Puppy care

Bringing home a new puppy is can be such a joyous event. To keep it as such, your new puppy will need special care and attention over the next several months.
Unless the puppy is a stray, find out from the breeder, kennel or shelter what brand and type of food has been fed up until this time. Sudden changes in diet can cause digestive upsets so make sure you start your puppy out on the same food as he or she has been getting. If a change is to be made, space it out over the course of a week. The first two days feed 75% of the original food and 25% of the new. The next two or three days feed in 50/50 increments. Towards the end of the week switch to 75% new food and only 25% of the old and finally end by feeding only the new type of food.
If you don’t live in the same area and use the same water supply as where you get your puppy, it is recommended you get a gallon or so of water to switch over in the same manner as described above. Different levels or lack of chlorine, fluoride and other components can also cause upset stomachs.
Physically, puppies are not able to hold urine and feces for extended periods of time nor will they remember five minutes after the fact what they have done to upset you. The best way of training you puppy to go outside is to take him out as soon as he wakes up in the morning, right after each feeding and nap as well as right before bed at night. Positive reinforcements such as praise and treats will work better than harsh words, rubbing their noses in the mess or beating with a paper. Many times harsh training methods not only harm the owner/dog bond, it can actually exacerbate the problem you are trying to solve. There are several breeds, which have trouble holding their urine during excitement or fear. This “tinkling” will further exasperate the owner and cause a never-ending cycle of disappointment and correction. With any form of training, consistency is the key.
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