Becoming a Puppy Parent

Becoming a Puppy Parent

­­­­­­ There is great joy in getting a new puppy. Many people will choose a breed of dog based on their temperament as an adult. Some breeds, like Border Collies, spend their lives constantly on the go and don’t want to sit still for a minute, while other breeds, like Bulldogs, prefer to spend their time hanging out or lazing in the backyard.  Despite how calm a dog is supposed to be as an adult, a puppy is still a puppy.  Having a puppy in the house is tantamount to having a two-year-old child.  They chew, jump, bark, scratch, relieve themselves in the house, and generally have no manners to speak of.   

I became a new puppy parent on June 1^st 2017.  My new little fur baby is a Whippet named Tali, and I love her to bits.  With puppy love also comes many sleepless nights, early mornings, and what can be a great deal of frustration, much like a new born baby.  For the first week of being a new puppy parent it was late nights of listening to Tali cry in her kennel before falling asleep and 4 am mornings to go outside for a pee.  Having gotten a new job the same week as my new pup I was physically and mentally exhausted.  This is the life of a new puppy owner. 

The most important factors in ensuring a puppy becomes a well-behaved dog are supervision, consistency, supervision, positive reinforcement, supervision, socialization, supervision, exercise, and, of course supervision. It is a good rule of thumb, with a puppy, to assume that if you cannot see them, they are getting into trouble somewhere. 

A puppy will decide if it can put something in its mouth by putting said item in its mouth.  It is very important to ensure your puppy has plenty of appropriate toys to chew on.  Rubber bones, balls, and the all famous Kong are some of the best toys for your young pup.

After a few weeks of great patience and perseverance those 4 am mornings slowly turned into 8am mornings and late nights became peaceful bed times.  For tips and tricks on how to raise a puppy call your local Etobicoke vet at 416-245-8805.