Good Dog Article
originally authored by our Trainer

"Puppy Yuletide: Make Sure the Gift is the Right One"

“Gee, what can I get sis for Christmas? She has just about everything she needs. Wait, I know; I’ll surprise her with a cute little puppy! She’ll just LOVE that!!”

Or will she? There is nothing quite as cute as a young puppy, and many people with good hearts, good intentions, but not-so-good forethought, will surprise someone on Christmas morning with a little bundle of furry joy. But that joy can turn quickly if the person getting the puppy didn’t really want one or was not ready. Now sis has to make a major decision and, if she decides to keep the pup, a major commitment–like 10-15 years.

For the bearer of the gift, there are some important things to remember. First and foremost, steer clear of getting a puppy from a pet store, for more reasons than I can go into here. But if you look up mill breeders online, you’ll learn the horrors of where these pups come from and the associated health and behavioral problems. Also, do not get a puppy before it is 7 weeks old. No reputable breeder will let a puppy go before that, anyway. Crucial socialization and skills are taught to these young pups by their mom and siblings during that time.

All that taken care of? Well then Merry Christmas, sis! You now have a new member of the family. So, what should you do now? First, if you have not researched the particular breed, start doing so at the library or online. If you got a mixed breed and can be fairly certain what it’s mixed with, read a little on each type. Crate-training or kenneling the pup is all-important. This promotes bladder control and gives the puppy a warm, safe place to be when you are not teaching the rules of the house. If you cannot eagle-eye your new pup, meaning watching it like a hawk, put it in its crate. This will make for less accidents or mishaps.
Puppy-proof your house; that means removing anything that’s within reach of your puppy’s mouth. In each room, make sure you show it what it can and cannot touch. Electrical cords are one of puppy’s favorite playthings; they also can be very dangerous. The puppy must be shown what is right and wrong behavior inside the house. Be sure to give it the RIGHT things to chew on. Believe me, if given the wrong toys to chew, such as an old shoe, you are setting up that dog to chew ALL shoes they can get their mouths on. That means that new pair of Italian leathers you just slipped off in the living room.

Talk with a trainer and sign them up for a puppy kindergarten class. A consultation with a professional trainer can also help get the puppy oriented to your home with fewer headaches for you and fewer scoldings for the puppy. Once it has its rounds of shots, take your puppy everywhere you go. If you do have the pup at 7 weeks and they only have one round of shots, carry the pup around as you go to the store, friend’s houses, etc. The positive experience gained and the exposure will make a well-balanced, confident dog. Be very careful of the fear-imprinting period. This is between 8-12 weeks old. Any trauma, real or perceived, by this young pup will stay with it for life. Trying to convince a dog that its puppyhood fear is not realistic is almost impossible, so be careful.

Remember, a puppy is like a human infant in a lot of ways: it tires easily, it needs food two to three times a day, and it must be taken out to go potty every hour to ensure quick learning. When created, a puppy should not be asked to hold it for more that 6-8 hours. That mean if you’re gone from the house more than that, you need to get a friend, family member or neighbor to let the pup out in the middle of the day before you get home. If that can’t happen, you don’t need to have a dog right now. Like I said, commitment.

Life for dogs nowadays is much different than it was years ago. We have learned that dogs should be integrated into the house more than being left outside. It does not mean that they never go out; but when you’re inside, that’s where they’d prefer to be. This helps stem the boredom problems that can exist outside as well, such as excessive barking, hole digging, chewing parts of the house or their dog house, running the fence and fence-raging, and dangers from passers-by who might think it fun to tease or bait dogs on the other side of the fence.

If you are lucky enough to get a puppy for Christmas and WANT a puppy for Christmas, I hope you will enjoy your new friend for a long, long time. The last thing we need is more dogs in our shelters and pounds. Be a responsible dog owner. Know the joy of owning a Good Dog, and you will have a happy, healthy relationship for years to come. Happy Holidays!

Diane Sullivan is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer and owner of Good Dog Training Center & Doggie Resort in Rio Rancho. If you have an unruly pooch, or just a few training questions, she can be reached at 505-896-4567.