Puppies

"Wow, isn�t this puppy cute, let�s get it.   Hey, what do I do now?"

Adopting a puppy which will soon grow into a dog is a responsibility that requires the owner to give to that animal understanding, affection, food and shelter and in return the owner will receive companionship, love, loyalty and pleasure. Some things to think about before adopting that puppy include:

• Financial resources to ensure veterinarian care, food, annual shots, licensing fees, toys, grooming supplies, etc
   
• Environment with sufficient yard space for puppy to play
   
• Owner time to train, play with and enjoy the new addition to the family
   
• Sleeping and feeding areas
   
• Equipment; collar, Identification tags, leads, water and food bowls, crate for training, etc

Deciding to adopt a puppy is only the beginning of years of living in harmony with 'man's best friend.' With training and care, we can teach them to be good canine citizens sharing our homes and lifestyles. Puppies need love, reassurance and lots of reinforcement.

Bringing Your Puppy Home

While it is very exciting to at last be bringing that puppy home and you want everyone to see, play with, admire and enjoy him/her, it should be remembered that the puppy is experiencing a totally new environment. The puppy will need to be introduced to his new home and its� occupants in a calm leisurely manner with not too much excitement in the first few days.

It�s a good idea to puppy proof your home as much as possible. The puppy has so much to learn about you and his new surroundings, that if the new owner could only help ease the situation those first few days will be much smoother.

Training should begin as soon as you arrive home with the puppy. Puppies are curious and get into things. Restricting them to a single room at first and teaching them the basics of what is acceptable and what isn�t is a good start.

If you have other pets, use caution and take time introducing the puppy to other pets. See Bishop brochure 'Introducing Your New Pet to the Resident Pet.'

Feeding

To properly maintain your puppy�s health it needs a balanced diet. The most convenient and reliable way to provide this, is to use high quality prepared puppy food. It is a good idea to feed the puppy the same diet it has received at the shelter and maintain the feeding schedule. Check with the veterinarian when making changes.

Fresh water should always be available.

Health Care & Dental Hygiene

Regular veterinarian checkups and up-to-date vaccinations are required. If your puppy came from Bishop Animal Shelter, you will receive information about which vaccinations have been given and advised as to what inoculations remain.

Included in your adoption fee is one free examination at the shelter�s veterinarian to take place within one week of the adoption. At that time a complete health check including information about dental hygiene, diet, vaccinations and the best approach to maintaining a healthy puppy will be discussed.

Training Your Puppy

You should begin training your puppy as soon as the adoption papers are signed. Your puppy may be most attractive, well nourished and maintained but if it is not trained to the do�s and don�t of proper behavior you will have little control. It is easier to train the puppy initially, than have to correct bad habits when they grow into a dog. Teaching the puppy to sit and stay on command go a long way in controlling the puppy in almost any circumstance.

Time, effort, patience and a sense of humor all help make the the training process easier. Leash training, basic obedience training, & crate training (see Bishop Animal Shelter brochure) all contribute to the socialization of your puppy.

Puppy Behavior

All puppies have in common a number of traits which will exhibit themselves in the puppy stage. As the owner, you are responsible in correcting and containing them when they occur: They include jumping, barking and biting. By training them in the first place their behavior will not become offensive.

Puppies are easily excited so they bark and jump. Biting unless corrected right away can become a bad habit. Biting sometimes happens during the teething stage and providing them an alternative to your hand or arm is a good substitute. Sometimes, we forget that puppies need exercise and play and may exhibit undesirable behavior out of boredom.

Pet Proofing

Be sure that household poisons and poisonous plants are not in reach. (See other Bishop brochures for further information).

Don�t leave small items like nails, staples, buttons, etc lying around which are very appealing to a puppy and if swallowed can be dangerous.

Puppies like to chew. Shoes, socks and slippers are universally appealing to teething puppies and until they learn to leave them alone it is easier to place them out of reach.

Garbage pails & wastebaskets with wonderful odors appeal to puppies who think turning them over and spreading the contents are a great idea.

Electric cords are a potential problem and if the puppy chews through them a shock will result.

Puppies may wander and get lost. Don�t leave them outside alone unless you have a fenced yard which is escape proof.

Digging is another favorite past time of puppies. Boredom is frequently the cause.

Teaching your puppy acceptable behavior will make the years of companionship and sharing positive and in turn you will be rewarded with loyalty, companionship and devotion.

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