Puppy Proofing Your Home
Bringing home a puppy is a little like bringing home a new baby -- you want him to come into a safe environment. Unlike the new baby, though, this puppy is ready to go exploring from day one! Before the new puppy arrives, spend a little time puppy proofing your home.
Here are some common household items that are poisonous to dogs.
Medications: Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, aspirin, cough and cold syrups, and prescription drugs should all be kept out of the reach of dogs.
Indoor Plants: These can be very dangerous for dogs and should only be kept on a counter high enough so a dog cannot reach for it. If you have a large dog, you may want to get rid of these plants altogether. They include: Tulip bulbs, poinsettias, philodendrons, daffodils, lily of the valley, and azaleas.
Foods: These foods are dangerous for dogs: chocolate, yeast, grapes, onions, and raisins.
Insecticides: These should not be kept in the home, but kept in a locked cabinet or on a high shelf in the garage. This includes rat poison, flea and tick products, and other insecticides.
Cleaners: These are sometimes kept under the kitchen sink. Dog-proof the cabinet so that these items cannot be taken out by your puppy: bleach, detergent, furniture polish, soap, and disinfectants.
Chemicals: Lighter fluid, turpentine, antifreeze, gasoline, glue, paint, solvents, and any type of acids are all no-nos around your puppy.
Tobacco: Avoid leaving out a pack of cigarettes that can easily be eaten by a dog.
Household Hazards: Make sure all the electrical outlets in your home are covered and that there are no extension cords are within sight or available for a dog to chew on. All electrical appliances should be are turned off or unplugged, and small collectible items you have showcased in your home are transferred to the top of an open bookshelf or an enclosed glass closet.
Make sure no bathroom items are left out on the sink or counter. If you have a cabinet under the bathroom sink, ensure it has a safety lock as well.
Once you've puppy proofed your home, have a look at it from the puppy's viewpoint: down on the floor. Get down on your hands and knees and go through your entire home. You'd be surprised how different the view looks from down there!
posted by Paris and John @ 7:16 PM
Getting Your House Ready for Your Puppy
Bringing home a new puppy? You'll need to puppy proof your home BEFORE the new member of your family arrives.
Don't leave any items around the house that you might not want to lose...puppies can and will eat everything! This goes for everything from your new iPod to a favorite pair of sneakers. Keep things out of reach of your new puppy.
Watch out for potential poisons that your puppy might get into, everything from household cleaners to a pack of cigarettes.
Decide before your puppy's arrival where your puppy will stay. It's best to designate one room as home base; gradually you'll introduce your puppy to more rooms throughout the house.
Decide on any new house rules before the puppy arrives. Will you keep the toilet lid closed? The bathroom door closed? The basement door closed? Make those decisions now.
Don't leave exposed electrical wires where your new puppy can find them. Just as if you were baby proofing your house, you'll need to look for cords that are tempting targets for those new little teeth. Sadly, too many puppies have died from electrocution when chewing into electrical cords.
posted by Paris and John @ 6:45 PM
Your New Puppy & Young Children
Young children will be incredibly excited at the prospect of bringing home a new puppy. Your job is to help your child remain calm and help the introduction between puppy and child be a wonderful experience for both.
For Your Child
Let your child know that the new puppy will be scared and nervous.
Explain that the puppy will need some space so he doesn’t get too frightened.
Teach your children to speak in a calm voice to the puppy, avoiding yelling and shouting.
Teach your children that roughhousing around the puppy is forbidden. Do not let your child drag, pull, wrestle, hit, or poke the puppy, even in a playful way. No grabbing of the puppy, running around the puppy at first, playing tug of war with the puppy, etc.
Make it a family rule that any sibling fights must be out of the puppy’s sight.
Teach your child to respect the puppy, and vice versa. Your child should learn how to properly treat the dog, which will then earn him the respect and leadership from your puppy.
No squeezing. Hugging the puppy too tight can result in injury.
Always be there to supervise playtime so you can intervene if things get out of hand.
Be consistent. Your child needs to understand that commands that the family teaches the puppy are firm (no sneaking treats to the puppy!) If the puppy doesn’t obey the command, the child should gently repeat the command until the puppy does what he is told to do.
For Your New Puppy
No herding. Don’t let your new puppy herd your child (this is especially important with herding breeds like border collies and Australian cattle dogs). Doing so will make the dog think that he is in charge and he will not obey your child’s commands.
Listen to all members of the family; the rules are consistent. Puppies learn through repetition so it's important for the puppy to see a consistency in your house, even from its youngest members.
No jumping on the child.
posted by Paris and John @ 5:37 PM
Bringing Your Puppy Home
Whether your new puppy comes from a local shelter or a dog breeder, when the special day arrives for you to add this puppy to your family, you should be prepared for the ride home with a little puppy. With a few pre-trip preparations, the ride home can be easier on both your new pup and yourself:
Be Prepared to Clean Up. Just in case of an accident, bring a roll of paper towels. Remember, your new puppy is completely untrained. Also, if he is extremely nervous and gets an upset stomach from the bumpy ride, your puppy may vomit.
Make Him Feel Safe. A little home away from home will make your new puppy feel safer. Whether that means a small car kennel or a simple cardboard box or crate, this will give your puppy the security of a den. Your new friend will be protected from all sides and there is little-to-no chance that he will use the bathroom in your car seat. Be sure to layer the bottom of the box with a light towel so that he is comfortable and not sliding around as you turn corners.
Bring Some Help. If you can, it helps to bring another family member or a friend. You'll be able to devote your attention to the drive while your family member can tend to any puppy needs.
Drive Slowly. Take your time on the ride home. Make it a stress-free ride as best as you can. No yelling at other drivers! Put on some soft music and enjoy the first day of your life together with your new family member.
Consider the Length of the Trip. How long will the drive home be? Will your new puppy need water along the way? If so, bring a bottle of water and a bowl you can use.
Consider Your Puppy's Size. While tiny puppies can be scooped up and carried into your house or for a bathroom break on longer car rides, larger puppies may need a puppy halter or leash.
posted by Paris and John @ 7:32 PM
Helping Your Dog and Your Cat Get Along
Will your new dog like your cat ... and visa versa?
The way in which a dog reacts to a cat can vary. Some dogs will immediately perceive a cat as prey and will do everything they can to chase the cat. Other dogs will be less aggressive and more on the curious side towards the animal. This curiosity can turn into play or aggression, which depends on the way the cat responds to the dog. The dog may want to play at first but the cat may feel threatened, become defensive, and start acting aggressively. This can trigger and provoke the dog's own aggression.
Then there are dogs who seem to fall in love at first glance when they see a cat. They are relaxed when in the cat's presence and view the animal as the ultimate play toy. Hopefully the cat will respond in the same manner and there will be no problems between them.
Rules Of The Introduction
The manner in which you introduce the two animals can mean the difference between a long-lasting relationship or aggression and injury to one of them. Your goal during this introductory period is to help both animals become familiar with one just a little bit at a time. Friendship between a cat and a dog depends upon friendly familiarity.
Plan to supervise. Always be on your guard for the cat's protection and safety. When you can't supervise, separate the two until you can return home. The length of this introduction phase can vary. Sometimes cats and dogs can become best friends in a matter of days, while other situations could take weeks or even months before the animals start tolerating each other.
You must be willing to put in the time in order to babysit these meetings for however long it takes. It may go fast or it may move at a snails pace. Either way, your responsibility in guiding the animals together and maintaining the peace is key to a successful friendship.
The introduction between a cat and a dog can best be broken down into the following steps:
Step 1: When you first bring home the new dog (or, later, a new cat), confine each of them to a specific area of the house where they cannot see one another. They'll be able to smell and hear each other without seeing each other. The new guy gets used to this new living area while the resident pet is safely confined.
Step 2: During this time apart, grab an old towel or T-shirt and rub it all over the new dog. Then take the towel and bring it into the room where your cat is. Place the towel next to the cat so that she can get used to the new dog's scent. This is the first step in getting each animal used to one another.
Step 3: Continue this arrangement about an hour or two then switch up the scene. Place each animal in the room where the other was at beforehand, and be sure to give a scented towel to the new dog, with the cat's scent.
Step 4: Next create a positive association with one another by having each animal on different sides of a closed door. Place some treats or pet food for both of them next to the door. The goal is to get each animal to enjoy their food while knowing they're close to one another. This starts a positive association between the joy of food and knowing that both pets are doing something fun while sensing each other's presence.
Step 5: Continue with this arrangement until you notice that the animals are less curious about sniffing each other from underneath the door. Your next move during this introduction period is to allow each animal to see one another, but still being divided by a gate or screen door. There may be some initial tension which will eventually subside through treats and petting of both animals.
Step 6: Once they are both calm and relaxed, slowly allow more interaction.You can bring them both into the same room, but keep your dog on a leash while you sit on the couch. The cat will approach your dog at its own pace.If your dog becomes overly excited, a quick spritz of water is plenty for discipline. Your job is to prevent your dog from creating the habit of becoming excited and wanting to chase the cat. And the cat must come to understand that the dog will not harass it.
posted by Paris and John @ 7:00 PM
