Complete Puppy Training

Archive for the ‘Puppy Training’ Category

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.

 

Puppy teething in general and when puppies teeth come in is something that a lot of new dog owners know very little about. In fact, they might be so caught up in everything else going on with the puppy they don't realize there is a reason why their puppy suddenly starts chewing on just about anything and everything.

There are two main teething periods in puppies.

The first one starts at around three to four weeks of age. This corresponds to the time when the baby teeth erupt. This is usually the easier and less troublesome period.

The more difficult one occurs at around six to seven months of age. This is when the dog's adult teeth make their appearance. First of all the canine teeth erupt, then the incisors and finally the pre-molars.

Increased chewing activity is definitely the first major sign that your puppy is teething. And this is where your problems can start because your puppy develops a taste for household objects like your shoes and your furniture.

Some of the other signs of puppy teething are missing teeth and swollen gums. If your puppy starts to show that he is experiencing discomfort during the teething phase, you can get gels and powders from your vet to help with the problem.

Of course, you should accept that your puppy is going to chew - it's perfectly natural for him to do so. When puppies teeth come in he will feel discomfort and soreness in his mouth. Chewing puts pressure on the gums which will tend to reduce his feeling of discomfort.

To try to reduce the incidence of damage to your household items due to your puppy's chewing you should introduce chew toys and get your puppy used to chewing on them. If you can establish a toy or toys as your puppy's favorites there is less chance that he will cause mass destruction in
your house. Many chew toys have been "flavored" by the manufacturer to entice the puppy to chew on them. Did you know they even make puppy teething rings?

Cold objects are very good for relieving soreness when puppies are teething and they can help to alleviate any pain the animal is experiencing so it can be a good idea to freeze their rubber toys or a piece of rope etc. before you let your puppy play with them. Many puppies like to chase
after an ice cube skittering across the floor and like to crunch on it.

When your puppies teeth come in, it's time for your understanding. It's a painful time for him and he could use your help in coping.