Wootinhille Terriers
Bringing Your Puppy Home
Use the information in this section to prepare your home and family for life with your new puppy.
The Supplies You Need
Before you bring your puppy home, be sure you have the following supplies:
1.
Premium pet food to get your new puppy off to a good start. I recommend Iams Puppy Food.
Premium pet food to get your new puppy off to a good start. I recommend Iams Puppy Food.2.Stainless steel, non-tip food and water bowls.
Stainless steel, non-tip food and water bowls. 3.Identification tags with your puppy's name, your name, phone number and your veterinarian's name and phone number. A collar and a leather or nylon 6-foot leash that's 1/2 - 3/4 inches wide (consider using a "breakaway" collar with plastic clips that will unsnap in case your puppy gets hung up on something).
Identification tags with your puppy's name, your name, phone number and your veterinarian's name and phone number. A collar and a leather or nylon 6-foot leash that's 1/2 - 3/4 inches wide (consider using a "breakaway" collar with plastic clips that will unsnap in case your puppy gets hung up on something). 4.A home and travel crate that's airline approved and will accommodate your puppy's adult size. This crate will serve as your puppy's new "den" at home, when traveling or riding to the veterinarian's office. His scent in the crate will provide comfort and a sense of security during these stressful times.
A home and travel crate that's airline approved and will accommodate your puppy's adult size. This crate will serve as your puppy's new "den" at home, when traveling or riding to the veterinarian's office. His scent in the crate will provide comfort and a sense of security during these stressful times. 5.Stain remover for accidental soilings.
Stain remover for accidental soilings. 6.Brushes and combs suited to your puppy's coat; ask your veterinarian or breeder about an appropriate brush or comb for your dog.
Brushes and combs suited to your puppy's coat; ask your veterinarian or breeder about an appropriate brush or comb for your dog. 7.Dog shampoo, toothbrush and paste.
Dog shampoo, toothbrush and paste. 8.High-quality, safe chew toys to ease teething.
High-quality, safe chew toys to ease teething. 9.Flea, tick and parasite controls.
Flea, tick and parasite controls. 10.Nail clippers.
Nail clippers. 11.Treats
Treats Helpful Hints
•Use stainless steel, non-tip food bowls, which won't break or absorb odors.
Use stainless steel, non-tip food bowls, which won't break or absorb odors. •Toys with parts that squeak or whistle can be dangerous if swallowed.
Toys with parts that squeak or whistle can be dangerous if swallowed. •For a comfortable collar fit, allow for two-fingers of space between the collar and your dog's neck; consider using an an adjustable collar.
For a comfortable collar fit, allow for two-fingers of space between the collar and your dog's neck; consider using an an adjustable collar. Making a Home Safe
To make your home safe for your new puppy, eliminate potential hazards around the house and pay attention to the following items:
•Keep breakable objects out of reach.
Keep breakable objects out of reach. •Deny access to electrical cords by hiding or covering them; make outlets safe with plastic outlet plugs.
Deny access to electrical cords by hiding or covering them; make outlets safe with plastic outlet plugs. •Safely store household chemicals.
Safely store household chemicals. •Keep the following house and garden plants out of reach: poinsettias, azaleas, rhododendrons, dumb cane, Japanese yew, oleander and English ivy among others.
Keep the following house and garden plants out of reach: poinsettias, azaleas, rhododendrons, dumb cane, Japanese yew, oleander and English ivy among others. •In the garage, be sure engine lubricants and other poisonous chemicals (especially antifreeze) are safely stored.
In the garage, be sure engine lubricants and other poisonous chemicals (especially antifreeze) are safely stored. •If you own a pool or hot tub, check the cover or the surrounding fence to be sure they're in good condition.
If you own a pool or hot tub, check the cover or the surrounding fence to be sure they're in good condition. •If you provide your puppy with an outdoor kennel, place it in an area that provides sun and shelter in the pen; be sure the kennel is large enough to comfortably accommodate your puppy's adult size.
If you provide your puppy with an outdoor kennel, place it in an area that provides sun and shelter in the pen; be sure the kennel is large enough to comfortably accommodate your puppy's adult size. The First Days at Home
The ideal time to bring home a new puppy is when the house is quiet. Discourage friends from stopping by and don't allow overnight guests. First establish a daily routine and follow these steps:
Step 1: Before bringing him in the house, take him to the area in your yard that will serve as his "bathroom" and spend a few minutes there. If he goes, praise him. If not, proceed into the house but be sure to take him to this spot each time he needs to use the bathroom.
Step 2: Take him to the room that accommodates your crate—this restricted area will serve as his new "den" for several days. Put bedding and chew toys in the crate, leave the door open and line the area outside of the crate with newspaper, in case of an accident. Let him investigate the crate and the room. If he chews or urinates on his bedding, permanently remove it from the crate.
Step 3: Observe and interact with your puppy while he's acclimating to his new den. This will help forge a sense of pack and establish you as the pack leader.
Special Puppy Concerns
Don't treat a puppy as young as 6 to 12-weeks old like an adult dog. Treat him the same way you would your own infant: with patience, constant supervision and a gentle touch. The way you interact with your puppy at this age is critical to his socialization. Use these tips:
•Don't bring home a puppy while you're on vacation so you can spend a lot of time with him. Instead, acclimate him to your normal, daily routine.
Don't bring home a puppy while you're on vacation so you can spend a lot of time with him. Instead, acclimate him to your normal, daily routine. •Supervise your puppy at all times and interact with him regularly.
Supervise your puppy at all times and interact with him regularly. •Be alert for signs (sniffing and circling) that he has to go to the bathroom, then take him outside immediately.
Be alert for signs (sniffing and circling) that he has to go to the bathroom, then take him outside immediately. •A young puppy has no bladder control and will need to urinate immediately after eating, drinking, sleeping or playing. At night, he will need to relieve himself at least every three hours.
A young puppy has no bladder control and will need to urinate immediately after eating, drinking, sleeping or playing. At night, he will need to relieve himself at least every three hours. •Don't punish an accident. Never push his nose in the waste or scold him. He won't understand, and may learn to go to the bathroom when you're out of sight.
Don't punish an accident. Never push his nose in the waste or scold him. He won't understand, and may learn to go to the bathroom when you're out of sight. •Praise your puppy every time he goes to the bathroom outside.
Praise your puppy every time he goes to the bathroom outside. •Feed your puppy a formula designed for puppies. Like a baby, he needs nutritious, highly digestible food.
Feed your puppy a formula designed for puppies. Like a baby, he needs nutritious, highly digestible food. Meeting Resident Pets
Keep resident pets separated from your new puppy for a few days. After your new puppy is used to his new den area, put an expandable pet gate in the doorway or put your puppy in his crate. Give your resident pet access to the area. Let pets smell and touch each other through the crate or pet gate. Do this several times over the next few days. After that, give the resident pet access to the den area with your new puppy out of his crate. Supervise their meeting and go back to through-the-gate/crate meetings if trouble arises.
Tips for Housetraining Puppies
Housetraining
As with most things in life, there are hard ways and there are easy ways to get things done. Rubbing a puppy's nose in a mess is an inappropriate way to housetrain. Using ample amounts of supervision and positive reinforcement is the easy way.
Starting Off On the Right Track
The first course of action in housetraining is to promote the desired behavior. You need to:
•Designate an appropriate elimination area outdoors
Designate an appropriate elimination area outdoors •Frequently guide your dog there to do his business
Frequently guide your dog there to do his business •Heartily praise him when he goes
Heartily praise him when he goes By occasionally giving a food reward immediately after your dog finishes, you can encourage him to eliminate in the desired area. The odor left from previous visits to that area will quickly mark it as the place for the pup to do his business.
Timing Is Important!
A six- to eight-week old puppy should be taken outdoors every one to three hours. Older puppies can generally wait longer between outings. Most puppies should be taken out:
•After waking in the morning
After waking in the morning •After naps
After naps •After meals
After meals •After playing or training
After playing or training •After being left alone
After being left alone •Immediately before being put to bed
Immediately before being put to bed Eliminating On Command
To avoid spending a lot of time waiting for your puppy to get the job done, you may want to teach him to eliminate on command. Each time he is in the act of eliminating, simply repeat a unique command, such as "hurry up" or "potty", in an upbeat tone of voice. After a few weeks of training, you will notice that when you say the command your puppy will begin pre-elimination sniffing, circling, and then eliminate shortly after you give the command. Be sure to praise him for his accomplishments.
Feeding Schedules
Most puppies will eliminate within an hour after eating. Once you take control of your puppy's feeding schedule, you will have some control over when he needs to eliminate.
•Schedule your puppy's dinner times so that you will be available to let him out after eating.
Schedule your puppy's dinner times so that you will be available to let him out after eating. •Avoid giving your puppy a large meal just prior to confining him or he may have to eliminate when you are not around to take him out. Schedule feeding two to three times daily on a consistent schedule.
Avoid giving your puppy a large meal just prior to confining him or he may have to eliminate when you are not around to take him out. Schedule feeding two to three times daily on a consistent schedule. •Have food available for only 30 to 40 minutes, then remove it.
Have food available for only 30 to 40 minutes, then remove it. •The last feeding of the day should be completed several hours before he is confined for the night. By controlling the feeding schedule, exercise sessions, confinement periods, and trips outdoors to the elimination area, your puppy will quickly develop a reliable schedule for eliminating.
The last feeding of the day should be completed several hours before he is confined for the night. By controlling the feeding schedule, exercise sessions, confinement periods, and trips outdoors to the elimination area, your puppy will quickly develop a reliable schedule for eliminating. Expect Some Mistakes
Left on his own, the untrained puppy is very likely to make a mistake. Close supervision is a very important part of training. Do not consider your puppy housetrained until he has gone at least four consecutive weeks without eliminating in the house. For older dogs, this period should be even longer. Until then:
•Your puppy should constantly be within eyesight
Your puppy should constantly be within eyesight •Baby gates can be helpful to control movement throughout the house and to aid supervision
Baby gates can be helpful to control movement throughout the house and to aid supervision •Keep them in the crate when unsupervised.
Keep them in the crate when unsupervised. When you are away from home, sleeping, or if you are just too busy to closely monitor your pet's activities, confine him to a small, safe area in the home.
Nervous Wetting
If your puppy squats and urinates when he greets you, he may have a problem called submissive urination. Dogs and puppies that urinate during greetings are very sensitive and should never be scolded when they do this, since punishment inevitably makes the problem worse.
Most young puppies will grow out of this behavior if you are calm, quiet, and avoid reaching toward the head during greetings. Another helpful approach is to calmly ask your dog to sit for a very tasty treat each time someone greets him.
Direct Him Away from Problem Areas
Urine and fecal odor should be thoroughly removed to keep your dog from returning to areas of the home where he made a mess.
•Be sure to use a good commercial product manufactured specifically to clean up doggy odors. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for usage.
Be sure to use a good commercial product manufactured specifically to clean up doggy odors. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for usage. •If a carpeted area has been soaked with urine, be sure to saturate it with the clean up product and not merely spray the surface.
If a carpeted area has been soaked with urine, be sure to saturate it with the clean up product and not merely spray the surface. •Rooms in the home where your dog has had frequent mistakes should be closed off for several months. He should only be allowed to enter when accompanied by a family member.
Rooms in the home where your dog has had frequent mistakes should be closed off for several months. He should only be allowed to enter when accompanied by a family member. Don't Make Things Worse
It is a rare dog or puppy that can be housetrained without making an occasional mess, so you need to be ready to handle the inevitable problems.
•Do not rely on harsh punishment to correct mistakes. This approach usually does not work, and may actually delay training.
Do not rely on harsh punishment to correct mistakes. This approach usually does not work, and may actually delay training. •An appropriate correction consists of simply providing a moderate, startling distraction. You should only do this when you see your dog in the act of eliminating in the wrong place.
An appropriate correction consists of simply providing a moderate, startling distraction. You should only do this when you see your dog in the act of eliminating in the wrong place. •A sharp noise, such as a loud "No" or a quick stomp on the floor, is all that is usually needed to stop the behavior. Just do not be too loud or your pet may learn to avoid eliminating in front of you, even outdoors.
A sharp noise, such as a loud "No" or a quick stomp on the floor, is all that is usually needed to stop the behavior. Just do not be too loud or your pet may learn to avoid eliminating in front of you, even outdoors. Practice Patience
Do not continue to scold or correct your dog after he has stopped soiling. When he stops, quickly take him outdoors so that he will finish in the appropriate area and be praised.
Never rub your dog's nose in a mess. There is absolutely no way this will help training, and may actually make him afraid of you.
Success!
The basic principles of housetraining are pretty simple, but a fair amount of patience is required. The most challenging part is always keeping an eye on your active dog or puppy. If you maintain control, take your dog outdoors frequently, and consistently praise the desirable behavior, soon you should have a house trained canine companion.
Please call us with any questions
We are interested in helping with any concerns you may have and are happy to answer any questions that may arise about your puppy.
Susan Hawkins
Wootinhille Terriers
502-484-9025
