You are viewing all 'Puppies entries.
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Between three and six months old, puppies can develop fear aggression around other dogs, cats, strangers, grandma…oh, there are so many triggers. And we are inclined to excuse it so readily. The nip is so small; isn’t it cute to see how they run and hide behind their favorite human? No, it is not! This willful adolescent behavior is unacceptable in any environment and indulging it can lead toward adult problems that land that formerly cute puppy in the shelter. A stern “NO” and removal of the puppy from the group to a quiet spot where he will be ignored for a while are the kindest reactions.
Helen Fazio and her dog Raja are world travelers. Click here to visit their blog, and click here to follow them on Twitter. |
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Submissive peeing is a sign of apprehension, fear and excitement all in one. The first step for helping your puppy get over it is to ignore her when you first get home. After you have ignored your dog on your arrival, you can reach out to pat her by giving a scratch to her chest, but don’t reach over her head to pat her head, since that is a threatening move to a dog who is already timid. Keep the greeting calm, with a quiet, low key voice.
Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter and be sure to check out her website. |
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Get a hot water bottle or a microwaveable hot pack that you can wrap in a towel and put it into the crate with your puppy at night, to soothe him during the first week that he is away from his mother and the rest of the litter.
Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter and be sure to check out her website. |
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While a puppy is in the learning curve he needs to be encouraged, not startled or frightened. For any living creature, learning takes place in a safe and supportive environment – which is what positive reinforcement is all about.
Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter and be sure to check out her website. |
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If you’ve looked at the label on your puppy’s food, you may have noticed an ingredient called Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA). Although this sounds like a chemical from the laboratory of a mad scientist, DHA is healthy and essential to your puppy’s cognitive development and growth. Luckily, dog food and treat manufacturers recognize the need for DHA as part of proper dog nutrition. DHA can be found in most puppy food and treat formulas via fish oils, flaxseed and other sources of Omega 3 fatty acids. For this reason, it’s a good idea for puppy parents to look for treats and foods that contain DHA to ensure proper growth and cognitive development in their canine companions.
Emma Rachel posts dog-friendly information and special savings on the FidoDogTreats.com Facebook page. |
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We all know about puppy mills and how cruel their existence is to dogs. But you might not have heard of puppy auctions. These warehouse events are legal in Ohio, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Iowa, Wisconsin and Missouri. Small breeds are stacked in crates and cages with a number around their necks that is called out for bids. They are your typical puppy mill dogs, ill and scared and nothing like the breed they represent.
Folks living in one of the above states can write their legislators about this practice. You can also help create legislation to ban puppy auctions by writing letters and passing around petitions. And, of course, never buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Adopt or do your homework to find responsible breeders in your area.
Kelly is a pet writer. She lives in the Boston area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat. |
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The idea of putting a puppy through a few simple tests to determine what her temperament will be has gained popularity in the dog world. There are a variety of slightly different tests you can put your puppy through. The most well-known is called Volhard testing, named after the couple who standardized some basic testing techniques of a puppy’s personality as a way to predict what she will be like when grown.
Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the
author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter. |
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There is a general agreement that between six and eight weeks is the best age to take a puppy home, which is right in the middle of the period when the socialization of dogs takes place. Any time before six weeks will interrupt the puppy’s socialization with other dogs. At seven weeks a puppy already has his personality. Some say that exactly 49 days is the perfect age, but I don’t think it’s worth getting too carried away about this!
Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter and be sure to check out her website. |
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Checking your puppy’s mouth on a regular basis is a good habit to develop. In doing so, you’ll get your dog used to someone looking and feeling around his or her mouth. If anything looks out of line, make a vet appointment and let an expert determine if it’s worth worrying about or not.
Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter and be sure to check out her website. |
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Before you pick one up, consider: puppies are a lot of work! Plan on some sleepless nights, taking your pup out for potty breaks at 3 a.m. for a few weeks, sacrificing a favorite pair of shoes, and stopping home on your lunch break to let your puppy out of his crate. Sounds a bit much? Consider adopting an adult dog from a shelter or rescue.
There are many wonderful dogs seeking homes. If you choose one, try to get as much information about his pre-adoption life as possible. If he spent his early years in a quiet home with an elderly owner, he may have difficulty adjusting to living with someone who runs a daycare for 20 screaming children out of her home each day.
Casey Lomonaco is the owner of Rewarding Behaviors Dog Training in Binghamton, NY. She is an award-winning author and contributor to numerous electronic and print animal training publications. |
