Puppy Basics, What You Need to Know

Now that you have decided to get a puppy, there are a few important things
that everyone should consider.

What breed of dog should I get?
For your sanity, and for your dogs’ sanity, selecting the right breed is
critical. Shelters are filled with millions of dogs because of behavior issues.
Making sure the breed was a good fit for the family’s lifestyle could have
prevented many of these issues. When you get a puppy, you are embarking
on a journey that can last up to 15 years, so choose wisely.

? Search with intelligence, not with impulse. Make a list of the
characteristics that are important to you. Do you want a dog that will
be a couch potato? Is shedding an issue for you? Do you want an
independent dog or one that needs lots of attention? Do you want a
dog that will need to go to a groomer on a regular basis or one that is
not so high maintenance? Do you want a small, medium, or large
breed? What type of lifestyle do you have? Do you live in an
apartment or house? Do you have a large or small yard? How much
time do you have to commit to exercise and training? Are you an
active person or do you spend most of your time indoors? Do you have
kids? Does anyone have health issues such as asthma or allergies?

? Review your list and do your research. Look at several breeds that
may be a good fit. Decide on the top three and research each of
them. Look at the breeds’ history. What were they bred to do? A
breeds’ history is a very important consideration. For example,
Huskies were bred to have the ability to travel great distances. So
unless you are a VERY active person and will be able to meet the
exercise needs of a Husky, this may not be the best pick for you (even
though they are beautiful). On the other hand, if you are a runner and
are looking for an endurance dog to run with you, a Bulldog would be a
poor choice. Remember, each individual dog of a breed will have its’
own personality, just like people. Just because you had a Lab that was
calm and laid back doesn’t mean the next one you get will be the same
way.

What is the best way to find a puppy?
Once you have a better idea of what type of dog you want, it’s time to start
looking at breeders, rescue groups, and shelters. Here are some ideas:

? Your local animal shelter can be a great place to start. You can find all
sorts of mixed breeds, and many pure breeds as well. There are now
DNA tests on the market that can tell you what kind of mix your dog
is. This way you sort of know what to expect from their behavior. It
may take a little time and effort, but you will not only be getting a
great new dog, but you will also be saving a life.

? Contact your local breed clubs. Check out www.akc.org or
www.ukcdogs.com for a list of breed clubs.

? Look for fellow dog lovers in your area. Check out www.meetup.com to
find special groups that are involved with particular breeds. These
groups get together for play dates in dog friendly areas and can give
you a chance to see the dogs in action and get valuable advice.

? Check out a dog show. Most breeders and handlers will be more than
willing to discuss their breeds with you. You can also watch from a
distance to see how the dogs behave outside of the competition ring.
Here are ten questions you should ask a breeder before
purchasing a puppy.

1. How long have you been involved with this breed? The ideal
response: at least several years. But a first-time breeder may fill
the bill if she can show that she's being mentored by more
experienced breeders.

2. What activities do you do? Good answers to this question include
conformation or obedience, agility or field trials. Less traditional
activities, such as raising puppies for service work, are also great.

3. Why did you do this breeding? Any response that indicates the
breeder wants to improve the breed is a good sign.

4. Have you tested the parents? The breeder should show you
certifications that the father (sire) and mother (dam) have no
genetic diseases common to that particular breed.

5. What shots and de-wormings do the puppies receive? The breeder
should list the puppies' immunizations and de-worming procedures
or explain why she adopts an alternative plan.

6. How do you socialize the puppies? Ideally, the breeder raises her
puppies inside her home, so that they feel comfortable with a
human household's sights, sounds and activities. If raised in a
separate kennel, the puppies should have frequent contact with
people of all ages.

7. Do you provide a health guarantee? The only acceptable answer to
this question is "yes." Generally, breeders agree to replace a puppy
found to have a serious health condition within a few days of
purchase.

8. Do you provide a contract? Again, the only acceptable answer is
"yes." The contract should outline spay-neuter requirements,
provisions for returning the puppy to the breeder if necessary, and
other aspects of the sale.

9. When can we take the puppy home? No reputable breeder allows a
puppy to go to a new owner before 7 weeks of age. Small-dog
breeders often keep puppies longer.

10. How can we contact you after the sale? A good breeder will want
to stay in touch with you throughout your dog's life. At the very
least, she'll give you a telephone number. At best, she'll call or email
you periodically to check on the puppy.

What supplies will I need?
The market has literally exploded with pet products over the last decade.
You can find anything you need, and a lot of things you don’t. Here are some
important basics.

Food
What you feed your dog over his or her life span will have on of the most
profound effects on his or her longevity. A puppy requires a puppy formula
because they’re growing at a rapid rate and they burn tons of energy a day.
In fact, the first 2 years of a dogs’ life are equivalent to the first 18 human
years. You want to continue feeding what ever your puppy has been eating
until you have your first veterinary visit. Ask your veterinarian what food
they recommend. Large breed dogs should eat puppy food that is especially
labeled for “Large Breeds.”

I personally recommend that dry food should NOT be fed exclusively.
Dry food has a ton of carbohydrates, looses a good deal of nutritional value
during processing, can contribute to obesity (which about 35-40% of my
patients are), and, contrary to popular belief, does nothing to help with their
teeth unless they are labeled as a tartar control formula. I recommend a
ratio of 3 parts wet/canned food to 1 part dry food. Wet food contains
more fat and protein, and it has fewer carbohydrates. Higher protein diets
can also help to produce calming hormones.

Crate
Dogs are den animals. If properly introduced to a crate, with toys and
treats, the crate will become a place of comfort for your dog. They will
enjoy being in the crate and it often calms them.
Some of my clients express concern that it may be cruel to have their
dog in a crate. I assure them that it is not. Having your puppy crated when
he or she cannot be directly supervised not only helps make house training
quick and easy, but it also helps to protect your puppy. Puppies are very
inquisitive. They love to explore and chew. I’ve treated puppies with
anything electrical burns to ingestion of toxic substances that could have
been prevented.

Microchip and ID Tag
90% of lost dogs without these never make it back home. ID tags are easily
available at most pet shops and online. Have your veterinarian implant a
microchip when your dog gets spayed or neutered.

A Collar and Leash
There are literally millions to choose from. Nylon collars and leashes are
relatively lite, soft, and durable. Nylon, breakaway collar is a good choice
for hanging your dogs’ ID and rabies tag on. They are not good for training.
Using them to train a dog with can cause damage to their trachea (wind
pipe). Make sure the collar is sized correctly. One way to measure is to
make sure two of your fingers can slip between the collar and the puppy's
neck.

Food and Water Bowl
Stainless steel no-tip food and water bowls make the best choice. They will
not break and are stain and odor resistant. Also, some dogs may be sensitive
to plastic bowls.

Miscellaneous
? Stain remover, an enzymatic type
? Brushes and combs to suit your puppy's coat
? Dog shampoo, toothbrush and paste
? High-quality chew toys to ease teething (Note: It is important to
make sure playthings will not break apart easily.)
? Parasite controls such as flea medicine, only from a veterinarian
? Nail clippers
? Expandable baby gate to limit access to specific areas

Your Puppy’s First Day Home
Your time and hard work have paid off. You’ve found the right puppy. Now
what? Here are some important things that need to be done:

Puppy Proof Your Home
If given the chance, puppies can get into all sorts of trouble. If you don’t
want it to be chewed, don’t leave it within reach of your puppy. Get
childproof latches for cabinets that contain household chemicals, block
stairways with a baby gate, and make sure all electrical cords are secured so
that they are out of reach. If they cannot be removed from reach, access
to them must be blocked. As a backup to preventing access you should spray
them with a taste deterrent.

Draw Up A Schedule
Consistency is very important to dogs in general, especially puppies. They
will be much better behaved if they know what is expected of them. If
feeding times, playtime, training time, and bathroom times are planned out
you will have a much easier job. Everyone in the household needs to be
involved in creating the schedule and participating in the daily routine.

Housetrain From The Start
As soon as you walk through the door, literally, take your puppy to the spot
where you want him or her to use for elimination. Chances are the
excitement of the car ride will have him or her ready to go. Your puppy will
now be drawn back to that spot in the future. Praise your puppy as soon as
potty time ends, within 2 seconds, not once you are back in the house.
If you do not have your eyes on your puppy, he/she should be in their
crate. If necessary, fasten a leash to you waist and clip it to your puppies
collar. They go where you go. Free roam of the house should not occur until
you have gone months without any accidents in the house.

Start Basic Training Now
Puppies as young as 8 weeks can learn basic commands such as sit, stay, heel,
and come. Do not wait until your puppy is months old to start training, just
keep your sessions short, not more than five minutes, because puppies do
have short attention spans.
Enroll your puppy in puppy kindergarten classes and begin to socialize
him/her as much as you can by exposing them to all sorts of people, places,
and sounds.

See Your Veterinarian
You should visit your vet within the first few days of acquiring your puppy.
Bring all paperwork that came with your puppy and a stool sample. Your
veterinarian will give your puppy a thorough physical examination and discuss
recommended vaccinations. Core vaccines that all dogs should have include
canine distemper, canine adenovirus type-2, canine parvovirus type-2, and
rabies. Additional vaccines such as leptosporosis, bordatella, and Lyme
disease may be recommended depending on conditions in your area.
Your puppy will also need additional de-wormings and should be on flea,
tick, and heartworm preventatives year round.