RAISING YOUR PUPPY RIGHT

Congratulations on your new pet! Now that you have that bundle of energy that is chewing on everything, let’s make sure we get him started off right. This cute puppy will worm their way into your family and your life will forever be better because of it. One of the things veterinary technologists love most is sharing our knowledge, so don’t be shy with your questions when you come in for your puppy visits.

Protection is important

Vaccinations are critical, especially with dogs being more social than ever. Dogs require what we call core vaccines—a vaccine that is necessary regardless of lifestyle or risk. These vaccines protect against diseases we have here in southeast Saskatchewan like Distemper, Parvo Virus, Rabies and more. There are additional vaccines that some dogs need because of lifestyle and risk such as Bordetella (often referred to as Kennel Cough) for those that attend doggie daycare, grooming or the dog park. Dogs that travel south should be protected against Canine Influenza. These vaccines require boosters with the average puppy receiving their vaccinations at 8, 12, 16 weeks, one year of age and ranges from annual to every three years depending on the vaccine. Your puppy should avoid dog parks and playing with unvaccinated dogs until they are fully vaccinated.

The right food

Growing up healthy starts with what they eat. Premium diets and proven diets are a great place to start. Feeding your puppy for who they are is very important. A large breed puppy has a different growth curve than a small breed puppy and therefore different nutritional needs. Look for large breed and small breed formulas when selecting a diet whenever possible. Avoid diets that advertise grain free. These diets use human diet trends as marketing techniques and less than one per cent of dogs are truly allergic to grains. In 2019 the FDA released a statement to avoid grain free diets as they have been linked to heart problems in dogs. We have seen dogs in our clinics develop these issues as a result of eating grain free diets. Veterinary technologists and veterinarians are very knowledgeable about nutrition and are happy to assist you in learning more about this important topic.

Mind your manners

Sit! Good dog! Socialization and manners make good dogs into great dogs. This can be done in formalized classes or at home. The most important thing is to get started by making it a part of daily life and get the whole family involved. Dogs learn best through positivity and repetition. Start with a plan and ask yourself questions like do I want my puppy to sit before I feed him? Should he sit when company comes in? What door do we want him to ask to go outside at? These questions can help you build your daily routine around the things that matter most to you. Then everyone in the house can contribute to ensuring that behavior is encouraged. If one family member is the only one making the effort than the puppy is less likely to succeed. If going to classes, have different handlers attend. That way you know if the dog knows the command. Exposure to new environments and meeting new people and pets make for the most social pets.

Once your puppy is on its way with vaccination protection, I like the 30-day rule. Have your puppy meet thirty new people in thirty days and receive a treat from each person. You will never have a hard time finding someone willing to stop and interact with your puppy while you go for a walk or visit a pet friendly retailer or even take a ride through the drive-thru. Remember the time you invest now is well worth it, as they are most impressionable as puppies.

Kristin Caldwell, RVT