(with Expert Advice from Bernadine Cruz, DVM, Anyes Van Volkenburgh, DVM and Maralyn Redford, an obedience instructor and breeder of Champion Golden Retrievers )

To wrap up the main portion of the course, we are going to leave you with some advice from our experts. We asked them for their top five tips for new puppy owners and here they are:

Bernadine Cruz, DVM says:

1. Feed a well balance food appropriate for its age and breed. When in doubt, ask your vet for a diet that will suit your dog’s growth profile.

2. Keep your puppy slim. Studies have shown that a pet that maintains its ideal weight throughout its life can expect to live 15% longer than its chubby littermate.

3. The number one reason why dogs are relinquished by their owners to a shelter is unacceptable behaviors. Train your dog. Set compassionate rules that are reinforced by all members of the family.

4. Follow your veterinarian’s advice. What you read on the internet or learn from your breeder or friend may be stated with the best of intentions but not necessarily correct. Your veterinarian is trained to provide the best medical advice for your particular pet.

5. Before adopting a pet, do your homework. Just because you see a particular breed on TV or a movie that is just too cute, it may not be the most appropriate pet for you. Be sure you have the time, finances and desire to devote to your dog. When you adopt a pet, it is for life, their life.

Anyes Van Volkenburgh, DVM had six important tips to leave with new puppy owners:
1. Nutrition is key – If you choose not to cook for your pet (and there are a myriad of great books with home made pet food recipes), then make sure the pet food you buy is made of wholesome, human quality ingredients.

2. Proper medical care – I stress the improtance of finding a progressive, preferably holistic, veterinarian who will treat your pet’s mind, body and soul.

3. Training – find a positive trainer to help you teach your puppy what is expected. Do not wait for behavioral problems to develop; take your puppy to a puppy class asap.

4. Talk to your puppy – We’ve been conditioned to think that animals do not understand our language, but new research shows that dogs, cats and parrots are more capable of understanding complex sentences than we ever thought before. Talk to your pet – tell him or her that you are happy, excited about a new opportunity, or hungry or tired, that you have to go work and will be back in 9 hours, that you’ll miss them while you’re gone. You’ll be amazed to see that in a short time your puppy is able to understand seemingly complex sentences. And you will cherish the bond that talking to your pet fosters.

5. Play together – dogs living in packs play together to show that they share a friendship and feel safe and comfortable with each other. Cats who like each other play, too. Play is a way of letting your guard down.

6. Smile – Animals gravitate towards people who are joyful, calm and centered, not negative, scattered and anxious. Since animals pick up on our emotions and often internalize them, they much prefer healthy emotions.

Wishing you and your new puppy a long and happy life,
Katelyn

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(with Expert Advice from AKC expert Lisa Peterson)

New puppies need to eat more frequently than adult dogs, just as baby humans do. Since their digestive systems are still maturing, they also need to stay on a consistent diet. Feeding your puppy properly can help him settle in to his new home more easily.

Before you bring your new puppy home, make sure you know what he has been eating so that you can buy the same food. If you can’t find that food in your local stores, be sure to ask the breeder for a three to four day supply so that you can gradually mix it with the puppy food you are going to be using. This way, there is no abrupt change in diet.

If you do change the puppy’s food and he develops diarrhea, contact your veterinarian immediately to be sure it is really the change in food that has caused the diarrhea. (If his diarrhea is bloody, he could have a medical problem, such as coccidia.) If it is the change of diet, your veterinarian will probably recommend feeding him rice with broth or chicken baby food mixed with it until he returns to normal and then gradually reintroducing the puppy chow.

So, is that commercial puppy food ok for your dog? According to AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson, “The BARF diet is hard to administer because the owner is left to decide if the dogs are getting the proper ingredients. A good commercial food has all the necessary nutrients. Ask your veterinarian or breeder for a recommendation. If the dog’s coat is glossy and healthy, the food is good.”

Once you decide on the proper diet for your new puppy, you will need to decide how many times a day to serve his meals. Ms. Peterson says, “Puppies have smaller tummies and a higher metabolism. They need to eat three to four times a day until they are six months and then two times a day until they are one year.”

After your puppy is one year of age, you can switch to one meal a day. However, I know I’d have a hard time eating once a day, so you may want to feed your dog most of his meal in the morning and offer the remainder of the meal in the evening.

Ms. Peterson mentions another important feeding concern for owners of smaller dogs. “Toy dogs can suffer from hypoglycemia.” This means that small dogs should eat several small meals throughout the day to avoid low blood sugar problems.

Now that you know how to provide basic care for your new puppy, you are ready for the final lesson of the course, which includes some great quick tips about new puppy ownership from our experts.

Until then, don’t forget to give your puppy plenty of hugs and kisses,
Katelyn

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(with Expert Advice from Bernadine Cruz, DVM, AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson and Maralyn Redford, an obedience instructor and breeder of Champion Golden Retrievers )

Now that your puppy is healthy, it is time to consider puppy behavior and training. Although some people feel that puppies should not be trained at a young age, many breeders and other pet professionals say that puppies can learn some basics by the age of eight weeks.

In fact, according to AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson, “You can begin training your puppy the day you bring him home. Up to the age of four months, puppies pick up new behaviors at lightning speed. After four months of age, they learn more slowly.”

While you can train your puppy on your own, you may want to consider going to puppy classes once he has been vaccinated. These classes teach basic obedience, but Ms. Peterson says they also provide important socialization skills. You will need to decide if you want to teach your puppy using traditional methods or if you’d prefer clicker training and then look for a trainer who uses the method you choose. Frankly, my dogs and I love clicker training. It is a lot of fun and they learn quickly. However, traditional methods usually work just fine for basic obedience.

Maralyn Redford, an obedience instructor and breeder of Champion Golden Retrievers has some great training advice for new puppy owners. “The biggest mistake new puppy owners make is that they are inconsistent. Puppies learn best when you teach using consistent, positive training techniques. Plan a routine for meals, naps and playtime. Reward good behavior and distract him from the things you don’t want him to do or touch.”

Ms. Redford also talks about the first command you should teach your new puppy. “Teach him to come when called. It is probably the most important thing he will ever learn and it could save his life. Keep your voice happy and reward him every time he comes. If he doesn’t come immediately, go to him, show him the treat and run backward so he comes to you. Be effusive with your praise and affection.”

Once you master puppy classes, you don’t have to stop training your puppy. Dogs can learn new things throughout their lives, just as people can. In fact, many dogs really love to learn and they and their owners enter obedience and agility competitions.

In Lesson 6, you will learn about feeding your new puppy.
Until then, don’t forget to give your puppy plenty of hugs and kisses,
Katelyn

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