Complete Puppy Training

Welcome to our first Puppy Podcast. Click below to listen right from the Complete Puppy Training blog or download the podcast to listen on iTunes or on your favorite MP3 player like the iPod.

It's a fact, puppies love to socialize.  They were born into a litter with many siblings and they are pack animals.   But socializing your puppy not only makes him happy, but is necessary for him to learn and grow in a well-rounded healthy way.

Taking your puppy to places he's never been before is a great adventure that will help stimulate him both mentally and physically.

When your puppy interacts with other dogs and people they develop more social skills and will generally become better pets.  This is of course assuming that your dog has had some form of training and you are able to keep them under control in these situations.

A dog that is well trained and gets sufficient social interaction with others is less likely to become bored and want to escape and roam the neighborhood.

You have options and I'll mention a few of them:

1.  Dog park - Many suburban and urban neighborhoods now have dog parks where you can allow your puppy to play off-leash with other dogs.

2.  Puppy Playtime - Some pet stores offer playtime for puppies to learn socialization skills.  Check with your store and take advantage of this.

3.  Your backyard with neighboring dogs - Start this one early, before your puppy becomes territorial about the yard and you'll find he welcomes many neighboring playmates.

4.  Outdoor spaces - Walk your dog, get him out in public where there are lots of dogs and people.  Train him to act properly around others and they will welcome his presence.

Taking the time to get your puppy socializing is important to your puppy's well-being and can help him to NOT grow into a dog who is fearful or aggressive.  Socializing will also help keep him stimulated.

So what does it mean if you see your puppy eating grass?

Well, there are a couple reasons why your puppy may be doing this.

The first reason is to help it to enduce vomiting.  She may be eating the grass to help her vomit and get rid of something she has eaten that is unpleasant, or to settle her uncomfortable tummy.

Dogs do not have the ability to digest grass due to a lack of the necessary enzymes that are required for grass digestion, so yes, they will vomit it back up at some point.  This is a natural instinct your puppy has, to protect herself from poisoning or foods that can make her feel ill.

Grass also contains vitamins, minerals and enzymes that can assist in the relief of pain and the treatment of infections, which is another reason why your puppy might be eating it.

Another scenario  is to aid in the digestion of food.  Certain grasses will help in the digestion process.  Also, your puppy might not be getting enough nutrients from her dog food.

The only thing  you need to ensure is that you haven't recently sprayed the grass with herbicides or chemicals that could do harm your puppy.

If your puppy is eating grass, determine the cause.  If she's not sick, then try switching to a better dog food so she is getting the nutrients she needs.  There is probably no harm in your puppy eating grass, as long as the grass does not have any chemicals on it.

Check out the Complete Puppy Training Handbook for even more tips on raising your puppy.