{"id":2251,"date":"2020-01-15T11:38:55","date_gmt":"2020-01-15T11:38:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thegooddogguide.com\/blog\/?p=2251"},"modified":"2024-04-17T09:00:57","modified_gmt":"2024-04-17T09:00:57","slug":"the-truth-about-puppies-they-steal-your-heart-and-drive-you-mad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thegooddogguide.com\/blog\/the-truth-about-puppies-they-steal-your-heart-and-drive-you-mad\/","title":{"rendered":"The Truth About Puppies \u2013 They Steal Your Heart And Drive You Mad"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Having a new puppy, particularly if you\u2019re a first-time fur parent is so exciting.  Your puppy is the cutest little fluff ball on the planet and there is nothing you wouldn\u2019t do and nothing you wouldn\u2019t buy for your little bundle of delight. And boy are there plenty of things to buy; the best fluffy beds, top of the range food and drink bowls, toys, chews, some people even like to dress their pets in little outfits, and now this little bundle of fluff has stolen your heart It\u2019s all fun fun fun \u2013 isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Puppies\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Or do you feel that it might have been easier if your puppy had come with a warning  \u201cwill chew your shoes, rip your belongings, wail loudly all night long or screech for hours every time you go out\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And why did no one tell you that you\nwould soon be wondering how something so small could make so much noise and\nmess, behave like its being murdered each time you try to take it out to\ntoilet, and then produce enough poo and pee to sink a battleship when after\nwhat felt like hours in the freezing cold, defeated and deflated, you bring it\nback indoors, or how it can wriggle backwards at the speed of light when you\ntry to attach collar and leash to go for a walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And what happened to all those who promised to always walk the pup forever and ever if only you would let them have him\/her?  The family who said they would take turns to feed and walk the pup?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well you are not alone \u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember when one of my pup first arrived, I soon learned that initial excitement can quickly give way to frustration, I can clearly remember being so delighted that my boy Beau had learned to get upstairs all by himself that I squealed with delight \u2013 I squealed again some days later when I went upstairs and found the huge brown pool of diarrhoea that spread all across my beautiful mint green carpet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And believe me when I tell you that\nthere is not an alarm clock on the planet that gets you out of bed faster than\nbeing woken from a deep sleep by the sound of a retching puppy, only for you to\nstep into a pool of slimy frothy vomit \u2013 how did all of that come out of\nsomething so small?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So whether it’s your first or your fifth, each pup is as different and individual as we are, so the chances are that the new puppy journey you have just embarked upon will have much to teach you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To begin with think of your pup as a\ntoddler who has no concept of right or wrong and you are the parent who has to\nteach them everything from potty training, walking on a leash, socialising and\nbeing well mannered \u2013 seems daunting at first doesn\u2019t it?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As puppyhood is the most important\ntime for learning, I\u2019d like to share a few tips that helped me with my pups and\nmay help you in those first few months together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IN GENERAL<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always try to have a calm but assertive approach when you\u2019re when dealing with your pup, the aim is to provide positive, gentle and reward-based training.  Don\u2019t get upset if your pup doesn\u2019t \u201cget it\u201d straight away or if he\/she does something wrong or has a little accident now and then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though there will be times when you may feel convinced that he\/she is doing it deliberately to get on your nerves \u2013 believe me, they really don\u2019t know any better at this stage so be patient as it takes time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A crate can be an invaluable tool particularly when potty training as it provides your pup with a secure area whilst you are busy.  If your pup is reluctant to go in at first,  persuade him\/her by using a Kong with some natural peanut butter, (but make sure it doesn\u2019t contain xylitol as this is a sweetener that is dangerous to dogs). Always praise your pup when it gets something right or does something you asked it to do. Don\u2019t, however, leave your pup in the crate for too long as this can cause other issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A baby gate will also help to keep your pup out of areas that may be dangerous or simply \u201coff-limits\u201d, this will teach your pup what areas he\/she is allowed to go into or not, and will help provide a safe area for your pup to play in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your pup cries all night \u2013 I won\u2019t lie, I never had this problem because I always took my babies upstairs and they slept in my room until they decided to go elsewhere to sleep.  I know this is not an option for everyone and I\u2019ve heard of lots of different things to try, old fashioned alarm clocks have a soothing ticking sound that is said to help the puppy sleep.  An old piece of your unwashed clothing to snuggle into or a teddy bear to cuddle with \u2013 it really is all trial and error.  Your pup will sleep when it feels safe, warm and protected \u2013 its for you to find that place so that you can all get some sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teach your pup the command \u201ceyes on\nme\u201d this is a great way of getting your dogs attention during training\nespecially if they are easily distracted by other things around them in the big\noutside world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also teaching your pup to \u201cgo to\nyour mat\u201d is a good way to prevent them from running and barking in a frenzy\nevery time someone arrives at the front door and will save you from receiving\nthose embarrassing postcards from the post office telling you that your dogs\nbehaviour is upsetting the postman \u2013 yes I\u2019ve had them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do avoid giving in to things now that will lead to problem behaviour later on, no matter how cute that little face is. For example, don\u2019t let your pup jump up at people when they visit. Though this seems so cute now, once the dog is grown it may not be so acceptable \u2013 I have lost count of the times I have been knocked into someone’s flower bed by an overexcited dog running out and jumping up to greet me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always make sure to distract your\ndog with something acceptable like a toy or a treat when you want to change\ntheir behaviour instead of just telling them off when they get it wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enrolling into a puppy training or\nobedience group is a great idea,  but make sure to attend a proper class\nwhere all the other dogs are up to date with their vaccinations.  It\u2019s\nnever too early to start training as it provides both mental and physical\nstimulation. It will not only help them to learn some manners but also help\nthem to socialise with other dogs and help prevent difficult or dangerous\nsituations from developing in the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Training with your pup will help you\ndevelop a firm bond and provide you with a better understanding of what\nmotivates him\/her so that you can continue training accordingly.  Puppies\njust want to please you so this is a golden opportunity for you to show them\nhow. Always be consistent and always be gentle, there is no place or excuse for\nany negative behaviour towards your pup.  They will take time to learn,\nthey will make mistakes, and if they are anything like my boy Beau, they will\nembarrass you further by cocking a leg and peeing over the pup next to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CHEWING <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I get asked a lot about unwanted behaviours such as chewing and barking, and I\u2019ve had a lot of personal experience of both behaviours with my girl Lola. In just one day she chewed my handbag to pieces, chewed the door frame and ate my husband\u2019s library book so I know how frustrating it can be.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are lots of reasons why dogs\nchew but if a pup or very young dog is into this, its a strong indication that\nthey are teething.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dog<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A good way of coping with this is to use a Kong or something similar and place some frozen peanut butter or other goodies into it and give that to the dog or simply buy toys and ropes of various textures so that your pup can chew on these \u2013 a word of warning, don\u2019t buy shoe-shaped chews, you know where it will lead to.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it has happened and you are quick\nenough to intercept your pup as it makes off with one of your best shoes, then\nsimply offer an alternative or a treat, once the pup drops the shoe say \u201cgood\nboy\/girl\u201d in a very excited voice (or at least a relieved voice), your pup will\nsoon get the idea but you must be consistent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your handbag or best shoe does fall casualty to your babies toofy pegs then you will have to write it off and learn your lesson that nothing is off-limits to a teething pup unless you make it so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the subject of teeth, a good habit to start at this stage is that of cleaning your babies teeth, do ask your vet for advice and use the smallest brush (not a human toothbrush) to begin with.  Tooth decay can cause a lot of medical problems particularly if you have a pup with a heart murmur as the decaying matter can make its way into the bloodstream and cause serious issues. A yearly check-up saves a lot of problems including a massive vet bill for a tooth removal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BARKING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is there anything worse than a dog\nthat won\u2019t stop barking?  Well yes I can think of a few, but constant barking\ncan drive the most loving pet owner up the wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, there are any number of\nreasons why dogs bark and not all of them are negative, remember this is also\nthe sound of the dogs own language.  It\u2019s the way the dog communicates\nwith others of its species or tells you when it wants something.  It can\nalso be an indication of fear, frustration or excitement as well as aggression\nor warning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dog<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How to deal with it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pups usually bark because they want\nsomething, are excited or simply because they have just found their voice and\nquite like the sound of it \u2013 after all its new to them.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, it’s a good idea to try some distraction tactics by engaging the pup with something else or by taking them for a short walk provided they are fully inoculated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 If the pup is barking because someone or something new has arrived in front of them, it could be an indication of fear. The pup will look to you for security so stay calm and tell them that it’s okay and provide them with comfort.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always seek to reassure the pup\nuntil you can ascertain what has caused the barking \u2013 remember how you deal\nwith this now sets the scene for the future.  Never ever shout at the pup\nbecause this will only make matters worse and could create issues that prove\ndifficult to deal with in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Socialisation and training are key here, introduce your pup to many different situations, places and people as possible.  People with glasses, hats, beards, tall people, short people and loud people, children and other dogs \u2013 though always supervise the latter two carefully and never leave a tiny pup alone with small children until they have learned to handle the pup with respect and gentleness.  Always have treats on hand to reward your pup in new circumstances and never be afraid to tell other dog owners to back off if their dog gets a bit rough or overexcited with your pup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

POTTY TRAINING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a biggie for a lot of new puppy owners, here are a few tips that helped me stay sane not only with pups but also with adult rescue dogs I\u2019ve adopted who weren\u2019t potty trained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, be prepared for accidents,\nyour pup will get it wrong and so will you.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pup is not out to make your life a misery but do try to see things from their point of view some of the time \u2013 would you really like to go pee-pee in the freezing cold dark night or when it’s lashing down with rain?  You will get stressed, the pup will get stressed and the moment you step back indoors the pup will pee !!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose a particular area where you want your pup to toilet and take the pup out on a regular basis, particularly after meals and before bedtime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the first few months, and if your\npup is small enough, carry it to the designated area so that it gets the\nmessage that this is where you want it to toilet, reinforce this by saying\nsomething like \u201cwee wee\u201d so that your pup associates the place and\nthe words with the action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use positive reinforcement, so that\neach time your pup does a pee or poo say \u201cgood boy\/girl\u201d in an excited tone of\nvoice and provide a treat.  The pup will soon learn that it will be\nrewarded each time it goes to that place to pee or poo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your pup has an accident  \u2013\nand it will \u2013 ignore this, clean it up and say nothing. Use a disinfectant that\nremoves the smell as well as cleans or your pup will keep going to toilet\nthere. Pets at Home have several good brands that will remove the odour and\ndisinfect the floor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never hit, shout or rub the pup’s nose in the mess \u2013 this is abuse and serves no purpose other than to terrify the pup and delay or prevent the training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember it really is on you if your\npup keeps going to toilet in the house and you need to increase your pups trips\noutside, never scold the pup for your mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your pup is very slow to toilet\ntrain or continually relapses, seek advice from your vet and get your pup\nexamined in case there is an underlying infection or problem.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, you can get (human) adult-sized disposable incontinence sheets from Amazon, that you can put down on the floor \u2013 they saved my sanity during some difficult times with my rescue dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When out walking in public areas, always pick up after your dog, it is an offence not to do so and you can be fined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MORE GENERAL INFORMATION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Puppies need lots of naps, it’s essential for them to grow so don\u2019t be surprised at how much they nap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exercise your pup, but not too much\ntoo soon and only take them outside once they are fully inoculated, seek\nguidance from your vet if you are unsure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially avoid taking your little\npup into big shops or places where lots of other dogs go, parvovirus, other\ndiseases and parasites can last a long time in areas that are not properly cleaned\nor where people have not picked up after their adult dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try to get your pup used to being handled, particularly around their face, feet, legs etc as this will help the pup cope with being handled on future visits to the vet and the groomer.  Always handle with care and gentleness and never allow children to \u201cplay\u201d with your pup \u2013 remember they are only babies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get your pup used to travelling by\ncar as soon as you can, this will help them with any travel sickness issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ensure that everything your pup\nneeds, such as beds and feeding bowls are in low traffic or quieter areas of\nthe home so that they are not disturbed by lots of noise or people coming in\nand out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEPARATION ANXIETY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does your pup cry, whine or bark\nexcessively when you leave the room or the house for any length of time, or\ndestroy and chew things up when you are not there?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This could well be separation\nanxiety.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before your pup came to you it lived\nwith its mum and siblings and there was always someone to go to for comfort,\nfood or whatever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now this beautiful pup has left its\nfamily behind and lives with you and your family, your pup doesn\u2019t understand\neverything in this strange new environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t be with your pup all of the time, you have to go out for whatever reason and the pup can\u2019t always go with you. Now for some pups, this is no issue as they will use this time to catch up on much-needed sleep. However, for others, this will become a time of distress and worry that, if not addressed, can escalate to the point where the young dog damages its home or itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Separation anxiety is a complex\nsituation that can require the advice and help of a suitably qualified person\nand in extreme situations may never be fully resolved.  Unfortunately,\nmany dogs who suffer from this often find themselves put up for adoption or\nsimply abandoned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The treatment of separation anxiety\nrequires a consistent approach and can initially feel distressing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may need to start with placing distance between you and the pup or young dog in order to reduce its dependency upon you.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By simply ignoring your pup just\nprior to departure and again on return some cases can correct themselves\nwithout further intervention.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, some cases are more\ndifficult to deal with because the pup is very needy and its relationship with\nyou creates real distress when you are not there and the pup is left\nalone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In such cases you may need to lessen\nthe bond with the pup by cooling the overall relationship, stroking less or\ngetting someone else to feed  or take on things like walking and visits to\nthe vet so that the pup gets used to other people in its life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crating the pup may help to a\ncertain extent but this should always be a short term solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Providing sufficient exercise\nthroughout the day coupled with obedience training and mock departures to help\ndesensitise or diffuse the situation may also help to calm the pup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Providing an alternative stimulus such as leaving the television on or providing an acceptable object to chew can also help the pup to remain calm when you are out if all else fails the dog may require medical intervention, but that should always be a last resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doggie daycare in an environment with a limited amount of other dogs is another way of dealing with long term issues as the pup or young dog gets one to one attention but also has the opportunity to enjoy the company and comfort of others \u2013 always ensure all the dogs get on with each other before making this a permanent thing.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Large dog daycare facilities should be avoided until the pup is old enough to cope with it otherwise you could be swapping one type of anxiety for another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ONE LAST THING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answer to most things is time,\nlove and patience by the bucket load so enjoy every minute of your adventure\nwith your pup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHERE WE COME IN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scamps and Champs Cardiff provide a whole range of individually tailored pet care services.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can step in when you need to step out \u2013 providing support, company, feeding and cleaning, dog walking, puppy visits or visits to the vet and groomers \u2013 in fact, anything your pup needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can also provide daycare for your pup or young dog in carefully selected environments where they can continue both their training and daily routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here in Cardiff we are open seven\ndays a week and cover bank holidays so why not give us a call?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ring: 0333 200 5827<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or Email us at: cardiff@scampsandchamps.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Article Supplied.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Having a new puppy, particularly if you\u2019re a first-time fur parent is so exciting.  Your puppy is the cutest little fluff ball on the planet and there is nothing you wouldn\u2019t do and nothing you wouldn\u2019t buy for your little bundle of delight. And boy are there plenty of things to buy; the best fluffy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2252,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dog-training-behaviour","category-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thegooddogguide.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2251","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thegooddogguide.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thegooddogguide.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegooddogguide.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegooddogguide.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2251"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegooddogguide.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2251\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3534,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegooddogguide.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2251\/revisions\/3534"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegooddogguide.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2252"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thegooddogguide.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegooddogguide.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegooddogguide.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}