ALL DOGS
KEVIN
GO TO
A Guide to Raising
THE PERFECT PUPPY Your step-by-step manual to make sure you get it right
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DOGSTOKEVIN.COM
A GUIDE TO RAISING THE PERFECT PUPPY
MAKING THE COMMITMENT Do you fantasize about having the perfect puppy? A puppy that just seems to "get it" and fits into your life like a glove? A puppy that grows into an adult dog who can go anywhere with you? A dog who greets people politely, walks on a loose leash, and all around makes you a proud owner? We get it. Who doesn't want the perfect puppy? And we're here to tell you that the most important step you'll take on this journey is to MAKE A COMMITMENT to your future dog. Remember that you can expect to spend the next 15 or so years with your new family member. And nearly everything that you do with him as a puppy will affect who he becomes as an adult dog.
So honor that commitment. Your future self will thank you for it!
SHELTER OR BREEDER? This a is very important, and personal decision. Folks have very strong opinions on this subject, and there's lots of conflicting info out there. So rather than trying to sway you one way ot the other, we've decided to give you an objective pros and cons comparison. The most important thing is that you make an informed decision that is aligned with your goals for your dog and your values. IMPORTANT: This side-by-side assumes that both the shelter and breeder are highly REPUTABLE.
Shelter
Breeder
PROS: » Save a dog that may otherwise be euthanized » Get insider info from shelter staff about all of the pup's traits and quirks. » More cost effective that buying a dog from a breeder.
PROS: » The pup has been selectively breed for desirable traits. » Training and socialization has likely already begun. » Less chance of having a genetic disease. » You'll have the oppurtunity to meet the pup's parents and see the environment in which he's been raised.
CONS » May not find the exact breed you're looking for. » Often, information about the puppy's mother and its earliest stages of development aren't available. » You may be asked a lot of questions during your interview that make some people feel like they're being interrogated. © 2019 ALL DOGS GO TO KEVIN
CONS » Reputable breeders are few and far between. » Expensive. » Reputable breeders often have long waiting lists. |
DOGSTOKEVIN.COM
A GUIDE TO RAISING THE PERFECT PUPPY
HOW TO PREPARE W H AT K I N D O F D O G F I T S I N T O YO U R L I F E S T Y L E ?
First things first - make sure your expectations are in line with the dog you want. Think carefully about every scenario you want to include your dog in. It can be helpful to write them all down so that you have a clear picture of your expectations. If you envision taking your dog on evening walks in your busy subdivision, for example, you'll want a social dog who thrives in the bustle. Puppies are a lot of work. If your older dog just passed away and you’re looking to bring a new pup into your home, realize it’s going to be completely different. Older dogs sleep a lot and so do very young puppies. But once a puppy is around 10 weeks old, they become much more active. F I N D A T R A I N E R E A R LY I N T H E P R O C E S S
Ideally before you even bring your puppy home, you'll want to find a reputable reward-based dog trainer to guide you. This can be harder than you might think. Anyone can declare himself a dog trainer and happily take your money. But there is no time in your puppy's life that is more important, so you want to be sure that you're working with a legitimate professional. Puppy classes, puppy socials and day school programs are a fantastic way to set your pup up for longterm success. You'll also want to be sure you have a confinement area waiting for your pup.
LONG-TERM CONFINEMENT AREA » A long-term confinement area (left) makes it impossible for your pup to get it wrong. This is critical because every time he gets it wrong, he's developing a habit. » In this set-up, he is very likely to potty in the correct place, spend time in his crate, and chew the appropriate items. » Unless you can give him 100% of your attention, this is where he'll need to hang out. » Using a potty pad made of artifical turf makes the transition to grass much easier. » Hide lots of yummy treats in the crate often so it seems, to your puppy, that the crate is the place to be. » Make sure that the confinement area is full of various chew toys, so the right choice is easy to make.
© 2019 ALL DOGS GO TO KEVIN
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DOGSTOKEVIN.COM
A GUIDE TO RAISING THE PERFECT PUPPY
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING A PUPPY BREED If you’re choosing a pup from a breeder, make sure you're familiar with breed characterisitcs. Is it a retriever, a hunting dog, or a guardian breed? It’s very likely that a herding breed will want to herd, and a guardian breed may end up being weary of strangers on the property. Certain breeds are higher energy while others are lower energy. Do your research to see which breed fits best into your lifestyle. If you’re looking at adopting a dog from the shelter, ask questions about the pup's lineage. Shelter staff may know the parents' breeds, which will inform your decision. They might also have valuable info about the puppy's behavior, preferences, energy style, and suitabililty with your lifestyle and expectations. LOOK FOR SOCIALIBILITY If you want an adult dog that accepts new people without hesitation, look for the puppy that is pro-actively seeking you out. The puppy that is a bit more reserved may have tendencies to be more aloof towards strangers. This might simply be the pup's personality trait, but it could also be a sign of fear. To decrease the chances of having a fearful dog into adulthood, choose the pup that is happily coming right up to you. If you’re getting a puppy from a breeder, you’ll definitely want to meet the pup’s parents. If the parents are happy-go-lucky and excited to see you, that means your puppy is more likely to have a similar disposition. If one of the pup’s parents is nervous and fearful, those genes may transfer to your puppy, which can be very challenging.
If the breeder will not allow you to meet the puppy's parents, that is a huge red flag. You should run, not walk, to a more reputable breeder. LO O K F O R P L AY S T Y L E If you’re hoping to have a puppy that loves to play with other dogs, look for some loose, wiggly body language when he is playing with another pup. You can also look for role reversals: switching from top to bottom, chasing & being chased, 'I bite you, then you bite me'. Play styles can be improved with proper training, but it helps to start off on the right foot. © 2019 ALL DOGS GO TO KEVIN
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DOGSTOKEVIN.COM
A GUIDE TO RAISING THE PERFECT PUPPY
YOUR PUPPY IS HOME. NOW WHAT? Now that you’ve got your puppy it’s time to focus on two important things: Training and Management.
t i p : If you wait until your
puppy makes a mistake, and then try to "correct" the bad behavior, you run the risk of your puppy becoming fearful of you and even avoiding you in other contexts. And that's not the relationship we want with our best friend.
TRAINING Training should always focus on teaching your pup what you’d like him to do. Think of it as a way to get him to do behaviors that you like, instead of him doing behaviors that you dislike. It's very important to have treats on you at all times when you're out and about with your pup, and to have treat jars placed strategically throughout the house. This allows you to reward your pup the moment you see him do something that you like. If you're late with your rewards, your puppy may not connect the reward with the behavior.
t i p : Timeouts work very
well, but they have to be given
If you wait until he makes a mistake and then try to "correct" him for it, you'll have 2 problems: 1) he will have more opportunities to practice the problem behavior, which will only make it stronger, and 2) he may become fearful of you and start to avoid you in other contexts. And that's not the relationship we want with our best friend.
EVERY time the pup does the problem behavior. Otherwise, he'll keep trying.
But we can't always preempt inappropriate behavior. Puppies play bite, whine for attention and sometimes play too rough. In these cases, you'll want to give your puppy a timeout as a kind but clear consequence.
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DOGSTOKEVIN.COM
A GUIDE TO RAISING THE PERFECT PUPPY
MANAGEMENT Management is all about preventing unwanted behaviors from ever happening in the first place. Every time your puppy does the wrong thing, he's practicing how to do the wrong thing. So we want to set up the enviornment so that he can do the opposite - practice doing the right thing. A long-term confinement area, as discussed above, is one of the best ways to accomplish this. Other super useful tools are leashes/tethers and work-to-eat toys. TETHERING
W O R K-T O - E AT
When you can't give your puppy your full attention, tether him to you.
When you're eating dinner or when guests arrive, give your pup a work-to-eat toy.
THE CRITICAL SOCIALIZATION PERIOD The most important time in your puppy's life is the critical socialization period. Between 3-16 weeks, your puppy's brain is like a sponge. He is constantly assessing his environment and making opinions about the things he comes across. And if he doesn't have TONS of positive experiences with the things that you expect him to happily accept when he's an adult dog (think men with beards, vet exams, other dogs, firworks, etc.), then he's likely to feel uneasy about them later in life. This is why those early weeks should be taken very seriously. They mean everything.
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DOGSTOKEVIN.COM
A GUIDE TO RAISING THE PERFECT PUPPY
Message to Reader Raising a puppy is one of the most rewarding. But with the stakes so high during those early weeks, and with so much to do in terms of training, management and socialization, it's understanding that folks feel overwhelmed. That's why enrolling your puppy in a Puppy Day School program can be such an important investment. It takes the stress out of setting your puppy up to be the best pup he can be, so you can truly enjoy your time together. If you're in the Stow, OH area, you're in luck! We offer several different Puppy Day School programs that meet a variety of goals (and budgets). Click the button below to learn more.
Kelly and Kevin Duggan Owners, All Dogs Go To Kevin
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