Dr. Claire Stevens
– Veterinarian and Author of “Dr Claire’s Love Your Dog”
There are a few things you need to do before you bring your new family member home such as finding the right vet if you haven’t had one before. Depending where you live, you may not have a choice of vets, but if you have friends with pets, ask around. You will have also set out a special place for the puppy to sleep and toys for him to play with. If he had a special comforter blanket at his original home, bring that home with your puppy. Remove everything of value around the house that he might want to chew on once he starts exploring and teething – shoes, electrical cords, TV remotes (a favourite chew toy), decorative items from the coffee table and food from the lower shelves of the pantry. Roll away any heirloom Persian rugs while he is toilet training and provide a variety of his own toys for chewing because his chewing period can go on until he is at least a year old. The breeder is responsible for weaning pups off their mother’s milk and onto a safe nutritious food. Continue to use whatever food the breeder has been using when you first bring the puppy home. Once your puppy is settled and passing well-formed healthy stools you can start weaning it onto another complete and balanced puppy diet. The first few weeks at home are an important time for your puppy because what they learn and experience now will shape their future behaviour. For behavioural reasons and pack hierarchy it’s not advisable to let the puppy sleep on your bed; he should have his own bedding, blanket and toys. You’ll need to put towels or pads in the rooms he has access to because he will use the floor as a toilet. And expect the little darling to keep you up all night as he will cry like the baby he is, missing his mother and the comfort of his littermates. I recommend crate training as soon as you can after bringing the puppy home and you’ll need to buy he right crate.
The best way to train a puppy is in a crate.
And it’s not cruel. Before dogs were domesticated it was natural for dogs in the wild to seek out small ‘dens’ where they could shelter, feel safe and care for their puppies. Providing a crate for your dog from a young age is a great way to house train him – he won’t want to go to the toilet on his own bed. But if he has full reign of the house, he probably won’t think twice about having a pee in some far corner when he’s not fully toilet trained and you’re not watching him. A crate can also prevents anxiety in a puppy who might find a great big house a bit challenging especially when no-one’s home.
Choose a large well-ventilated crate that is not only big enough for your puppy to stand up and turn around but will also hold him when he’s fully grown. If he’s a larger breed the crate will be too big while he’s a puppy so you can use a divider to make it smaller for the time being. Many pet supply outlets sell dividers. Size is important because if it’s too small the dog will be cramped.
Make the crate cosy with blankets and some toys and pop the puppy in the crate for little naps (babies need sleep) and quiet time away from the excitement of playing with you and the family. At first put him in for short periods, slowly increasing the length of time he’s in the crate over a few weeks and give him a treat each time. Every time you take him out of the crate give him a little walk outside so he can go to the toilet; he’ll get the message that after crate time is toilet time. Remember, puppies have tiny bladders so he might not be able to wait for the next crate break; if he starts whining and scratching take him outside quickly and praise him after he’s does his business and give him a reward. Try not to let him do it in the crate because you don’t want him to get the idea that it’s a good thing.
A six-month-old puppy can reasonably be expected to hold on for about six hours and should be able to sleep overnight in the crate but take him out before you go to bed and first thing in the morning. however, no two dogs are the same and the length of time it takes to learn how to control their bowels and bladder will depend on the dog. Be patient – learning takes time. If there is no-one home during the day who can take the puppy for crate breaks, you could use puppy pads or paper in an approved place in the home until it is mature enough to learn how to hold on for long periods and to always do their business outside.
Crate training must be a positive experience for the puppy. It should become a happy, safe place where they have food, water and toys. Using a crate from an early age means you can reduce anxiety when using it for transport or if your dog has to spend time in a crate or cage at the vet’s; it’s also handy as a safe haven if they turn out to be storm phobic.
① Choose a large well-ventilated crate
A crate size that is not only big enough for your puppy to stand up and turn around but will also hold him when he’s fully grown. If he’s a larger breed the crate will be too big while he’s a puppy so you can use a divider to make it smaller for the time being. Many pet supply outlets sell dividers. Size is important because if it’s too small the dog will be cramped.
② Make the crate cosy
Creat a comfortable "den-like" space with crate cover, blankets and some toys. Then pop the puppy in the crate for little naps (babies need sleep) and quiet time away from the excitement of playing with you and the family.
③ Crate Training Tips
At first put him in for short periods, slowly increasing the length of time he’s in the crate over a few weeks and give him a treat each time. Every time you take him out of the crate, give him a little walk outside so he can go to the toilet; he’ll get the message that after crate time is toilet time. Remember, puppies have tiny bladders so he might not be able to wait for the next crate break; if he starts whining and scratching take him outside quickly and praise him after he’s does his business and give him a reward. Try not to let him do it in the crate because you don’t want him to get the idea that it’s a good thing.
A six-month-old puppy can reasonably be expected to hold on for about six hours and should be able to sleep overnight in the crate but take him out before you go to bed and first thing in the morning. however, no two dogs are the same and the length of time it takes to learn how to control their bowels and bladder will depend on the dog. Be patient – learning takes time. If there is no-one home during the day who can take the puppy for crate breaks, you could use puppy pads or paper in an approved place in the home until it is mature enough to learn how to hold on for long periods and to always do their business outside.
Crate training must be a positive experience for the puppy. It should become a happy, safe place where they have food, water and toys. Using a crate from an early age means you can reduce anxiety when using it for transport or if your dog has to spend time in a crate or cage at the vet’s; it’s also handy as a safe haven if they turn out to be storm phobic.
Your dog must understand ‘sit’ before you start lead and heel training because it’s always the start off point and also a very basic and important command. When you are teaching your dog to ‘stay’ be careful not to over praise when you release him from the stay position – too much ‘good doggie’ may over-excite him causing him to bounce and jump around at the end of the session. ‘Stay’ training, like any type of training, should only be attempted when you have your dog’s full attention. If your dog is more interested in other dogs or children, his mind is elsewhere.
If your dog is distracted while you are teaching it to walk on a lead, use your left hand on its collar to bring it back into the heel position, get its attention with a food treat and continue. If the distraction is overwhelming, command it do something you know it will do – ‘Sit’. Verbally reward it and wait until the distraction action has passed.
When you are training your pooch, stand upright, be consistent and use a combination of verbal and hand commands. Try not to get annoyed and repeat the same commands over and over; if it’s not working out, take a break.
Things you should do for your dog as the temperature drops:
🐾 Make sure your pet’s crate is away from drafts and elevated off cold, hard surfaces. You should raise the bed off the ground and add an extra blanket for warmth and comfort.
🐾 If they are outside during the day or night, consider bringing them in or adding additional sheltered areas protected from the cold and elements.
🐾 Keep moving! Go outside and get moving to get warm with your dog
🐾 If your dog is over 7 years old, pay attention to any signs of arthritis (which is exacerbated by the cold). If your dogs joints appear more stiff or uncomfortable, contact your veterinarian for further advice.
