How did your dog react when you took them home for the first time?
We finally took the first step: we got our own puppy! “My first dog (and best friend) was Rex, a sweet, playful pup. I knew it would be labor intensive and a big obligation, but that “holy crap” feeling I had when I first picked him up was just a subtle hum of the screaming siren of uneasiness I’ve come to know a few moments after.
When we prepared his crate for him, my son tied his leash to the leg of a chair, he did not like it to sit still and tried to get up and run towards a ball or something, and the next thing TERRIFIED to find that the chair was CHASING HIM:)
How did your dog react when you took them home for the first time?
Anyway I’m including some photos of his first day,,,, Tanya Gorelova took these photos:)
After a long day, My Best, most gentle and patient dog I’ve ever met…
The Famous Chair…
Getting into trouble
Doing the right thing:)
Anyway, I’ve learned some things and also managed to put together a few important points to take note of….
If you are thinking of bringing a puppy into your home, you may have encountered these questions: how old should a puppy be when you pick it up and what will you do with it before it receives all vaccines against infectious diseases?
If you are buying a dog, do not take it before it is 8 weeks old
For starters, as a partial answer to the first question, clearly and loudly: if you are buying a dog, don’t let the breeder (in this case it should be written in quotes) force you to take the puppy home before he is 8 weeks old. And don’t be fooled, so in the desire to get cheaper, take the dog from someone who just “punches” the dog and does not care at all about the welfare of these animals.
The calculation is very clear here:
When they are 4-5 weeks old, puppies become much more physically and financially demanding, so a person who sells dogs just for the sake of making money then eventually wants to get rid of increasingly demanding puppies.
However, puppies that are prematurely separated from their mother and the rest of the litter, as adult dogs, show much more (serious) behavioral problems than puppies that remain with their mother and siblings for at least 8 weeks and in a crucial period of socialization seen lasts up to 4 months of age) were properly socialized . This is shown by many researches conducted at world scientific institutions.
What if you decide to adopt an abandoned or discarded puppy?
If you have decided to adopt a dog from a shelter or save a puppy found abandoned and thrown on the road, it is a very commendable gesture and you should not be discouraged by not knowing how this puppy spent the earliest months of life, but you should definitely leave as soon as possible to some organized form of dog training (for example to some quality individual or group course).
Don’t wait for a “suitable” moment because the right moment is exactly when you brought the dog home. The longer you wait, even if there are no behavioral problems at first, the harder it will be to solve the problems once they arise.
And what about vaccines?
You’ve probably heard from someone before (probably your vet) that a puppy should be in isolation from other dogs and the outside world until it receives all the vaccines against infectious canine diseases (i.e., by about 4-5 months of age).
You definitely need to be careful where you take your puppy, but it is by no means good to keep him in isolation from all living beings, all experiences and stimuli. Infectious canine diseases are often deadly and unfortunately are very common in some areas. But keep this in mind: your puppy will not receive all the vaccines until he is about 4 months old. If you wait until then, the opportunity to socialize your dog properly will already be missed.
And not only that: according to the American Veterinary Society for Animal Behavior (AVSAB), behavioral problems, not contagious canine diseases, are the leading cause of death in dogs under 3 years of age ! (This refers to the fact that in the U.S., more dogs are killed each year due to behavioral problems than are killed by infectious canine diseases). The same veterinary society recommends that dogs be introduced to new places, people and other dogs before receiving all vaccines against infectious canine diseases (ie, puppy owners are advised not to keep puppies in isolation from the outside world while receiving these vaccines).
What does all this actually mean for puppy owners?
It means you need to be careful where you take your puppy before he receives all the vaccines, but not that you need to keep him locked up in the house. For example, going to dog parks, pet stores, and other places where a lot of dogs come that we don’t know if they’re vaccinated and if they’re healthy is not a good idea. Instead, get your puppy used to driving with you in the car; introduce him to many children and adults; take him to hang out with friends who have healthy, vaccinated dogs and other pets accustomed to dogs; go with him to the mall (at a time when it is not crowded); walk with him around in your backyard; enter a course for puppies in a verified place that you know is safe for puppies, etc. But always make sure that all these experiences for your puppy are positive experiences. Proper socialization of a dog is a pleasant experience, not something that will traumatize him for the rest of his life.
Either way, don’t wait for the dog to cross the 16-week limit to start socializing, because you’re already very late by then. In the case of proper early socialization, time plays a key role.
Don’t make these 15 Mistakes with your New Puppy:
1. DON’T LET your puppy eat when he wants to
There is a very fine line between new puppies to make them feel comfortable at home with you and let them do whatever they want and get into bad habits and one of the main pitfalls to avoid this view concerns food.
Food and food are arguably the biggest motivators when it comes to dogs and can help you achieve everything from successful training to encouraging a shy dog out of its shell to help your puppy commit to you. . a coin to buy your puppy happiness is a big but also easy to make mistake!
Your puppy should have reliable feeding hours with his food divided into appropriate portions and the food should be measured for them just every day. You should also work on calculating how much fun your dog can have in a day – taking into account both the calories and the value of the reward.
Bribing your puppy with too many treatments or providing food wherever they ask will not only make your life more difficult, but it will also make your puppy worse.
2. Delay in training
You are probably already thinking about training your puppy and how it will work when you first bring it home – but training a dog is not like sending a child to school for the first time and is not something that has to start at a set time. and on a set date! The training should start from the first day your puppy comes home – not from picking them up in a class or field and performing them through exercises, but in terms of letting them know what they are and are not you are also allowed to correct your puppy to praise them appropriately as they begin to learn.
3. Do not spend enough time around other dogs
An astonishing number of new puppy owners may be reluctant to encourage their puppies to socialize with other dogs as much as they really should, believing the puppy is too small, too small, or the other dogs are too big and noisy and thus a potential danger to your puppy.
However, once your puppy pulls out the eighth after vaccinations, you should start taking precautionary measures to allow them to meet and communicate with other dogs at every possible opportunity and try to ensure that this is a good mix of different dogs that include many chances to meet strange dogs.
Puppies learn as much, if not more, from other dogs as they do from humans, and avoiding socializing is one of the biggest mistakes a new puppy owner can make.
4. Unintentionally allowing unreasonable fears
Because puppies are small, cute, and sensitive, they tend to trigger protective instincts in humans, which often translate into a desire to wrap them in cotton and protect them from the world! However, just as this approach is counterproductive when it comes to children – for example, if your child is playing on their knee, causing a lot of noise it can cause them to cry, minimizing and dealing with it, as there is no greater chance to encourage them to continue normally.
The same goes for puppies – if they are scared, shy or nervous, or something happens that makes them wary, do not push their shower with sympathy – this is the fastest way to amplify their fears and create a nervous adult. dog.
Instead, behave normally and this will reassure your puppy that there is nothing to fear and encourage them to continue normally.
5. Tell your puppy when they do not understand something
So go down in the morning to find that your puppy has made a mess on the floor… your instinctive reaction may be to tell them, but bite your tongue! First of all, if a young puppy is ruining things or fishing indoors, it may be due to a lack of understanding or because you have not met your needs in this regard – and also, your puppy has no idea what they were wrong if you told them after the incident.
Do not make a big fuss, but clear up immediately and see ways you can avoid the problem that will arise again in the future.
6. DO NOT leave the puppy home alone
Book a holiday for at least a week or two to ensure your puppy gets used to his new home. The puppy should initially be fed four times a day. A small dog also needs to potty train more often. Always take your puppy out after waking up, playing, eating and drinking.
7. DO NOT stretch the loneliness But must get used to it
Get your dog used to being alone during the first few weeks. For example, you can go to another room first. Exercise when the puppy is already tired and your pup would be calmer.
Leave your pup a treat, say “Wait!” and go away for a moment. Many times the treat will sooth him and your pup will go to sleep after eating. When you come back, go back to your normal chores. Most importantly, there is no big difference between the first arrival and the next day.
If the dog keeps making noise when alone, go play with him, go for a walk, do activity and repeat the exercise so many times that loneliness begins to disappear.
8. DO NOT think that learning to be tidy happens all at once
Few dogs learn to be tidy all at once. The dog cannot be managed in the event of an emergency when it happens, so it should not be penalized for peeing on the floor.
Do not pay too much attention to the mess, but rather clean it up and continue. The dog likes attention, whether it’s positive or negative. The dog also does not remember the booboo done an hour ago. It looks repentant because it reads its owner’s scornful behavior.
9. DO NOT put the dog on a leash immediately
The dog doesn’t immediately realize that while on the leash, it has to obediently paddle alongside its owner. Teach your dog to keep an eye on you and walk close to you first, only then turn your attention to the leash. Also teach the dog to walk past his companions and people without making a fuss. Other dogs are found in a safe place without a leash.
10. NOT allow the puppy to wean in your arms
Getting used to a person’s bosom and to calm him down will make it easier in the future, for example, to visit a veterinarian. Teach your puppy that you can only get out of your arms when the rattle has stopped. When the puppy is calm in your arms, keep your grip gentle & comfortable. If the puppy is rattling, tighten the grip.
However, do not hurt your pup. Also don’t instantly let him down. Let your puppy down after he has been rattling for at least ten seconds. Often the puppy needs dozens of exercises to get it right.
11. DO NOT forget to investigate health issues on a timely manner
Once the dog is already at home, it is too late to start figuring out health / vaccine issues. Find out in advance what vaccines your dog needs to be given.
The dog is given the first vaccinations at three months of age and booster vaccinations one month after the first vaccinations. After a year, booster vaccinations will be given, followed by veterinary instructions.
12. DO NOT leave valuables in the open, visible & accessible to your new friend
Hide any items that your dog may break when raging. Also remove dangerous items, such as cords, that your dog should not chew on. Keep the environment safe for your dog.
13. DO NOT let your dog rage without limits
A dog needs to be set clear boundaries of what it’s allowed to do and what it’s not. Together agreed rules must be followed by all family members. If it is agreed that the dog is not allowed to jump on the couch, no one will let the dog jump on the couch.
The dog gets confused if one member of the family lets go and the other scolds. When speaking to a dog, one word must also be used. If one says “No!” and another “Stop!”, the dog will get confused.
14. DO NOT forget to teach good healing practices
If the dog bounces and rages when you arrive, you yourself have taught it how to greet you. If you don’t want your dog to jump against yourself, don’t give your dog attention.
Turn your back and look at the ceiling. When the dog behaves, notice the dog. It gradually learns that the bouncing & jumping is not worth it.
15. DO NOT write off expert help
Breeders often give good advice on how to train your dog. Experts from different dog breeds can be found, for example, on the websites of Kennel Club’s.
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