During 37 years of marriage, we have raised quiet a few puppies and
rescue dogs. Each has its own challenges and techniques. This article will
focus on raising a new puppy.
FIRST: HOW DO YOU CHOOSE?
The first rule of choosing a puppy is deciding on a breed OR using the
option of adopting a rescue animal. With so many unwanted (and sometimes euthanized) dogs, I much prefer the latter. But, if you are intent on getting a pure-bred dog, there are a few very important points to remember. You need to consider your lifestyle and level of activity first. Some breeds require lots of exercise and are high energy dogs which are a bad match for people who are couch potatoes!
The best way to research is to go to the American Kennel Club (AKC) website and look at the potential candidates. Each breed on this site has a description of their size, activity level, temperament and health risks. You need to match these qualities to YOUR family. Nothing is worse than getting a breed that isn't good with children if you have them! It's a recipe for disaster.
After you've settled on a breed, go to your local book store and pick up a copy of the AKC Gazette. NEVER, EVER, get a puppy from a pet store, Craig's List, or a newspaper ad!!! Being a responsible breeder requires ensuring a varied DNA to avoid health risks, certifications, and hours of dedication to the breed that they love. Reputable breeders are listed at the back of the AKC Gazette by breed. A good breeder will taken the time to interview you over the phone, by Skype, or in person. They need to be assured that their puppies will be going to good homes. The majority, if not all, will REQUIRE that if you choose not to keep the puppy, it MUST be returned to the breeder...you'll sign an agreement to that fact.
In addition, there are two kinds of puppies that breeders will sell: "puppy quality" and "show quality". A show quality dog is one that you intend to show and/or breed. These are much more expensive and carry a lineage of previous champions. Puppy quality still looks like the breed, but may not be the perfect example good enough to professionally show. Regardless of which quality you choose, be prepared to spend lots of $$$$ for a good purebred dog. But, you are assured that this animal will be in excellent health, free of potential problems such as hip dysplasia, and comes from a long line of great dogs.
NEXT: PREPARE FOR THE ARRIVAL
If you live quite a distance from the breeder, you can either drive there, or have the dog shipped. As of the time of this writing, Delta airlines has a service called "Delta Dash" specifically for animal transport. With any other airline, you are restricted to certain times of the year because if a dog has a connecting flight, it may spend some time on the tarmac and summer temperatures soar to dangerous levels. With Delta's service, pets with connecting flights are moved to a holding area that's air-conditioned and heated, there are employees to accommodate special needs (medication, food, etc). The bottom line is that you are assured that your new puppy will have the least amount of stress during the flight.
PUPPY PROOF YOUR HOME: During the first year or so of life, puppies are notorious chewers! Even as careful as we were, there were trips to the emergency room because the dog ate an ethernet cable, a plastic aerosol can top, or an $800 pair of prescription glasses! You can't keep everything away from your new family member, so you need to limit where your puppy will be when unattended. When out of that area, you need to be vigilant and make sure your puppy doesn't grab something that's dog 'unfriendly'.
Crate training is the best and most humane way to secure your dog as well as teach housebreaking. Make sure the crate that you buy for your dog will be big enough for a FULL-GROWN dog of your breed to comfortably. Wire crates are great because they offer lots of ventilation and are easily cleaned. Some models even have partitions so your dog can "grow" into the crate and others have "playpen" additions that can extend the area for supervised play.
Choose a good quality dog food. Grocery store brands are full of chemicals and fillers that are not necessarily good for pets. For the past 3 decades, we have always stuck with "Nutro" (and NO, I'm not getting any perks from them to say this) brand. Back in the 1990s when Ethoxyquin (a preservative) was killing thousands of dogs, Nutro brand dog foods used Tocopherols (Vitamin E) as a preservative. The company also has a great record of avoiding recalls on their foods. Our dogs have always been healthy and happy and lived to ripe old ages. Today, there is a lot of debate between "raw food" and "kibble" diets. We have chosen to stay with kibble food.
Have plenty of chew toys and play toys. While puppies have their baby teeth, they are constantly chewing. Your new dog doesn't know the difference between your shoes and a chew toy (BTW, NEVER give your dog an old shoe - it has your scent and will prime him to go into your closet). Our vet always discouraged rawhide chews because of choking hazards. We have stuck with Kong and Nylabone brand chew toys. They are made of rugged materials that are non-toxic and will not tear apart. The Kong brand also has toys that can accommodate peanut butter or other treats to keep your dog mentally challenged.
Stainless steel food and water dishes. Yes, there's lots of cute ceramic and plastic dishes, but they are subject to breaking or harboring bacteria. Stainless steel is great because it can be tossed in the dishwasher, doesn't break, and doesn't trap food.
Get a wind-up clock and gather some old t-shirts. With young puppies, when we were out of the house, a ticking clock was always placed near the crate. The rhythmic ticking imitates the heartbeat of their mother. We also left a radio on with a talk show so that the dog always heard a human voice. We would place t-shirts that we rubbed on our skin into the crate so the dog would take comfort in our scent when we weren't home.
STAY AWAY FROM PEE-PEE PADS! Pad and paper training only serve to confuse your dog. Once trained to relieve himself on the pad or paper, it will be difficult to transition into going outside of the house. Understand that dogs will not urinate or defacate where they eat or sleep. That's why you'll usually find any crate "accidents" in a corner away from where your puppy sleeps. The trick for potty training is absolute diligence. Within 15-20 minutes of feeding, your puppy will have to poop. The same goes for drinking water. Just be prepared for the first couple of months, you have to have an eagle eye on your puppy the entire time he's out of the crate and roaming free in the house. Give your puppy lots of praise (and even a training treat) for using the bathroom outside of the house. NEVER scold a puppy for an accident that you discover at a later time! This dog does not remember that accident and will not only be confused why you're scolding him and will only make him more fearful. If you DO catch him in the act, take an empty soda can and toss a few pennies inside and tape up the opening. Gently toss the can during the unwanted behavior. It serves as a mild way of startling the dog as well as creating a gentle, but negative reinforcement. If you are diligent and consistent, you'll be surprised how quickly your puppy catches on. Just be prepared for an occasional accident in the house because they don't have complete bladder and bowel control until they near one year old.
NOTE: More tips and tricks will be added to the menu of this subject as I upload them.
