Hello to all of my Mason
followers! Can you believe it’s May
already? I can’t, but then again time
means nothing to me unless it involves waiting to eat- then time is of the essence!
So today, my friends, I plan to talk about puppies. Yeah, pretty cute aren’t they? Well, I guess if you’re into dogs… J So, let’s talk Puppy 101! |
| Nemo |
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| David |
Once that is out of the way, have another group meeting with
the household so that you can establish some kind of system as far as taking
care of the puppy. This can be an
especially great learning experience for children and will also help teach them
about responsibility and discipline (not to mention it could prove to be very
useful experience later in life when they have pets of their own!). However, parents should plan to have the
ultimate responsibility to care for the pet.
That being said, if you do have children, it is highly advisable to do
some homework first and look into what breeds would be a better fit. The ASPCA
has some great information on finding the right dog based on your child’s age. Establishing some ground rules and some type
of care system, whether you’re dealing with adults or children before bringing
the puppy home will help the transition go much more smoothly (which not only
reduces stress to the humans involved but more importantly, the new puppy!).
Structure is extremely important for puppies because it’s
when they are learning everything. Although “you can’t teach an old dog new
tricks” is not a true statement, it can be more difficult. You have to remember that these are not
four-legged humans so you have to learn to be patient as well as
consistent. You can’t tell a puppy (or
any animal) that it’s not OK to hop on the counter on Wednesday but it’s OK on
Fridays. Consistency is very important
when it comes to training commands, too or you could end up confusing the poor
puppy and definitely causing a setback in your training. When you pick up your puppy, find out if he
or she already knows some basic commands and if possible, try and stick with
those if they seem to be working. Hey,
one less thing to teach them, right?
Another vital step in puppy ownership is socialization. This is very important and needs to be done
with patience and SMARTS! Great place to
start is at GFAH! It’s best to make the
first appointment within the first week of owning the puppy (unless of course
something is going on medically, then come in sooner) and if possible, in
between vaccinations so that the first visit can be as positive experience as
possible. This is a great time to ask
questions, address any concerns you may have and also our vets can give you a
few tips on basic training and care. GFAH
can also give you good recommendations for training and even a list of trainers
they recommend based on the puppy’s needs.
Now as far as socialization goes, it’s important that your puppy have
all the necessary vaccinations prior to meet and greets with other dogs. Puppies are especially susceptible to diseases
since their immune systems are not mature.
Socialization with other dogs that are current on their vaccinations is
the best way to socialize. Many puppies also have intestinal parasites,
while intestinal parasites are treatable, they can cause GI upset (vomiting,
diarrhea, gas, etc.) and can even rob your pet of nutrition which if left
untreated can lead to trouble. Bring in
a stool sample on your first visit to have tested so that if your pet needs
treatment, it can receive it as soon as possible. We can also give you proper direction on what
to do in addition to any deworming medication so that you can avoid anything
being passed on to another pet or possibly a person.
Well folks, I think I have “mewsed” enough for the day! There is so much to learn about puppy
ownership and not enough hours in the day!
I have compiled a list of websites that may be of some help should you
be looking for a puppy at any point. I
cannot stress enough though how important it is to do some homework first! Don’t hesitate to ask us for advice if you
are unsure since we would much rather you be 100% sure and completely
comfortable before you bring a puppy home!
Til next meow,
Mason
References:
