters, in other words every day life. Remember they are dogs not children treat them as the pack animal they are and you will find them far more responsive.

I meet many dogs and puppies that have major problems with various sounds from Thunder to Traffic Noise, Fireworks and Gunshots.

I have created a sound audio disc that covers all the main phobias such as thunder, sirens, fireworks, traffic noises, (including lorries and buses and air brakes) and gunshots.

If young pups are gently desensitised at a very early age, then they normally do not get these problems. Introduce these type of sounds very quietly and gently to young pups then gradually increasing the volume.

This will allow the pup who may not be able to go out because of vaccinations to be introduced carefully to all the scary sounds he or she will be exposed to when they are able to be taken out into the big wide world.

Prevention is always better than cure. The cost of this disc is only £8.00 plus P&P. I believe it is worth its weight in gold and comes with full instructions on how to introduce it to a puppy, and how to use it on a dog already suffering from noise sensitivity.

Click on the disc to buy it or for further information.

Your Puppy is not a toy to be picked up or dragged around or constantly bothered by children and adults. Give your puppy some time out and respect, it will return it tenfold.

Before you buy any dog make sure you are not just buying it because you like the look of it. Analyse your working and household arrangements, do you want a "guard dog" or lap dog? how much exercise will that lovely Collie or Springer need? do I have the space for that Irish Wolfhound? are some breeds more aggressive than others? think long and hard before you commit yourself to anything.

Remember your dog depending on size and breed can live up ten to twenty years, If not socialised early then it may just turn out to be a nightmare. We all know a dog is for life not just for Xmas, but it is also not for any other time of the year if you are just buying on impulse.

Having said that a dog is a joy, a companion that cannot be equalled, it will become an integral part of your family and your entire life. Your whole perspective will change, and sometimes despite your behaviour it will adore, love and cherish you like nothing else on Earth. For what is God spelt backwards? Why of course it's Dog

This is the 2006 Kennel Clubs list of most popular dogs

1. BR>
   

   	Breed	No. of registrations
   1.	Retriever (Labrador)	45,700
   2.	Spaniel (Cocker)	20,459
   3.	Spaniel (English Springer)	15,133
   4.	German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian)	12,857
   5.	Staffordshire Bull Terrier	12,729
   6.	Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	11,411
   7.	Retriever (Golden)	9,373
   8.	West Highland White Terrier	9,300
   9.	Boxer	9,066
   10.	Border Terrier	8,916
   11.	Rottweiler	6,575
   12.	Shih Tzu	4,436
   13.	Miniature Schnauzer	4,396
   14.	Lhasa Apso	4,154
   15.	Yorkshire Terrier	4,042
   16.	Bulldog	3,522
   17.	Doberman	3,388
   18.	Bull Terrier	3,361
   19.	Weimaraner	2,744
   20.	Pug	2,681

   
   
   
   
   

   
   
   Courtesy of the Kennel Club