Aa
new puppy
hello all! we just got a yellow lab puppy yesterday and it is at my parents house for the next few days until christmas eve. it is our first family pet! and our kids are going to be soooooo happy! my husband and i haven't had a puppy in years and years and i don't remember all the basics of potty training and stuff. its 8 weeks old... how do i begin? thank you for any help! :)
also, i bought it puppy food yesterday from the pet store and the lady helping me was saying that what she was suggesting is better than regular food you buy at the store. isn't purina puppy chow that i can get at like target a good puppy food for our new baby? or should i really be buying the more expensive kind she reffered me to?
also, i bought it puppy food yesterday from the pet store and the lady helping me was saying that what she was suggesting is better than regular food you buy at the store. isn't purina puppy chow that i can get at like target a good puppy food for our new baby? or should i really be buying the more expensive kind she reffered me to?
thank you so much for that info. i am a SAHM so will pretty much always be home to be helping w/ potty training. thank you again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Congratulations on your new puppy!! I wish you the very best of luck with your new family member.
First, let's address the food issue. In general, foods that are considered "premium" (like Hills, Iams, Evo, Nutro, etc, etc) are generally a better value that foods bought in the grocery store. Their higher quality ingredients means that you feed less food and clean up less waste than other less expensive brands. HOWEVER...the most important thing for you is to remember that the dog needs to eat the food and do well on the food. It does no good to buy the most expensive dog food in the world if he/she won't eat it. Since you will likely be taking the puppy in for vaccines and dewormings soon anyway...ask your veterinarian their opinion on foods...maybe even suggest a few brands. I personally feed Iams currently and have fed Science Diet in the past. Both brands have worked very well for me and my pets.
As far as house training your puppy...the most important things are consistency and a good schedule. I would highly recommend that you invest in a crate for the puppy. This will be a place for the puppy to sleep and a place to stay when you can't watch him. A typical schedule might go like this:
First thing in the morning (about same time every day): Take puppy outside to urinate/defecate. Lavishly praise the puppy for eliminating outside. Now, back inside to eat!
Place food bowl down for puppy. If he won't eat in about 20 minutes, take food away and save for evening meal. Continue your normal routine (getting ready for work or school) and then take puppy out again about 30-45 minutes after he eats. He will likely need to go again at this time. Again...lots of praise when he pees or poops outside. Now...back to the cage while you go about your day.
Young puppies don't have good bladder and bowel control for some time...if someone can come home at lunch to let the puppy outside, your puppy will learn faster and you will have fewer messes to clean up.
After work, come home and the puppy goes straight outside again. After going to the bathroom, you can have play time or plan the evening meal, whatever works in your schedule. An important thing to remember is that you need to be aware of where the puppy is at all times. You will soon recognize the signs for when he needs to go and you can say "Go outside" or "Outside" to get him used to that command. While you are outside, terms like "go potty" can be used when he urinates or defecates so that he knows what to do outside.
Again, for the evening meal, the puppy gets 20 minutes and if he doesn't eat, pick the food up.
Outside before bed and then he goes back into his cage for the night.
Again, getting up at the same time each day helps greatly. I highly recommend Dr. Suzanne Hetts' book "Raising a Behaviorallly Healthy Puppy" for guidelines on housetraing and other puppy issues.
I hope this helps you...congratulations again and remember to stress to your kids that this "gift" is a lifelong present and doesn't have an on/off switch. They will need to continue to provide stimulation and socialization for the pup for the next (hopefully) 14-16 years!!
First, let's address the food issue. In general, foods that are considered "premium" (like Hills, Iams, Evo, Nutro, etc, etc) are generally a better value that foods bought in the grocery store. Their higher quality ingredients means that you feed less food and clean up less waste than other less expensive brands. HOWEVER...the most important thing for you is to remember that the dog needs to eat the food and do well on the food. It does no good to buy the most expensive dog food in the world if he/she won't eat it. Since you will likely be taking the puppy in for vaccines and dewormings soon anyway...ask your veterinarian their opinion on foods...maybe even suggest a few brands. I personally feed Iams currently and have fed Science Diet in the past. Both brands have worked very well for me and my pets.
As far as house training your puppy...the most important things are consistency and a good schedule. I would highly recommend that you invest in a crate for the puppy. This will be a place for the puppy to sleep and a place to stay when you can't watch him. A typical schedule might go like this:
First thing in the morning (about same time every day): Take puppy outside to urinate/defecate. Lavishly praise the puppy for eliminating outside. Now, back inside to eat!
Place food bowl down for puppy. If he won't eat in about 20 minutes, take food away and save for evening meal. Continue your normal routine (getting ready for work or school) and then take puppy out again about 30-45 minutes after he eats. He will likely need to go again at this time. Again...lots of praise when he pees or poops outside. Now...back to the cage while you go about your day.
Young puppies don't have good bladder and bowel control for some time...if someone can come home at lunch to let the puppy outside, your puppy will learn faster and you will have fewer messes to clean up.
After work, come home and the puppy goes straight outside again. After going to the bathroom, you can have play time or plan the evening meal, whatever works in your schedule. An important thing to remember is that you need to be aware of where the puppy is at all times. You will soon recognize the signs for when he needs to go and you can say "Go outside" or "Outside" to get him used to that command. While you are outside, terms like "go potty" can be used when he urinates or defecates so that he knows what to do outside.
Again, for the evening meal, the puppy gets 20 minutes and if he doesn't eat, pick the food up.
Outside before bed and then he goes back into his cage for the night.
Again, getting up at the same time each day helps greatly. I highly recommend Dr. Suzanne Hetts' book "Raising a Behaviorallly Healthy Puppy" for guidelines on housetraing and other puppy issues.
I hope this helps you...congratulations again and remember to stress to your kids that this "gift" is a lifelong present and doesn't have an on/off switch. They will need to continue to provide stimulation and socialization for the pup for the next (hopefully) 14-16 years!!
There is so much difference in dog food. Honestly I would really look into what you are feeding him. Many dogs have allergies to wheat, corn,etc. You also want one without bi products. A while back there was a post about dog foods. Maybe try searching for it. Good luck with your new family member.
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