Puppy Parenting Kit
Congratulations!
You’ve finally zeroed down on and got your own bundle of joy home!
I genuinely hope it's not a teeny weeny that’s been separated from its
mom under 60 days. (That is going to mean a weaker immunity for the pup and
some sleepless nights for you)
Have you already succumbed to those big puppy eyes? Thinking to
yourself you want this one to have the best life you can give her?
Let’s help you get started with the furriest member of your
family.
1. Papers
Dikhao!
If you plan on having your dog give you little doggos in
the future, or if you intend to participate in dog shows, ensure that you ask
your breeder for papers.
These papers are basically proof that your dog is not a 'mixed'
breed. Technically, it proves that you have got yourself a purebred with the
whole relevant ancestral tree printed and certified by associations such as
INKC (Indian National Kennel Club) or KCI (Kennel Club of India). It also comes
with a tiny microchip with a number ID specific to your puppy (Printed on the
papers as well). This microchip needs to be inserted by your vet at a later
date if you want to go abroad with your dog or participate in shows, as that
chip serves as his Identity (Aadhar, if you must).
What if you do not want papers? That is also completely okay!
Microchips are available at a Vet also. So even if you do not get one from the
breeder, you can still move with your puppy if you ever need to. Your loyal
friend will never leave you.
For the most part, if you are looking only for a great
companion, the breed doesn’t really matter but if you need help finding out
which one might be compatible with your family, feel free to drop a comment.
2. Visit the Vet
It is always advisable to take your puppy to the Vet straight from the breeders.
Have them do a complete and thorough physical
examination. If there are any overt congenital defects, a Vet will be able to
tell. They will also be able to tell you if the puppy looks like its
potentially carrying any infections. If need be, your Vet may decide on putting
your little one on supplements. If you’ve chosen to bring home a boy, ask your
vet if the testicles have descended yet (keep an eye on those testicles!). A lot
of inbreeding has caused puppies to have testicles that do not descend, stay in
the abdomen, and can need surgical intervention later in life.
3. Lockdown Period
It’s her first week in her forever home. Exciting though it is, it’s not a very good idea to invite the whole building to meet her (especially not during this Pandemic).
Puppies are immunocompromised at this stage. A lot of handling, cuddling,
kissing can actually make them succumb to the virus, if at all they are
harbouring one.
Give her a week to get used to your house. To realise it’s her
home. To find her place in this new wolfpack.
Stick to the food routine that he’s been given all this while.
Don’t attempt to make any changes. (Except if its milk and bread. Milk and
bread is not puppy food.) Keep your eyes peeled in this week for signs of two
viruses that affect puppies and worry us the most. Distemper and Parvo.
Any greenish-yellow snort is a red flag for distemper. GO TO
VET.
Any watery motions that smell like sewage are a red flag for
Parvo. GO TO VET.
So your puppy’s first week at home is pretty much going to be
you looking out for illnesses while you struggle with toilet training.
4. What about food?
Puppies already are on some sort of food regimen from the
breeder itself. Stick to it for the first week and then your Vet will advise
you on what needs to be fed.
I advise that the puppy should go on to some sort of commercial
pet food (I don’t get sponsored by brands yet so there’s going to be no
mention). Any starter puppy food is fine. Some puppies find it easier to eat if
they are soaked in lukewarm water. (I mean the kibbles. Not the puppy). Feeding
can happen 4-5 times a day. Ensure that your puppy is not left starving for
more than 6 hours. They can go low on blood sugar really quickly.
At the back of every pack of dog food is a mention of how many grams of food is to be given PER DAY. Split it into 4-5 meals. It’s pretty easy actually. 1 tsp = 5 gms, 1 tbsp = 15gms. Or get yourself a measuring cup. But a ‘fistful’ is not a measure identified internationally because everyone’s fist size is different isn't it?
Better to have the food measured in gms from day
one. That way you will know if you are overfeeding or if the puppy is
undereating.
5. Toilet Training
Toilet training begins from day one.
I normally recommend
yoga mats as a useful aid in toilet training. They are cheap, economic, can be
washed or even discarded. Pee pads for puppies are also available in the
market. However, the pee pad isn't going to do the magic, training of any sort
is an effort that begins from you. Doggies are smart and can understand our
language pretty well if we don’t send them mixed signals. Consistency is always
the key.
To toilet train your puppy,
Step 1 – Choose the spot in your house and place yoga mat/pee
pad there.
Step 2 – After every change in activity, especially after
eating/waking up, place your puppy there.
Step 3 – This one is the most difficult. Wait. Be patient. Your
puppy may stroll off the mat, place her back there. She may eat the mat, don’t
let her. Wait. Till she finally does what she’s supposed to.
Step 4 – Reward! Positive reinforcement is by far the best way
to learn!
I studied because I used to get a toy at the end of every exam
that I faired well in. That's happens with your puppy as well! Once he does it
where he is supposed to, reward him with a small bit of his food. Accompanied
with a ‘Good boy!’, “Atta-girl!” “ Mela shona babu!”.
Whatever you like. Your tone and body language is far more important and must
convey your happiness.
Step 5 – Be consistent. Reward has to happen after every deed
done right. Keep up with it and your puppy will know where it is expected to do
its business in no time.
The basic formula for any sort of training is more or less
similar. Patience, Positive re-enforcement and Practice. All of it done over
and over again, ultimately leads to Perfection.
6. Toys and Playtime
New puppy parents are probably the best source of income
for pet shops. Most of them go on this toy shopping spree even before the puppy
gets to a Vet. There are so many different toys available for puppies that
sometimes I am a bit envious that I did not have that many options as a child
myself.
So what toys are must-haves? None.
Your puppy is going to be as happy with an old slipper of yours
as he would be with a brand new rope toy. I honestly prefer things that belong
to the family to work as toys. An old T-shirt tied up into a knot works just
fine.
If you do think of purchasing toys, always ensure they are
bigger than the size of your puppy’s (and later in life, dog’s) head. Not
mouth, head. You would be surprised at the size and types of objects that can
be swallowed.
Ensure that the toy does not have smaller parts that can be
easily removed and find their way into puppy tummies. If the ropes are coming
off of the rope toy, I wouldn’t be very comfortable with those either.
Toys which offer the option of inserting food/kibbles inside
them are good as they help keep your puppy busy, can mimic chewing and can help
keep anxiety and stress levels down.
There’s so much out there. Go crazy, you.
7. Vaccinations and Deworming
There’s this new rumour doing the rounds that vaccines do not work, cause autism etc. and if there was even a shred of truth in them, wouldn’t we all be having smallpox today?
Puppies also need to be vaccinated here in India against some
viruses that are endemic to our country. Your Vet will give you a vaccine and
deworming schedule when you first make a visit with your puppy.
Puppy deworming starts at about 40 days of age after which they
need to be dewormed every month till they are 6 months old and every 3 months
thereafter. Do not skip the deworming, you will start seeing “rice particles’
or tiny “noodles” in the poop which are in fact, worms.
As long as you have a pet at home, you must deworm yourself
every 6 months. (Even if you don’t have a pet at home, deworm yourself
regularly, we all serve as hosts.)
Puppies get vaccinated starting 6 weeks of age for a variety of dog viral diseases that include parvovirus, distemper virus, canine influenza virus, canine parainfluenza virus etc. Vaccines are also done against leptospirosis and rabies. The schedule will be decided by your Vet depending on the health of your puppy.
Vaccinating a sick puppy does not cure it,in fact, it overburdens
the immune system and can cause further illness. VACCINES ARE NOT CURES. They
are prophylactic. So your Vet is the best judge on when your puppy can get a
vaccine. Be nice to your Vet.
After the first round of vaccines are done, there’s an annual or
biannual booster depending on where you are from.
For a complete understanding of your pet's vaccinations, click here!
8. Looking good
Long-haired breeds are very cute and look like plush toys so I get why people want some of that furriness in their own home. But, unless you can spend time grooming that fur EVERY DAY, do not get these breeds.
Depending on how regular you are with brushing in these dogs, they can be a
groomer’s delight or despair. Shihtzu, Maltese, Pekingese, all these
long-haired dog breeds need their fur to be brushed out every single day. And
you must start every habit young. Positive re-enforcement will make it easier.
No brushing means matting. Dreadlocks don’t look good on dogs.
Short-haired dogs do not need to be brushed every day, 2-3 times
a week works well.
If you’ve chosen a breed with those big baleful eyes, like pugs,
Shihtzu, Pekingese, you must ensure the area around their eyes and nose is
clean. Ask your vet to show you how it's done.
DO NOT bathe your puppy till your vet says it's okay to do so.
Sponging with lukewarm water even every day is okay as long as
the puppy is dry post the activity.
Do not use any human products and “doggie scents” on your puppy.
They don’t need those chemicals for their extremely delicate skin. Even when
you eventually start bathing, remember to ALWAYS dilute the shampoo.
I have had people complain that their dog has a distinct smell
and they want to get rid of it. All dogs have a doggie smell. You will not even
register it after a few days. I personally cannot smell anything anymore. And
besides, have you ever thought how much of a stink bomb you must be to that
poor puppy whose sense of smell is far superior to yours? Do not attempt any
perfumes or powders to make your dog smell better. She smells just fine.
Brushing is also important. Start with doggie toothpaste and a
finger brush. Let him get used to you running the brush through his mouth
before introducing the toothpaste. Brush every other day for that perfect
smile! (and of course, good dental hygiene)
9. Pesky Pests
Puppies may come with fleas (not something you wanted to adopt) and it’s best to get them checked for it before they enter your home lest they start breeding in your house. Ticks are also a possibility and you will find them latched on to the puppy.
Your puppy is too young for any
pesticide medication so please do not attempt putting anything on it. The best
way out is to manually remove them. A couple of drops of eucalyptus oil in the
sponging water also help to a large extent.
10. Remind yourself it’s a puppy!
Humans tend to anthropomorphise everything (turn everything into a human) and this will happen with you and your puppy too. Do not forget that you have brought home a member of the dog species.
The beauty
of dogs is that they are dogs and the last thing they need is to become human
(Yuck!). Do not mollycoddle your pup because you won't find any doggie mom
absolutely suffocating her baby with her love. Remember to let your dog be and
it will turn out just fine. Keep disciplined food routines (No, this is not
cruelty. We all need to be disciplined. Humans just are an unruly species.). Do
not give your dog any table scraps. This not only is a healthier option for
your dog because people food is not dog food, but it also reduces any scope for
food-based aggression.
This was a short briefing for the new puppy pet parent.
If you have any more questions feel free to ask (be nice to your vet). You have
some wonderful memories and years of solid friendship ahead of you and your
puppy. I would be more than happy to be a small part of that beautiful
journey.
Here’s to more wet noses, smelly farts and pawprints on your soul!
Woof!
Dr. N
Related reading:
- Common illnesses of popular dog breeds
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