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Important things to know

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Now you have your new puppy, here are a few tips for making sure it settles in well and you will both have years of great fun together!

1. Be Prepared:  Always be prepared when you take the puppy out - Make up a little bag every time you leave the house.  Include wet and dry towels, a little bag to clean up the “mess” with, and toys or treats if the outing will involve playing or training, and water and a small bowl if you are planning on staying out long.

2. Contacts: Make a list of important contact numbers, such as your Insurance Provider and Vet, and even add these numbers to your contact lists on phones for easy access when needed unexpectedly.

3. Choose a good vet:  Make sure you look for a vet that will take the time to look after your new addition.  Ask for your pet’s rrecords and read through them.  If you find notes are incomplete for the times you have taken your puppy to the vet,, look for a new one.  Closest may not always be better.

4. Chew treats: Puppies are chewing machines. That's how they explore their world. Much like human infants, everything goes in their mouths. Especially at teething time, provide your pup with a variety of textures for chewing pleasure. Most chewing treats will also fight tartar build up, so is always a good choice.

5. Introducing your puppy to existing pets: Separate the new pup from your other pets until the pup is tired. Make the initial, supervised introduction or get-acquainted visit when the pup is energy depleted. If your other pets is extremely testy, consult with your veterinarian about mild sedation for them.

6. Be mentally present: When you can't be with the pup mentally and physically, the pup should be crated. Don’t leave the puppy alone for too long, this is the perfect tjme to explore on their own and making some changes to the size of the carpet or shoe that is lying around.

7. Use the Internet: The Internet is a great place to do research on your breed of choice, and pick up health and training tips. However, do not believe everything you read on the Internet, in books or in dog magazines. Use common sense and when in doubt, consult your veterinarian or members of your support group.

8. Puppy poop: As often as possible, especially if your pup is not totally housebroken, clean up puppy poop while it is fresh. This gives you the opportunity to check for parasites or possible foreign materials. If you notice these, blood, mucous or extremely foul odour, it's time for a trip to the veterinarian for the pup and the stool sample.

9. Not in front of the puppy: Be careful what you do around your pup. Spading weeds from your flowers may be a chore for you. However, the dog may find it's a great way to learn about digging holes.

10. Poke privileges: All family members must be able to handle any part of the pup - including feet, teeth, under the tail and genitals. From the first day your pup becomes part of your household, make certain to practice gentle handling of all body parts.

11. What's normal? To determine normal ranges for your pup's temperature and pulse, practice taking these readings. Ask your veterinarian or technician to show you the proper method of taking a rectal temperature and where to find pulse points. That way, if you pup isn't acting quite right, you have a baseline from which to judge illness.

12. Different strokes for different dogs: It is possible, and often desirable, to have different rules for different dogs living in the same household. Make sure the rules are consistently trained and always enforced.

13. Kodak moments: Take a photo the day your bring the puppy home and weekly, thereafter, for the first year. What a great way to chart growth and create a scrapbook. An album of these pictures makes a wonderful gift from family or friends.

14. Dear diary: If the pup exhibits periodic behaviors or symptoms, begin a diary. List the day, time, symptom, what happened a few days before, etc. From skipping meals to occasional scratching, your diary can provide important information and clues to your veterinarian, as well as helping you decide when to seek professional help. This is also good for training issues.

15. One set of rules, please: Make certain all household members agree on the rules for the new puppy. From the minute your pup joins the family, everyone should be using the same command, enforcing the same boundaries and rewarding positive behavior.

16. What's the plan? What do you plan to do, long term, with your new dog? Are you going to do tracking? Agility? Schutzhund? Many of these activities require basic work, now, while the pup is young. Make a game plan and a training schedule. Start a notebook to chart your progress.

17. Just dropping by the vet: Take your pup to the vet's office just to say "hi." That way, the pup will have less animosity when its time for shots or a check up. Familiarity with the smells, sounds, etc. makes the visiting the vet more routine and less traumatic.

18. Look: isn't that sweet? Some things you may find cute in a pup can be problems in a grown dog. A 10-week old Fido playing tug with your socks is cute. But when Fido is two years old and eating your shoes…it's not cute; it is destructive. Stop a problem before it becomes a bad habit.

19. You ought to be in pictures: Take lots of videos of your pup when he/she is young. You'll really appreciate this later. And, as an added bonus, reviewing the video will allow you to objectively assess not only the pup, but also your behavior while training, playing, etc.

20. Take it easy: Pups are little balls of energy. Yet, they need lots of rest. Don't set your expectations too high. Let your pup have plenty of "down time." If you have children, make sure they understand the pup must have "time and space" to rest and be left alone.

21. Back off, kid: Kids and pups can be the greatest pals in the world, or the dog can learn to hate children. Supervise your children when they play with the pup. Make certain they never tease or torment. When the puppy has had enough play, give it "space" and a quiet place to nap.

22. Rubber ducky: Make bath time lots of fun. Get the puppy used getting wet and having a bath early on. Speak to the dog in a happy tone, rather than a soothing one. This is fun, no reason to be afraid. Heck, you may end up with a dog that tries to jump in the shower or tub with you!

23. No begging: Don't allow the puppy to get away with begging. If you don't reward the pup for this behavior now, you will not have to deal with it when company is present. Consistency, consistency, consistency.

24. Go for a walk? Soon these words will be magic. Take your pup for short walks. Exploring the world together is a terrific way to expose your pup to new experiences. But remember: they tucker-out easily, so don't overdo.

25. Stress is contagious: Puppies are sensitive to your emotions. If you are upset or having a bad day, do not introduce new commands or objects. For example, if you've had an argument with your boss and then start introducing the pup to loud noises, the pup may easily interpret the stress emanating from you to mean that loud=scary. Wait until you are in "neutral" and can be patient and encouraging.

26. Don't push it: Puppies learn better when you don't try to teach too much at one time. Make the sessions short and always end on a good note. Make sure the training is fun for the puppy and he/she will learn faster and will be more eager to please. If the pup is having difficulty with one exercise, end on a good note and try again another day.

27. Keep them occupied: A bored dog can be a destructive dog. Give your pup something to keep it occupied. Toys are important to stimulate a puppy's brain activity. Choose items that won't confuse the pup. Chew toys that look like shoes are not a good idea.

28. The baby's crying: When you bring your new puppy home, try not to over-pamper it, especially the first night. Don't run in and offer comfort or tell the pup to be quiet each time it whimpers or whines. If you do, your pup will learn that crying brings attention. Bad message.

29. Gotta go: Don't forget that pups have to go potty more often than adult dogs. Make frequent trips outside. Also, when going outdoors, go to one area of your yard and wait for the pup to do his/her "business" before playing in other spots. This will aid in housebreaking and make clean up easier.

30. Love lasts: Your pup will be a full-grown dog before you know it. A dog is a long-term commitment. Some breeds live 15 years or longer. That adorable puppy still needs love and care when it is full-grown. If you care for your pets, they will return the love many times over.

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