by Janice Kumar
Owning a puppy is exciting but also a big responsibility. A new puppy is cute, attractive and seeks your love and attention so it can be a delight. However it is the pet owner's responsibility to take care of a new puppy that is initially a little bewildered and lost as it seeks it place in the new house. A new pup that is bought home, may suddenly lose it's playfulness and piddle away at different places due to excitement. It is experiencing new smells and sounds and is trying to find a place for itself. So it is natural and normal for it to be a little subdued in the beginning. It will tend to urinate / piddle from excitement, fear or after meals. You can normally guess, when the puppy dog is about to piddle because it will run in circles a few times, sniff around and then finally squat to urinate. As the pup tries to please you, seeking your love and affection, start the toilet training immediately. Say No ! No ! loudly as it piddles and take the pup outside to urinate. Start to call out it's name and let is get used to the sound of the words.
Never lift the puppy by his front legs as these are very tender and 
may get disjointed. The pup has to be lifted with a hand under his rump and a hand against his chest. Hold the pup close to your body as you lift it. This is the right and safe way to lift a small dog. As the legs get stronger, you may try a different way to pick it up, but to start with, it is important to be careful.
may get disjointed. The pup has to be lifted with a hand under his rump and a hand against his chest. Hold the pup close to your body as you lift it. This is the right and safe way to lift a small dog. As the legs get stronger, you may try a different way to pick it up, but to start with, it is important to be careful.
A puppy in a new house is a little bewildered and lost. It is important to provide a safe and comfortable sleeping corner for the pup. Avoid too high a place for the pup as it will find it difficult to climb up too high. Try to find comfortable spot and let the pup sleep independently. Try not to pamper it if it cries but try to give it some sound to keep it company. A ticking clock or some light music will do nicely. Puppies catch cold quickly, so try to keep it warm. Also try to avoid stairways as the pup will find it difficult to initially climb stairs with weak legs.
It is important to visit a veterinarian (vet) within a week to ten days of your obtaining it. It is important to start the immunization program, as soon as possible.
It is important to get the dog it's own non tipping pans for food and water. It is better to have a different pan for food ( solids) and water (liquids). Try to buy the supplies from a good pet store rather than use, discarded utensils which may not be the best for developing good eating habits in the dog. It is recommended that leashes and collars may also be bought at this time. Normally there are three kinds of leashes available- a short traffic leash (normally up to 18 inches long), a waking leash (normally up to 60 to 72 inches long) and a freedom/training leash (up to 15 feet or 180 inches long) to enable a dog to run around and play without problems.
It normally takes several minutes to accustom the wildly twisting pup to tolerate a collar the first time. But is it important to put a collar on quickly to avoid problems in the future. A collar should be slightly loose so that you can slip in up to two fingers between the collar and the neck but not too lose so that the pup may remove it. It is also important to check collar size regularly so that the dog may not outgrow the collar. If that happens, the dog may feel choked and may start behaving erratically.
Play time is great fun for the puppy. But it is also exhausting for the small dog. Let is play till it cannot stand up and then let it rest. The pup may need to rest every 15 to 20 minutes in the beginning before it starts to develop a stamina and its muscles. Retrieving a ball comes naturally to a pup and it should be encouraged. Try to buy it a squeaking toy which are normally available in a pet store. A puppy will enjoy playing with such toys and they should be encouraged. Do avoid giving old shoes to a pup to play and chew as this can lead to behavioral problems in the future. When the pup is four to five months old, do explore and buy its some bone shaped toy/aid to chew. This is important for the development of the gums and teeth.
After immunization, it is important to take the pup to different places to help it socialize. This will help develop an acceptable behavior for the dog especially when some one visits or when longer trips are required. Avoid leaving a small dog, alone for long period of times locked up in a garage or an apartment. This is likely to make the dog either timid or overly aggressive. Both are undesirable behavioral patterns for the long term.
It is recommended that a pet owner, never strike the dog in anger. However it is important to discipline the puppy when it does not behave. A small tap on its paws or a newspaper slap on the owners thigh will caution the pup, that bad behavior will not be tolerated. Use strong words like - Bad Boy ! , Bad Dog ! to discipline the dog. Do not waste time in disciplining the dog if it is in error so that cause and effect can be appreciated by the pup quickly.
Do remember that you can get a number or name tattooed in the ear or the inner part of the dog's thigh. This is normally positive identification for a dog.
Do check, if the local government authority in your area requires a license or registration. It is best to follow the rules to avoid heartbreak later.
I hope you find these tips useful. Here's wishing you much happiness and joy with your pet.
Disclaimer: The article and tips are for guidance only. Use them at your own risk and discretion. We take no responsibility for any suggestion given above. We strongly urge you consult a qualified professional vet to find a lasting cure for any problem. Please consult a professional , before using any information on this site. No liability of any kind is accepted by us.
