PuppiesFOR

DUMmIES‰

3RD EDITION

by Sarah Hodgson

PuppiesFOR

DUMmIES‰

3RD EDITION

Puppies For Dummies®, 3rd EditionPublished by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River St. Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774 www.wiley.com

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About the AuthorDog and puppy behavior expert Sarah Hodgson is the author of several best-selling books on dog training. Her trademark training techniques help dogs become well-behaved members of the family. With more than 25 years of professional experience, Sarah has written for Parenthood, Prevention, and Country Living magazines, as well as for The New York Times. She’s also appeared as a guest expert on NBC, CNN, CNBC, ABC, FOX, CBS, Animal Planet, and the DIY Network.

Sarah writes a syndicated online column for Patch.com and connects with her readers through her online forum and social media channels. Come meet Sarah online at WhenDogsTalk.com!

DedicationFor my human pups Bohdie and Lindsay and all the puppies, pets, and paws to follow!

Author’s AcknowledgmentsBy the time I write the acknowledgments for a book, the book writing is practically over. My excitement at being at the end of a project is so palpable that I feel like running out and hugging all the people who have been there for me, in numerous ways, throughout its writing. From my friends and family who are there to keep me sane and smiling to my helpers who keep the wheels of my life turning, I could not enjoy my existence as much without you.

And to my editorial staff, some of whom I only know by initials, I am eternally grateful. Your insightful tweaks and comments raise the quality and comprehension of this book to a height I could never reach alone. Thanks!

Of course, none of my knowledge would have been formed without the lessons I’ve learned at the side of each and every dog. Your spirits have been my guide. What a life it’s been! I’m grateful for the opportunity to know you and be your teacher.

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

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Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies

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Andy Cummings, Vice President and PublisherComposition Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

Contents at a GlanceIntroduction ................................................................ 1

Part I: Choosing a Dog to Love for a Lifetime ................. 7Chapter 1: Puppy Love: Making All the Important Decisions ...................................... 9Chapter 2: Considering a Puppy to Fit Your Lifestyle ................................................. 17Chapter 3: Browsing the Breeds: Choosing the Right Dog for You ........................... 31Chapter 4: Searching High and Low for Your Puppy................................................... 43

Part II: Caring for Your Puppy’s Everyday Needs .......... 61Chapter 5: Outfitting Your Home ................................................................................... 63Chapter 6: Preparing for the First Days and Weeks .................................................... 75Chapter 7: Communicating with Your Puppy .............................................................. 95Chapter 8: Socializing Puppy ........................................................................................ 105Chapter 9: Living in the Real World: Kids, Travel, and Other Adventures ............. 117

Part III: Training with a Positive Spin ....................... 137Chapter 10: Involving Everyone in Team Puppy ........................................................ 139Chapter 11: Using Cool Tools and Groovy Gadgets .................................................. 147Chapter 12: Teaching Lessons for Puppies of Every Age ......................................... 163Chapter 13: Civilizing Your Puppy Indoors and Out ................................................. 187Chapter 14: Living Life Off-Leash ................................................................................. 207

Part IV: Conditioning Good Manners in Your Puppy .... 219Chapter 15: Housetraining for Success ....................................................................... 221Chapter 16: Redirecting Everyday Hassles ................................................................. 231Chapter 17: Addressing Extreme Reactions ............................................................... 251Chapter 18: Recognizing and Redirecting Aggressive Behavior .............................. 259

Part V: Creating a Wellness Plan .............................. 273Chapter 19: Feeding Your Puppy Well ........................................................................ 275Chapter 20: Staying Healthy and Handling Emergencies .......................................... 289Chapter 21: Identifying Common Ailments ................................................................. 311

Part VI: The Part of Tens .......................................... 327Chapter 22: Ten (Plus One) Crowd-Pleasing Tricks .................................................. 329Chapter 23: Ten Fun Games .......................................................................................... 337

Index ...................................................................... 343

Table of ContentsIntroduction ................................................................. 1

About This Book .............................................................................................. 1Conventions Used in This Book ..................................................................... 2What You’re Not to Read ................................................................................ 2Foolish Assumptions ....................................................................................... 2How This Book Is Organized .......................................................................... 3

Part I: Choosing a Dog to Love for a Lifetime ..................................... 3Part II: Caring for Your Puppy’s Everyday Needs .............................. 3Part III: Training with a Positive Spin .................................................. 4Part IV: Conditioning Good Manners in Your Puppy ........................ 4Part V: Creating a Wellness Plan .......................................................... 4Part VI: The Part of Tens ....................................................................... 4

Icons Used in This Book ................................................................................. 5Where to Go from Here ................................................................................... 5

Part I: Choosing a Dog to Love for a Lifetime .................. 7

Chapter 1: Puppy Love: Making All the Important Decisions . . . . . . . . .9Browsing Breeds and Considering Your Options ...................................... 10Helping Your Puppy Jump In to the Family Groove .................................. 11

Understanding your puppy’s point of view ...................................... 11Positively overdoing socialization ..................................................... 12Raising a pup with children and within a neighborhood ............... 12

Tackling Training through Your Puppy’s Growth Phases ........................ 12Knowing what you’re in for ................................................................ 13Teaching words your puppy should learn and love ....................... 14Picking a consistent approach ........................................................... 14

Handling Day-to-Day Frustrations — and More Serious Problems ......... 14Providing a Clean Bill of Health ................................................................... 15

Chapter 2: Considering a Puppy to Fit Your Lifestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Living Your Dream: Pinpointing What You Really Want .......................... 18

Getting in the right mindset ............................................................... 18Considering your lifestyle and personality ...................................... 19Interpreting your answers .................................................................. 22

Considering Your Household ....................................................................... 25Me and my shadow .............................................................................. 26Just the two of us — plus pup ............................................................ 26A family with young kids ..................................................................... 27A family with older children ............................................................... 28A whole menagerie (Other pets) ........................................................ 29

Puppies For Dummies, 3rd Edition xiiChapter 3: Browsing the Breeds: Choosing the Right Dog for You . . .31

Figuring Out Whether You Want a Purebred, Mixed-Breed, or Designer Dog .................................................................. 32

Taking comfort in tradition: Purebred dogs ..................................... 32Opting for hybrid vigor: Mutts ........................................................... 33Going chic: Designer mixed breeds ................................................... 33

Picking Your Pup among Seven Standard Breed Groups ......................... 34Getting active: The Sporting Group ................................................... 35Pursuing happiness: The Hound Group ............................................ 36Laboring for love: The Working Group ............................................. 37Keeping it together: The Herding Group .......................................... 38Tending to their own business: The Terrier Group ........................ 39Concealing big personalities in small packages: The Toy Group .... 40Mixing a little of everything: The Non-Sporting Group ................... 41

Chapter 4: Searching High and Low for Your Puppy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43Deciding Where to Get Your Puppy ............................................................ 44

Buying a puppy from a breeder ......................................................... 44Checking out a home breeder ............................................................ 46Adopting a pup from a shelter ........................................................... 46Finding puppy love on the Internet ................................................... 47Visiting pet stores ................................................................................ 49

Meeting and Assessing Puppies ................................................................... 50Finding out what to expect when visiting puppies .......................... 51Profiling puppy personalities ............................................................. 51Testing a puppy’s temperament ........................................................ 53

Going for an Older Puppy ............................................................................. 58Considering the source ....................................................................... 59Testing older pups ............................................................................... 60

Part II: Caring for Your Puppy’s Everyday Needs .......... 61

Chapter 5: Outfitting Your Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63Shopping for Initial Supplies ........................................................................ 63

Bowls ..................................................................................................... 63Crate ...................................................................................................... 64Gate ........................................................................................................ 65Playpen .................................................................................................. 65Toys, bones, and treats ....................................................................... 66Bedding ................................................................................................. 67Starter collars and leashes ................................................................. 68ID tag ...................................................................................................... 69

Exploring Training Leashes and Collars ..................................................... 69Collars and harnesses ......................................................................... 70Leash training ....................................................................................... 73

xiii Table of Contents

Chapter 6: Preparing for the First Days and Weeks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75Prepping for Your Puppy’s Arrival .............................................................. 75

Setting up puppy’s rest space ............................................................ 76Puppy proofing a free-play zone ........................................................ 76Designating play stations .................................................................... 77Establishing a feeding area ................................................................. 78Mapping the route ............................................................................... 78

Giving Puppy a Ride Home ........................................................................... 78Making the First Introductions .................................................................... 79

Forming a welcome circle ................................................................... 79Calming the kids ................................................................................... 80Introducing other pets ........................................................................ 81Saving your friends for another day .................................................. 84

Finding Out What to Expect the First Few Weeks ..................................... 84Surviving the first 24 hours ................................................................ 85Adjusting in days two through seven ................................................ 85Developing a relationship the first month ........................................ 86

Bonding with Your Puppy ............................................................................ 88Knowing when to pick him up . . . and when not to ........................ 89Handling fears ...................................................................................... 89

Understanding Your Puppy’s Basic Needs ................................................. 89Eating ..................................................................................................... 90Drinking ................................................................................................. 91Sleeping ................................................................................................. 92Going to the bathroom ........................................................................ 92Playing ................................................................................................... 92

Teacher Be Taught: Training Yourself First ............................................... 93Accepting and modifying your personality ...................................... 93Never blaming the pup ........................................................................ 94Recognizing the pup’s unique personality ....................................... 94

Chapter 7: Communicating with Your Puppy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95Teaching Your Puppy to Understand You ................................................. 95

Using the power of positive reinforcement ...................................... 96Encouraging more than you discourage ........................................... 96Teaching English as a second language ............................................ 97

Taking Time to Listen and Learn Doglish ................................................... 98Talking with the eyes........................................................................... 99Communicating through body language ......................................... 100Managing the message in your tone ................................................ 103

Chapter 8: Socializing Puppy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105Calming Your Puppy in New Situations .................................................... 105

Setting the example you want your puppy to follow .................... 106Handling different types of reactions .............................................. 106

Teaching Your Puppy to Be Accepting of All People .............................. 108Socializing your young puppy (6 to 14 weeks) .............................. 108Shaping up older puppies ................................................................. 110Introducing your puppy to people of all shapes and sizes .......... 111

Puppies For Dummies, 3rd Edition xivConditioning Your Puppy to Life’s Surprises ........................................... 113

Meeting other animals ....................................................................... 113Dealing with weather events ............................................................ 113Dealing with unknown objects ......................................................... 114Getting used to noises ....................................................................... 115Navigating new places ....................................................................... 115

Chapter 9: Living in the Real World: Kids, Travel, and Other Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117

Encouraging Positive Interactions between Kids and Pups ................... 117Guiding your kids’ interactions with the puppy ............................ 118Teaching kids and puppies mutual respect ................................... 120

Living in the ’Hood ...................................................................................... 124Respecting your neighbors ............................................................... 124Leaving your pup home alone .......................................................... 125Picking up your puppy’s messes ..................................................... 126Dealing with the chasing instinct ..................................................... 126

Adapting to Life Changes ............................................................................ 128Moving to a new home ...................................................................... 128Mourning the loss of a loved one..................................................... 129And baby makes three: Expanding your family ............................. 129

Handling a Two-Puppy Household ............................................................ 132Taking Trips with Your Puppy ................................................................... 133

Packing an overnight bag .................................................................. 134Taking your puppy on a plane ......................................................... 134Road trip! Traveling by car ............................................................... 135Arriving at your destination ............................................................. 136

Part III: Training with a Positive Spin ........................ 137

Chapter 10: Involving Everyone in Team Puppy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139A Team Effort: Getting Help and Buy-In from Friends and Family ........ 139

Making sure your family and friends are consistent with your pup .............................................................. 140

Engaging in some interior decorating ............................................. 140Shaping Good Manners from Day One ...................................................... 141

Early steps for housebreaking ......................................................... 141Redirecting jumping .......................................................................... 142Keeping puppy away from the table................................................ 142Instilling good chewing habits ......................................................... 142

It Takes a Village: Enlisting Outside Help ................................................. 143Your veterinarian ............................................................................... 143Dog walkers ........................................................................................ 144Groomers ............................................................................................ 144Doggie day care .................................................................................. 145Puppy kindergarten ........................................................................... 145

xv Table of Contents

Chapter 11: Using Cool Tools and Groovy Gadgets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147Emphasizing Good Habits with a Little Indulgence ................................. 148

Treat cups ........................................................................................... 148Snack packs ........................................................................................ 149

Clicker-Happy Training ............................................................................... 151“Photographing” the moment .......................................................... 151Click and treat: Married for life ........................................................ 152Putting the clicker into practice ...................................................... 152Phasing out the clicker ...................................................................... 154

Targeting to Communicate Visually .......................................................... 155Point training ...................................................................................... 156Targeting wands ................................................................................. 158Targeting discs ................................................................................... 159Targeting paper .................................................................................. 161

Chapter 12: Teaching Lessons for Puppies of Every Age . . . . . . . . . .163Embracing Your Baby: 8 to 12 Weeks ....................................................... 164

Using your puppy’s name ................................................................. 164Starting leash training ....................................................................... 164Laying the groundwork for “Sit” and “Okay” .................................. 165Walking the stairs .............................................................................. 165

Teaching Lessons in the Terrible Twos: 12 to 16 Weeks ........................ 165“[Name], watch” ................................................................................. 166“Let’s go” ............................................................................................. 167“Sit” ...................................................................................................... 167“Down” ................................................................................................ 168“Stand”................................................................................................. 170“Give” ................................................................................................... 171“Wait” and “Okay” .............................................................................. 172“Excuse me” ........................................................................................ 172

Working with Your Budding Adolescent: 16 to 24 Weeks ...................... 172Continuing to teach manners ........................................................... 173Adding a word a week ....................................................................... 173

Practicing Lessons during Puppy Puberty: 6 to 9 Months ..................... 183Talking to your pubescent puppy.................................................... 183Continuing with the top-five directions .......................................... 184

Getting Strict in Teen Lessons: 9 to 12 Months ....................................... 186

Chapter 13: Civilizing Your Puppy Indoors and Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187Moving Beyond the Crate and Gated Enclosures .................................... 187

Leading ................................................................................................ 188Anchoring ........................................................................................... 191Stationing ............................................................................................ 191

Ding-Dong! Teaching Doorbell Civility ...................................................... 193Teaching Your Pup to Take Departures and Arrivals in Stride ............. 195

Leaving: No drama, please ................................................................ 195Coming back: Keep it cool ................................................................ 195

Keeping Your Dinner Plate to Yourself ..................................................... 196

Puppies For Dummies, 3rd Edition xviAchieving Calm and Happy Car Rides ....................................................... 196

Getting your pup into the car ........................................................... 197Getting your pup out of the car ....................................................... 197Dealing with carsickness and fear ................................................... 198

Hitting the Streets: Working on Your Puppy’s Public Image ................. 199Controlling the wild one.................................................................... 200Empowering the scaredy-cat ............................................................ 200Under and back: Helpful commands when you’re out and about .... 201

Making Friends: Introducing Your Pup to Other Dogs ........................... 202Gaining control when encountering other dogs ............................ 202Enjoying puppy play dates ............................................................... 203

Introducing Your Pup to People ................................................................ 204Following five key rules ..................................................................... 204Introducing the wild one ................................................................... 205Introducing the scaredy-cat ............................................................. 205

Entering Buildings Peacefully .................................................................... 205

Chapter 14: Living Life Off-Leash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207Getting Mentally Prepared for Off-Lead Control ...................................... 207

Psyching yourself up ......................................................................... 208Getting your puppy’s mind in the game.......................................... 208

Buying the Right Equipment — and Using It Correctly .......................... 209A retractable leash............................................................................. 210An indoor drag lead ........................................................................... 211A short lead ........................................................................................ 211A Teaching Lead ................................................................................. 212A long line ........................................................................................... 213

Gauging Your Pup’s Reactions ................................................................... 214Training an excitable explorer ......................................................... 214Guiding a more timid pup ................................................................. 215

Getting the Emergency “Down” Down Pat ................................................ 216Knowing When to Trust Your Pup and Other FAQs

about Off-Lead Training .......................................................................... 217

Part IV: Conditioning Good Manners in Your Puppy ..... 219

Chapter 15: Housetraining for Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .221Picking Your Puppy’s Potty Place ............................................................. 221Establishing a Routine ................................................................................ 223

Following general guidelines ............................................................ 223Getting on a potty-time schedule ..................................................... 224Being consistent ................................................................................. 227

Helping Your Pup Communicate Her Need to Go .................................... 227Quick Tips for Handling and Avoiding Accidents ................................... 229

xvii Table of Contents

Chapter 16: Redirecting Everyday Hassles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231Knowing the Keys to a Good Correction .................................................. 232Stopping the Chewing Frenzy .................................................................... 232

Offer one main toy plus a surplus of surprises .............................. 233Be aware of prize envy ...................................................................... 233Get Bitter Apple — and lots of it ...................................................... 233Give age-appropriate corrections .................................................... 234Use treat cups when your pup’s caught in the act ........................ 237Calmly kiss your puppy-destroyed things goodbye ...................... 238

Controlling Mouthing and Nipping ............................................................ 238Correcting pups younger than 16 weeks ........................................ 238Correcting pups older than 16 weeks ............................................. 239

Handling Grabbing and Chasing ................................................................ 240Ending the bathrobe assault ............................................................ 240Calming the child chaser .................................................................. 241

Grounding the Joyous Jumper ................................................................... 241Attention, please! ............................................................................... 242I wanna see what’s on the counter, too! ......................................... 242That couch sure does look comfy ................................................... 243

Remedying Leash Resistance ..................................................................... 245The lunge and drag ............................................................................ 245Mule wannabes................................................................................... 246

Refocusing a Runner ................................................................................... 247Methinks I Need Some Help! ....................................................................... 248

Working with a personal trainer ...................................................... 248Going to a group trainer .................................................................... 249Using books and videos .................................................................... 250

Chapter 17: Addressing Extreme Reactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .251Quieting That Bark-Bark-Barker ................................................................. 251

Barking at e-v-e-r-y-thing ................................................................... 252Barking in the car ............................................................................... 253Barking for attention or protest ....................................................... 254

Getting Control of the Digging ................................................................... 254Discouraging Mounting ............................................................................... 255Getting Through Separation Anxiety ........................................................ 256Dealing with a Stimulated Tinkler ............................................................. 258

Chapter 18: Recognizing and Redirecting Aggressive Behavior . . . .259Understanding What Confidence Is (And Isn’t) ....................................... 259

Why does my dog act assertive over me? ...................................... 260Is assertive behavior a bad thing? ................................................... 260Can assertive behavior develop suddenly? .................................... 261

Raising an Assertive Puppy ........................................................................ 262Curbing Aggressive Behavior from Assertive Pups ................................ 263

Determining how serious the problem is ....................................... 264Preventing various forms of aggression ......................................... 265Getting help ........................................................................................ 272

Puppies For Dummies, 3rd Edition xviiiPart V: Creating a Wellness Plan ............................... 273

Chapter 19: Feeding Your Puppy Well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .275Puppy Nutrition 101: The Basics about Puppy Food .............................. 275

Evaluating essential ingredients ...................................................... 276Interpreting food labels to get more bang for your buck ............. 281Understanding food allergies and special needs ........................... 283

Deciding on Your Puppy’s Diet Plan ......................................................... 284Comparing dry food versus wet food .............................................. 284Serving home-cooked meals ............................................................. 285Following a raw-food diet plan ......................................................... 286Sticking to organic cuisine ................................................................ 287

Chapter 20: Staying Healthy and Handling Emergencies . . . . . . . . . .289Keeping Your Puppy Fit with Exercise ..................................................... 290

Making the activity age-appropriate ............................................... 290Factoring in size, breed, and energy level ...................................... 291Playing games ..................................................................................... 292

Cleaning and Grooming Your Puppy ......................................................... 295Making bath time lots of fun ............................................................. 295Brushing made easy .......................................................................... 296Performing daily care and spot-checks........................................... 297

Taking Your Pup for Regular Checkups .................................................... 301Identifying and Remedying Allergies ......................................................... 302Spaying or Neutering Your Puppy ............................................................. 303Accidents Happen: Preventing and Treating Puppy Mishaps ............... 304

Protecting your puppy at home ....................................................... 304Handling basic puppy first aid ......................................................... 306

Chapter 21: Identifying Common Ailments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .311Bugging Out: External Parasites ................................................................ 311

Fleas ..................................................................................................... 311Ticks .................................................................................................... 313Mites and mange ................................................................................ 316

Getting Below the Surface: Internal Parasites .......................................... 317Heartworms ........................................................................................ 317Other internal critters ....................................................................... 317

Controlling Diseases with Vaccines .......................................................... 319Core vaccines ..................................................................................... 319Non-core vaccines ............................................................................. 321

Identifying Other Common Health Concerns ........................................... 322Teething .............................................................................................. 323Coughing ............................................................................................. 323Compacted anal glands ..................................................................... 323Lethargy .............................................................................................. 324Diarrhea .............................................................................................. 324

xix Table of Contents

Constipation ....................................................................................... 324Vomiting .............................................................................................. 325Gas ....................................................................................................... 325

Part VI: The Part of Tens ........................................... 327

Chapter 22: Ten (Plus One) Crowd-Pleasing Tricks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .329Bow ................................................................................................................ 329Paw ................................................................................................................ 330Wave .............................................................................................................. 330High-Five ....................................................................................................... 331Roll Over ....................................................................................................... 331Over ............................................................................................................... 332Through the Hoop ....................................................................................... 333Ask Nicely ..................................................................................................... 334Play Dead ...................................................................................................... 335Chore Time: Close the Door and Roll Your Ball ...................................... 335

Close the door (or the drawer) ........................................................ 335Roll the ball ......................................................................................... 336

Chapter 23: Ten Fun Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .337Soda-Bottle Soccer ...................................................................................... 337The Two-Toy Toss ....................................................................................... 338The Squeak-Toy Shuffle .............................................................................. 338Fishing for Fido ............................................................................................ 338Swing Toss .................................................................................................... 339Hide-’n-Seek .................................................................................................. 339Give (Or Drop) ............................................................................................. 340Take ............................................................................................................... 341The Four-Footed Fax ................................................................................... 341Superball Soccer .......................................................................................... 342

Index ....................................................................... 343

Puppies For Dummies, 3rd Edition xx

Introduction

T o say that I love puppies would be an understatement. So when asked to write the third edition of Puppies For Dummies, I jumped at the opportu-

nity! Over the past few years, leaps have been made in humans’ understand-ing of the psychological awareness of dogs and the importance of positive conditioning right from the very beginning. New equipment has been devel-oped to gently guide puppies, and my approach — to nurture, structure, and teach puppies from day one — supports this evolution.

In the last few years, some dog owners and trainers have also moved toward a stricter, more domineering approach that condones the use of electronic collars that buzz and zap young puppies to enforce human dominion. But you won’t find support for that approach in this book!

Even though raising a puppy is also a daily responsibility (and a huge one at that), it’s like many other projects in life: After you understand how your puppy is thinking, find out how you can communicate with him effectively, and structure your environment to limit your frustrations, the day-to-day tasks and problems immediately become simpler. The comment I get most often from clients after our initial visit is: “You are a miracle worker!” But I know that the real miracle is the puppy. Like an interpreter, I just facilitate the communication between the two species.

In this book, you find a common-sense approach to selecting your puppy, loving hints to help you through those first critical months, and support in problem solving and training. You find straightforward info in plain English on what to do and just how to do it. Nothing more and nothing less — I promise.

About This BookAs with raising a child, how you manage your puppy’s day-to-day needs, opti-mize his successes, and deal with daily frustrations will be directly reflected in his demeanor. Behind every happy puppy is a supportive, understanding, and nurturing family cheering him on. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with this project now, don’t despair: Puppies For Dummies, 3rd Edition, will give you a whole new outlook, provide easy steps to resolve every frustration, and help you civilize your puppy in no time flat!

2 Puppies For Dummies, 3rd Edition

This book is all-inclusive, providing everything you need to know to raise a puppy. From choosing the right breed and identifying a puppy’s tempera-ment to managing your first day and training your puppy through the first year, you’ll find it all here.

Conventions Used in This BookWhile writing this book, I used a few conventions I want you to be aware of:

✓ To avoid any “puppy gender bias,” I refer to puppies as both males and females throughout the text. Except for anything that’s strictly related to females or males, you can be sure that the info applies to your puppy regardless of gender.

✓ Anytime I introduce a new term, I italicize it.

✓ Keywords in lists appear in boldface. Also, when I present a list of steps to perform, the action you need to take is boldface as well.

✓ Websites and e-mail addresses appear in monofont to help them stand out in the text.

What You’re Not to ReadThough I’d be honored if you read every word of this book, I’m realistic. Who has the luxury of time to read a nearly 400-page book on any subject these days? Don’t be stressed out by the size of this book, though. I’ve written it to be enjoyed one chapter at a time and further used as a reference guide.

In addition, you can skip some bits if you’re pressed for time or if you’re simply not interested in anything other than the bare facts. If you fall into this camp, know that you can skip the sidebars, which are gray boxes of text that contain interesting but nonessential information. As well, you can skip any paragraphs that have the Technical Stuff or Just for Fun icons attached to them.

Foolish AssumptionsHere’s what I assumed about you, dear reader, when writing this book:

3 Introduction

✓ You know that puppies have four paws and a tail — or at least a stump of a tail.

✓ You either have a puppy right now or are considering getting one, but you don’t know much about raising a puppy.

✓ You don’t want to obtain a PhD in training techniques and dog physiol-ogy or psychology. You just want the basics on things such as what sup-plies to buy, how to train your puppy to perform basic commands, the best dog food to use, how much exercise to provide, and how to keep your pup healthy in general.

If you fit into any or all of these categories, this book is for you.

How This Book Is OrganizedThis book is divided into parts, each one having its own colorful theme. Here’s a quick rundown.

Part I: Choosing a Dog to Love for a LifetimeHere you find the scoop on choosing a puppy — from the right breed to the perfect personality. You may have questions: Are dog breeds all that differ-ent? What’s with the new designer mixed breeds? Can a pup’s personality be predetermined? Where’s the best place to find a puppy? You can find all the answers and more in this part.

Part II: Caring for Your Puppy’s Everyday NeedsThose first few days with your new puppy can be a real challenge. What do I do? What do I need to buy? What should I expect? You find all the answers in this part. Plus you find out how to think with your puppy, socialize him to all of life’s nuances, and communicate with him so you can condition the right habits from the start. By 12 weeks, your puppy’s brain is fully devel-oped — and you can definitely tell. He sleeps less and plays more. His true personality emerges, and it may not always jive with yours. But take a deep breath. This part is here to help. It helps you understand your puppy’s needs

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and developmental phases, and it shows you how to work with your children and all the other people in your life to shape good behavior from the start. In addition, I provide tips on travel and on life changes that you and your puppy are likely to go through together.

Part III: Training with a Positive SpinLet the training begin! In this part, I cover training stages by tailoring what you teach and how you teach it to the age and personality of your prize pupil. In this part, you discover basic lessons, hints on housetraining, and ideas on how to inspire family cooperation. In addition, I give you an up-close look at the workings of some cool tools and techniques that are available to you — from clickers to target training. Then, after you’ve mastered the basics, delve into off-leash lessons and take a look at all the different events and activities available to a well-trained puppy.

Part IV: Conditioning Good Manners in Your PuppyIn this part, I target the array of frustrations most everyone experiences with their puppies. Instead of looking at the issues as problems, I examine them from your puppy’s perspective. Soon you’ll realize that all of your puppy’s behaviors communicate something to you. This mindful approach helps you shape a fair response and develop an appropriate displacement activity for even the most frustrating difficulties. You’ll feel proactive and empathetic when dealing with specific issues such as separation anxiety, chewing, jump-ing, nipping, and even aggression. The best part is that your relationship with your puppy will grow stronger from working together to resolve your issues.

Part V: Creating a Wellness PlanIf you want a happy dog, you have to take care of more than just training. You have to take care of your dog’s health, too. This part gives you the informa-tion you need to know about good nutrition and exercise, about taking care of your dog when he’s feeling fine, and about what to do if he gets sick.

Part VI: The Part of TensLast but not least, in this part, I give you ten of my favorite games and ten crowd-pleasing tricks. Enjoy!

5 Introduction

Icons Used in This BookThroughout this book you’ll find icons that appear on the left-hand side of the page and that point out different types of info. Following is a list of the various icons you may encounter:

This icon highlights useful tidbits and helpful advice — such as how to snap the leash just right to avoid hurting your pup while still getting the response you want.

These friendly reminders won’t let you forget the main points — such as pro-viding consistency for your pup in your responses and when training.

“Warning, warning!” Need I say more? Be sure not to skip this one.

This icon alerts you to factoids and technical information that aren’t neces-sary to know but are quite interesting.

When you see this icon, you can be sure that you’re about to read some fun information that’s good to know (but not necessary to the task at hand).

Where to Go from HereThe coolest thing about this book is that you can jump in anywhere. It’s a no-rules reference for anyone who has a puppy or anyone who has ever thought of getting one. Just look in the table of contents or index for the topic you want to know about. Then flip right to that chapter to get the scoop. You can also read this book straight through from front to back if you want, starting with Chapter 1 and digging right in.

Regardless of where you begin, remember this: Puppies are a lot like babies. They need to be nurtured but not spoiled. They need to be loved but not overindulged. They need guidelines — not unlimited freedom. They need to play, but they also need limits. Your ability to reason and understand gives you the responsibility to make the necessary adaptations. You must be your puppy’s leader, guardian, friend, and voice. Your efforts will forever be your reward.

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Thank you for picking up my book and adding it to your library. Everyone feels inept sometimes, unable to figure out how to simplify or master a project, hobby, or sport. But with time and information, things do get easier — even enjoyable. Whether you read this book chapter by chapter or reference it one section at a time, the information teaches you how to successfully communi-cate with your puppy and raise him to be a wonderful pet and member of your family.

Part IChoosing a Dog to Love for a Lifetime

In this part . . .

C hoosing a puppy may be the only chance you have to pick a relative, so choose wisely! If you’re conflicted

about mixed breed or pure and what size or personality will mesh ideally with your lifestyle, you have an exciting project ahead. I promise to enlighten you as you read the chapters in this part and help you to pair the needs and demands of your everyday life with a dog’s breed and personality. Are you a mover and a shaker? Do you have a fast-paced lifestyle that cries for canine involvement? Or are you more comfortable with a puppy who can stay home and relax while you’re out? What type of dog are you looking for: big or small, shaggy or furless, energetic or mellow, bright-minded or relaxed? Believe it or not, there’s a breed to suit each specification. And just think, when breeds are mixed, a whole new range of options presents itself.

Further on in your journey, you’ll get to decide on a personality to best reflect your own. Before settling on your match, consider what personality would be most welcome under your roof. If you’re a pushover, then a bossy, dominant type may not be in the cards for you: He’ll have you trained before he’s done cutting his puppy teeth. On the other hand, if you’re structured and stern, a mellow or shy puppy may drive you to insanity with his never-a-care personality.

In this part, I clue you in on how to decide what kind of puppy best suits your lifestyle, and then I show you how to choose your puppy after you’ve narrowed your options.