Puppy Season, Part 3
This is the third and last part of my Puppy Season series, and it will cover Nighttime Whining, Socialization and Feeding. I hope this advice helps you get off to a good start with your new family member.
Nighttime whining is a problem at first, and is often where people lose control of the relationship with their dog. At first, your pup will be lonely without his or her littermates and mom. He or she is likely to cry for attention at night, or when in the crate. Just like with a human baby, they will need to learn to settle down to sleep by themselves. There are many soft comforting toys to choose from to place in the crate with your pup, for snuggling. I know it is hard, and it can seem mean, but you will have to prepare yourself to ignore the crying at first. It may help to put the pup in the crate in another room, so he can’t see what he’s missing. If you give in, you will be teaching him that crying is a good way to get you to come running, and encourage that to continue.
Proper socialization is another aspect of training, and just as important as sit or come here. Having your pup learn to meet new people and other dogs appropriately will make your life a lot easier when pup is full grown. You should allow your pup to experience a variety of situations. Many pet stores will allow a leashed dog inside. Your job is to manage these experiences so they are positive for the puppy - for instance, try to avoid an aggressive dog, or allowing young children to accidentally hurt the pup. The more he or she is comfortable with, the more he can accompany you.
Last, but not least, what you feed your puppy does make a difference in their health. Most of the brands sold in grocery stores and the big box stores are adequate nutritionally, but there is more you can choose to do for your dog’s health. Even the store’s “premium” brands can have iffy ingredient lists, and many of those foods had recalls in 2007. Whole Dog Journal does a good job of investigating the foods available for the dogs, and they accept no advertising, making them fairly objective. With the “super-premium” label dog foods, you get added benefits, such as more whole ingredients - such as chicken vs. “chicken meal”, and no fractions like the glutens which caused the recalls. Another benefit is that without fillers like corn or corn gluten, you dog will produce less waste, meaning less for you to clean up. Generally, you feed less of the super premium foods, as it is more nutrition, less filler. Most specialty dog stores will have food samples available, so you can try it out first.
If you have any questions about your puppy’s care, feel free to stop by the store for assistance!
Nighttime whining is a problem at first, and is often where people lose control of the relationship with their dog. At first, your pup will be lonely without his or her littermates and mom. He or she is likely to cry for attention at night, or when in the crate. Just like with a human baby, they will need to learn to settle down to sleep by themselves. There are many soft comforting toys to choose from to place in the crate with your pup, for snuggling. I know it is hard, and it can seem mean, but you will have to prepare yourself to ignore the crying at first. It may help to put the pup in the crate in another room, so he can’t see what he’s missing. If you give in, you will be teaching him that crying is a good way to get you to come running, and encourage that to continue.
Proper socialization is another aspect of training, and just as important as sit or come here. Having your pup learn to meet new people and other dogs appropriately will make your life a lot easier when pup is full grown. You should allow your pup to experience a variety of situations. Many pet stores will allow a leashed dog inside. Your job is to manage these experiences so they are positive for the puppy - for instance, try to avoid an aggressive dog, or allowing young children to accidentally hurt the pup. The more he or she is comfortable with, the more he can accompany you.
Last, but not least, what you feed your puppy does make a difference in their health. Most of the brands sold in grocery stores and the big box stores are adequate nutritionally, but there is more you can choose to do for your dog’s health. Even the store’s “premium” brands can have iffy ingredient lists, and many of those foods had recalls in 2007. Whole Dog Journal does a good job of investigating the foods available for the dogs, and they accept no advertising, making them fairly objective. With the “super-premium” label dog foods, you get added benefits, such as more whole ingredients - such as chicken vs. “chicken meal”, and no fractions like the glutens which caused the recalls. Another benefit is that without fillers like corn or corn gluten, you dog will produce less waste, meaning less for you to clean up. Generally, you feed less of the super premium foods, as it is more nutrition, less filler. Most specialty dog stores will have food samples available, so you can try it out first.
If you have any questions about your puppy’s care, feel free to stop by the store for assistance!
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