PUPPIES

When considering getting a new puppy it is important that you think carefully about whether you have enough time to devote to caring for an energetic youngster that is reliant on you for all of its needs. You should also consider whether it is an appropriate time financially. It is not just the initial outlay for the puppy and all of its beds, toys, bowls etc. that you need to consider. Puppies require vaccinations and routine treatments for flea and worm prevention, as well as other potentially unexpected vet bills that may occur. It is also important that you fully research the breed you are interested in and make sure that it will fit in with your family situation and available space. Your local veterinary practice will be able to provide you with advice on which breeds might suit you best.  

Choosing a puppy

When choosing a puppy from a litter, it is important that you see where the puppy has been bred and reared, and make sure that you meet at least one, if not both parents to get an idea of their temperament and size etc. Certain breeds are more susceptible to medical problems such as hip dysplasia, which can, to a certain extent, be predicted by taking x-rays of the parents’ hips and obtaining a “score” from the British Veterinary Association. More information on this procedure can be obtained from their website, but you should check that this has been carried out by the breeder and that the scores are acceptable in susceptible breeds. Puppies should have clean ears and eyes, and should appear healthy and lively. Although it is tempting to choose the puppy which bounds up to you when you first meet the litter, this puppy often has a dominant character and may require an experienced handler. Equally it is easy for feel sorry for the timid puppy that is last to approach you, but this can develop into a very nervous adult if not handled properly at a young age, so for the inexperienced pet owner it is often best to choose a puppy between these two extremes. Finally, you should check with the breeder when the puppies were last treated for fleas and worms. Ideally puppies should be wormed every 2 weeks from birth, and should have received at least one flea treatment by the time you take them home. They should not leave their mum before the age of 8 weeks.  

The first few weeks

It is important to allow your puppy to settle in at home before making an appointment at the vets for a check up and vaccinations. Going to a new home is a very stressful experience for a new puppy so any additional stress in the first few days should be avoided where necessary. It may help to leave a blanket with the breeder for a week or 2 before collecting your puppy so that your puppy will have time to become familiar with your scent, and then you can take it home with you when you collect your puppy so they have something familiar with them, particularly for the first night.

The breeder should have provided you with a sample of the food that they have been feeding the puppy on until now. It is important that you continue to feed the same food for the first couple of weeks as the stress of a new home can often bring on an upset stomach which will be made worse by an additional change in diet. If you decide to change your puppy onto a different diet then - after waiting a couple of weeks - do it gradually over a period of 3-4 days by mixing the two foods together and gradually reducing the amount of old food whilst increasing the amount of new food in each meal.

Toilet training is another often challenging task with new puppies. There are many outdated methods that are no longer considered effective or fair, including rubbing the puppy’s nose in any mess to “teach them that they have done wrong”. The most effective way of toilet training your puppy is to offer them plenty of opportunities to relieve themselves by putting them out into the garden every hour or so, particularly immediately after they wake and after eating. When they do go in the appropriate place, reward them with lots of praise and fuss immediately after finishing. If you catch them passing urine or faeces in an inappropriate place, then do not tell them off, but pick them up straight away and take them to an appropriate place i.e. outside or on a training mat or newspaper indoors. As they begin to learn to go on the training mat and are going on it all - or nearly all - of the time, then gradually move the mat nearer to the back door, and eventually outside of the back door, so that the puppy learns to go to the door when it needs the toilet. As with all training, consistency is the key to quick learning, so the more members of the family you can “train” to do this and the more frequently this is done, the quicker the puppy will learn.

After the first few days, it is important to register your puppy with a veterinary surgery and make an appointment for a check up and vaccinations. These should be given between the ages of 6-10 weeks (starting at either 6 or 8 weeks depending on the brand of vaccines that your vet uses) as the immunity that they receive from their mothers milk is beginning to decrease by this time. Puppies should not be walked or socialised with unvaccinated dogs until they have received their full primary vaccination course. At this appointment your vet or nurse will also be able to advise you on appropriate flea and worming treatments, identichipping, pet insurance, neutering, socialisation classes and training classes in the local area, and answer any other questions that you may have about your new puppy.

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