and it is essential that your dog is inoculated against these. Most vets will perform the initial vaccination between ten and twelve weeks, with the booster following two weeks later. If the puppy is deemed not old enough for vaccinations, make an appointment at the first opportunity.
Puppies should not go out into a public place until about ten days after the vaccinations are complete. Your vet will be able to advise you whether there are any potentially dangerous places locally, and, in particular, never make the mistake of putting your puppy out of the car in a roadside lay-by as these are hotbeds of infection.
Now is also the time to ask the vet any questions that might be bothering you about your dog’s diet, behaviour or health, and also about matters such as insurance. Puppies are vulnerable to disease and it is always a wise move to take out insurance because of the ever-escalating costs of veterinary services. There are several reputable companies that offer different levels of cover, so ask your vet for advice.
Your dog needs good social skills if he is to become a well-behaved member of canine and human society. Thus it is very important to socialize and train your puppy from the earliest age. This will help to prevent any behaviour problems occurring later on and make your dog more socially acceptable. Your dog must always be under complete control in any public place.
Lead Training
The first essential accessories that you need are a collar and lead; in fact, two of each. Some trainers recommend that the first collar should be very light, like a cat collar, so that it will not irritate the puppy. The lead can be made of light cloth, which is hardly noticeable. Thus the puppy will learn to wear a collar without being aware of it. The second collar should be more substantial, probably made of leather, with a supple leather lead. An identification disc engraved with your name and telephone number must be attached to your dog’s collar whenever he is outside your home. Do not engrave your dog’s name on it; that would make it too easy for thieves.
When a young puppy is old enough to take out after vaccinations, keep him on a lead in public places as there are always many distractions to tempt him away from you. (Daisy Daisy)
You can begin lead training almost as soon as the puppy arrives in the house. Let him run about wearing the collar for a little while and then add the light lead – he will quickly get accustomed to it trailing after him. Pick it up and follow him without applying any pressure to the lead. After a little while, assert some light pressure and try to guide him but not so forcefully that he stops to fight it. Talk to him all the time in an encouraging way to boost his confidence.
Collars
A young puppy will need a lightweight collar made of nylon, soft leather or fabric. He will grow out of it quite quickly so don’t bother buying an expensive one.
Did you know?
A traditional and most polite greeting in China when entering someone’s home was to ask, ‘What is the honourable name of your dog?’ This applied even where, as in most cases, the householder didn’t own a dog. The old habit of keeping house-dogs had declined and, instead, pottery figures of dogs were used to ‘guard’ the dwelling. Nevertheless, the genteel etiquette of enquiring after the substitute pet continued up until recent years.
Make certain that the collar is sufficiently tight that he cannot pull out of it, but at the same time it should not strangle him. Continue the exercise outside in the garden. Make it fun and train in short bursts as puppies become easily bored, like young children. If the teaching period lasts for too long, most puppies will think of something better to do.
When your puppy is ready to go out for a proper walk, remember that all cars and lorries appear as huge, smelly, noisy monsters to him and he may be afraid. Carry him in your arms around the block two or three times for a day or two before you put him down. Speak to him gently all the while; it will help to build up his confidence knowing that you are there to protect him. Never allow him to walk in any traffic areas without a collar and lead; a dog does not understand that cars can kill him or that his presence on the road may cause an accident for which you can be held responsible.
Play and Games
A young dog needs lots of things to do and his brain needs to be stimulated. In the wild, he would be taught to track animals, to fight predators and to catch prey. However, the domestic dog has none of these skills to learn and therefore you should provide alternatives. By doing so, you will minimize the chances of your puppy becoming bored and then engaging in destructive behaviour. Toys and games are the answer; most dog toys are now virtually indestructible, though not totally, as you will soon find out. Dogs, particularly Terriers, love squeaky toys and will not be content until they have found the squeak and killed it. Sometimes, however, they may adopt a soft toy, which Retrievers or Spaniels will carry about in their mouth.
Reduce the risk of losing your best footwear by not giving your puppy any personal items to chew or play with, especially shoes, socks and children’s favourite toys. (April Turner)
Toys For Playing Games
1. Soft toys: Ideal for retrieving and exercises
2. Tug toys: Ideal for strong and boisterous dogs
3. Squeaky balls and toys: Fine for smaller dogs
4. Kongs: Ideal for mental stimulation when your dog is left alone
5. Rubber rings and toys: Perfect for tug and fetch
6. Frisbees and tennis balls: Ideal for playing outdoor fetch
Do not play tug of war with a soft toy – you will be training your puppy to be destructive and possessive. All dogs can be taught to play with a ball but be careful that the ball is not too small. Dogs’ jaws can open very wide and they can swallow quite large objects. If they should accidentally swallow a rubber or plastic ball the consequences can be very serious. Do not give your puppy an old shoe or slipper to chew and destroy – dogs notoriously ignore the difference between old and new shoes.
Throw a ball just in front of him, then make a fuss when he returns it and persuade him gently to ‘drop’. When he is proficient at retrieving, hide the ball for him to find, close by to start with but gradually increasing the distance.
Games you can play
Games for dogs are invariably those of catch, retrieve and hide-and-seek. Dogs derive the most fun out of chasing and retrieving balls. However, the one proviso is to ensure that the ball is not too small in case it slips down a dog’s throat and chokes him. Start when your dog is a young puppy.
Another good game is to teach your dog to ‘find your child’. Some dogs love to push a football with their nose, and kids can play footie with their pet. Quoit rings are fun to throw and pull but the ultimate throwing game is with a Frisbee. Dogs get great exercise running and leaping for it.
Good pet shops will have a variety of toys, and you should choose those that are said to be indestructible with no metal or plastic. The
