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Puppies' Page
Choosing your Puppy:
Different breeds will have certain characteristics for
which they were bred. Ask breeders at dog shows and look them up in breed books for further information. You must consider
several things before deciding on a dog:
How much time can you spend with it? Dogs are social creatures.
They will not be happy left out in the back yard alone. You must be committed to spending several hours a day with it.
What
space can you provide for it? If you live in a small apartment, you must take this into consideration: many dogs will
not do well unless you spend a good deal of effort in meeting their needs. Don't be fooled by size into thinking a dog will
be OK in a small apartment -- A terrier for example requires a lot of exercise. Conversely, many Mastiffs are
content tojust lie on the floor and do nothing at all while you are
gone.
How much money can you set aside for
it? Even if you get a dog from the shelter or otherwise inexpensively, you will have to buy food, pay for veterinary
checkups, vaccinations and routine medical care over the lifetime of the dog. Not to mention replacing anything the dog may
damage or destroy, or money for medical emergencies. Do you have the financial resources for this?
How
much exercise can you give it? If your time is limited, you should look for smaller or less active dogs that can obtain
enough exercise in your home or from short walks. Note that not all small dogs are less active, or larger dogs more active.
How
much training can you do? Regardless of the dog you get, training will make your dog much more compatible with you
and what you want to do. A trained dog can go to more places with you without disruption, and can be more easily a part of
your life.
How much grooming can you do? How much hair are you prepared to have in your home? You should
give serious consideration to these factors: some dogs shed little and require no grooming (clipping, stripping, etc); others
shed little but require more grooming; others shed but do not require grooming; and still others both shed and require grooming.
Do note that just about all dogs will require some nail clipping regardless of conditions. If you get a dog that requires
regular grooming, are you prepared to pay for its grooming or learn to do it yourself and to do either regularly?
Which
sex do you want, male or female? There are pros and cons to either sex, all of which are generalities and may or may
not apply to a specific dog. By all means, if you have a preference, get the sex you want. If you are not sure, it really
doesn't matter.
What characteristics do you want in a dog? Different breeds have been bred with specific purposes
in mind. Dogs bred for scent, for racing, for retrieving, etc, will exhibit these traits. Consider which characteristics you
would like and which will annoy you. Reading up on dogs in breed books (some are listed below) and talking to breeders will
give you some idea of these kinds of characteristics. This also may be a reason to choose a purebred: characteristics in purebreds
appear more reliably because of their consistent breeding. Do recognize, however, that dogs show individual personalities,
and variety exists within each breed. Breeds are only a general indicator of what to expect.
Some questions
to ask yourself:
What sort of exercise do I want to do with the dog? Walking? Jogging?
Do I want a dog that
is bouncy and ready to go, or more relaxed?
Am I prepared for a dog with some protective tendencies? How about a dog with
possible dog-aggression (because of its background or breed)?
Do I want an indiscriminantly friendly dog or one that is
more reserved?
Do I want a dog that must be near me whenever possible or do I prefer a more independent nature?
Will
I want a dog that readily accepts other animals (e.g., cats, rabbits, etc.)?
Am I interested in: obedience, agility, hunting,
herding, coursing, showing, etc. with this dog?
Mixed Breed or Pedigree? While you can enjoy showing
a dog with a good pedigree, in the show circuit, mixed breeds make equally lovable companions and are infact said to have
more resistance to infections and they are freely available for adoption. But if you have decided on a breed, take the advice
of people knowledgeble about the breed, choose a breeder whom you think is responsible and for heaven's sake don't buy the
puppy just because it is available nearby or it is cheap!
Whatever the dog or puppy you choose to buy, please
try not to buy them from "Puppy-Mills". In India, the sudden spurt in demand for puppies has led to a major problem - PUPPY
THEFT. We at dogsindia have had personal experiences, and see the harrowing experience some others have gone through. One
lady was even threatened by certain people. She tried to report the matter to higher authorities. So please try to get your
puppy either from good homes, reliable owners and breeders, or adoption centres.
Puppy Care
Points
to remember:
Try to bring a puppy home only after it is eight weeks old. By then it must have had its Primary
Vaccination against Parvo and other diseases. Insist on the immunisation record given by the Vet to the breeder. If it is
a dog with a Pedigree insist on the certificate and its transfer to your name.Remember to ask questions about the feeding
schedule.
Feeding Schedule
Readymade dry food of high quality is available in India and if you
can afford it, that is the food of choice. Not only does it contain the right proportions of protein, fat and carbohydrates,
vitamins and minerals, but it is also very convenient - no cooking is required. On the other hand you may require commercial
preparations of baby food, as advised by the breeder. Remember to give the right supplements of Calcium and Vitamins
if you are not giving dry food.
House Training
When you being a new puppy home, most often it will
not already be housebroken. As with children, the only thing you need to house break your puppy is patience, and a lot of
it. As soon as the puppy has been fed, he should be taken out - puppies often relieve themselves right after they eat, and
so taking them our right after eating reinforces the idea that they should only relieve themselves outside.
An alternative
method you might want to try is placing old sheets of newspaper on the floor. Understand though, that this method takes plenty
of time and patience, so don't give up. Every time the puppy relieves itself in the house, cover the mess with newspaper,
and allow the puppy to investigate
it (for investigate it they will, if there is even an iota of puppy-ish-ness in them).
Also, leave newspaper lying on the floor so that once the puppy recognizes the smell, it will use only the newspaper. To help
it get the idea, place the puppy on the newspaper after it has eaten (and remember the magic word - patience, because puppies
like to run about after they eat).
Children and puppies should always be supervized. Never leave them alone with each
other. Children can be unknowingly cruel to dogs (pulling whiskers, tail, etc.) and puppies can unwittingly retaliate by biting,
which you certainly don't want.
Whatever behaviour you eventually want from your puppy, you must enforce from the
start. If you dont want the grown up dog to be allowed in the bedroom, or sit on your living room couches, don't let them
do so as puppies. On thier first few nights in your house, puppies will be upset, and miss their littermates etc. Make sure
they have a nice warm and safe place to sleep in. If you want, you can sleep near that area for the first night. If you don't
want them to beg from the dining room table - don't feed them
while you eat at the table.
Above all, care for your
puppy's health. Contact a local vet, and by all means, establish a good relationship. Your dog does not need to be ill to
see the vet. The vet should see the dog while he is in good health, so he has something to compare the not well dog against,
when you bring him in at
other times. Make sure you are up to date on the puppy's shots. They can be expensive, but then,
you decided to pay for them the day you decided to get the puppy. And as any dog lover will tell you - puppies are worth every
penny you sepnd on them, and then some more.
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Safety Tips for Kids
Even
a nice dog may try to protect himself with a growl and a nip at certain times. Biting is a dog's natural way of protecting
himself. Since dogs sometimes see kids as equals, they may try to send them a warning, doggy-style, when things get tense.
Here's how to avoid misunderstandings with your own or anyone else's dog.
Always ask a dog's owner if you may pet the
dog.
There may be a very good reason why a dog should not be touched. He may be "on duty" as a handicapped person's assistance
dog, or he may be injured, ill, or afraid of children.
Approach a dog from the front or side.
Hold your hands low
and speak softly. Surprising a dog from behind, forcing him into a corner, waving hands in the air or screaming may overexcite
him, causing him to snap in fear or even in play.
Let a dog eat in peace.
If there's one place a dog may get defensive,
it's at the food dish. Your dog shouldn't growl when you get near his dish, but you shouldn't interfere with his eating.
Watch
out for special toys.
Some dogs have powerful feelings for their balls or chew toys. Never take a bone or toy from a dog's
mouth unless you have trained him to drop it and give it to you first.
Avoid teasing, rough wrestling, or tug-of-war
games.
Dogs may get too enthusiastic in these sorts of games and forget you're not a dog. Fetch, Frisbee, hide and seek,
agility courses, and flyball are better outlets for your dog's energy.
Respect a dog's space.
Dogs naturally defend
their territories. Sticking your hand inside a strange dog's pen or in a car window where a dog is sitting may put him in
a defensive situation and he might bite to protect his territory.
Leave fighting dogs alone.
Do not try to break
up a dogfight! Most fights end quickly, but it's a good idea to remain quiet and get an adult who can stop the fight with
a garden hose or lemon juice in a squirt bottle. Trying to separate or yelling at fighting dogs makes them more excited, and
they might turn on you.
Observe dog body language.
Dogs normally resort to biting only when they think you haven't
listened to their warnings. Watch out for a dog who is barking, growling, or showing his teeth. Beware if his ears are back,
legs, stiff, tail up, or hair standing up on his back. Slowly walk away and say "No" firmly, arms by your side. Do not scream,
stare into his eyes, or run away. If you run, he will chase you and may attack.
Tell your friends what you know.
When
friends come to your house, introduce them to your dog and explain the house rules. When you're out, share your knowledge.
The more everyone knows about dogs, the better world it will be for dogs and people.
Vaccination Schedule for Dogs
| Diseases |
Primary Vaccination |
Secondary Vaccination |
Re-Vaccination |
Canine Distemper
Canine Hepatitis
(CanineAdenovirus 2)
Corona Viral Enteritis
Canine Parainfluenza
Parvo
Virus Infection
Leptospirosis
(Canicola)
(icterohaemorrhagiae) |
6 weeks of age |
2-3 weeks later upto
16 weeks of age |
Annual |
| Rabies |
3 months of age |
After 3 months |
Annual |
| The above information has been kindly provided by AHP Manufacturing B.V. (40,Landons Rd.Kilpauk
Chennai 600010 INDIA). This schedule has been provided in the interest of dog owners and to make them aware of the vaccinations
to be given to their dogs to prevent the suffering and loss caused by these diseases.Dog owners are kindly advised to take
the advice of the veterinarian regarding the vaccination schedule. |
FeeFEEDING FEEDING YOUR DOG
Any advice on feeding given in a book of
this kind must be very general. The amount of food a dog needs at any stage of its life depends on a variety of factors: its
size and breed are obvious ones, but there is also the question of how much exercise it gets and whether or not it tends to
put on fat. Like humans, dogs vary from individual to individual when it comes to appetite! However, there are some basic
rules.
Your new puppy
When you bring your puppy home, it will probably be between eight and ten weeks old. At this stage, you should
have a diet sheet from its breeder, and you should pay careful attention to this. All good breeders provide these sheets,
and you should keep to the one you have as far as possible.
If you do not have such a sheet, the following general
rules will prove useful.
A young puppy at the age of about eight weeks will need four meals a day, two of meat and
biscuit and two milkbased. Milk based meals can be made from Farex and milk, semolina pudding, breakfast cereal with milk
or proprietory baby cereal.
As the puppy matures it will gradually need fewer meals a day and will be less eager to
eat so often. The first meal it will be less inclined to eat will probably be one of the milk ones.
As far as providing
meat meals goes, there are several ways you can do this (see below) and each one can be as successful as the next. Provided
you stick to the breeder's diet sheet, you can choose whichever method seems to suit you or your puppy best.
Older
puppies
As your puppy gets older, particularly if it is one of the bigger breeds, certain additions to the food can
be helpful. Try giving your puppy egg once or twice a week. Large dogs may also benefit from having pure bone meal (not gardening
bone meal) now and again.
With medium sized dogs and toys, you can reduce the number of meals each day to three by
the time your puppy is twelve weeks old. If you have a larger breed of dog, continue giving four meals a day for longer, as
the puppy needs these to develop the necessary bone and substance.
By six months, medium and small breeds should be
down to two meals a day, though larger puppies may still need three at this stage.
The point at which you cut down
on the number of meals always depends ultimately on the individual puppy and, just as with a child, commonsense must always
prevail!
Problem eaters
If your puppy seems not to want the food you have offered it, take the dish away
after a few minutes. This is especially important in the summer when there are flies around and likely to settle on it. Do
not give the puppy a chance to become a faddy eater unless it is sick and has to be persuaded to eat. Even then, it is better
not to leave the food sitting around, but instead hand feed it. This means pushing the food down the puppy's throat something
that needs great care and patience.
Puppies are usually enthusiastic eaters and it takes a lot to put one off its food.
But you should not forget just how bewildering a change of homes can be for a young puppy. Suddenly, it is alone, without
its brothers and sisters, and all the familiar kennel smells of disinfectant and sawdust have gone. The only human hands the
puppy has known so far have been the breeder's, but now there are all sorts of other people around, and a whole new selection
of smells and sounds. All things considered, it is amazing that puppies do not take longer to get used to their new surroundings,
and not at all surprising if, in the early days, they are not relaxed enough to eat heartily.
Meat meals
One
way to provide meat is to buy it ready cooked. There are a number of good prepared cooked meats on the market, usually available
from pet stores. Mix this meat with meal or biscuit, which is also available from pet stores and supermarkets.
Alternatively,
if you have a good family butcher, you may be able to arrange for a supply of meat. Chicken or rabbit is ideal. Cook the meat
in water and then throw the bones away a young puppy must never be allowed to have these. Soak the biscuit in the stock from
the meat and then add the meat itself to the mixture.
Probably the most popular feeding method busy people use is to
buy tinned food. These provide a carefully balanced, scientifically prepared diet. Tinned meat should also be served with
soaked biscuit or puppy meal.
Lastly, there is dried dog food another useful product to try.
Adult dogs
The
different ways of giving food to puppies apply also to adult dogs, for whom tins, prepared cooked meat, butcher's scraps and
dried food are all possible options. The occasional marrow bone is not only a useful way keeping the teeth clean and healthy,
but also gives a great deal of pleasure, and can do no harm. Do not give the dog raw bones, as these can chip and get stuck
in its throat. As far as butcher's scraps go, tripe and trimmings from steak or lamb are suitable, and it is not necessary
to cook these.
Never feed your dog on scraps of human food left over after your own meals. This can quickly lead to
bad habits, and might harm the dog.
Feeding dishes Like the dish in which water should always be available for your
dog, the food dish should be heavy and solid. It should not slip around while the dog is eating, and it should not be knocked
over easily. After each meal, the dish should be washed. It should be kept for the dog alone to use.
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