Help! I'm Getting a Puppy

By Erica Daniel

The aim of this booklet is to provide the reader with vital information on puppy development and practical guidelines on how to avoid common behavior problems in puppies and dogs. In this practical manual, with easy to find pointers and guidelines, and with in depth information on the “why” of each statement, the reader will be equipped with the knowledge to be able to make an informed decision when getting a puppy.
The first half of the manual covers the first 0-8 weeks of a puppy’s life, and what SHOULD have happened during this time. This will enable a prospective owner to ask the right questions, and to understand the signs look out for when choosing a puppy.
The aim of the first half is to help a prospective owner make an informed decision when choosing their puppy.
The second half of the manual covers the age of 8 weeks to about 6-8 months. A puppy goes through several very clear-cut phases during these few months. Understanding and preparing for these phases will enable an owner to educate and socialize their puppy so as to help it reach its full potential.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Erica Daniel
• Release date: Apr 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310525377

Erica Daniel

I live just out of town in a beautiful area with my husband, 2 dogs and 3 cats, in a "bushveld" area near Kruger National Park. I'm very interested in how businesses work, and am planning to do more bookkeeping consulting work in the near future. In my spare time I give the puppy classes for Lowveld Dog Training, private dog training lessons, and spend as much time as possible furthering the training of my own dog: Shadow. At present we are working on her tracking skills for possible search and rescue work in the future.

Book preview

Help!

I’m Getting a Puppy

Vital Information on Puppy Development.

Practical Guidelines on How to Avoid Common Behavioural Problems.

Compiled by Erica Daniel

Copyright 2016 Erica Daniel

All Rights Reserved.

Published by Erica Daniel at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Cover Photo: Compliments of Philip Daniel, Copyright Philip Daniel

This work is dedicated to:

My husband Philip – for all your support and encouragement;

My dog, Shadow, who with her high energy and drive and keen intelligence has challenged me during her puppyhood;

All at Lowveld Dog Training, for sticking to your belief that the needs of the dog should always come first, and for your support every step of the way;

The owners who have brought their puppies to my puppy classes: thanks to you I have seen the need for accessible, practical information. You and your puppies have taught me more than you will ever realize!

If this booklet, by helping people to understand their puppies, can prevent just one difficult six month old pup from being left at an animal shelter, all my learning will not have been in vain.

What is man without the beasts?

If all the beasts were gone, man would die from a great loneliness of spirit.

For whatever happens to the beasts, also happens to the man.

- Chief Seattle

Contents

Overview of Puppy Age and Development

Introduction

The meaning of Alpha / Pack Leader

Developmental Deadlines

Part 1: Help! I’m getting a puppy

A puppy’s first 8 weeks in brief

Adopting a puppy: questions for self

Questions for the breeder

A puppy’s development from birth

Breeding facility example (Monks of New Skete)

Bringing your puppy home

Things your puppy will need

Part 2: Help! I’ve got a puppy

To Do list of Urgent things

Socialization

Bite Inhibition

Chew toy training

House training

The Recall

Puppy School

Structure

How does a dog learn?

How to crate/playpen train your puppy

Separation anxiety prevention

Part 3: Veterinary Information

Deworming & Vaccination Schedules

Sterilization

Bibliography

Addendum 1: Reading your dog’s pedigree

About the Author

Overview of Puppy Age & Development

(always check specific details with your vet)

2 Weeks: 1st deworming

Suckling from mother

Eyes starting to open - takes 3-4 days

Still deaf

3 Weeks: Suckling from mother

Hearing starts

Takes first steps

4 Weeks: 2nd deworming

Starting to walk, play with siblings

Starting to wean & learning to lap

6 Weeks: 1st vaccination

3rd deworming

First teeth appear (pups have 28, adults 42)

Learning to bark, wag tail, scratch

8 Weeks: 4th deworming

Ideal age to go to new home

10 Weeks: 2nd vaccination

Starts to lose milk teeth at 2-3 months, and get permanent teeth until approximately 9 months of age

12 Weeks: 1st rabies vaccination (sometimes given with the 2nd vaccination)

14 Weeks: 3rd and last vaccination (booster recommended in one year)

16 Weeks: 2nd rabies vaccination - 4 weeks after the 1st rabies (boosters required yearly in many places)

Introduction

A few years ago we got a rescue puppy - her rescuers had named her Titania. She was about