Here is an excellent link that discusses how to manage this transition.
https://www.clickertraining.com/what-to-expect-introducing-a-puppy-to-your-adult-dogs
I haven't delved into them, but there are lots of other dog training and problem solving articles in the Library on this website.
Some purchases that can help in welcoming your puppy to your home (check back as I may add to this list):
Bowl - Stainless bowls are easy to clean and hold up well. Plastic bowls can cause skin issues in some dogs. We like Durapet bowls.
Adaptil products - Mother dogs communicate with their puppies through natural messages released into the air. These "comforting messages“ are called Dog Appeasing Pheromones. These odorless messages are only perceived by dogs and provide a strong signal of security and comfort to dogs of all ages. I like the spray as it is versatile and can be sprayed in a kennel, on a bandanna etc. I don't use it frequently but use it for stressful events like vet visits, plane travel etc.
Harness - For young pups that are not leash broken, or in any situation you are worried that the dog may slip out of their collar in an unsafe environment, a harness can be a good option. For your young pup, a friend recently recommended the Puppia RiteFit Harness with Adjustable Neck.
Shampoo - Look for a good pet shampoo (don't use human products), as they are pH balanced for your dog's skin. Our favorite is MinkSheen Pet Shampoo. It is a concentrated (8:1) shampoo and conditioner made with mink oil for a soft, shiny, "show" quality coat with every bath. It is made with mild cleansers and a blend of essential oils that work like a cedar bed to leave pets smelling fresh. Other products we have used and like are Nature's Specialties products. Their Quick Relief Neem shampoo is a good Alternative to Pesticide Shampoo and is medicated, antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial used for relief of Ringworm, Hot Spots, Eczema and Dermatitis. we've used it when the dogs have gotten itchy after swimming. Their Plum Silky shampoo smells amazing and we've used both their Re-Moisturing and Sun-Guard conditioners on the dogs as well. Dynamic Duo Complete Shampoo and Moisturizing Conditioner in One is also a nice product.
Ex Pen - You will notice we have them all over in the house and on the patio. They are useful for confining a dog or pup, but allowing them a slightly larger area than a crate They can also be used like a fence to block access to areas you do not want your pup to go. The 24" version works well for puppies, but a slightly taller pen will allow you to use it when your pup is older too. I often expen my dogs at water trials so they have more room to move around (and I can bring less kennels as they can share the space), Some pups quickly learn to climb over and out, but lids are available to prevent that.
Chews - Bully sticks are our favorite for puppies. For economy, we sometimes buy the large sticks and cut them (with pruning shears) for make 6" chews for pups. We toss them when they are small enough for the pups ro potentially swallow and do not give to them unless supervised (chokng hazard). You could also look into getting a "bully buddy" for your bully sticks. The lickimat is a nice entertaining option for pups and dogs. We found a similar product on Amazon that looks a bit sturdier (Mozy Lick Puzzle). For unsupervised entertainment we suggest some of the West Paw products, specifically the Toppl. They have several other puzzle/treat options as well. Kong has a number of treat toy options also. We recommend having several of these on hand and stuffing them with various things. You can stuff your toy with something as simple as canned dog food or create a yummy blend like mashed sweet potato and yogurt. Here are some blends you can try: https://www.kongcompany.com/lets-play/recipes
Toys - You can't go too far wrong with any type of toy, as long as it is safe. The pups really seem to like toys that make a crinkling sound. Found toys like empty milk cartons or water bottles can be very entertaining. Tie a rope or fleece tug around the handle of your milk carton and it is even more fun! Cardboard boxes from the recyling are fun to shred.
Litter - This litter was litter box trained and it made things so much easier these last 5 weeks! For those of you that boat for extended periods of time, I would think it could be very helpful for your pup to retain the skill of "pottying" in a small and designated area. It can be tough to get pups to potty outside in the cold and rain when they are babies and this could be a way to ease that transition. We used both recycled paper litter and wood pellet litter for the pups and they did well with both. Nature's Specialties makes a House-breaking Potty Training spray that helps direct the pups to use the correct area.
Collars & Leashes - Your pup will come home with a collar & leash. When it needs replacing we like the soft nylon collars from White Pine outfitters or MesAmi for our dogs. They come in nice bright colors and the material will not damage or mat your dogs coat. When the pups are a little order, we especially like the soft slip/martingale style collars.
Food - A topic for another day. Your pup will come home with a 5 pound bag of Fromm puppy kibble. We also recommend that you feed as much raw food as you can, since we feel the dogs do better on it. Some good raw diets include Darwins, Primal, Northwest Naturals and Answers. We make a raw blend of our own for our dogs and we'll share that mix in the document that comes home with your pup. The pups were fed about 2/3 raw food meals and 1/3 kibble meals while with us. They got fresh snacks of raw sweet potato and asparagus and had add-ins of canned Mackerel or Salmon and pumpkin in some of their meals.
Flea Prevention - We've been lucky to have very few fleas issues. We prefer to use as little medication and chemicals on our dogs as possible and give a monthly dose of Lufenuron from a company called Little City Dogs during prime flea season. Lufenuron is an insect growth regulator that controls flea infestations in dogs. It does not kill fleas, but prevents flea eggs from hatching. If we find evidence of fleas on our dogs, we bathe the dogs to kill the fleas that are on them and the eggs they may have laid will not hatch out so the life cycle is broken. This may not be an agressive enough option for you depending on the area you are in. Lufenuron is found as a component product in other flea medications.
No comments:
Post a Comment