CARING FOR THE PUPPIES (P4) !!!

… Caring for the puppies …

• Keep an eye on their development. The puppies should open their eyes at about two weeks of age. However this, of course, depends on the breed of your dog and puppies, some puppies eyes can open as late as three weeks from birth. Obviously the larger the litter the smaller the pups will be, and in some litters you will get a runt. In nature the runt would be left to die but luckily humans can hand feed puppies using bottles of formula milk for puppies.
  
• Wean the puppies when it's time. When the mother starts to stand up to feed the puppies you will know it is time to wean them off milk and onto solid foods that they can digest easily. Start by mushing up solid food into puppy milk and progress from there until the pups can eat solid food all by themselves.
  
• Prepare for adoption or the other next steps. One of the worst parts of having puppies is unfortunately, having to let them go. Puppies are ready to leave their mother at a very young age, 8-9 weeks. Finding homes for all the puppies is a tough job and an art in itself and can be made even worse if the puppies are crossbreeds as lots of people prefer pedigrees to crossbreeds.
  
• One of the hardest parts is letting them go yourself. Puppies can often form an emotional bond with humans, especially in first time breeders and families, although some breeders have no difficulty giving away puppies. You may want to keep them all but they deserve homes with loving families who will care for them. In the end the puppies will have gone and your bitch will be able to rest, without having any pups to look after!
  

… Tips …

• A good tip is to buy about 12 coloured collars for the puppies arrival to tell the pups apart. It is important that you do not keep the mothers collar on during birth, puppies can get caught in it so it is best if you keep it off.
  
• Do not let the puppies eat chocolates. As much as we love them, they are poisonous to dogs and puppies
• When hand rearing your pups be sure not to over feed them. When they reach 3 weeks of age you should reduce their feeding time to 4 hours until they can be weaned off milk and onto solid foods. You should let them smell new food before eating it as they can be unsure.
  

 ...

HELPING WITH THE BIRTH (P3) !!!

… Helping with the birth ...

• Get your bitch in her whelping box when the time for birth comes. If she chooses somewhere else (a closet, the garden), lead her to the whelping box as you do not want to go into labor there.
  
• Monitor the labour and help as needed. When she goes into labour she will pant heavily and start to push but it is only when the first water breaks will she give birth to the first puppy. She will then tear the sack with her tongue and lick up the excess but if you see the puppy is not breathing you can tear the sack from around the nose and mouth until the puppy starts to breathe.
  
• Take care of the puppies right away if needed. If she has too many puppies and not enough nipples or one puppy cannot get through, drastic action is needed, you must hand rear and feed this puppy from birth, this needs doing every two hours by a responsible adult.
  
• No children below the age of 12 should hold the puppies before their eyes have opened, as puppies can be fragile. Children, who do not know how to handle them with care, can easily snap the neck of a new born puppy if they are holding them to tight.
  
• Keep the mother and puppies together. The mother should stay in the whelping box for 5 days before leaving her puppies for a short while.

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PREPARING FOR THE BIRTH (P2) !!!

… Let’s continue with how to prepare for the dog pregnancy … !!!

Make sure you take extra care of your bitch. She is going through lots of hormonal changes and may need your affection. At other times however, she may want to be left alone, and it is best if you do just that, you don't want to upset her or cause her harm.

• She may go through morning sickness, a common occurrence in dogs, but this should wear off halfway through the pregnancy. She will also begin to show on the outside, for example her nipples may start to grow and turn pinker and she may begin to lose her waistline.
• These signs are all a stronger indication that your dog is pregnant and that things are going to work out but to be sure you can get an ultrasound scan or an x-ray from your vet to confirm that she really is pregnant. However, do not worry if your dog does not experience some of the symptoms of pregnancy, some owners do not know their dog is pregnant until the day of arrival
• Prepare a whelping box, the place where your dog will have the puppies. You can make a whelping box out of cardboard; it should be big enough for your dog to fit two of herself inside and for her to get in and out easily while the puppies can’t.
• The whelping box can be made by yourself or you can buy one off the Internet. Making your whelping box is good because it saves money, but on the other hand the boxes are sturdier when you buy them.
• (continue) ...

HOW TO DEAL WITH A DOG PREGNANCY !!!

... So you have found out that your dog is pregnant? Now, you are worried what you have to do and what you need to prepare. This post will tell you everything you need to know to deal with your dog pregnancy …

Preparing for the Birth

Start planning ahead right away to find the date that the pups' arrival is due. Remember that not all dogs are the same, so this will be different depending on the breed and characteristics of your dog.

The average time it takes for a dog to make puppies is 63 days from the time of mating. Once you have calculated this, you will be able to tell when she will give birth and make all of your plans from there.

Dogs can sometimes have pups 5 days before or after the date expected, but if it gets any longer than 5 days after contact a vet.

 If your dog has had a scan and it says she is pregnant but she does not look it may be she has absorbed the puppies after the scan. Dogs can sometimes absorb puppies when they are sad or depressed. It could also be that the scan in wrong as it is not 100% accurate all the time, for instance some people thought that their dog would have only 3 puppies when they have close to 11! It can be very confusing especially if you thought they were pregnant in the first place, but scans are not as accurate as they seem. You can also have an X-ray done at a skilled vet center but again these can be not that accurate.

... (continued)

HOW TO AVOID HARMING YOUR PUPPY !!!

... When you bring your puppy home, you have to prepare a safe environment for your puppy … here are some tips to avoid harming your puppy …

Always be aware of where your puppy is. You can attach a bell to your puppy's collar. If you can't watch your puppy 24/7, it would be wise for you to set up 'safe areas'. Rooms or parts of rooms that are blocked off from the rest of the house are ideal; for example, have one room in the house that has nothing in it but their crate. In these safe rooms, be sure that your puppy cannot access anything he or she isn't allowed to have.

Crate train your puppy. It's always good to crate train your puppy, and it's not hard.

• ·         Set the puppy up in a habit. When you go to sleep, put it in its crate. Don't have him/her get too used to this; however, because it could create a fairly separated relationship between you and your puppy.
• ·         In the morning, as soon as you wake up, let the puppy out of its crate and into the backyard. Watch the puppy until it does its business, or leave it outside for 15-20 minutes. That will be long enough for it to do its business.
• ·         When you leave for work, bring it in again and place it in its crate. If you have the opportunity to come home for lunch, then let it outside in the backyard to play until you have to leave the house again.
• ·         When you come home in the evening, let it out and bring it back in. Not only will this set it up on its crate training, but getting into a scheduled habit will help considerably with the potty training.

Use your own instinct. Basic common sense is the answer to a lot of questions people have about animals. If you are doubtful about anything, then it is best to err on the side of caution. If you think your puppy might get into something, it probably will. It's best to take precautions before that happens, to save yourself from heartache over a sick animal and anger over a huge bill.

Research the dog's character. In order to provide the best life for you and your dog, try to research your dog's breed so you know what tendencies the dog may have that will affect your relationship.

• ·         If the animal is bred to herd, then you might find activities that will work that instinct.
• ·         Many dogs need daily activity that is specialized for their breed.
• ·         Research your property. Parvovirus infection, which is a leading cause of death in most dogs, can live in the soil for over a hundred years. If you're not sure what Parvo is, do an internet search or ask your vet, and make sure to stay current on your shots. If you can't, consider giving the dog to a home that can provide it with adequate health care. Check also that your backyard is safe for dogs and has no sharp objects, loose wires, deep holes, etc. These might injure your puppy. Some of the symptoms of Parvo are vomiting and bloody poop.

Talk to your vet. You'll need to build an on-going relationship with your vet if you are to provide the best care for your animal. Having the vet on speed dial isn't always a bad idea. Your vet will most likely be your number one source for all your pet needs.

Cats vs Dogs Compilation 2014

http://youtu.be/gU2ZPcS-bAk

Toronto Tet Festival 2014 (playlist)

Toronto Tet Festival 2014 (playlist)
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfaYAdCIV6zhw_lnyqL3WK2_-vtE-lElt

SOME TIPS FOR YOUR PUPPY !!!

Here are some simple and helpful tips for you and for your puppy J:

• Be calm and confident with your puppy during a storm so the dog learns not to be afraid.
• Be sure to give your puppy lots of love, attention and gentle (but also firm) guidance about good behavior.
• It's recommended that a puppy eats 3 times a day; morning, afternoon, and night, and usually 5-6 hours after the last meal. For example, 8am, 1pm, 6pm.
• Make sure your puppy gets an adequate amount of rest (at least 6 hours).
• Wash your puppy's food bowls daily with warm water and a little dish soap. Or, just throw them in the dishwasher. Washing food bowls prevents illness, bacteria from growing, and it makes each meal time more enjoyable.
• Cuddle with your puppy when there is a storm.
• Be careful with small children and make sure everyone knows the rules of the puppy (e.g. holding, rough housing, etc …).
• Clean your puppy's eyes daily to prevent infections and tear stains (even breeds without white coats can get tear stains and inflammation of the skin around the eye!!!). Clean ears bi-weekly to prevent wax and stink.
• If you have the puppy for a child, be prepared to look after it yourself after a while because younger children lose interest in them.

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Source: http://www.vetstreet.com/

TRAINING YOUR PUPPY !!!

Housebreak your dog. Start housebreaking your dog the first day you bring it home. The longer you wait, the more mess you'll have to deal with, and the harder it will be to train your dog. Consider using training pads for the first few days. While these should not be used instead of taking your dog outside, they're useful as an intermediate stage, especially if you don't have a backyard.

Consider crate training your dog. Crate training is helpful for many reasons. First of all, it curbs destructive behavior, allowing you to sleep and leave your dog alone without worrying. Second of all, it is a very effective method of potty training (when used correctly).

Teach your dog basic commands. Your puppy will be most able to learn commands while he is young, so begin teaching as soon as possible. In addition, you can use basic commands as a basis for more complicated tricks later.

·         Teach your dog to come.

·         Teach your dog to sit.

·         Teach your dog to lie down.

Get your dog used to car rides. Take your puppy on regular car rides to get him used to traveling with you. Otherwise, every time you get in the car he will think he is being taken to a vet. Then, he will start whining, and it will just get you frustrated.

Enter in an obedience class. Not only will this help you better train your dog, but it will socialize your puppy, helping him learn how to act around unfamiliar dogs and people.

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Source: http://www.perfectpaws.com/pupstuff.html

GROOMING YOUR PUPPY/DOG !!!

Grooming is also one of the methods that show your love with your puppy/dog … when you groom your puppy, he/she can feel how much you care about him/her … that also makes your puppy feel safe with you …

Brush your puppy daily. Brushing not only keeps your puppy/dog clean and healthy but also allows you to check his/her skin and fur if there is any problems. Brush all over the puppy, including its belly and hind legs. You should start to brush and wash him/her when he/she was young to prevent him/her be afraid of that. Also, pay attention that brushing and washing will depends on type of breed. You should ask your vet for inquiry.

Trim your puppy's nails. The same as brushing and washing, you should start clipping your puppy's nails early when they were young. If you don’t know how to do or you are afraid of doing that, you can ask your vet for instructions. Your vet will show you an appropriate nail cutting technique to avoid hurting your puppy; especially, if you puppy has black nails as it can be hard to spot the quick. Nails that are too long can cause strain to your dog's wrists as well as damage floors, furniture, and possibly people. Plan to trim your puppy's nails weekly or every 2 weeks that depends on your puppy or your vet’s special direction.

Keep your puppy's teeth and gums healthy. There is variety of chew toys and chewing stick and snack in pet care market that can keep your puppy’s teeth healthy. Toothbrushes and toothpaste made specifically for dogs are also very helpful in keeping your puppy's teeth clean and healthy. You should be patient to learn how to brush your puppy’s teeth because there are some puppies/dogs that don’t like to brush teeth. Even they can hurt you by unintentionally biting your hand when you try to do that. You’d better ask your vet for help at the first time. When you get acquainted to do that, be sure your puppy to having their teeth brushed periodically.

Bathe your puppy once every 3 weeks or so. If he/she smells bad, use dog scent spray or a wet towel to clean instead, and look into what could be causing the odor. If you wash your puppy/dog more than that can dry out dog skin and strip important oils from his/her coat.

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STEPS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PUPPY !!!

1.       Your puppy needs a safe environment. A safe and clean environment will help your puppy be healthy and you will not be afraid of paying a lot of money for your vet.

a.      Your puppy’s bedding should be aired out daily and washed or replaced weekly.

b.      Some study says that there are some plants that are toxic to puppies who like to chew. For example, lily of the valley, oleander, azalea, yew, foxglove, rhododendron, rhubard, and shamrock can be harmful to your puppy. So, remember to keep them far away from your puppy.

2.       Your puppy needs to exercise. Remember that different breeds need different amounts of exercise. Because puppies are still growing, you should avoid any sort of rough play or hard exercise.

a.      A puppy should be walked an hour per day. You can allow your puppy to interact with the other friendly dogs he/she meets and to leave scent markings. This can raise your puppy’s confidence, especially if your puppy is a boy.

b.      Once vaccinated, your puppy should be encouraged to play and socialize with friendly puppies, grown dogs, and other animals. Remember not to leave your puppy alone with the others for even a minute at first.

3.      Your puppy should visit a vet as scheduled. You have to choose a vet for your puppy. You can ask your friends for vet recommendations. You should choose one who is friendly, well-managed, and smells clean. Be sure you feel comfortable with the vet you choose.

a.      Bring your puppy to the vet to get vaccinated when he/she is 6 to 9 weeks old. Talk to your vet about distemper, parainfluenza, canine hepatitis, and parvovirus. They may have suggestions for other important vaccines as well, depending on the risks of your particular dog.

b.      Remember to get deworming medication for your puppy during the first vet visit. This is not only good for your puppy’s health but also good for your own because there are many of the parasites that infect your puppy can be passed to humans and cause health problems in your family.

c.       Get a rabies vaccination when your puppy is 12 to 16 weeks old.

d.      When your puppy is around 20 weeks old, you can start to think about whether you need to spay or neuter your puppy. Unless you foresee wanting to have puppies, it's a good idea to spay and neuter; thousands of unwanted puppies end up in pounds each year.

e.      Schedule a vet check-up for your puppy at least every six months. Also, schedule vet appointments for the proper vaccinations. Make sure your puppy feel comfortable when you take him/her to the vet by bringing treats with you while you are there.

4.      Remember to watch for your puppy’s health problems. Always keep your eyes on your puppy and you can catch any problems early. Your puppy’s eyes should be always bright, and the eyes and nostrils should be free of discharge. The puppy's coat should be clean and shiny. Watch out for bumps, inflammation, or rashes on the skin, as well as signs of diarrhea around the tail.

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Source: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/