Your Puppy is a baby, Your new baby when ready to come home to you is only 8 weeks old. This means like all babies they are going to do more sleeping than anything else for the first few weeks. It is in your best interest to train your pup to sleep in one spot in the house. A bed should be clean (warm in winter) and comfortable.ALWAYS DRY! In an area where the dog will not be disturbed while sleeping and free from draft or extreme heat. I recommend if you are a family that has visitors or other children regularly at your home, you may want to consider a crate, this is a safe place where the dog learns to sleep and is a safe spot free from harm. Puppies DO NOT SLEEP OUTSIDE. A Puppy should not be left unattended in the yard for the first few weeks if not months of its life! Children and puppies need attendance always. DO not allow your children to wake or disturb dog while sleeping.
Your Irishclan Puppy has had its 6 week injections this is a C3 injection, this is the initial injection that assists in the prevention of various doggy disease and viruses. Your Puppy IS NOT COVERED until it has received all of its injections. You will need to make an appointment for an 12 week shot, if you decide to get a C5 shot you will also have to return to the Vets at 16 weeks and get a booster for the kennel cough section of the injection A C5 assist in preventing kennel cough if you intend to board your dog in professional kennels.
You will also need to get an all wormer and worm your dog at 8 weeks, and every 2 weeks until it is 20 weeks. From 20 weeks we recommend every 3 months unless your dog is in regular contact with possible infected animals, eg sheep, cattle etc. If you live in an area of high density animals or are living close to wildlife we recommend to speak to your Vet and work on a worming program suitable to your area.
Something to consider when worming - you are able at 6 months once the dog has reached adult size to get an annual heart worm injection. This prevents the deadly heart worm from taking hold in your dog and is a worth while investment. If you time it with your Vet they can do this with your annual injections.
Our kennel also vaccinates for Corona Virus, which displays similar symptoms to parvo and we encourage people to include this in their annual program of vaccinations. More commonly known as a C2i injection.
Your puppy is not covered against virus until it has completed its course of injections. IT is very important to keep your dog at home or in an environment where is is not meeting other dog that could be infected or in public areas where the disease may be present.. YES THIS INCLUDES PARKS, BEACHES, CAFES and other friends houses!!! Carry your puppy when moving from one location to another. Disease is picked up by body and fluid contact. BE AWARE. If you have a dog already at home (or other pet) please make sure that your pets have all had the appropriate vaccinations.
Once your dog is fully vaccinated, get out and about as much as possible. The more your out and about with your new dog the better friend and companion your dog will be, the more it is exposed to in the first 12 months of its life the better. It helps create a steady well adjusted dog that is not afraid and trusts in your judgement to walk forward into new areas with you confidently. Its a good idea to encourage family and friends or strangers on walks to say hello and greet the dog so that it gets used to being greeted by strangers and touched by those not from the immediate family.
We all love to shower our new pets with heaps of things, bowls, beds, toys and chew etc!!!!
Just remember that there are a few things to keep in mind.
Make sure the toy is doggy safe......best to buy something that is built for dogs.
Yes your puppy is going to chew its got baby teeth to shed so doggy chews are a good thing but always try and restrict to a few things, the more variety that you give, the more likely is is to choose one of your shoes as puppy gets the idea it can chew anything it wants. If your puppy is chewing something that you don't want it to correct it with a word eg NO and then move it onto a more appropriate chew item, wave chew in front of puppy get it to take grasp, once this have occurred say "GOOD Puppy"!!! Your life will be a lot better and happier if you keep this going!
There are many things to learn and explore when you have a four legged family member. With training and knowledge you will have a better understanding and therefore a successful relationship with your dog. My advice to all new owners..... knowledge is power!
Some basics:
FOOD AND DRINK
Any dog loves a routine, feeding your dog at the same time everyday will assure confidence in food supply with your dog. Placing the food and water in the same location everyday is essential to your pet as they will learn that this is where their feeding area is and return to it. Remember that water and food bowls need cleaned everyday!
If you are feeding a puppy it is important to remember to feed babies several times a day. We recommend that a baby 12 weeks and under is fed 3 times a day, 12weeks to 6 months we recommend twice a day, this is gradually fazed out to one feed a day unless you are considering split feeding and giving half quantities in two meals throughout the day. Please remember that food portions are in accordance with your dogs exercise routine and needs for each particular breed. We recommend reading the guidelines on factory food or if feeding fresh follow Vets advice.
TOILET TRAINING
Please remember that your puppy does not have full function of its toileting until at least 12 weeks.................there are going to be accidents, how many is up to you and how you deal with it.
Puppies need to go to the toilet at least every three hours. They are small so their bladders are small!
Your puppy will need to be taken to the toilet on waking up from snooze, after playing, after eating and if you see your puppy sniffing around and or circling, your puppy if looking for a place to go!
Pick your puppy up straight away and take it to the place that you want it to toilet. ( IRISHCLAN Puppies have been trained to use newspaper to toilet) Stay with your puppy until you see it going to the toilet. When your puppy starts to go toilet say the word that you want your dog to associate with going to the loo! So in time your dog will know that when you say this word, that is what it's required to do!
Once again Routine is the key, continue until your puppy gets the hint and starts going in that direction. Praise your puppy when doing the right thing. If your puppy has an accident do not rub its nose in the accident. Take the puppy to the toilet area and then go and clean it up.
If you catch your puppy mid toilet quickly pick puppy up say no to puppy and take puppy to toilet area.
Restricting your puppy to a room or two until it knows where it is supposed to go to the toilet is a great idea, also buying a dog crate to sleep in assists in training the dog to hold over night. Dogs hate to toilet in their own beds. By placing your puppy in a crate to sleep at night it will call for you to toilet! And yes like a small baby you will need to take it toilet. Over time they learn to hold and the broken sleep ends for you. The thing to remember is that your puppy is a baby and all babies need to toilet through the night.
When it comes to training your dog, its best to learn from someone who has done it before or go to dog classes, obedience. This is going to strengthen the relationship and enjoyment of your dog. Another great idea is get a few books on how to train!! the more info you have the better
A great dog manual is :
A complete guide to dogs by Karen Hedberg
You can purchase this from NSW dogs or if you would like a copy at the time of purchasing your pup please let IRISHCLAN know and we can provide a copy for you.
Another recommeded read is:
Australian Dog Training by Dr Bruse Fogle (supported by the RSPCA)
It has lovely coloured pictures and easy reading to get a few hints on what to do with you and your little one!!!!
A puppy needs brushed everyday, not just to keep its coat clean. This is to get the dog used to what needs to be done regularly. You will need to buy yourself a Coat stripper ( Mars coat king) A comb to get (tooth comb) to work out knotts. And good brush made of boar bristle to get through the thick coat. You may also want to invest in a slicker brush. Nail clippers. Ear wash and cotton balls, toilet paper or tissues.
Your puppy needs to get used to you putting your fingers in its mouth, do this daily and check teeth, this helps you and the vet in years to come! Brush the dog while standing, and also get the dog to lay on its back so that it gets used to its belly being inspected....look for ticks daily! Keep nails at the correct length, always flea your dog...with recommended products for the area you live in. Please remember prevention is better than cure.
You can scissor the dog to your liking but i advise if you have little experience in this area it may be better to get a dog groomer to shape the dog every 3 or 4 months to help keep the dog looking and feeling great!!!
Washing your dog at least fortnightly is a good idea, remember to brush the dog free of knots before bathing! Ear cleaning needs done weekly tp prevent horrible yeast infections in the ear!
There is nothing more frustrating when you're outside calling your dog and they don't come. Have you ever wondered why? IF you are serious about your dogs safety its very important to establish a strong recall with your furry friend, it can even save their lives! When you are teaching your dog to come please reward your dog, every time it comes. Treat it with a pat or doggy treat, ball or other favourite item. NEVER EVER SCOLD YOUR DOG IF IT COMES TO YOU!! HIT OR PUNISH YOUR DOG.......you only need do this once and you have destroyed the trust for you with your dog. After all would you readily come to someone who wants to punish you????? Be nice people, puppies are babies and need time to learn lessons, like humans, puppies sometimes take longer than others! Have patience and your dog will love you all the more !!!