Bathing and leash training a new puppy???

[Rena705]

Well...I went ahead and adopted another puppy dog and I am not sorry I did.  There is still a lot of getting used to for the older dog and I assumed she was an alpha dog but the little 10 week old puppy is not shy about going over and taking a rawhide bone right out of the older dogs mouth and the older dog just lets her!

My question is...how old should a puppy be before you can give her a bath?  The people we got her from were smokers and she stinks of cigarette smoke and I would like to freshen her up a bit...at 10 weeks is she too young to bath?

I would also like a few hints on how to train a puppy to walk on a leash...I have always had older dogs and therefore have no clue on how to get them to move when you put the leash on...Tippy just sits and looks at me as if I am being so cruel and won't move a muscle!  hehe

Thanks for your help and if you want to see the new addition, she is posted on my profile.

Rena705

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

I looked at the photos.  Your dogs are so cute!  Your can safely bathe a puppy right after birth as long as you use baby shampoo and dry her afterward with a hair dryer.  

You can start training a puppy to walk on leash at approximately 6 weeks of age.  Begin slowly by first placing on a collar.  Than walking for one minute on leash the first time, than for two minutes, etc.  Don't try to heel until she can be walked on leash for 30 minutes without difficulty.  Use a choke training collar to train to heel.  It might be helpful to take her to a puppy training class given at any local pet shelter or pet shop.

[Rena705]

I have a dog that has been with us for about 3 years...she was exceptionally hyper when we got her and hard to train but she turned out fine although a little timid.  Last week we adopted a 10 week old puppy that was in a house with 9 other dogs...4 more puppies and 5 adults and therefore has been well socialized which the older dog unfortunately has not had the opportunity for.

So...now the puppy is wanting to play with the older dog and the older dog really doesn't seem sure what to make of her!  The puppy goes and takes anything the older dog happens to be chewing or playing with and the older dog doesn't argue but backs away if the puppy gets too close!  Now the older dog wants to spend all her time outside...away from the puppy which is not an option living in Northern Canada at this time of year!

Help me...do you think as the puppy becomes more mature that the older dog will accept her?  I have not been pushing the puppy on her and I put the puppy in her pen when the older dog appears to have had enough of the puppy.  Is there any other suggestions that might help this situation?  I am worried because I don't like upsetting the older dog like this and I was doing this so she would have a playmate as she was showing signs of boredom.  I have MS and can't always walk her so I thought this would at least help...

Rena705