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Surviving Puppyhood

10/23/2017

Surviving puppyhood is not hard. Puppies are predictable. They chew everything, urinate and defecate everywhere and get into trouble every time they are out of sight. This is normal! Surviving puppyhood with some semblance of calm begins by planning for puppies to behave like puppies. Here are some hints:

Supervise: When your puppy is loose, he must be in sight. Treat him like a human toddler. You would never leave your toddler unsupervised. Don't leave your puppy either.

Entertain: Puppies have active minds as well as active bodies. Get several safe toys and rotate them so your puppy doesn't get bored. Don't give them all the toys at once. Variety helps to keep them interested.

Educate: Your pup is learning every day he is with you. Start teaching him manners right away. Use short sessions with lots of praise and food rewards (freeze dried liver is a great training treat). Even seven-week-old puppies can learn to sit, stay, and come. Educate yourself as well. There are many books and videos available to help you successfully raise a puppy.

Prevention: Put things away. Close cabinets and doors. Coat electrical wires with an anti-chew product (gold Listerine in a spray bottle works well for many pups).

Confine: Confine parents use cribs and playpens. Puppy owners use crates and kennels. Small room with baby gates can be used but remember; a puppy can strip wallpaper, chew the ends of cabinets, or bite holes in drywall. Therefore, our preference is to always use a crate or kennel.

Enjoy: Your puppy is exhausting, frustrating, and demanding. He is also charming, innocent, adorable, eager, smart, and wonderful. Enjoy him every day.

By 4 months of age your puppy should be well on his way to becoming a well-mannered member of the family. To help him achieve this goal, we outline some major "expectations" you should attempt to achieve. Your pup should:

Urinate and defecate consistently in the appropriate area.
Sit on command
Come on command
Stay on command
Hold still for "exam" of eyes, ears, mouth, and feet ( "puppy pester" routine)
Allow brushing of coat (and teeth) and nail trims
Allow you to easily remove food and toys from his mouth ("drop" command)
Allow you to walk through doors first ("sit" command prior to going through door)
Respond to "off" command when jumping up
Respond to "no bite" command when chewing at hands or objects
Walk along on leash without pulling (Gentle leader head halters are great for dogs that pull a lot or are too strong for kids or adults to control)

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Spaying & Neutering

10/11/2017

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Benefits of spaying your Dog

Spaying (ovariohysterectomy) is a procedure that involves removal of your dog's ovaries and uterus. This surgery may be performed at any age but the preferable age is between 4-12 months. There is NO medical evidence to suggest that your dog will benefit in any way from going through a heat cycle or having a litter prior to being spayed. Spaying can provide you and your dog with the following benefits:

Eliminates "heat" cycles and therefore eliminates the bloody discharge and odor associated with being "in heat".
Stops neighborhood male dogs from being attracted to your dog because of her "heat".
When performed PRIOR to the first or second heat, spaying greatly reduces the risk of future mammary cancer, one of the most common cancers of female dogs.
Eliminates the risk of future ovarian and uterine cancer
Eliminates the risk of pyometra (pus filled uterus), and serious uterine infection that usually requires emergency surgery. This is a common problem in older, unspayed, female dogs.
Eliminates the problem of "false" pregnancy experienced by many dogs. This is a normal occurrence in female dogs following a heat cycle. This condition mimics pregnancy, complete with mammary development and milk production.
Helps control the pet population crisis by avoiding unwanted pregnancies. Millions of unwanted pets are destroyed in animal shelters every year across the country.

There are many good reasons to have your dog spayed early in life. Unless you are convinced that you would like to show or breed your dog, we recommend spaying at the earliest convenient time.

Benefits of Neutering your Dog

Neutering (castration) is a procedure that involves surgical removal of the testis. Neutering may be performed at any age, but the preferable age is between 4-12 months.
Neutering can provide you and your dog with the following benefits:
Reduces annoying sexual behavior such as mounting and territorial marking with urine.
Reduces traumatic accidents (being hit by cars) and bite injuries inflicted by other territorial dogs while roaming in search of females in heat. A decrease in roaming also reduces the incidence of disease and parasites.
Reduces the risk of testicular and prostate disease, common in older male dogs.
Reduces the incidence of aggressive behavior. Statistics show that non-neutered male dogs inflict most dog bites.
Reduces the pet population by preventing unwanted pregnancies. Millions of unwanted pets are destroyed yearly in animal shelters across the country.
DO NOT expect a major personality change due to neutering, however, many dogs become calmer, more devoted family pets.

There are many good reasons to neuter your dog early in life. Unless you are convinced that you want to show or breed your dog, we recommend neutering at the earliest convenient time.

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Surviving Puppyhood

Spaying & Neutering

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