Dog Lovers Manual

Puppies do not have a prolonged attention span and tire quickly, so keep training session span and tire quickly sessions short. Five or ten minutes a day is plenty, and it is best if you can turn the training into a game. By doing this, your puppy is more likely to be responsive to your requirement. Whenever he sits unprompted by you, reward him. Then put the command ‘sit’ to the action and reward him with a treat. He will soon realize that ‘sit’ is rewarding and will start responding to the prompted spoken command. Follow the same principle with the ‘stay’ exercise. For further information on teaching sit and stay.

By far the best option is to buy, rent or borrow a suitable-sized dog crate. This can be used to transport your puppy in the car. With a crate, the driver is reassured that the puppy is safely enclosed, so is better able to concentrate on driving. Moreover, in the event of an accident, the puppy will (hopefully) be kept safely enclosed in the crate. Never put a puppy in the boot of the car, as he may be traumatized by the experience or even suffocate.

There are several ways to deal with faeces deposited in your garden or out on a walk. Find out if there are local authority bins specially provided for the disposal of dog faeces nearby. If not, wrap the faeces well in newspaper or a biodegradable bag and put them in your household rubbish (check with your local authority first). Alternatively, your can buy a ‘dog loo’ that you install in the garden, although reports on their effectiveness are mixed. Consult your vet practice or local waste disposal company regarding the disposal company regarding the disposal of waste from a dog receiving radiation treatment.

The number of afterbirths (placentas) expelled should correspond with the number of puppies born. If one is retained it can cause a fatal infection. If your bitch appears to become off-colour within a few days of whelping. Then seek immwdiate veterinary assistance. It is doubtful that the bitch will accept food until all the pups have been born, but water (with glucose added for energy) should be available to her. The bitch will bite the umbilical cord to separate each puppy from its placenta (which she will eat), and then clean the baby. Once delivery is complete, the bitch will appreciate a light meal of egg and milk, or cereal and meat broth, and may want to go outside bedding and replace it with her puppies. Check that they are all feeding.

Keep him away from other dogs until he is fully vaccinated. It is wise to exercise him only in your enclosed garden or yard until he is protected against canine diseases. You will also have to train your puppy to the collar and leash before you can take him out, and make sure he’ll come back to you when you call him. Be careful not to expect too much of your puppy too soon and expose him to situations he cannot cope with, as this will create a nervous individual. It is better to gradually introduce him to sights and sounds outside the safe and familiar confines of your home, such as people, vehicles and other dogs.

Dogs are not generally fussy eaters. They thrive on a diet that is not dissimilar to that of humans, albeit with more protein, comprising foods of animal origin, cereal, root vegetables and fats. The most suitable diet for a dog is one that contains:

• Protein, carbohydrates and fats.
• Vitamins – A, B-group, D and E; vitamin C is produces in the body.
• Minerals – the most important being calcium, phosphorus and sodium chloride. These and other essential minerals, such as copper and zinc, occur naturally in meat, cereals and other food ingredients.
• Fibre and water in balanced proportions.

Over short distances, the Greyhound reigns supreme. One of the breed has been clocked at 72 kmph (45 mph) on a recetrack, making it the second-fastest animal in the world next to the cheetah. Other speedy sighthounds include the Whippet, Saluki and Afghan Hound, and any other canines with a similar light, athletic build. The Border Collie is the fastest dog in the agility field, at which this breed excels, while the Siberian Husky is the fastest load-pulling endurance breed over great distances.

The answer is anything and everything. He needs to learn how to socialize with other dogs, be polite and calm when meeting people and other creatures, and learn when enough is enough during attention and play sessions. Accustom your young dog to meeting and being with people of both sexes, all ages and different appearances, and reward him so that he views their company as a good thing. Handling him when he is eating and playing with toys will teach him not to become possessive about either.

According to the UK’s Kennel Club, there are over 450 known breeds of dog worldwide. Some of these are unknown outside their country of origin, and not all breeds are recognized by the official organizations that oversee breeding and showing. Being unrecognized by an organization means that those breeds cannot be shown under its rules. At the time of writing, the three main canine organizations are the British Kennel Club (KC) which recognizes 202 breeds of dog, the American Kennel Club (AKC) which recognizes 150, and the Federation Cynologique International (FCI), based in belgium, which recognizes 311.

Start recognizing your puppy’s normal behaviour as soon as you get him. Then you will know when all is not well. Note any unusual behaviour, altered appetite or demeanour, distressed whining, increased or decreased thirst, staraining on defecation or urination, vomiting or diarrhoea. You will be able to inform your vet of the symptoms.
Puppies with digestive upsets can soon become dehydrated, as the body loses moisture and essential salt and sugars (electrolytes), so it is imperative they are seen by a vet within a couple of hours it an ailment has not cleared up. If the condition worsens during this time, consult a vet sooner.