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It Takes a Village to Raise a Puppy
It's a look everybody's witnessed - the frazzled face of a new
parent who hasn't slept through the night, hasn't eaten a
decent, sit-down meal, hasn't enjoyed a long, hot shower in
days. It's one of the most stressful and joyous times of life -
there's a new puppy in the house!
No one expects parents of human babies to "go it alone" while
rearing their children. Advice, both welcome and unasked-for, is
readily available from a wealth of sources: their own parents,
professionals, friends, neighbors, teachers and passers-by. But
all too often people are handed a new puppy and waved a fond
farewell, without enough information to get through the night.
First-time dog owners can get frustrated and quickly
disappointed. Puppies are supposed to be fun, but this adorable
bundle of fluff won't eat, won't sleep, nips everybody, won't be
housebroken and chews everything except for its toys! What's a
new dog-owner to do?
No one should be embarrassed to ask for help. Adding a new
member of the family is stressful and, unless you're a female
dog, you don't have instinct to tell you how to do things right.
Anyway, you don't really want to carry your puppy around in your
mouth by the scruff of its neck, or keep it clean with your
tongue. The goal is teaching your puppy how to be a member of
your family - not how to be a dog. It knows that part by the
time you get it.
The first person you should look to for advice is a veterinarian
you know and trust. Ask friends and relatives for
recommendations and try to meet the vet before you bring your
puppy home. A good veterinarian will even help you plan for your
puppy, sharing resources for finding the right breed, a good
breeder, and will advise you about what to look for and what to
avoid in selecting your pup.
The reputable breeder who sells you your puppy should also be a
valuable resource for information. Find out what quirks your
breed may have and what to do about them. Some breeds are very
independent, others are prone to separation anxiety. If the
breeder isn't willing to answer your questions, maybe you should
look elsewhere. A good breeder will want to stay in touch with
all of the puppies she produces - even after those pups have
reached their "senior" years.
A third line of support for puppy rearing is a local class or
club. All puppies should be trained, regardless of size, age or
the owner's experience. If you can, visit a class before you
enroll - make sure that the leader's style is compatible with
your own thoughts about training. Is the trainer willing to
listen and work with you? Do the students and puppies seem to be
having a good time? Is the trainer in control at all times? And
is the trainer accessible even after class is over? Many good
trainers will allow previous students to participate in an
occasional class to "brush up," on their training.
There's no reason a new puppy owner has to go it alone. If you
have a couple of friends with dogs - ask the one whose dog is a
pleasure to be around. The other one - the one whose dog is a
maniac - may be able to sympathize with you, but may not be able
to help. Ask people whose dogs you admire how they got that way.
Ask for help at the local pet store or from the neighbor who has
the wonderful dog everybody loves.
You can also find advice, both good and bad, at any hour of the
day or night, on the internet. Be careful with it. Use the
information thoughtfully; consider the source. If anyone, ever,
tells you to do something with your puppy that you're not
comfortable with - don't do it. Get some alternatives from a
trusted source. You are your puppy's best friend, guardian and
advocate. Be safe. Be careful. Have fun.
About the author:
Hope Saidel is the co-owner of
href="http://www.gollygear.com">GollyGear, a
bricks-and-mortar and online small dog shop featuring fun,
affordable and practical products for small dogs. She has
trained and competed in Obedience with small dogs for over a
decade and is on the Board of Directors of the North Shore Dog
Training Club.
Learn about...
Dog Breeds: How To Choose The Perfect Dog Breed For You!
If choosing dog is such a straight forward process, and it is, how come so many puppies find their way into adoption centres every year? Well one reason is that people choose the wrong dog breed.Don’t let your puppy become a statistic. Make it your goal to choose a puppy suited to your family and. . .
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