Duration - 51 mins
Nothing beats the joy a puppy can bring to your life. But with that joy comes responsibility. Whether you have a pedigree or a mixed breed, the same general rules apply when caring for your pet.
With advice from our experts we’ll take you through all the necessary steps to ensure that your puppy grows up to become a healthy, well behaved and much loved addition to your family.
This indispensable, puppy packed DVD, has twenty chapters full of useful advice, covering :
* Breed Differences
* Sex Differences
* Choosing Your Puppy
* Puppy Proofing
* Establishing Good Habits
* The Importance of Socialisation
* How Dogs Learn
* Puppy Pens
* Barking
* Basic Equipment
* House Training
* Puppy Classes
* Puppy Health
* Pet Insurance
* Teeth Care
* Exercise
* Identification
* Neutering
* Grooming
* Feeding
Like people, all puppies have different personalities and no two are exactly the same. For this reason, owners of new puppies or dogs will have to take time to get to know them, to build trust and to discover what actually motivates them.
If you have a mixed breed puppy, you should try to think about what possible breeds of dog are in their background. This might give you clues as to what your puppy will be good at, and some of the problems that might occur in the future.
If your puppy has some working dog background, you’ll need to decide if you can provide the stimulation and attention it’ll require.
It’s a common misconception that clever breeds need less training, so think carefully when choosing a puppy.
There’s also a belief that mixed breed puppies are always easier, and have less problems than pedigree puppies, but the reality depends on what breeds have come together in your puppy, what its early months were like and how much training it’s had.
Your puppy will show features of the breeds that have made it, and you need to be able to provide for all its needs.
Whether your mixed breed puppy is large or small he will need training from an early age.
Be honest with yourself about your own situation, and choose a puppy to match your lifestyle.
As a puppy owner you’ll often hear about certain terms such as ‘socialisation’ and ‘habituation’. But what do these really mean?
Socialisation is the process where your puppy learns to interact and cope with people, puppies and other animals. Habituation is where your puppy familiarises with objects, places and sounds. Both these processes are often grouped together.
Puppies start learning about their world at a very early age. As soon as they can move about they are taking in information about their environment. As their eyes open and they become more mobile, they start to familiarise with objects, sounds and people.
Socialising your puppy properly lays down the foundation for the way he’ll behave for the rest of his life. So it’s important to get it right from the start.
Up to about 9 weeks of age puppies are extra sensitive to learning about new events. So it’s very important to choose a breeder who’s had plenty of time to handle the puppy, and to expose him to household events and new people. Good rescue shelters have staff and volunteers who make sure to handle the pups in their care.
Once your puppy has come home and had a chance to settle, you should begin socialising in earnest. People believe they can’t take their puppy out until it’s had it’s vaccinations. However, if you carry your puppy, it can meet new people and known vaccinated dogs while experiencing the sights and sounds of the outdoor world. Take your puppy on short car journeys and pop round to see friends and family. All new experiences must be positive for your puppy so take your time and never force him to do something he’s unsure about.
Even if you have another dog at home you’ll still need to introduce him to other dogs, so he can learn to cope well and doesn’t simple become attached to one individual. After all it’s easier for him to interact in his own language rather than having to learn yours.
If you do own another dog please make sure your puppy spends more time with you than it does with the other dog. Otherwise, your puppy is likely to become more focused on your original dog and less interested in you for social interactions and training.
By learning as much as you can about your puppy you’ll ensure he grows up to become a happy, healthy and much loved addition to your family.